XXV

From her perch within the Dragon's talons, Lyra saw it: the flash of Kiro's sword on the north bank. Reaching for Kael, she slipped into the Dragon's consciousness. She was instantly assaulted by a torrent of alien memories, visions of rage and betrayal: a placid life in the Sovereign City, the ghost of Kiro’s smile as guards closed in, the princess’s laughter twisting into anguish, and a blinding, treacherous hatred that clawed at her own mind. Then, there was only an unnerving emptiness. Terrified, Lyra probed deeper into the void.

The darkness receded, replaced by the sight of a magnificent ballroom and the strains of an elegant melody. Across the gleaming floor, she saw Kael bow to the Princess, drawing her into an embrace before their lips met in a tender kiss.

The image fractured, then reformed. Lyra was now in the Princess's place, Kael's lips pressing against her own. She surrendered to his vision, to the intoxicating delusion. It felt impossibly real. She rested her head on his shoulder as he hummed a melancholic tune—Mynora's Lullaby, the very one from her vision—and swayed gently with him. A sense of peace, of drowsiness, washed over her. Then, the brutal memory of her reality shattered the illusion. She pulled back, her eyes meeting Kael's. He offered a warm, knowing smile and nodded before leaning in to kiss her again. Just before their lips could touch, Lyra tore her consciousness away and opened her eyes.

With a deafening roar, the Dragon wheeled around, facing the north bank. "Hold on!" Lyra shouted to the others, her voice nearly lost in the wind as they shot directly toward the ruins.

The Dragon landed near the shrine, its own dark fire carving a path through the spectral ghosts. Lyra leaped from its claws and ran to Kiro, who immediately pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Come on! We have to help Kara and Haken!" she urged, pointing to the two figures clashing above the lake. "One of those ghosts possessed Kara! Haken went to intercept her, but I don't think he's strong enough on his own!"

A flicker of understanding, almost joyous, lit Reya's face. The others stared, their expressions a mixture of anger and disbelief at her tone. "So Kara is the goddess they spoke of!" she declared. "They're channeling her power to drown us!"

Without another word, they all scrambled back into the Dragon's grasp. As they ascended, Lyra pulled Kiro closer, her whisper a fragile confession against the wind. "I really love you."

His reply, "It'll be okay," was a steady anchor in her sea of turmoil. She pressed her face to his chest, stealing a quick kiss. For a fleeting moment, the image of the ballroom tryst flashed through her mind, and she felt a violent surge of Kael's energy. She wrestled with the conflicting feelings for the two men but forced them down.

Above the churning water, Haken cried out as the possessed Kara struck him with a bolt of pure Umbra. His concentration on the clouds wavered, and he stumbled in the air. For a brief instant, he felt Kara's true Aether fighting to break free. Reaching out with his mind, he caught a glimpse of their first meeting, a flash of her innate innocence and hope. He knew he had to protect her. Drawing on the deepest reserves of his power, Haken began to weave a purification spell. Just as he was about to unleash it, the Dragon soared into place beside him, their allies in tow.

"Combine our powers! Your spell will be strong enough then!" Lyra yelled, grabbing his arm. Reya, Elisia, and Haelia joined their hands, their collective strength coursing into him. The spirit possessing Kara seemed to pause, impressed by the sheer power radiating from the Fated Mages, and let out a cackle. Without hesitation, Haken unleashed the spell.

Kara’s body convulsed as a sphere of dazzling light struck her chest, its purifying energy surging through every fiber of her being. The spirit shrieked, trying to escape its host before the Lumen could destroy it. With a final, focused blast of light, Haken obliterated the fleeing apparition.

As the spirit vanished with a final scream, the storm abated. Their combined mental energy gently lowered Kara's unconscious body onto a newly formed cloud. Haken rushed to her side, gathering her into his arms. Once he was sure she was safe, they all returned to the Dragon, their boat now lost to the depths.

Kiro gazed at the exhausted Haken, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Well, I guess we'll have to walk after all."

Haken managed a weak smile. "This doesn't mean you won."

The Dragon deposited them on the north bank. When Kael emerged from the dissipating flames, he found every gaze turned against him. "Why didn't you just take us to Ravenhold?" Lyra demanded, her voice raw with frustration.

Hurt warred with anger on Kael's face. With a dismissive shrug, he started walking toward the distant base. Growling under her breath, Lyra stomped after him. Before following, Haken glanced back at the ruins. "May you all now rest in peace," he murmured, offering a slight bow. He turned to join the others as another mournful wind swept across the ancient home of the Shadow Elves.

It was nearly dusk when they finally reached Ravenhold. Tension clung to them like the evening chill as they passed more stone ruins dotting the landscape. Then, through the quiet, they heard the chime of a small bell, followed by a child's laugh and a soft meow. A small black cat with startling purple eyes and a matching ribbon around its neck leaped onto a low stone wall. It purred as it rubbed against Kael, meowed once more, and then hopped down. The group watched, stunned, as a genuine smile touched the unstable man's lips while he stroked the animal.

"Now that is creepy," Kara muttered to Haken, who snorted in agreement.

