Omega's Rebirth

"Who are you...?" Estelle asked again in a wary tone, breaking the silence and the staring match along with.

There were many strange happenings in the Asvarian stronghold, after all she had witnessed in the past few days, Estelle reminded herself that it was best she grew accustomed to oddities.

"Ah... forgive my manners. I am known as Lord Farren, High Master of the Druid Clan." The old man introduced.

’High Master?’ Estelle thought.

According to the hierarchy of the nymph kind, High Master would be equivalent to the Clan Lord.

"The Clan Lord of the Druids?" Estelle asked for confirmation as she sat up straighter.

"I believe so." Lord Farren replied with a quiet chuckle.

Estelle blinked in astonishment, if Lord Farren was Clan Lord, he should have been the most powerful nymph among druid kind.

The stronger the magic of the fae kind, the longer their life span. How was it that Lord Farren had aged so?

"Is it that great of a surprise?" Lord Farren asked in amusement, taking note of Estelle’s reaction.

Estelle realized her thoughts were reflected on her expression and quickly adjusted her expression, clearing her throat quietly.

"Ah... nothing of the sort. I am just a little disoriented..." Estelle explained, lifting a hand to the aching spot on her head where she had been hit.

"I must apologize for the rudeness of my subordinates, My Lady. You feel well, I hope?" Lord Farren asked, tilting his head to the side in concern.

Estelle certainly did not feel well, her head ached terribly, she was in desperate need of a bath and a warm meal, and above all else, she was sick with worry for Dante.

How could anyone take a look at her and ask if she felt well? She surely did not!

But of course, Estelle said none of this. Instead, she forced a smile to her lips.

"I will live." Estelle replied politely.

Lord Farren raised a brow at the sudden change in Estelle’s tone.

"Well, you are much different than what my subordinates tell of you." Lord Farren pointed out.

"What did they say about me?!" Estelle hissed in annoyance, realizing a second too late she had dropped her humble and polite act a moment after picking it up.

"There... that is the lightblood of Fort Blazed." Lord Farren chuckled in approval.

Estelle blinked in surprise, Lord Farren had not asked her any questions so how had he come to the conclusion that she truly was Estelle Starron?

Estelle had believed she would have to prove herself with numerous facts yet she had only just awakened and had barely said a word.

"How can you be sure that I am... Estelle Starron?" Estelle asked suspiciously.

Lord Farren shrugged as he moved forwards, his step slow as he was completely reliant on his cane for support.

He made his way over to a sturdy wooden stool at a corner of the small room and sat down heavily, breathing a sigh.

"You are the spitting image of your mother, Lady Estelle. And you have your father’s temperament, haughty and quick to anger." Lord Farren replied with a casual shrug.

Estelle pursed her lips, up till these past few days, she had no reasons to be quick to anger but she could not deny she did take after her father’s temperament.

It was why they got along so well and whenever there was the slightest altercation between Lord Starron and his daughter, it would seem like the Blazed Castle would crumble on that day.

Estelle could still ignore the mention of her father, the Lord of Fort Blazed was well known in these parts. All these lands were under his guardianship and so it was only natural he was known.

But her mother was different, Estelle’s mother had passed away a good number of decades ago. How could she be familiar to Lord Farren?

"You know my parents?" Estelle asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"I do. I once was a merchant in Fort Blazed, that was over a century ago." Lord Farren revealed.

In Fort Blazed, there were many races, but certainly not the nymphs who preferred a secluded existence in their forest.

Estelle narrowed her gaze slightly as she concentrated her sense of smell, for a while now, she already felt Lord Farren did not quite smell like the fae kind.

"You’re... human?!" Estelle realized in surprise.

Lord Farren chuckled in response, glancing down at himself before his gaze moved back to Estelle.

"Well... obviously." Lord Farren replied.

If Lord Farren was human, then it made complete sense that he had aged so.

"Then how are you here as..." Estelle began to ask but trailed off.

"As High Master? Was there ever a rule that said a human could not lead another race?" Lord Farren asked with a raised brow.

