Shadows Over Arcadia Chapter 12: 12. The Death Of Maribel

Read chapter 12 of Shadows Over Arcadia by Zacheas on NovelPedia.

12. The Death Of Maribel -3 years ago- I am Maribel Holloway, age 12, and one day, I will be an adventurer like my parents and their parents before them. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/1edee5c5-b36a-4cb5-8669-6258c8b51187 I sit at the simple wooden table in our one-room apartment in the commons of Cairndorn, staring at the door. The room is dimly lit by the faint glow of the small metal furnace and a single candle flickering in its iron holder. We don't usually use wood for the furnace or candles unless it's absolutely necessary, but today, I need their warmth and light to push back the creeping cold, and the suffocating loneliness. My hands clutch the sides of my head as I will the door to open. Please, I beg silently. Please let them come home. I imagine my parents stepping through, their faces lit with triumphant smiles, their arms reaching out to pull me into a hug. I've kept the apartment warm and inviting for them, preparing soup that now sits cold in bowls at their places on the table. Everything is ready for their return. But they're not here. They were supposed to be back before dark, hours ago. My parents are adventurers, trained to hunt monsters, protect clients, and gather rare materials. Their quests often take them far from home, so I'm used to being alone for stretches of time. I've grown comfortable with the solitude, even proud of how independent I've become. But this is different. Though they often leave me behind, they've always returned when they said they would. If they were delayed, they'd send a messenger spell to let me know. That's what adventurers do. This time, there's no message. No word. Just silence. It terrifies me. My mind races with possibilities, each worse than the last. What if they can't contact me? What if they've been hurt, or worse? I know their job is dangerous. Every adventurer's is. Deep down, I've always understood that one day, they might not come home. But my parents aren't just any adventurers, they're A-rank, some of the best there are. I've seen them take down powerful monsters, seen their skill and strength firsthand. Perhaps it was easy to convince myself they were untouchable or invincible. Every passing minute is agony. I sit at the table, my fingers tangling nervously in my hair as I try to hold back the tears threatening to spill. My mind races with desperate reassurances. They're going to be okay. They have to be okay. But what if they're not? The thought claws at me, tightening my chest. What would I do? What could I do? My spiraling panic is interrupted by the sound of the door handle turning. I freeze, my heart leaping with sudden hope. The door creaks open, and relief washes over me like a flood, so powerful it nearly knocks me over. A smile breaks across my face as excitement and joy bubble up. "They're back!" I whisper to myself, jumping to my feet. My parents, my invincible, untouchable parents, are home, safe and sound, just like I knew they would be. "Mom! Dad!" I call out, my voice filled with joy. But then I stop, the words catching in my throat as confusion creeps in. The light from the furnace illuminates their faces as they step into the room, or rather, as they are dragged into the room. My father leans heavily against the doorframe, supporting my mother, who sags in his arms. Her head is bowed, her hair falling over her face, hiding her expression. My father's free hand grips the door handle for support, his knuckles white with strain. https://shadowsoverarcadia.com/api/storage/objects/uploads/ea7fd344-4c33-43ac-91f5-ac38d80e423f Something's wrong. "Mom? Dad?" My voice trembles as I step closer. Behind them, a third figure emerges from the darkness, a bearded man with weathered skin and eyes as hard as stone. He shoulders much of their weight, helping to guide them through the doorway. The stranger's rough appearance and unkind expression send a jolt of unease through me, but I can't tear my eyes away from my parents. "What's go