Page 120 of Soul Forge

“I’m glad you didn’t die,” Elda mumbled into her shoulder.

“You too,” Reiner replied gruffly. When the princess let go, the valkyrie eyed Vel. “You saved her life.” He cocked his head. “Perhaps I misjudged you. Thank you.”

Instead of a biting remark, Vel simply nodded, his black gaze straying elsewhere. Elda followed it to the archway, a fist clenching around her heart when she remembered they still had to walk through it. What could be through the dark that was so important? And why had Cynthia come alone to retrieve it?

“This place isn’t for me, Varro,” Vel said quietly. “Whatever is up here is meant for Sypher.”

Elda frowned. “How do you know?”

“Just a feeling. No more getting hurt, alright?” His smile was teasing, but his tone was gentle. Elda nodded, surprised by the softness her near-death experience brought out in him. “I’ll see you around.”

Sypher blinked, the fire dancing brightly in his eyes when control transferred back to him, and his sharpened teeth retracted. He peered down at Elda, unharmed and shaken, and folded her into a tight hug, burying his face in her neck. She sighed and relaxed into him, breathing in the scent of vetiver and leather for a moment. Her heart thudded hard enough that she was sure he could feel it tapping against his chest. It was strange to be embraced by him, but it felt right. Comforting. She hadn’t realised how much she needed it until it happened.

“I nearly died.” Elda shuddered into Sypher’s shoulder. “Cynthia really wanted to kill me.”

“She was just trying to hurt me,” Sypher admitted, and when he stepped back, it left her arms feeling strangely empty. “The easiest way to cause me pain would be to kill my untrained wielder.”

“What would happen if she succeeded?”

“I’d have to answer to Aeon. I likely wouldn’t come out of that alive.”

Elda glanced at the doors. They were firmly shut, no light peeking through the thin crack between them. Gira watched them, too, almost like he expected the wraith to reappear. The fine hairs on the back of her neck raised at the mere thought of another fight.

Julian distracted her by fussing over Nox, showering the demon’s face with kisses, and combing his fingers through her dark mane. She nosed at him, letting out quiet snuffles and swishing her tail back and forth. Reiner looked on with a bemused expression, sticking to stroking one hand down Atlas’ mane, the other resting on the handle of her mace where it was secured at her hip.

“Do you think she’ll come back?” Gira asked, turning to face the Soul Forge.

“Not likely. Vel almost killed her. She only survived because of that damn wraith. If she came back now, she’d be in no fit state to fight.” He frowned, strands of pale hair falling into his eyes. “I don’t understand why she was here alone.”

“Perhaps we can help with that.” Irileth’s voice made them all turn. Elda hadn’t called her out of the bow, so seeing her in her physical form was a shock. Foreboding settled in her stomach, whispering a promise of more bad news.

The Spirit stood beside the archway, her glowing hair and misty skirts swishing around her in a breeze only she could feel. Beside her stood a much smaller figure – a young girl sporting a pair of beautiful amber butterfly wings, her chestnut hair wild and curly. She didn’t look more than eight years old.

"Cerilla?” Sypher asked, his brows creeping upwards. “You’re here?”

“I am,” the smaller Spirit nodded. Elda stared at her. She knew nothing of Cerilla. There was no temple named after her; no wielder had been listed as bonded to her in the books Elda had read. How many more Spirits were there if the ones she worshipped weren’t the only ones?

“Aeon forbid you from seeing me,” Sypher said, and Elda’s brows crept up. Why would the First do something like that?

“He did,” Cerilla confirmed. “However, I’m not forbidden from showing myself to yourwielder. I had to come, dear one.” She fluttered forwards on her strange wings and took both of his hands in hers like they were old friends. Elda blinked when Sypher didn’t recoil from her touch.

“What are you doing here?” he asked softly.

“I have many things I must explain to you.” Her voice was light and airy, the youthful cadence of a small child, yet her wide brown eyes were ancient. Her brow creased into a pained frown. “I have missed you dearly, but my visit isn’t a happy one. Sypher, who you are lies beyond that archway.” The foreboding in Elda’s gut turned into something stronger, souring into a fear she couldn’t place. All she knew was that this place, this mountain, was full of death. Her instincts told her nothing good lay inside.

“I’ve never been here before,” Sypher replied, shaking his head. “These ruins are older than I am. I’d remember if I ever had anything to do with this place.”

“Youhavebeen here before,” she insisted. He released her hands, backing away from her. “Walk through the arch. I will explain once you can see what waits there.” Elda had never witnessed anyone’s world tilt on its axis, but it looked like that was what happened to Sypher. She placed a steadying hand on his arm, swallowing when he leaned into her touch.

He looked over at the darkened tunnel. “Why don’t I remember being here? And why now? Why not bring me when I was first created?”

The Spirit’s brown eyes cast down. “I was forbidden. I am only here with you now because Cynthia was here to take what I sent your wielder for. Aeon agreed that it was time.” Cerilla’s attention passed to Elda. “You must fix what is broken.” Her breath caught at the knowledge that Cerilla was the one that had sent the premonition. This journey was a part of her purpose.

Sypher’s reluctance vanished, his expression turning stoic. The mask of a soldier slammed down over his fear, shoving it back the moment he realised he had no choice but to obey. It hurt Elda to see him ignore his own feelings in favour of following yet another order, but like him, she had no choice but to follow.

The Soul Forge squared his shoulders and nodded. “As soon as we find what we’re looking for, I expect answers from you,” he warned.

The smaller Spirit nodded. Reiner frowned at Cerilla, assessing her in silence. Julian and Gira exchanged nervous glances, watching Sypher pause in front of absolute darkness. He turned back to look at Elda.

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