"Because that's where the Devourer is bound. Where the curse originated. Where everything began and will end." Kaelen straightened. "Your mother believed you'd need to confront it directly. Use the Veil to either strengthen the binding or..."
"Or what?"
"Banish it entirely."
A lump began to form in my throat. Daemon took a step closer to the table.
"Is this where we are right now?" He placed his index and middle fingers on a marker.
"Yes."
"Between this location and the capital, there are six garrisons. Each garrison with two hundred to three hundred soldiers. How do you plan on reaching the capital without losing most of your forces?"
"With the use of Veil magic. I'm sure you know by now that you have the power to manipulate distance. Open portals. The plan requires Veil magic to bring us to the gates of our enemies. The plan begins and ends with Seris."
The chamber spun.
"I can't." The admission ripped out. "I can barely control my power. I pale in comparison to Lyralei and couldn't even save Vaelthorne. You want me to face something that nearly unmade reality itself?"
"I want you to do what your mother spent the last of her days preparing you for." Kaelen's voice remained steady. "But more than that, I want you to understand that you're not alone. Five hundred warriors stand ready to fight beside you. To die for you, if necessary."
"I don't want anyone dying for me!"
"Then live." Kaelen stepped closer. "Live, fight, and win. Because that's the only way their sacrifice means anything."
Daemon's hand found my shoulder. "Seris, "
"Vaelthorne fell." I turned toward Kaelen, letting every ounce of despair show. "Lyralei is dead. Everyone I cared about got slaughtered while I ran away. And you want me to lead an army? I can't even lead myself."
Kaelen studied me for a long moment. Then she moved to a chest in the corner and pulled out a leather journal. Worn. Well used. Familiar handwriting covering every page.
"Your mother left this for you." She held it out. "Read it. Then decide."
I took the journal with trembling hands.
"We move in three days or as soon as you’re ready." Kaelen's voice shifted back to a command tone. "Whether you're ready or not. Because Aeron knows Vaelthorne fell and Lyralei is dead, a new purge will plague these lands. Every hour we wait, more people die."
She moved toward the exit, pausing at the threshold.
"Your mother believed in you, Seris. So did Lyralei. So do I." Her gaze held mine. "The question is whether you believe in yourself."
Then she was gone.
I stood clutching the journal while the world narrowed to its weight in my hands.
"Seris." Daemon's voice pulled me back. "You don't have to, "
"Yes, I do." The words came out flat. "That's the point, isn't it? Everything led here. Every choice. Every sacrifice. My mother died preparing for this. Lyralei died protecting me so I could reach this moment." I looked up at him. "And I'm supposed to somehow be enough to make all of it matter."
"You are enough."
"You don't know that."
"I do." He caught my face between his hands. "Because I've watched you survive things that should have destroyed you. I've seen you choose compassion when vengeance would've been easier. I've felt your power reshape reality itself." His thumb brushed my cheek. "You're terrified. Good. That means you understand the stakes. But don't let fear convince you you're weak. Fear just means you're still human."
I leaned into his touch, drawing strength I didn't possess.
"Three days," I whispered.
