Chapter 127: A Bittersweet Farewell
Thelma Zane’s POV
After my conversation with Aldrich, a sense of calm began to replace the heaviness that had weighed on my heart. Turning around, I noticed my mother standing quietly in the corridor, her gaze filled with warmth and understanding,
She approached me, her presence bringing the kind of solace only a mother could provide, and sat down beside me.
“Mother,” I murmured, wiping away the lingering tears on my cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
With a gentle touch, she used her sleeve to dry my face. “Why are you apologizing, dear? What made you cry so suddenly?”
“I’m not even sure,” I whispered. “I didn’t realize I was crying until just now.”
The whirlwind of emotions I had been carrying–Adele’s tragic story, her choices, her pain had overwhelmed me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
“I just spoke to Aldrich,” I continued softly. “He consoled me, and I feel a bit better now.”
She smiled tenderly and leaned against me, her hand lightly brushing the top of my head. “I understand what you’re going through. Watching Adele’s plight has stirred similar feelings in me. Even your father, despite his stern demeanor, can’t help but feel a deep sadness over her situation. It’s only natural to empathize with someone’s suffering, even when their actions
have caused harm.”
“But she’s a criminal,” I replied hesitantly.
“She is, and a grave one at that,” my mother acknowledged. “She committed terrible acts and put countless lives at risk. But feeling sorrow for her fate doesn’t negate the wrong she has done. These are two truths that can exist simultaneously.
“Adele’s choices were her own, and she must face the consequences. Yet, as human beings–or werewolves–we possess the capacity to recognize the pain that shaped her. The tragedies of her past don’t excuse her actions, but they help us understand her as more than just a villain.”
Her words were steady, but I could sense the weight behind them. She continued, “The purpose of laws is to ensure justice, but reason and compassion help us balance that justice. One of my old mentors used to say, ‘Laws chain us to order, but empathy is what keeps us from becoming heartless.‘ As leaders, we must learn to separate actions from circumstances. Only then can we make decisions that are both just and humane.”
I nodded, the conflict in my heart starting to ease
“How is Adele now?” I asked after a moment of silence.
Chapter 12 A Bitterunt Farewell
A soft sigh escaped her lips. “She’s stable physically, but her mental state… It’s fragile, perhaps beyond repair. Her spirit seems irreparably broken.”
“But why?” I asked, confused. “It’s only been one night. What could have caused such a drastic change?”
“Not every question has an answer, my dear,” she said with a heavy heart. “Even with all our advancements, werewolves remain inherently resistant to magic. That resistance makes it difficult for us to understand or counteract sorcery’s effects, even for our most skilled practitioners. Adele’s mind is a puzzle no one knows how to solve.”
“Have any witch clans offered to help?”
She shook her head. “None. Adele was ostracized long before her capture. She betrayed her people, and in their eyes, she’s beyond redemption. Even if she sought protection from a clan, it’s doubtful they would have truly embraced her. Sorcerers are no more forgiving of traitors
than we are.”
The implication was clear: Adele’s story would likely end here. Whatever secrets she held about the enemy or the mysterious forces at play would die with her.
“What will Father do now?” I asked, trying to piece together the next steps.
“We’re still deliberating,” my mother replied. “On the positive side, it seems unlikely that an entire witch clan is behind this. However, if the hidden enemy does join forces with the witches, things could escalate quickly. That’s the fear we’re grappling with.”
“Do you think a war is inevitable?” I asked, the thought filling me with dread.
“Your father will do everything in his power to prevent it,” she said firmly. “We’ve both lived through war. It’s not the noble pursuit of glory and honor that stories would have you believe. On the battlefield, there are no winners–only blood, loss, and sorrow.”
Three days later, Adele’s fate was sealed. With her mental state deemed beyond recovery, the need for interrogation faded. The Council of Elders debated fiercely about her punishment, torn between justice and mercy.
Ultimately, my father made the final decision. Adele’s magic was permanently sealed, leaving her incapable of even basic spells. She was then moved to a secluded manor, heavily guarded by the royal guards. It was a life sentence of isolation, but not a death sentence.
