Chapter 28
W
hat felt like several hours passed in slow motion, which was exactly what she had hoped for.
It felt like instead she had been sitting on the floor for months, without being hungry or needing anything to keep her alive.
Running through her thoughts felt easy in here, and while she could have used a warm body beside her for support, being there alone gave her some clarity she desperately needed.
If she chose to bond with Ilkiz, she would be one step closer to becoming the realm’s Keeper.
She didn’t care to change what was going to happen; who was she to determine the fate of the realm?
People died every day, and there would always be terrible people.
Rah couldn’t speak of what his time was like before the Reshaping but, by the smallest of details he did share, there was absolutely zero to show for his sacrifice.
Look where they were now. Nothing had changed; powers sought to overthrow other powers, the affluent continued to exploit the less fortunate, and gods wielded their influence with impunity, thinking themselves above consequences.
Over the span of nearly seven thousand years, they obliterated Dragons and Giants out of fear, and isolated an entire race. The gods forged a treaty with the mortal realm, pledging not to interfere in their affairs—only to shatter it without facing consequences.
History would continue to repeat itself, and there was no amount of Reshaping that she could do to change that.
Then came the prospect of destruction, eradicating the entire population to commence anew with nothing but the bones of this world.
While there were moments when she could envision such a drastic act, it was a reality she would never bring to pass.
Despite her disdain for many individuals and places, she recognized the presence of good.
It wasn’t her position to assume the roles of judge, jury, and executioner.
This brought her back to the alternative option.
What could it entail? Becoming its protector, perhaps for eternity?
The thought felt like an enduring sentence she was unprepared to embrace.
Without unlocking the secrets within Aurora, she remained clueless about any other possibilities, and she had no desire to confront what she couldn’t comprehend.
It was not within anyone’s right to foresee the future, justified or not. Attempting to alter the negative aspects would only disrupt any potential good that could come her way.
“It’s okay to be scared; it’s not okay to give up.
” Jayce’s words seemed to effortlessly weave into every facet of her life.
Regardless of the situation, his expressions were impeccably timed, perpetually serving as a guiding light in her darkest moments.
He never belittled her for feeling afraid; instead, he consistently uplifted her, empowering her to summon strength and discover her ability to overcome challenges with time.
Time stretched before her, and in the end, if she were to exact revenge on Goddrick, perhaps she could spend her days with the three elements of the realm, forsaking the pursuit of Magic.
As they themselves had acknowledged, she stood apart from the other Keepers.
The answer might elude her for now, but with time, she believed she could uncover it.
With a heavy sigh, Azahara closed the book that had not been flipped through since she opened it and placed it back on the shelf.
Coming to a stand, she found Rah ready for her near Ilkiz.
“Thank you both for being patient with me,” She said guiltily, “I have never been able to choose what I wanted to do in my life. Now that I have the ability to do so, I find being too hasty will get me in trouble.”
“You don’t need to justify anything to us, Azahara.” There was a smile lining his lips when she looked up at him. “What have you decided?”
Looking at Ilkiz then, she nodded, “I’ll bond with you, if you will have me.”
Rah prepared quickly, and Azahara wanted to ask what the hurry was, but she didn’t want to make him feel self-conscious. It’s possible he was afraid that she would change her mind.
As if preparing for some ritual, he drew a large circle in the center of the space and drew symbols within it. The chalk was white, but as time passed, it turned red and began to glow as if it were being lit on fire.
She stood there just watching, really unsure of what to do. Thankfully, Ilkiz filled the quiet with a question.
“Do you want to know the truth about what happened that day you met Goddrick?” There was part of Azahara that didn’t want to know.
That she wanted to stay ignorant in the hopes that she truly hadn’t damned herself to this life.
However, there would be a part that would continue to eat at her.
That part which would have wanted to know the truth, to try and overcome the trauma and pain that it would inevitably cause.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head.