"Viola! Where did you go?" a young girl's voice called out. A girl of about twelve, with short, vibrant orange hair, scrambled over the wall. Her face lit up when she saw Reya, and she ran to embrace her. "REYA! I knew you'd come today! I told Aden you would!" The girl's joyful cry dissolved into a harsh coughing fit, her small body slumping against Reya's.

"Anya! You shouldn't be out here!" Reya cried, gently lowering the girl to the ground. Haken rushed over, and a warm light enveloped her body, instantly soothing her coughs.

"I'm glad you came, Reya," Anya said, her voice faint. "I've missed you."

Reya beamed, helping the girl to her feet. "I'm glad I'm here, too! You've grown so much."

Anya blushed. She scooped up the cat and said, "I see you've met Viola. She's my little friend."

"Everyone," Reya announced with mock solemnity, "this is Anya, Apprentice of the Elements and Mistress of Ravenhold."

Anya giggled. "Oh, stop! And you forgot that I'm Aden's kid sister!" she added, looking at Reya with hopeful eyes.

"Right!" Reya laughed, a hint of unease in her tone. "Well, the blondes are Kara and Lyra, the Fated Aether and Pyre Mages. The Kitsune is Haelia, the Gale Mage, and next to her is Elisia, the Terra Mage. The man with green hair is Haken, the Half-Elf Lumen Mage. You already know Kiro, and this gentleman is Kael Runo, vessel of the Sacred Beast of Might, the Dragon."

Anya curtsied to the group. When Kael was introduced, she extended her hand. He immediately dropped to one knee and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. Blushing furiously, she darted behind Reya.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they saw a young man, Aden, standing near a pedestal by the floating base. Anya grabbed Reya's hand and pulled her toward him, then took his hand and placed it in Reya's. He gave her a sheepish look, and Reya flushed, turning her face away. As Elisia hooted and Haelia let out an appreciative wolf-whistle, a deep blush crept up Reya's neck. She snatched her hand back. "Cut it out!"

To their surprise, Kiro ordered Sentinels to escort Kael from Ravenhold. "Are you serious?" Haken protested angrily. "You'd all be dead at the bottom of the lake if it weren't for him!"

Aden intervened. "It's merely a precaution. We need to prevent another incident like the ones in the Sovereign City and Everwood." His calm explanation seemed to mollify them.

Aden then showed them to their apartments. "Ravenhold is a magical research facility," Reya explained as they walked. "The mages who study here are the most advanced the kingdom has seen since the time of the original Wardens."

"That's because we have my brother!" Anya added from the safety of Aden's arms. "He's the best, aren't you, Aden?"

He chuckled. "Only because you say I am!"

"No! It's because you are! Right, Reya?"

Reya's smile softened as her eyes met Aden's. "Yes, Anya. He's the best."

Breaking their gaze, Aden cleared his throat and led the twins to an opulent suite. The four-room apartment was elegantly furnished in shades of lavender and pink. "Wow!" Lyra gasped, immediately testing the loveseat with a few gleeful bounces. Meanwhile, Kara made a beeline for the shower, offering a silent prayer of thanks.

Later that night, curled together in their enormous bed, Lyra started rambling. "…I mean, someone has got to know what's going on, right? So why are we always left in the dark? And Kael is just so weird, isn't he? One minute he's practically groping me in a mind-vision, the next he's saving the day. Are you even listening?"

Kara clapped a hand over her sister's mouth. She had heard something in the living room. Creeping toward the door, she noticed the window was ajar. After locking it, she turned to find Haken sitting on the loveseat.

"It's just Haken, Lyra," Kara whispered. "Go back to sleep." With a disgruntled grumble, Lyra shut the bedroom door.

Haken smirked. "Your room's nicer than mine."

Kara returned his grin. "I bet yours isn't all cute and girly."

He held her gaze, and she felt that familiar, thrilling spark. "No, thank the gods. I'd much rather stay in yours." He stood, closed the distance between them, and then rested his head in her lap. It was sweet, though not quite what she'd had in mind. Smiling softly, Kara ran her fingers through his hair and began to hum Mynora's Lullaby.

Suddenly, another vision seized her. She was on a cliff's edge, looking down at a frozen sea. This time, she couldn't turn to see the figures fighting behind her. Her gaze was locked on the face of the one who had thrown her, a figure floating above as she plunged into the icy water, smiling and brandishing a blood-soaked sword.

Kara came to with Haken holding her face, his thumbs gently dabbing at her tears. The memory of the vision and the raw worry in his eyes only made them flow faster. "Shh. Come here," he murmured, pulling the trembling Kara into his arms.

When she had finally calmed down, she looked up into his eyes. "Remember when you said you'd never hurt me?"

Haken nodded, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Promise me you meant it," she whispered, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. Haken brushed it away with his thumb, pressing his forehead to hers and kissing the spot where the tear had been.

"I swear to protect you from all the evils of this world," he began, his lips trailing from her nose to her own. "I swear to always be by your side and to fight for you. I promise to…"

But even as she deepened the kiss, a terrible grief coiled in her heart, a chilling counterpoint to the warmth of the moment. The final, haunting image from her vision would torment every happy moment she might have. All she could do was pray it would never come to pass.