"Not a rule... but, well..." Estelle stuttered out, uncertain of what to say.

"If I am not mistaken child, you are Lord Starron’s only daughter. Then, it goes without saying that you shall rule Fort Blazed in time...but you are no dragon, are you?" Lord Farren asked.

Estelle fell quiet at that, she had never believed herself worthy to rule Fort Blazed.

It was only in that last moment Estelle realized her father had only ever had her in mind as his heir, Estelle was the only one looking down on herself all by herself.

Now, Estelle realized just like Dante, she was the heir of Fort Blazed. And it was all the more reason she needed to get out of here soon and save her family and her people.

"I am not." Estelle agreed.

"Now, would that stop you?" Lord Farren asked with a raised brow.

Estelle shook her head, as long as she had her father’s blessing, nothing else mattered anymore.

"No...no it would not." Estelle replied with certainty.

"Well then, it is not such a mystery that a human is High Master of the druid clan. Our places in life are not always determined by our race, there is room for exceptions." Lord Farren said with a shake of his head.

"I see..." Estelle murmured as she regarded Lord Farren in silence.

"You are wondering how old I actually am." Lord Farren said knowingly.

Estelle chuckled nervously, she could not deny the fact that the thought had crossed her mind.

Lord Farren claimed to have lived in Fort Blazed more than a century ago, but human lifespan considered, he did not look to have seen a century just yet.

"If you are willing to share, of course." Estelle replied sheepishly.

"I was blessed to have found a bonded in the High Maiden of the druid clan. My darling wife and I saw a beautiful century together..." Lord Farren reminiscised.

"It might be hard for you to believe, but the power of a mate bond is so great, it changed me too. I did not age a single day in those beautiful decades...but then, she passed on..."

"During the plague that afflicted fae kind eight decades ago. She left to my care her entire clan and our young son. But with her gone, our bond..." Lord Farren trailed off with a heavy sigh.

"The bond was severed...as was the effect of her magic on you. Hence you began aging again." Estelle murmured in understanding.

"She hoped it would not come to this, she made me promise I would bond another nymph." Lord Farren said with a sad smile.

"But you could not." Estelle said slowly.

"Aging to me is now a blessing. I could not go with her when she left for my promise to protect the clan."

"But with each day that passes by and my body grows weaker, I know I will join her sooner. Now I only wish to see our clan flourish and be in peace as my last days draw near." Lord Farren finished.

Estelle was taken aback to see Lord Farren was willing to tell her so much about himself, and moreso by the fact that he was completely at peace with himself.

"You barely know me, is it okay to the me all this?" Estelle asked with a raised brow.

"It is no secret. And I do know you, Estelle. You are the daughter of Lord and Lady Starron whom I hold great respect for." Lord Farren dismissed Estelle’s concern.

"On that note, I must ask... what is the lightblood of Fort Blazed doing in Forest Tajmaé?" Lord Farren asked.

Estelle pondered over if it was okay to speak the truth, but she eventually decided to.

"Fort Blazed was attacked, the people are in danger and communication has been cut off. My father had me travel to Keep Skies to seek audience with the Dragon King." Estelle revealed.

Lord Farren’s eyes widened at Estelle’s words.

"Then you must resume your journey immediately!" Lord Farren said quickly.

Estelle pursed her lips, she also wanted to resume her journey, but there was one complication.

"I travelled with a companion, we trespassed Forest Tajmaé unknowingly and he was taken captive by nymphs for the blooming hunt... I need help saving him, Lord Farren." Estelle revealed earnestly.

"If it is the blooming hunt, then I fear your companion shall not return to you." Lord Farren said with a shake of his head.

"But he must! I cannot continue without him! You have to help me, please!" Estelle pleaded desperately.

"This companion of yours...of what significance is he to you, Lady Estelle?" Lord Farren asked with a raised brow.

The wheels turned in Estelle’s head and she blurted out the only thing that she knew would convince Lord Farren.

"My husband! He’s my husband!" Estelle blurted out.