Chapter 23
Avilyna
DUTY OF A WARRIOR
I must’ve taken a longer drag than I thought, because next thing I know, I’m deep in the woods with no idea how I got here.
Typical.
Leave it to me to get a little high and end up in a literal enchanted forest. The trees here tower over me, ancient things that breathe with you. There’s moss underfoot and light filtering through the leaves as in some old painting.
It’s beautiful, so of course, I keep walking, brain foggy but weirdly at peace.
I let my thoughts unravel. Something I’ve been trying to avoid lately.
But out here, it feels safer. Like maybe the trees aren’t judging me for being a mess, and that’s when I see it.
A tiny flicker of light, moving way too deliberately to be a bug, coming closer.
A pixie, a real one.
Glowing wings, delicate as glass, flutter so fast they blur. She circles, its newest curiosity, eyes twinkling. Then, without warning, she drops a tiny flower into my hands. A soft chime follows, like someone plucked a harp string straight out of the air.
A greeting?
“…Thanks?” I manage, trying to sound a lot less high than I currently feel. Apparently, that was the right thing to say because she twirls like she just finished a ballet solo, then zips off into the trees, leaving a trail of tinkling music behind her.
Okay, cool.
That happened. I keep walking, no idea where I’m going, but following an undeniable pull in my chest. Until I step into a sun-soaked clearing and everything just stops. Time. Thoughts. Even my damn breathing.
Because standing right there, as if it’s waiting for me, a pegasus.
I pinch myself, hard. But nope, the pristine white horse is still there.
Its wings appear to be spun from clouds and light.
The kind of mythical beauty that makes your heart stop.
Its eyes are a deep brown, thoughtful, way too knowing.
And the second they meet mine, I forget how to function.
There’s something about this place, this creature, that feels… familiar.
Like I’ve been here before.
Or dreamed it so many times, my body believes it’s real.
I take a slow step forward, then another.
It doesn’t run, just dips its head as if it's been waiting for me to catch up with the truth. My hand reaches out without thinking, because that’s a theme today, and when I touch its mane, it’s warm, soft, real. I feel grounded, awake.
Maybe, through all the chaos, the pain, and the mess I keep pretending doesn’t get to me, there’s a reason I ended up here.
As if I’ve been on my way to something all along, something that’s been waiting for me.
And in that moment, wrapped in the quiet magic of the forest, with this majestic pegasus standing calmly before me, I feel something I haven’t in a long time.
Peace.
Not the kind you fake to get through the day.
The real kind. The kind that settles deep in your chest and makes you think, maybe I’m going to be okay.
If something this pure can still exist in a world like this, then maybe I’ve still got a shot.
I lean in, resting my forehead gently against its smooth coat.
My eyes close, and just as I start to breathe it in.
Everything shifts.
Lightning behind my eyes, a vision tears through me, violent and blinding. My knees buckle, breath stolen from my lungs as images explode in my mind, flashes of something else—somewhere else—take over my mind.
I walk through the woods, my hand small in my mother’s, though I can’t quite see her face. She’s shrouded in a golden haze, her armour glowing softly in the sunlight that filters through the trees, casting ethereal light on everything around us. Each step she takes seems to pulse with power.
We step into the clearing, just the two of us, and the sounds of the forest fade into a tranquil silence. The land before us is alive, the grass swaying in a gentle breeze, and there, between the trees, I see them.
The pegasus.
Their majestic wings ripple with every movement, shimmering in the sunlight as liquid silver. Each one is more beautiful than the last, their coats gleaming like freshly fallen snow, their eyes full of wisdom. My mother’s voice pierces the silence, gentle yet unwavering.
“There’s a bond,” she begins, her words flowing, whisper of ancient trees.
“A sacred connection between a valkyrie and her pegasus. The creature chooses its warrior, and once that bond is sealed, it endures for life. It will always find you, as long as you remain within the same realm, and it will live as long as you do.”
I can’t stop my voice from rising in disbelief.
“But, mother, that means… if we die, they die too?” The injustice of it slams into my small chest, my heart racing in a mixture of shock and sadness.
My mother turns to me, her eyes filled with empathy.
She tucks a copper curl behind my ear, then gently taps the tip of my nose.
“That’s the greatest duty of a warrior,” she says, her voice calm and steady.
“Knowing that lives depend on you, always. Being a valkyrie is an honour, but with that honour comes a duty deeper than blood. It’s a burden you can never lay down.
