Chapter 247 247: Her blood, her family

Words : 1603 Updated : Oct 12th, 2025

In the sprawling Sandornen estate of the Kaezhlar clan, the wounds of battle had finally healed. The once-scorched gardens flourished again with vibrant flowers that seemed to glow with full life again. The damaged towers had been rebuilt, stronger than before, their crystalline spires reaching toward the sky like defiant fingers. The clan had fully recovered from the devastating attack by the Naemarys clan, though the memory of that dark day still lingered in shadowed corners and hushed conversations. The patriarch of the Kaezhlar clan, Lord Caelum, had not left the estate since the attack. His silver-streaked hair and stern features had become a constant presence in the great hall, overseeing the restoration of both the physical structures and the clan's standing among the empire houses. It was safe to say that no one dared to raise their claws against Kaezhlar so long as Caelum remained unshaken. His presence alone was enough to keep the other lords in check, a silent yet undeniable force that shaped the balance of power within the empire. As long as he stood, Kaezhlar stood proud. Under his vigilant eye, the clan's power had been restored to its former glory—their arcane libraries rebuilt, their defensive wards strengthened, and their alliances reforged through careful diplomacy and, occasionally, subtle threats. The Naemarys and Kaezhlar clans now stood as sworn enemies, though neither had made an overt move against the other since that fateful day. It was a cold war of sword and magic houses, fought through whispers and proxies rather than open conflict. Both sides knew another direct confrontation could shatter the delicate balance of power that existed among their clans. Meanwhile, Liliane and Lorryll stayed married despite what happened. Lorryll had betrayed his family, and the Kaezhlar clan no longer considered him as family. They have to decide what to do with Lorryll, as Elowen was still feeling reluctant. She didn't take her son's betrayal well. Her eldest had done something which could have ended the whole clan. The elders of the clan argued that Lorryll should be brought back to the clan and they should punish him for what he's done. Deep within the estate, in a chamber where the walls were lined with tapestries depicting women sitting in a garden, two women sat upon plush beds adorned with silken cushions. The chamber was bathed in the warm glow of enchanted lanterns that floated near the ceiling, casting a gentle light that softened the worried expressions on both women's faces. Johamma, the family's elder, was a woman whose dignified bearing belied her advanced years. Her silver hair was woven into an intricate braid that fell over one shoulder, and her eyes—though clouded with concern—still held the sharp intelligence that had guided the clan through numerous crises in decades past. Her face bore no wrinkles despite the passage of years, her beauty untouched by time. Even though she was a fallen goddess, there was an undeniable divinity in her presence—an aura that refused to be extinguished. Across from her sat her granddaughter, Isorabella—Bella to family—the eldest daughter of the patriarch. Bella's features held the classic Kaezhlar beauty: high cheekbones, penetrating blue eyes, and dark hair that seemed to absorb the light around it. "Grandma, where is Jolthar?" Bella asked, her fingers nervously tracing the pattern on a cushion. "We haven't heard a word on what he is doing, and neither is anybody interested in knowing what he is doing." Her voice carried a trace of bitterness that she couldn't quite conceal. Johamma's shoulders sagged slightly as she exhaled a weary sigh. "I know, my child, I know. They see him as a threat now rather than a family member." The pain in her voice was unmistakable as she continued, "I shouldn't have stopped talking to him. When he was younger, I visited him daily, but... every time I looked at him, he just reminded me of my daughter... I couldn't go to him because of that." Her eyes grew distant, as if seeing ghosts from the past. "If I had cared for him a little better, maybe he wouldn't have turned out this way." The regret in her voice was as heavy as the ancient tomes in the family library. Bella leaned forward, taking her grandmother's hands in her own. "Don't say things like that, Grandma. We can still talk to him. I'm sure he will listen to what you have to say." Her eyes shone with conviction as she spoke. "Try to get closer to him again. He may have strayed from our path, but he is still Kaezhlar blood." The grandmother looked into her granddaughter's earnest face, drawing strength from her unwavering faith. Bella continued, her voice growing more animated with each word. "You need to go meet him, Grandma," she urged. "Ask him to come back to the estate, to our family. Whatever grievances he has, whatever dark path he's walking—there must be a way to bring him home." She squeezed Johamma's hands for emphasis. "You're the only one he might still listen to. Father is too proud, the council too suspicious, but you... you loved him when he was a boy. He'll remember that." Johamma remained silent for several moments, lost in thought. The chamber seemed to hold its breath with her, the enchanted lanterns dimming slightly as if sensing the weight of the decision being made. "Where would I even find him?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been several weeks since he set foot in Sandornen." "The merchants in the eastern district speak of development, a barony growing faster than normal pace. They say that a silver-haired young man is now engaged to the baroness. The talk among the merchants is that the young man was the reason for the sudden development. Though I am not sure if he is Jolthar." "Engaged to Baroness?" Johamma furrowed her brows, clearly taken aback. Bella smiled and replied, "Yes, Grandma, they say that she is now engaged. After getting a lot of proposals, she is now engaged to a young man who is about her daughter's age. They say she must have gone crazy." Bella added, "Though, I am not sure about that. Baroness Cleora wasn't the type of woman who would do something which wouldn't benefit her." Johamma too agreed with her. The Kaezhlars were well aware of the Barony of Tekkora and the now-residing Baroness. Bella said, "Grandma, I don't know for sure, but Jolthar may be that young man." Bella hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice uncertain yet laced with curiosity. "Grandma, I can't say for sure," she said, glancing toward the distance, "but... Jolthar may be that young man." There was a weight to her words, an unspoken thought lingering beneath them as if she herself was trying to grasp the full meaning of what she had just said. Johamma nodded slowly, her resolve building with each passing moment. "Then that is where I shall go. You're right, my dear. I've hidden from this responsibility for too long." Her spine straightened for a moment. "It's time I face him—and my own failings." "Do you want me to accompany you?" Bella offered, but Johamma shook her head. "No, this is a journey I must make alone. Some words can only be spoken in private, and some wounds can only be healed in silence." She rose from the bed, her movements betraying none of the frailty that sometimes plagued her. "I will prepare for departure at first light." When she spoke with Jolthar along with Caelum, she was hard on him and spoke in a way that hurt him and in turn made him leave the clan. As the days passed, she gradually came to realize the depth of her mistakes—the way they had treated a child who had been forced to grow far beyond his years. Despite his age, Jolthar had endured trials that no ordinary boy should have faced. She had always preached that the young men of the clan must be strong, that hardship was a crucible meant to forge warriors. Yet, in her own blindness, she had shown favouritism to others while Jolthar suffered in silence. He had been left to fend for himself, overlooked and cast aside, while others were nurtured and guided. And now, as she looked back, the weight of her choices settled upon her like an unbearable burden. Bella was also one of the reasons she realized her mistakes. At first, she was too prideful, but she realised that Jolthar was also her blood and decided not to give up on her blood, and her family. Bella stood as well, embracing her grandmother tightly. "Be careful, Grandma." "I've navigated worse than in my time," Johamma replied with a hint of her old spirit. "Besides, what harm would he do to an old woman who only wishes to speak with him? Even in his darkest moments, Jolthar was never cruel." What neither woman noticed was the shadow that shifted slightly near the partially open door—a shadow attached to a chambermaid who had been lingering just outside, her ears straining to catch every word of their private conversation. The chambermaid, Lysa, slipped away from the door with practised stealth, her soft-soled shoes making no sound on the polished stone floors. Her heart raced with the value of what she had overheard—information that would surely please her true mistress.

Chapter 247 247: Her blood, her family

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