“Suit yourself.”
Despite his warning, he stayed sat beside me in comfortable silence for the remainder of the trip.
The island we anchored at was smaller than I’d anticipated and appeared to be completely uninhabited. From where I stood, I could see a large stone structure jutting out from atop the cliff. The architecture was reminiscent of the Consortium, clearly of Elven influence. Despite its currently rundownappearance, I could picture the grandeur it once possessed. What I couldn’t comprehend was why it was here on an abandoned island on the edge of the world, and why the Grand Arch Magus had wanted me to see it.
We’d pulled the ship as close as possible, but the rocks surrounding the island proved difficult to navigate. For fear of shredding our ship to pieces and a lack of desire to swim, we decided to take two rowboats to the shore. Naturally, Kaz and Makatza had turned that into a competition as well, and so I was in Kaz’s boat, holding on for dear life while he rowed faster than I’d thought physically possible. Kaelias sat beside me, thoroughly amused, scooping out the water that threatened to sink us.
The moment we hit land, I was jumping to exit the boat and put my feet on solid ground. Ordinarily, I wasn’t fond of sand, but I was grateful for it now. I shot Kaz a glare to let him know just what I thought about his reckless behavior, but he was too busy boasting his victory to notice.
“Ah, Mak,” he sighed in bliss. “A valiant effort on your behalf. I look forward to you fulfilling your end of our wager.”
Lorian cocked a brow, stepping on to the beach. “A wager?I must admit, I’m intrigued.”
“Do not concern yourself with this idiot, Captain,” Makatza hissed before turning to stare down Kaz, her fists clenched at her sides. “I always keep my word.”
Lorian gave a knowing smirk. “I won’t ask. Lead the way, Kaelias!”
The pathway to the tower was rough, though mostly clear. I assumed they’d had to cut away most of the debris to make it through the first time they ventured this way. I’d not been given any indication of what awaited me at the top of the cliff, but I would willingly face anything if it meant I’d gain the power todefeat Zaelos—only when my mind was my own would I have true freedom.
Upon closer inspection, the stone structure I’d spotted appeared to be a temple. There were several statues lining the courtyard, hands clasped in prayer. A large archway built into the cliff marked the entrance, surrounded by crystal clear water on all sides. Small stepping stones covered in moss marked the only path forward. It was eerily peaceful, in a way that seemed frozen in time.
I did not wait for my friends to proceed before hopping along the stones and making my way to the entrance. As I stepped inside, every hair on my body stood on end. There was magic here, and it was ancient, unlike anything I’d ever felt before. Something wild and unconstrained that whispered against like a siren song begging to be answered.
“What is this place?” I whispered in awe, my voice echoing in the temple's emptiness.
Zorinna reached my side and motioned to a staircase leading down. “When you’re ready, this is where we will put an end to things. According to the research we’ve done, the Mages who discovered it once called it the Soulseer. It does not belong to this world. Its magic is ancient.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s better if you see it for yourself. Make sure you don’t get too close.”
I took each step slowly, clenching and stretching my fingers with each one. As I descended, the ancient magic intensified, and I felt increasingly destined for this place with every step I took. It culminated at the last step, where I bore witness to that which awaited me, and my breath fled my lungs.
A pool of what looked like liquid silver shimmered in the faint torchlight in the center of the floor. Stepping closer, I could see my image reflected on the surface. But it wasn’t theself I expected to see. Everything about me was brighter, and more powerful. My white hair shone like diamonds, my red eyes danced with fire, and the shadows—usually contained beneath my skin—twisted around my body like a serpent.
You came.A voice of pure light, entirely different from Zaelos’, echoed in my mind.I’ve been waiting.
“Who are you?” I asked aloud. To my surprise, none of my companions questioned my sudden lapse of sanity. Could they even hear me?
I am you. What you could be.
“What I could be?”
He who dwells within does not belong. We have fought for centuries to remove him. This time must be different. Our soul cannot survive another fracture.
I stepped closer. “What do I need to do?”
Remember. Remember and return here.The pool rippled without warning, and the image vanished.
“Wait!” I yelled, dropping to my knees in front of the silvery liquid. “Please. I need answers. Real answers!”
Lorian shouted, “Nairu, don’t!”
But I’d already plunged my hand into the depths, and everything as I knew it was about to change.
Countless hands were dragging me away from the pool, but all I saw was bright white light, and all I felt was fire burning through my skull. I thought I’d known pain; the headaches I’d associated with my nightmares, with Zaelos’s attempt to infiltrate my mind, were nothing compared to the agony of whatever this was. Something was trying to break free, and it wouldn’t stop even if it killed me.
I gripped the sides of my head, pulling at my hair hard enough to rip it free. Screams tore through my throat until I grew raw. Sobs wracked my body as I pleaded in desperation to anyone who would listen. “Make it stop! Please make it stop!”
