Chapter 47: Xelvyn Meeting Eiravelle

Eiravelle couldn’t stop her tears. They kept falling no matter how hard she tried to blink them away, hot and relentless against her cheeks, and she had long since given up on wiping them.

Her wrists ached from the bindings, her shoulders are burned from being held in the same position for so long, and the gag in her mouth had soaked through with the salt of her own crying.

She was still stuck in that carriage, trapped with nothing but the sound of wheels grinding against uneven ground and the muffled sobs of the other omegas around her.

The carriage continued to move, and just like her, the other omegas were fearing for their lives. She could see it in their eyes, that same raw terror that she felt clawing at her own chest.

Some of them were trembling so violently that their bodies were knocked against each other with every bump in the road. Others had gone unnaturally still, their gazes are fixed on nothing, as if their minds had simply decided to retreat somewhere safer than this moment.

Eiravelle didn’t know which was worse—the ones who still had the strength to cry or the ones who had already given up.

They had passed the borders of the Divine Thread some time ago, though Eiravelle wasn’t sure exactly when. She had felt the moment they crossed it, though.

Everyone had. It was known as the line between the Divine realm and the demon realm, the place where the contrast between the two worlds became impossible to ignore.

On one side, trees and flowers and whatever plants grew there were alive, vibrant with color and movement, their leaves rustling in a breeze that carried the scent of fresh earth and blooming things.

On the other side, everything was dead. Not just withered or dormant, but truly dead—blackened trunks that stood like skeletons against a sky that seemed perpetually dim, flowers reduced to ash that scattered at the slightest disturbance, and a silence that felt wrong in ways Eiravelle couldn’t put into words.

The other side smelled like life. This side smelled like burning sulfur, strong and acrid, and it was making the omegas dizzy.

Eiravelle’s stomach churned dangerously, and she had to swallow hard against the bile rising in her throat. She couldn’t afford to be sick. Not now. Not when she needed to stay alert, needed to think, needed to find some way out of this nightmare.

The carriage slowed down, the wheels are creaking as they rolled over something that crunched beneath them. Eiravelle didn’t want to think about what that something might be.

They could hear screeching noises now, high-pitched and grating, and shrieking sounds that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

Things were lurking in the shadows of this place, moving just at the edge of what could be seen, and every time Eiravelle tried to focus on one of them, it would slip away into the darkness. This was the damn. This was the road to the demon realm.

Her heart pounded so loudly in her chest that she could hear it in her ears, drowning out almost everything else. She was shaking, her entire body was trembling with a fear so complete that it left no room for anything else. She didn’t know whom to call, didn’t know if anyone would even come if she could call for help.

Until the carriage halted.

The sudden stop threw her forward against the omega sitting across from her, and she heard muffled cries of pain and alarm from the others. Outside, a voice rang out, harsh and impatient. "Hey! Get out of my way! You’re bloc—"

The voice cut off with a scream. Not a normal scream, but something raw and terrified, the kind of sound a person made when they were facing something they couldn’t comprehend.

It rose in pitch, then broke, and then there was silence. Complete, absolute silence that was somehow worse than the screaming had been.

The omegas whimpered more, their cries are muffled by the gags but still audible, still desperate. Eiravelle felt her own throat tighten, felt the tears come faster, and she knew—she knew with a certainty that settled into her bones like ice—that she was going to die here.

Her and her unborn child, both of them would die in this cursed place, and no one would ever know what had happened to them.

She thought of the life growing inside her, the tiny heartbeat that she had heard just weeks ago when a healer had confirmed her pregnancy. She had been so afraid then, so ashamed, but she had also felt something else—something fierce and protective that she hadn’t known she was capable of.

She had promised herself that she would find a way to keep this child safe, no matter what it cost her. And now here she was, about to break that promise in the most horrible way imaginable.

The curtain was lifted, and a grotesque monster was revealed. It was tall, taller than any man she had ever seen, with skin the color of old bruises and eyes that glowed like embers in a dying fire.

Its face was a nightmare of sharp angles and too many teeth, and its hands—if they could be called hands—ended in claws that looked like they could tear through flesh as easily as paper.

The omegas shrieked and sobbed, their fear was reaching a fever pitch despite the gags. Some tried to shrink back, pressing themselves against the walls of the carriage as if they could somehow make themselves small enough to disappear.

Eiravelle was so shocked that she froze, her mind had simply refused to process what she was seeing. She couldn’t move, couldn’t scream, and couldn’t do anything but stare at the creature and wait for it to end her.

But the monster didn’t touch them. It simply stood there, blocking the light, and then a figure stepped out from behind it—a woman, tall and commanding, with hair was dark as the shadows around her and eyes that seemed to hold entire worlds within them.

There was power in the way she moved, in the way she held herself, in the way the very air seemed to bend around her presence.

This was someone who commanded respect, someone who had earned it through blood and fire and everything in between.

"Xelvyn," the woman said, exposing herself to them without hesitation. "The Demon Lordess of Varnara and Muntuahry. Though now, I suppose it would be more accurate to call it Vartuahry, after I successfully claimed full ownership and control over the two lands in the Demon realm."

