Lore took my hand. “You’re the reason I’m still here. You pulled me out of nothing with every look, every choice. And if something cracked because you were afraid, then let me help fix it.” His hand tightened around mine while he dipped the one he’d cut into the water. “What was broken, I choose to help you mend.”
A ripple curled through the pool.
The talismans trembled and light throbbed along the side of the pool before fading.
Dorion joined us, his shoulders locked into that battle stance I recognized. Not for swords, but to shed the truth.
“My father told me I’d never be good enough to rule,” he said, not blinking. “Said I was weak and pitiful, not possessing the strength he needed in his heir.” He looked at us, at the pool, and at Laphira. “When I refused to weaponize myself for his pettygrievances, he threw me into the labyrinth. He did not even hesitate.”
Laphira’s eyes brimmed over.
“I thought I would die there,” he told her. “But my father was wrong. I was never weak or pitiful, and he did not break me.” He turned back to the water. “I see now I was waiting.” He lowered his bloody hand into the pool. “What was broken, I choose to help you mend.”
The pool shifted again. Cold, bright energy rippled across the talismans before dimming.
Farris whined from beside me. His eyes darted between us before settling on the talismans.
I sensed something deep stirring within him, something older than magic.
The pool churned, shimmering black. Silver. Crimson light flared beneath the surface. Smoke peeled off the nyxin’s fur, rising in coils. The shadows were leaving him.
He remained still, his eyes locked on the pool. Silver light traced up his legs and along his spine. For an instant, his lips pulled back like he was in pain. Then whatever Prager had tried to twist melted away.
Farris forgave himself.
He glanced at me and placed one paw in the water.
The shadows spiraled up in a swirl and wrapped around the talismans.
“Yes,” I whispered. “Farris. Farris. Dear little friend.”
Laphira joined me on my other side and gave me the sweetest smile. I'd made a friend, and how wonderful that felt.
With a shared nod, we thrust our bloodied hands into the water, speaking in unison. “What was broken, I choose with my full heart to mend.”
The water leapt. A glowing arc roared upward and washedover us, searing joy through my chest. My lungs froze and finally...finally...
I felt the change start.
The talismans rose and spun, twirling faster and faster, shadow and light chasing each other around the shapes. They throbbed like heartbeats until, with a flash of light, they melted into each other, becoming one.
Not Essence. Not Devotion. Not Dominion. All of them and something more.
Iskar Cor.
The cavern shook. Stone rattled beneath my knees. I reached both hands up, and the gleaming magical object floated down to land in my palm.
Warmth soaked my hands. The pull of truth and power hummed across my skin.
The light faded.
The Iskar Cor wasn't just three pieces reformed, it was love given physical form. I understood now why Aricor's corruption had been so devastating. He'd turned willing devotion into a tool of force.
The Iskar Cor resembled a blooming flower carved from living light, three petals that had once been the separate talismans now formed into one. Each petal gleamed in a different way, one with the pearly essence of truth, another the warm amber of devotion, and the third flickered with the deep ruby fire of strength.
Silence settled over the cavern, but it felt different now—peaceful instead of oppressive. The weight that had pressed against my chest for months was gone.
“We did it.” Wonder filled Lore's voice. He pulled me close, spinning me around as laughter bubbled up from deep inside me. “Wildfire, we actually did it.”