“You did take your sisters up to the tomb that day.
They wanted to see the god of legend who helped the lands prosper.
When your sister ran in, you chased after her.
She had been reaching for the hourglass, and you instead grabbed it before she could even touch it.
Once your skin contacted it, your fate was sealed.
Your choice to turn it was not your own, and the power that he held, seduced your mind into turning it for him.
It pulled your soul from you, and sealed it away.
“You had been very unhappy, Azahara, but you never hated your family, and they never hated you. You were loved, and you loved them. He took more than your life away from you, and I will ensure his destruction.”
Hating that once again, she was crying, she asked, “How—how do you know that?” Her words echoed broken and unrepairable, mirroring the shattered state of her heart.
“It was written in the Book,” A soft gasp escaped her lips, “Rah asked to stop it. While I fought with the prospect, we could not change fate. Only the ones that are caught in its thread can do so.”
“Was I fated to turn it all along?”
“You were.”
Her hands were trembling, “Can the book be wrong?”
“Wrong, no. However, it can be changed, as we have seen with your fate.”
When Rah began walking towards her, his hands covered in white chalk, she sniffled and nodded. “Thank you, Ilkiz, for telling me the truth.”
“We will destroy him; it is my promise to you.” She believed her and knew that Ilkiz would give her the strength to do so.
“You ready?” Rah said, putting out his hand to her. “This isn’t the hard part, and while it may be uncomfortable, it shouldn’t be painful.”
It had been a reoccurring comment of hers, and it was continuing to hold true. “I am no stranger to pain.”
“Let’s change that.” Ilkiz commented just before Azahara found herself in the center of the circle, on her knees.
Rah positioned her hands on her legs, palms up.
It was only then that she glanced down at her clothes, still in the traditional dress she had entered with, but now immaculately cleaned—no traces of blood or dirt remained.
The ground rumbled around her, signaling Ilkiz’s approach. Without needing to look, Azahara sensed the Dragon moving in her direction. Rah positioned himself in front of her, prompting her to lift her gaze alongside his.
With a majestic stature, Ilkiz’s neck extended upwards, revealing the vastness of the chamber designed to accommodate her immense size.
Gradually, the dragon lowered her head. Even in this descent, the wind stirred by the motion tousled Azahara’s hair, creating a whirlwind that scattered dust outward from their presence.
Rah smiled, “Ready?”
“What will happen to me?” she asked, her voice trembling.
That smile on his face grew wider, “You will become strong.”
All she desired was the ability to be strong—both physically and mentally. The idea of possessing the strength to safeguard the people she loved steadied her heart. Those same nerves transformed into a liquid power coursing through her veins.
“She is ready, and always has been.”
“Your heart, Azahara Rhay Starfall, will beat with the might of a Dragon. The blood in your veins will burn like the fire in their throats. Your bones and skin will thicken to withstand the Spirit of Ilkiz. Your eyes will see the Realm from new heights.”
She closed her eyes and thought only of them. Jayce, Kaed, Illyan, Zhal, Xol, Alyse—
“With this bond, you give your everything to protecting Ilkiz and her people; as she will protect you and your world.”
They are my world.
Her eyes opened, and she beheld the radiant glow emanating from them. They were ablaze, but not with the threat of tears. They were transforming, much like her body.
“Incredible.”
She watched as Rah grinned, baring his teeth in excitement.
Sensing her hands twitch, she directed her gaze downward.
She observed the subtle lines in her palms visibly shifting, as if making room for something new.
A cold wind shot through her spine, attempting to wrap around her, its chilling embrace intensified by the molten flow coursing through her veins, a threat to engulf her in flames.
Tilting her head back, she met Ilkiz’s gaze, her head positioned directly above her. Hunger flickered in the creature’s eyes, as if it were ready to devour her. Yet, there was no fear in Azahara’s eyes; instead, a serene smile graced her lips.
“Take my Spirit, Keeper.”