She paused, letting her words sink in, and Eiravelle found herself trying to process what she was hearing. The Demon Lordess. She was standing in the presence of the Demon Lordess, a being whose name was spoken in whispers even in the Divine realm.

Stories about Xelvyn were told to frighten children, to warn young omegas about the dangers that lurked beyond the borders. And yet here she was, not looking like a monster at all, but like a ruler.

"Do not be afraid," Xelvyn said, and her voice was softer now, almost gentle. "I am here because I received a message from the Solkanaia about a missing omega." Her gaze swept over the huddled group of omegas, taking in their tear-streaked faces and trembling bodies. "Which one of you is Eiravelle?"

The lump in Eiravelle’s throat disappeared so suddenly that she almost choked on the rush of air that filled her lungs. It was as if her voice had forgotten how to work, as if the fear had stolen it from her completely. But then she forced herself to spit the gag out and speak, to say something, to let this woman know that she was here.

"I... I am."

The words came out as barely a whisper, but Xelvyn heard them. Her eyes found Eiravelle in the darkness of the carriage, and for a moment, something flickered across her face—something that Eiravelle couldn’t quite read. But then it was gone, replaced by a calm professionalism that was almost reassuring.

Xelvyn sighed and looked at the grotesque monster still standing beside her. "Carry out my message to the Solkanaia. I have found some omegas, and I require their assistance to identify the omega they’re looking for. Also, send a message requesting to open the borders. A pregnant omega from Varnara needs a healer from Solkanaia."

The grotesque monster nodded, its movements was jerky and unnatural, and then it turned and disappeared into the shadows.

Eiravelle watched it go, still trying to understand what was happening. Why would the Demon Lordess care about a missing omega? Why would she be helping the Solkanaia?

None of this made sense, and yet the evidence was right in front of her.

Xelvyn lifted her hand, and with a gentle sweep through the air, the bindings and gags on the omegas simply disappeared. They dissolved into nothing, leaving no trace behind, as if they had never existed at all. Eiravelle gasped, reaching up to touch her face, her wrists, to confirm that she was truly free. The other omegas did the same, their cries of relief filling the carriage.

"You’re all going back home," Xelvyn said, and she was already turning to leave. "You’re not to stay here."

"Wait!"

The word left Eiravelle’s mouth before she could stop it, driven by something she couldn’t quite name—desperation, perhaps, or the fear of being sent back to a place where she had known nothing but pain. Xelvyn stopped, her back was still to them, and Eiravelle saw her shoulders tense slightly.

"Yes?"

"Aren’t you going to hurt us?" Eiravelle asked, and her voice shook as she spoke. She had to know. She had to understand. "This... This is the demon realm. Everyone says—"

She couldn’t finish the sentence. The words caught in her throat, tangled with all the stories she had heard, all the warnings she had been given about what happened to omegas who ended up in the demon realm.

Xelvyn turned around, and for the first time, she truly looked at Eiravelle. Her gaze traveled over the omega’s face, taking in the tear tracks on her cheeks, the dark circles under her eyes, the way she held herself as if expecting to be struck at any moment. And when their eyes met, Xelvyn’s breath caught in her throat.

The beauty of the omega was inexplicable. It wasn’t just her features, though those were lovely enough—full kissable lips, eyes that held depths of sorrow that seemed to go on forever.

It was something more, something that went beyond the physical. There was a resilience in her, a strength that had somehow survived everything that had been done to her, and it shone through despite the fear and the tears.

Eiravelle watched the Demon Lordess stare at her, watched something shift in those powerful eyes, and she didn’t understand what she was seeing. But she was too exhausted, too frightened, to try to figure it out.

"Lordess?" She prompted softly.

Xelvyn blinked, then shook her head as if clearing it. When she spoke again, her voice was steady, but there was something different about it—something almost uncertain.

"No. No, I’m changing some rules from now on." She straightened her shoulders, and the authority returned to her bearing. "This area was owned by Muntuahry, so I rule this part of the demon realm. I have strictly prohibited illegal activities here, as I’ve already made an alliance with the Solkanaia."

Eiravelle tried to stand, wanting to meet the Demon Lordess on her feet rather than huddled on the floor of a carriage like a frightened animal. But her body wouldn’t cooperate.

Her legs trembled violently beneath her, threatening to give out at any moment, and she had to grab the edge of the carriage to keep from falling.

"Please don’t stand," Xelvyn said quickly, and there was a note of concern in her voice that seemed almost out of place coming from the Demon Lordess. "Once they arrive, they’ll take you back to Solkanaia with the other omegas."

Eiravelle’s heart clenched at the words. Go back. They wanted to take her back to the place she had fled, back to the people who had judged her and shamed her and made her feel like she was worth nothing. The tears came again, but she forced herself to speak past them.

"My name is Eiravelle." She paused, gathering her courage. "I am the omega they’re looking for.

