Page 126 of Soul Forge

Eris died much faster. Her neck was snapped the moment Malakai recognised her. Elda shuddered, blinking away fresh tears, and began gathering the bones carefully in her arms, making sure she didn’t miss a single one. When every last bone was collected, she followed Sypher back to the park. The others parted to let them pass, following in a sombre procession to lay Eris and Ana with Sypher’s old body, reuniting the family in death.

With great care, Elda arranged the bones in a neat pile and set the skull on top, copying Sypher. He lifted the small skull and placed a single kiss on its top, laying it down with the rest of the bones and whispering something in what Elda assumed was angelic. He did the same with Eris, and then he got to his feet, fresh tears pattering the ground when he moved.

“Let’s get out of here,” was all he said.

Elda watched his retreating back, following him through the streets until they reached the archway and, eventually, the moonstone door beyond. She climbed silently onto Atlas’ back, and Reiner walked them out to the ledge with Nox and Julian in tow, Gira walking ahead. The Soul Forge turned and closed the doors behind them, sealing the tomb of the angels to all but him.

Irileth vanished the moment Gira settled himself in place between Sypher’s wings. The frown on his face told Elda he’d rather be on one of the steeds, but the Soul Forge stepped off the ledge before anything could be said. Atlas and Nox followed, soaring downwards as quickly as they could manage, desperate to escape the thin air. Sypher threw his wings out to slow his descent once the air was breathable. The tulpar demon and Pegasus circled him carefully until both of them touched down. As soon as Gira’s boots touched soil, Sypher shot into the sky again.

“Should we go after him?” Julian asked no one in particular.

“No.” Irileth reappeared beside them, watching Sypher’s rapidly shrinking form. “He needs time. Let him be.”

“How could you do that to him?” the vampire asked, rounding on the Spirit. “After everything he’s been through, why would you tell him about his previous life? All you’ve done is cause him more pain!” His eyes were wet with emotion again. “That man is my brother, and you’vedestroyedhim.”

“Sypher needed to discover who he was if he ever hoped to defeat Malakai for good. There is a reason for everything we do,” Irileth answered evenly.

The vampire looked like he might swing for her, but then he growled through his clenched teeth and his fisted hands relaxed.

“I need a drink,” he snapped, glaring at Irileth before storming off.

“Reason or no reason, what the Spirits have done to Sypher is cruel,” Gira stated, also addressing the frozen woman. “Elda aside, we wielders have been no better. We’ve treated him like a possession or a thing to be feared and controlled, not a man with a life to live and feelings to consider. Have the dignity to be ashamed of your actions, Irileth, even if you believe they were right.” He followed Julian and Nox back towards Cenet.

“All my life, I’ve worshipped your kind,” Reiner said quietly. “My devotion was misplaced.” And she too walked away, leaving Elda to face Irileth alone.

“How am I supposed to trust you when I know the Spirits are the reason Sypher is a half-demon?” Elda asked quietly. “You tried to convince me he was a monster. Your ruler made it possible toenslavehim for a mistake one ofyoumade.”

“I don’t expect you to understand, little friend,” Irileth sighed.

“I amnotyour friend.”

Irileth’s eyes widened, but she nodded slowly. “I disagree with the rules Aeon has placed on all of us. If he weren’t so intent on hating Sypher, his life might not have been so hard. None of us know the truth of why he’s so against the Soul Forge.”

Elda folded her arms across her chest. “And we’re supposed to just accept that?”

“It doesn’t make any of this alright, I know. But it’s the only answer I have for you right now.” Irileth pushed her glowing hair away from her face, her icy features creasing into a grimace. “I never wanted to hurt him, and neither did Cerilla. You mustunderstand that the monster you were shown when you came to my realm is still entirely possible. The things we’re doing, they’re to try and help him avoid that future in the only way we can.”

“I think all of us need some time to process what we’ve seen, Irileth. I need to patch Sypher up without your help. I’m sorry.” Elda cast her eyes down. “I can’t have any of you damaging him further. I have no idea how any of this has affected Vel, either. I need to figure this out with both of them, and I want you to keep your distance until I ask you to return.”

“Of course. I’ll always be nearby, but I will be silent. I chose you for this purpose, and I trust your judgement.” Irileth bowed her head and vanished in a swathe of frosty mist.

Elda crossed back over the threshold of the wards, feeling like her entire world had been upended since heading up the mountain. Her impression of the Spirits had twisted into something that left a bitter taste on her tongue. She thought of all the nights she’d prayed to Aeon, Odessa, and Irileth. All a waste.

Heading across the bridge to the palace was a surreal feeling. She still had to tell Falmyr what he wanted to know, but her mind was sofull. What could she impart? What could she avoid telling him? The less he knew about Iliria, the better. Elda didn’t want people trying to break into the city. It deserved to rest peacefully after everything that had happened there.

There was no way she was going to wait for Sypher and force him to relay any of what they’d seen to the prince, either. She didn’t think he’d be able to handle it after everything he’d learned. Falmyr would have to be content with her attending alone.

The ornate gates swung open when the guards recognised her, granting her entrance to the lush gardens beyond. The white and gold felt like a mockery of the architecture she’d seen in the city of angels, and it left a pit in her stomach.

Falmyr was seated in a wrought iron chair with a book in one hand and a porcelain teacup in the other, a smile on his face as his eyes passed over the text.

“Ah, Princess!” he exclaimed when he saw her. “Welcome back! I do hope your sanity is still intact?”

“It is,” she nodded, not returning his smile.

“Excellent,” Runiel beamed, and then his eyes roamed over her, really taking in her appearance for the first time. “You look like you’ve been in battle, my dear.”

“We were attacked by a wraith,” she said carefully. “It’s dead.”

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