” Her gaze lifts then, looking out over the grass, where the pegasus stand tall, their wings spread wide as they drink in the sunlight.
“That’s why protecting the innocent is so important.
We’re not just fighting for ourselves. We’re fighting for them, too, those who can’t defend themselves.
” I stand there, the wind whispering through the tall grasses, and I feel the weight of her words settling deep.
A responsibility that I didn’t quite understand.
One that runs deeper than anything I’ve ever known.
I swallow hard, my voice quieter this time, but firmer. “I understand, mother. I want to protect those who need us. Just like you do.” She smiles at me, the sunlight blinding her features, but I know she’s proud.
My gaze slowly refocuses on the creature.
I whisper, “Hello, old friend.”
Skyfire spreads her wings wide, stretching them toward the horizon. Her gaze locks with mine, and in those eyes, I see wisdom that feels as ancient as the stars themselves. She lets out a soft whinny before lowering her head, inviting me to stroke her silky mane.
In that moment, I feel it. The confirmation, solidifying in my bones, my body finally recognizing who and what I truly am. It’s like coming home.
I am the daughter of a valkyrie.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I laugh softly, the sensation of her gentle kisses on my palm overwhelming me. “I’m sorry I don’t have any snacks for you, but I’ll bring some next time,” I murmur. She responds with an approving neigh.
“Do you know how I can get back on my path?” I ask, a hint of desperation creeping into my voice. “We have a bond, right?” feeling a little crazy, talking to a pegasus.
Skyfire doesn’t answer with words, but in the way she moves. The quiet certainty in her steps tells me she understands, leading us out of the clearing, toward a hidden path. I blink in surprise as I hurry behind her, realizing this is the way back to the manor.
“Thank you,” I say softly, my heart swelling. “I’ll bring you apples tomorrow.” She nuzzles my hand, gently, then slips out through the canopy, vanishing into the forest. Knowing this isn’t the moment for an open reunion.
It’s not safe yet.
As I approach the manor’s gate, a muffled beat of music drifts through the air, mingling with the rustling leaves. My eyes flick left, to the lawn, where Kai, Wyll, and a stranger are each crouching over their bikes. This time, Kai’s shirt is off.
Damn, what a sight.
Wyll’s undeniably good-looking, but Kai…
He’s something else entirely. His body, a masterpiece, muscles carved with precision, every inch of his skin adorned with intricate tattoos that seem to tell their own stories.
His chest and abs are bare, gleaming in the dying sunlight, and I can’t help but feel a flicker of heat crawl up my neck. My mouth goes dry.
Get it together, Avilyna. You’re pathetic right now.
I force my eyes to look away, my focus landing on the stranger beside them.
This guy’s just as striking, though. His skin is deep and rich, gleaming like molten gold, his dark eyes full of an energy that radiates warmth.
Seriously, what kind of place is this? Did everyone here drink from the fountain of Aphrodite or something?
Damn these Elgarian genes.
I glance down at myself, knowing damn well I probably stand out just as much with whatever genetic magic I’ve inherited. It’s like my every move is being watched. But then again, it could also be because I’m the outsider here, and it’s written clear as day on my forehead.
I spent all my life moving from city to city; the change, the feeling of not belonging, is the only constant I know. Shaking off the thought, I push forward and head straight for the new guy. I offer my hand, hoping my voice doesn’t betray the flurry of emotions I’m trying to hide.
“Hi, I’m Avilyna.” He looks up at me with a warm, easy smile, wiping his hand on a rag that’s hanging from his loose jeans. The grease stains on the cloth somehow make him look even more effortlessly attractive. He shakes my hand with a firm grip.
“Hi, I’m Caleb. Sorry, I wasn’t around to welcome you. I’ve been holed up in the lab.”
“Caleb’s an alchemist.” Wyll tosses casually, still elbow-deep in his bike.
An alchemist?
I raise an eyebrow. “That’s impressive. I can’t say I know much about science; alchemy is definitely not my best subject.”
“Well, if you ever have any questions, I’d be more than happy to help.” Caleb’s face lights up with a grin, youthful and carefree, like he hasn’t had the world kick him down yet. And for a moment, I envy that about him.
“Sounds like a plan,” I reply, giving him a smile of my own. “But, uh, isn’t it kind of pointless to keep fixing up these bikes?”