Chapter Thirty-Four #2
“We’ve all made our choice, Elyssara, and we all have different reasons for being here.
We’re not going anywhere,” Therion’s stable presence and directness cut through my doubts and hesitations.
Somehow having him committed to this cause—the least likely and the most disagreeable of everyone in the room, save perhaps, for Jax—strengthens my resolve, a tenderness flooding through me at his unmistakable confidence in this. In me.
It was not long ago that Therion thought all of us useless, burdensome weights that he would begrudgingly have to save. His conviction now shows me that something has changed. Something has shifted in Therion’s commitment, in his stake in this—and I can’t help but feel relieved by that.
“Come on, El,” Seren wraps her arm around my shoulder and directs me to the table she’s been working at. “We’ve been trying to narrow down the location of the next relic, based on the next part of the prophecy,” Seren says, gesturing to the old parchment with my mother’s handwriting and a map.
“On starlit peaks where the heavens sigh,
The compass rests ‘neath the watcher’s eye.”
Seren recites the words. “The Watcher’s Eye is key,” she adds.
“The constellation?” I ask, moving closer.
Seren nods, her excitement palpable. “It’s more than that. It’s not just a constellation. The Watcher’s Eye represents truth, and it can only be seen from the highest peak in Aevryn. Legend says the sighing winds that sweep the peak carry truths for those brave enough to listen.”
Her words hang in the air, heavy with meaning. Truth. It’s a concept I’ve spent my life avoiding, and the idea of facing it—of it being unavoidable—makes my chest tighten.
“That sounds truly daunting, to be honest,” I murmur.
“Says the soon-to-be-strongest magical wielder in all of Aevryn and the prophesied savior of the realms,” Ronyn barks a laugh.
I wave a dismissive hand at him, unwilling to share about the lamp I just accidentally turned to dust while trying to stretch my arms. If only they knew I could be undone by a lamp.
“The sighing winds?” Kael’s voice penetrates the levity, it’s calm, but I don’t miss the flicker of intensity in his expression.
“Yes,” Seren continues. “They’re said to reveal the deepest truths to those who climb the peak.
It’s why the compass resides there. Only those willing to face their truth can claim it,” Seren speaks with authority, before adding, “Or at least, that’s my running theory based on pulling information from these books.
” Seren taps a pile of books that towers from the floor to her waist. “I just need to pinpoint the highest peak and the precise location we can see The Watcher’s Eye from that peak.
According to this book,” she taps the book Ronyn is thumbing through, “there is only one ridge on one mountain where we can meet that criteria.” Seren counts it out on her fingers, “We can see the constellation, we can hear the sighing winds, and we are also standing at the highest peak in Aevryn... oh! And we also will have to see it at night—starlit peaks and all, you know?”
Oh, only a few small requirements, then.
“Where in the Stars did you get all of these books, anyway?” Looking around at the guest room that appears to be in the throes of transforming into a library.
“Oh, it was easy actually. Therion and I broke into Galreth’s library last night,” Seren states matter-of-factly.
My eyes flick to Ronyn in question—he’s usually her loyal protector—and he shrugs with nonchalance.
“Our little girl is growing up, El. She’s drinking ale, speaking of cocks and now she breaks into libraries.
Sacred libraries of all things!” He feigns shock with the last words, before breaking out into laughter he has quite obviously been trying to contain.
The whole room tries to stifle their own laughs before giving in to raucous laughter that warms my heart, despite the stakes on the line in front of us. Seren’s face burns bright red, clearly mortified by the crass—and entirely honest—teasing from Ronyn.
“Ronie!” she gasps in admonishment.
Therion’s brow rises. “Well, I knew about the ale and the library, but the other part... you are quite the intriguing woman, aren’t you?
” His comment is intended in jest, but something about him referring to Seren as a woman, rather than a girl, hangs in the air.
It’s the first time he’s done so, and we all notice it.
And obviously so does Seren, as a small smile breaks free on her face.
“Yes. I would say that I am a very intriguing woman,” she stands a little taller, accepting the compliment in earnest.
Therion clears his throat, trying to dismiss the loaded moment. “Anyway, that’s all well and good about the theory for the compass, but we’ll need to get to the peak. There’s a storm rolling in. We can’t leave Galreth until it passes, no matter which direction we’re going.”
“We’ll use the time to prepare,” Kael says decisively. “We’ll secure the plan and the route, acquire horses, food, supplies. And...” His gaze shifts to me. “Elyssara needs training.”
I stiffen. “Training?”
Kael moves closer to me, leaning into my ear. In a hushed voice meant only for me, “Your magic responds to your emotions, Elyssara. Your skin glowed bright enough to light up the entire room when you came last night, beautiful. We need you to be able to control it.”
Mortification floods me. Oh my fucking Stars.
“Your magic is unstable, and it responds to... heightened emotions,” he says so the room can hear. “You need control, or it will control you.”
Well, that was a diplomatic way to say it.
“And you know someone who can help, I’m assuming?” I ask, though I already know the answer.
Jax steps forward, her boots echoing softly against the wooden floor. The room stills as if her presence alone demands it. Her voice is cool and measured, but it cuts through the air like a blade. “I’m a Luminaar. Controlling chaos is my thing.”
Great. She’s fluent in chaos.
A Luminaar. I’ve heard whispers of them from the past—rare, dangerous, and almost mythical in their power. My stomach twists, unsure if I’m about to gain an ally or face a new kind of chaos.
The tension in the air could be cut with a blade.
I have a feeling this will not be fun.