Xelvyn blinked, surprise flickering across her features. But Eiravelle wasn’t finished. "But I do not desire to return to Solkanaia, Lordess."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Xelvyn stared at her for a long moment, clearly trying to process what she had just heard.

"What do you mean, you don’t want to return?"

Eiravelle looked away, shame burning hot in her chest. She couldn’t meet those piercing eyes, couldn’t bear to see the judgment that would surely come. She had heard it all before, from the people who were supposed to care about her, from the ones who were supposed to protect her.

"She is a disgrace and shameful omega!" A male omega spat from somewhere behind her.

Eiravelle flinched at the words, the familiar sting of them cutting through her defenses. But before she could respond, Xelvyn’s eyes snapped to the male omega with a fury that made him shrink back immediately.

The silence that followed was deafening, and Eiravelle understood that the Demon Lordess would not tolerate such words in her presence.

"He... He was right," Eiravelle said quietly, forcing herself to continue despite the shame that threatened to consume her. "I was disgraceful. I got pregnant without knowing who the alpha was."

There. She had said it. The truth that had destroyed her life, the secret that had made her an outcast, the sin that no amount of penance could erase. She waited for Xelvyn’s reaction, waited for the disgust that would surely follow.

But Xelvyn only sighed and shook her head, and when she spoke, her voice was surprisingly gentle.

"In the demon realm, there’s nothing shameful about that. Omegas here can decide for themselves. Whether they only want children and no alpha spouses—that’s acceptable."

Some of the omegas opened their mouths, clearly about to argue, their faces were twisted with outrage at such a statement. But before they could speak, Xelvyn swept her hand through the air again.

A soft light emanated from her palm, spreading through the carriage like a gentle wave, and one by one, the other omegas fell into a deep sleep.

Their bodies relaxed, their breathing became slow and even, and soon the only sounds were the distant screeches of the demon realm and Eiravelle’s own pounding heart.

Xelvyn turned back to Eiravelle, and in the silence that followed, her expression softened.

"We do not judge here, Eiravelle. If you wish to stay, you can stay." She paused, and when she spoke again, there was a weight to her words that hadn’t been there before. "But you must know that the sovereign of Solkanaia was looking for you. And that the demon realm is not a paradise you can run to. This is still a place where some people are suffering."

Eiravelle nodded slowly, absorbing the warning even as she felt something loosen in her chest. She had spent so long being afraid of the demon realm, so long hearing stories about the horrors that waited here.

But the woman standing before her wasn’t a horror. She was offering Eiravelle something she had never been given before: a choice.

"Everywhere I go, I always suffer," Eiravelle said, and her voice was quiet but steady. "So please... Let me stay."

Xelvyn remained quiet for a long moment, studying the omega before her. Eiravelle wondered what she was looking for—weakness, perhaps, or a sign that this was some kind of trick.

But she had nothing to hide anymore. She had already told the Demon Lordess her deepest shame, her greatest failure. There was nothing left to lose.

"You understand what you’re asking?" Xelvyn asked finally. "The demon realm isn’t kind to anyone, least of all omegas. Even with my protection, there will be those who would seek to harm you. There will be dangers you can’t imagine, and challenges that will test you in ways you’ve never been tested before."

Eiravelle nodded again, and this time there was something like determination in her eyes.

Xelvyn raised an eyebrow at that, a silent question.

"I’ve survived being cast out by my own family when they found out I was pregnant," Eiravelle said, the words spilling out of her now like water from a broken dam.

Her voice shook with emotion, but she didn’t stop. She needed Xelvyn to understand.

"I’ve seen a lot, Lordess. So if you’re telling me that staying here means facing danger, then I accept that. I accept whatever comes, because at least here..." She paused, trying to find the right words. "At least here, you’re giving me a choice. No one has ever given me a choice before."

Xelvyn was silent for a long moment, and Eiravelle couldn’t read the expression on her face.

"That part... I am not sure. You are welcome to stay, but you’re a citizen of Solkanaia. There must be a reason why the sovereign herself was looking for you." Xelvyn replied, and Eiravelle was taken aback. "The sovereign? W-Why?"

Xelvyn sigh and shrugged her shoulders. "I am not aware of your matters, Omega... I am here to save you, not to meddle with your life." Xelvyn looked problematic.

"You must end whatever business you needed to end at Solkanaia... I don’t like you bringing trouble in Vartuahry when I am just starting to build a safe environment here." Xelvyn explained and Eiravelle gulped.

"But seriously, end whatever business it is. Then come back here if you wish to see more grotesque horrors because I am not done cleaning the entire place." Xelvyn said, and Eiravelle burst into laughing. The first time she laugh so hard at Xelvyn’s admission.

"What’s so funny?" Xelvyn asked, "you’re so cute, your majesty, hahahaha, sorry I can’t..." Eiravelle kept on laughing and Xelvyn didn’t got mad or annoyed.

She didn’t noticed the softness in her eyes as she looked at Eiravelle.

This Omega... She’s not scared of me? The words that suddenly ran in Xelvyn’s mind.