We don't stay long in the dark streets of Corvalis. Kael leads me through back alleys and hidden passages, away from the bodies of the Revenants. My body is still trembling from the fight, my heart heavy, but not just from exhaustion—something deeper, something more suffocating.
Kael's presence beside me is the only thing keeping me grounded as we move quickly, almost too quickly for me to keep up with. His eyes are constantly scanning the surroundings, his every step purposeful. I don't ask where we're going—I don't want to know. For now, I can only follow.
The safe house Kael's brought us to is hidden in plain sight, tucked between two crumbling buildings on the edge of the city. The door slides open with a low creak, revealing a dimly lit room filled with the scent of old books and stale air. It's small, but it feels like a sanctuary compared to the chaos outside.
Kael gestures for me to sit at a worn table, and I do, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. My breath is still shallow, my chest tight with the heaviness that's been growing inside me. I can feel the stone inside my heart, spreading further with every moment. It's a constant reminder of what I'm becoming—and the price I'm paying.
I don't speak at first. I can't. There's too much in my head, too many questions, too much fear clawing at me. I want to scream, but the words get stuck in my throat.
Kael finally breaks the silence, his voice low and controlled. "You're not okay, Lyra."
I laugh—bitterly, sharply. "Really? You think?"
His gaze softens, and for a moment, the walls around me crack. But only for a moment. I can't let them fall completely. If I do, I'll drown in the emotions I've been trying to avoid for years.
"I don't know how much longer I can do this, Kael," I whisper, my voice breaking. "Every time I use my power, a part of me dies. I'm losing myself, and I can feel it. Every time I take someone else's ability, the stone gets harder. Soon… soon there won't be anything left."
Kael steps closer, his hands hovering near mine, but he doesn't touch me. Instead, he stands there, studying me with those piercing eyes that always seem to see straight through my walls.
"You're stronger than you think," he says quietly, his voice filled with a quiet urgency. "You can fight this. But you have to stop running. You have to stop pretending that you can't change the outcome."
I shake my head, the weight in my chest growing unbearable. "You don't understand. I can't stop, Kael. If I don't keep using my power, I won't survive. And neither will anyone else."
His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I see a flash of something in his eyes—anger, frustration, and… fear. "You're not invincible, Lyra. You're breaking. Every time you steal someone's power, you lose a piece of yourself. And soon, there won't be enough left for you to keep going."
I stand abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor as I pace, unable to stay still. "I don't have a choice. The Revenants won't stop until they've drained every Celestial Gift. They're already getting stronger. If I don't keep fighting, they'll win."
"Then let me help," Kael insists, stepping closer, his voice soft but firm. "There has to be another way. A way that doesn't cost you everything."
I pause, the words catching in my throat. "How? How do we stop them without me losing myself?"
Kael looks at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine, and I can see the weight of the answer in his gaze. "I don't know," he admits quietly. "But I will find a way. I won't let you do this alone."
The stone in my chest shifts again, a sharp pain slicing through me, and I gasp, gripping the edge of the table for support. The cold is overwhelming now, seeping deeper into my bones.
Kael is at my side in an instant, his hand on my shoulder, his touch warm against the chill creeping into my skin. "Lyra, you have to stop. You're not just killing yourself—you're pushing me away too. I won't watch you fall apart."
I look at him, my vision blurred by the tears I refuse to shed. "What if it's too late?" I ask softly, my voice trembling. "What if I can't fix it anymore?"
His gaze softens, his hand gently cupping my face. "It's never too late. Not as long as you're still here."
For the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself believe him. For a fleeting moment, I can almost see a way out, a way to stop the madness before it consumes me completely. But that hope is fragile, like glass, and I know better than to hold onto it for too long.
"You'll help me?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.
"Always," Kael promises, his words a vow that settles over me like a blanket.
But I can feel the storm still brewing inside me. I can feel the future pulling me toward it, toward the inevitable. And no matter how hard I try to resist, I know deep down that there's no escaping what's coming. The question is not whether I'll survive—it's whether I can hold onto myself long enough to fight for a future worth saving.
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