XIII

The Oria Forest

The following morning, Reya woke the twins by pressing a small, pale blue sphere into each of their hands. After a moment of gazing down at the curious orbs, Kara looked up at their friend and gasped. Dressed in the same practical attire she wore on the day they first met, Reya grinned and gestured toward Aden and Kiro, who had also changed back into their familiar clothes.

Aden’s long white jacket, edged with light blue trim, was zipped to his collarbone but open from the waist down, revealing navy, full-length britches. He looked scruffy, his combat boots unlaced and his hair in its perpetually unkempt state. In stark contrast, Kiro, dressed in his traditional Sentinel suit, appeared as formal and imposing as ever. Kara sighed and turned her attention back to Reya.

"We don't have time for this," Reya said, her tone both kind and firm. "Hold the orb above your head. Trust me."

A soft whoosh confirmed that Lyra had already activated her orb. Her camping gear had been replaced by her everyday clothes, and she was now gazing down at herself in wonder. Laughing, she turned and ran to join Aden and Kiro, who had already started walking toward the Oria Forest.

Heeding the cue, Kara closed her eyes and raised the orb. A tingling sensation, the whisper of magic, washed over her. When she opened them again, the orb was gone, and she was dressed in her own familiar clothes. Grinning, Reya led her from the now-empty encampment.

"How does that work, exactly?" Kara asked, falling into step beside her. "The orbs, the clothes."

Reya adjusted the straps of her leather top. "It's magic, Kara. Does the how of it truly matter?"

The answer didn't satisfy Kara. Her curiosity about Oria, this strange new world she inhabited, was a persistent itch. "Of course, it's magic! I just want to understand the mechanics. I'm interested," she insisted, her voice trailing off as she glared at the back of Reya's head.

They walked in silence for a time, with Kara wearing her most Lyra-esque pout. The quiet had barely settled before Lyra danced back to her sister's side, her laughter echoing through the trees. "Kara! You will not believe what I just found out about Aden—"

Aden sprinted back from the head of the line and clamped a hand over Lyra's mouth. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes furious. Lyra struggled against his grip, her curses muffled by his palm.

"I would appreciate it if you stayed out of my head, Lyra!" he seethed. "I thought Kara was the only Aether Mage here!" He shot Kara a dark look that instantly wiped the smile from her face.

"Hey, don't look at me," she said defensively. "I didn't do anything."

Just then, Lyra's voice bloomed inside her mind. Aden and Reya have a romantic history! I saw a memory—they shared a very steamy night together! Isn't that the cutest thing?

Kara sent a mental sigh, exasperated by her twin's insatiable appetite for romance. I don't think he wants anyone to know, Lyra. He seemed more than just a little agitated.

With a final curse, Aden released the sputtering Lyra and stalked back to Kiro's side, casting one last menacing glance at the Fated twins. Lyra sighed dramatically, laced her hands behind her head, and withdrew from Kara's thoughts. Exasperated, Kara shook her blond ponytail.

They continued their journey, the path taking them deeper into the stunning Oria Forest. The colossal trees offered a generous canopy of shade, dappled with patches of brilliant sunlight that pierced the leaves. The cheerful chorus of birdsong enhanced the beautiful serenity, at least until Lyra broke the peace with a whimper about her aching feet. As she and Kara bickered over trivialities and Kara teased her sister about being hungry again, Kiro's patience finally snapped.

"ENOUGH!" he bellowed. The twins froze. Instantly, Reya and Aden stood at attention, awaiting his next command. He stood with his feet planted wide, hands fisted at his sides, a violent rage etched into his features. "Must you two chatter incessantly? Can we not have a moment of peace on this journey?"

The heavy silence was shattered by a snort, then a giggle. A moment later, Lyra and Kara were doubled over, howling with laughter. The Sentinel Commander was aghast; no one had ever dared to laugh at him in his "authority mode." He was so stunned that he missed Reya's faint smile before she turned back to assessing their supplies. Aden just chuckled, clapped the surprised Kiro on the back, and urged him forward. "Don't worry about it. Those two find humor in everything."

For two days, the Sentinel entourage marched steadily toward Everwood, the hidden castle. As night fell on the second day, a chill that had nothing to do with the evening air seeped into Kara's thoughts, making her shudder. A wave of pure dread washed over her. One moment, she and Lyra were playing I-Spy; the next, her sister's voice was swallowed by a deafening roar. The forest path vanished, replaced by a vast, undulating landscape blanketed in snow.

The wind battered her, flinging ice chips against her face. It shrieked in her ears, a physical force that seemed to shred her very thoughts. Gasping, she collapsed to her knees. Please, no! Stop! she cried out in her mind.

A cold, bitter laugh echoed on the gale. The cold felt so visceral it threatened to unmoor her from reality. Her eyes wide with terror, Kara staggered back to her feet as the snow thickened, the wind intensified, and the laughter grew louder. Her Aether force welled inside her, a crackling heat that ripped through her body and then exploded outward. A scream tore from her lips as the power surged past her, and a series of images flashed through her mind: an explosion, a great tree, a crimson gem, the Princess, a figure lost in a blizzard, and a young girl with her own face. Then, everything went dark.

"KARA!" Lyra screamed as her sister crumpled to the ground. She had seemed perfectly fine only seconds before. Terrified, Lyra was too afraid to risk a mental probe and instead cried out for the others. Reya's maternal instincts kicked in, and she was the first to arrive.

Kneeling to check Kara's pulse, she asked, "What happened?"

Lyra could only shake her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know! We were just playing, and she… she just collapsed."