As her father, the southern Duke was granted permission to visit her for three hours each week
a small comfort in an otherwise grim outcome. This arrangement was kept confidential, known only to a select few.
Carolyn, Adele’s sister, was eventually found by a team of warriors in a stone house near a volcanic crater, Surprisingly, she showed no signs of mistreatment. If anything, Adele’s peculiar scarecrow servant had taken excellent care of her. Carolyn was shaken but unharmed, her physical health intact.
CULY 127 & Hittersweet Farewel
What happened next was both bizarre and unsettling. Upon Carolyn’s rescue, the scarecrow made no attempt to resist. Instead, it silently walked to the edge of the volcano and leapt into the molten abyss.
And just like that, the darkness that had loomed over us for months seemed to dissipate. The ordeal that had tested us all–physically, emotionally, and morally–concluded in a way that felt almost absurd.
Reflecting on everything that had transpired, I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of relief and melancholy. Adele’s story, though riddled with pain and mistakes, served as a sobering reminder of how fragile we all are. Her fate, tragic yet inevitable, was a cautionary tale about the choices we make and the forces that shape us.
For now, the storm had passed, and life could resume its fragile normalcy. But the scars it left behind would not soon be forgotten.
Chapter 127: A Bittersweet Farewel
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Thelma Zane’s POV:
I found myself enveloped by an overwhelming sense of misunderstanding. It wasn’t rooted in any specific grievance, yet I felt inexplicably wronged, as though the universe itself conspired against me.
I yearned to hear Aldrich’s voice, to immerse myself in his soothing words, and to feel the comfort of his embrace. Acting on this longing, dialed his number.
“What’s wrong, my love?” Aldrich’s voice carried a trace of fatigue. He was likely still preoccupied with overseeing the situation with the cocoon of light, a task that demanded relentless vigilance.
Hearing his voice sent a surge of emotions through me, rendering me speechless. I couldn’t find the words to explain my feelings, so I remained silent.
“Thelma, are you there?” His tone sharpened with concern. “What’s the matter? Don’t worry
1’ll come to…
you!
“No! Don’t come,” I responded quickly, unwilling to distract him from his responsibilities. I’m fine. Really. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
His voice softened as he murmured, “Oh, my dear. I miss you too.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I asked, “How is the mission progressing? What’s the status. of the cocoon?”
“It’s going well,” Aldrich reassured me. “This witch’s power isn’t as formidable as Fitch’s. We estimate that it will take about three days to fully dispel the light cocoon.”
“You must promise me to be cautious. The moment you notice anything unusual, evacuate your team immediately,” I urged him. “Don’t worry about the destruction it might cause; someone will compensate for it.”
Aldrich chuckled lightly. “Are you referring to the witch or the Lycan King? If it’s the latter, I imagine His Majesty’s finance officer would be in tears.”
Normally, I would have laughed along with him, but the weight of my emotions today kept me somber.
Suddenly, the background noise on his end grew louder, filled with the sounds of soldiers calling out. I imagined Aldrich multitasking, managing his duties while still giving me his attention. His silent presence over the line was strangely comforting.
“I don’t want to keep you from your work any longer,” I said eventually.
“It’s alright, my love,” he replied gently. “I’m the commander. I delegate, observe, and make
Chapter 126: The Crossrails of Destiny
decisions. That leaves plenty of room for me to focus on you too.”
After a pause, I confided, “Adele has lost her sanity.”
I knew Aldrich must have already received updates about Adele from Duke Frank, so this
wouldn’t be news to him.
“I’m so sorry,” he said in a somber voice. “The southern Duke must be devastated.”
I buried myself deeper into my sweater and whispered, “I can only imagine his anguish. He’s still searching for Carolyn, and now, the daughter he only just reunited with has succumbed to madness.
“When I think about Adele, I feel conflicted.
“She deceived everyone, abducted Carolyn, nearly incited chaos at the school, and almost unleashed devastation through the cocoon. Yet, despite all this, I can’t help but pity her.
