“No,” Mingxi breathed. “It’s waking.”
The fragment twisted once more—violently—sending ripples through the entire leyline pool. Then it stilled. Not gone. Just waiting. Watching. As if memorizing her magic, classifying it, recognizing it.
Poppy whispered, “Mingxi… what does that mean?”
His arm tightened around her. “It means you’re no longer just someone who fought the moonwell battle.” His voice roughened. “You’re a beacon.”
Her stomach dropped. “A beacon for what?”
Mingxi stared at the fragment, eyes burning silver. “For whatever that thing used to be.”
The moment the chamber doors sealed behind them, Mingxi didn’t breathe. He didn’t speak. He just held her, one arm around her waist, the other braced under her shoulders as he half carried, half guided Poppy through the halls of the old library.
“I can walk,” she whispered.
He didn’t loosen his grip. “I’m not taking the chance.”
His voice cracked on the last word. Poppy knew the leyline disturbance had rattled him—really rattled him—and seeing him afraid was somehow worse than facing the fragment itself.
They reached the upper level, where two warriors stiffened at the sight of Mingxi’s expression.
“Summon the Council,” he ordered. “Now.”
The warriors sprinted.
Poppy rested her hand on his chest. “Mingxi… look at me.”
He did. Barely. His eyes were silver-bright, pupils sharp, breath too fast.
“It reached for you,” he said, voice low and shaking. “It shouldn’t be able to reach for anyone. And it did. It chose you.”
“It chose my magic,” she corrected gently.
But he didn’t relax. “That’s notbetter.”
Chapter 97
The main council hall filled quickly with many in attendance: Shen Mingzhao at the center, Xu Yunlian at his right, Elder Suyin and Elder Qiao, Minghua and Mingjun, several ward-keepers, two shrine Guardians who smelled faintly of foxfire and earth, and Lysandra.
She was sitting sideways in a chair, eating dried mango with absolutely no sense of urgency. She perked up when they entered.
“Oh! It’s happening now, isn’t it?” she asked.
Mingxi ignored her and guided Poppy straight to the center of the hall. The murmurs died instantly.
Mingzhao stood. “What happened?”
Mingxi’s voice was clipped and cold. “The leyline is disturbed. The fragment is active.”
A collective intake of breath.
Elder Qiao frowned. “Fragments do not become active without fuel.”
Poppy swallowed. “They… they can sense magic, right? High levels? Ancient levels?”
“They respond to power,” Suyin corrected. “Indiscriminately. They do not seek individual signatures.”
Lysandra snorted loudly. “Welp. That’s out the window.”