“I despise her for what she’s done, but at the same time, I feel sorry for her. I wonder, what if our circumstances were reversed? If I had been the one to endure her life–growing up steeped in pain and resentment, finding no place in the world because someone else had taken my spot in my parents‘ home–could I have turned out any better than she did?
“These questions haunt me. Our lives mirror each other’s in strange ways. Perhaps I was simply fortunate to stumble upon a brighter path, while Adele remained trapped in perpetual
darkness.
“For a fleeting moment today, I even thought the fragile, tormented person lying in that bed was a reflection of my own pale, troubled self. Was this all a dream? A figment of my imagination?”
The contradictions in my feelings baffled me. My sympathy for Adele defied logic, yet the moment I entered that shadowy tower, I was consumed by a sense of despair so profound it felt as though the darkness itself might swallow me whole.
The tower’s oppressive gloom seemed alive, the overcast skies erasing even the faintest glimmer of sunlight. The dim, flickering glow of a poorly made incandescent bulb offered not solace, only a pale imitation of light.
The light seemed to mock Adele’s hollow existence, a grim reminder of the emptiness that had shaped her life. It also served as a stark warning to me, urging gratitude for all that I held dear. Life’s capriciousness was impossible to ignore; one moment, it elevates you to the heavens, and in the next, it shatters your world with merciless finality.
Aldrich remained quiet, listening intently as I poured my heart out. The steady rhythm of his breathing, audible through the phone, somehow steadied the chaos within me:
“Don’t let doubt or fear consume you,” he said finally. “Look around you. See the unwavering support of the Lycan King and Queen. Listen to my voice. Think of Dorothy, Kara, Tracy, and all your friends. They’re real, aren’t they?
Juppé 124 The Crossrady
“The love and care you’ve received, the warmth they bring–it’s genuine, as undeniable as the
sun’s rays.
“Every shared moment–whether mundane, thrilling, frustrating, or heartwarming–is a testament to the life you’ve built. These experiences are etched into time, forming a part of who you are.
“So don’t despair, Thelma.
“Fate is a relentless force, unpredictable and uncontrollable, like a wild horse galloping into the unknown. But there’s one certainty: it always moves forward, never backward.”
ation with Aldrich, a sense of can began to replace the
bed on my heart. Turning around, I noticed my mother standing quietly her page filled with warmth and understanding
hire, tage det to the cert
Slic approached me, her presence bringing the kind of solare only a mother could parvad+
sat down beside me.
“Mother,” I mummured, wiping away the lingering tears on my checks. “Vinsonry.”
With a gentle touch, she used her sleeve to dry my face. “Why are you apologizing, Mar? Wor made you cry so suddenly?”
“I’m not even sure,” I whispered. “I didn’t realize I was crying until just now
The whirlwind of emotions I had been carrying Adele’s tragic story, her choices, her pain had overwhelmed me in ways I hadn’t anticipated
“I just spoke to Aldrich,” I continued softly. “He consoled me, and I feel a bit better now
She smiled tenderly and leaned agalalt me, ha ightly brushing the top of my head. understand what you’re going through. Watching Adele’s plight has stirred similar feelings in me. Even your father, despite his stern demeanor, can’t help but feel a deep sadness over her situation. It’s only natural to empathize with someone’s suffering, even when their action have caused harm.”
“But she’s a criminal,” I replied hesitantly.
“She is, and a grave one at that,” my mother acknowledged. “She committed terrible acts and put countless lives at risk. But feeling sorrow for her fate doesn’t negate the wrong she has done. These are two truths that can exist simultaneously.
“Adele’s choices were her own, and she must face the consequences. Yet, s human beings -oT werewolves—we possess the capacity to recognize the pain that shaped her. The tragerhe her past don’t excuse her actions, but they help us understand her as more than just a lin
Her words were steady, but I could sense the weight behind them. She continued, “The purpose of laws is to ensure justice, but reason and compassion help us balance that jusuce One of my old mentors used to say, ‘Laws chain us to order, but empathy is what keeps us from becoming, heartless.‘ As leaders, we must learn to separate actions from circumstances Only then can we make decisions that are both just and trumane,
noddee conflict in my heart starting to ens
How t: Adel now I asked after a moment of emcee,
