Page 22 of Sundered By Fate

"We need to find out what's causing this," Aric said urgently. "Before it's too late."

But even as he spoke, Cyrus's eyes bored into him from across the room.

"Isn't it obvious?" Cyrus's voice cut through the air like a blade. "This is all his doing—the demon hunter turned demonsympathizer." He spat the last word as though it left a foul taste in his mouth.

Aric clenched his teeth, fighting back a wave of anger and guilt that threatened to choke him.

"This isn't my fault," he said quietly. "But I'm determined to stop it, unlike you."

Cyrus sneered at him for what felt like an eternity before turning away again with a dismissive snort.

"We'll see about that."

As the debate heated up, Aric felt a sudden, sharp pain from his sigil. He stumbled, catching himself on the edge of the table. In that moment of vulnerability, he heard Sylthris's mocking laughter echoing in his mind.

Oh, little mage, if only they knew the true danger that walks amongthem,"Sylthris taunted.

Aric pushed the voice away, but not before Davin noticed his discomfort and shot him a concerned look. Aric straightened, determined not to show weakness, but the incident had shaken him.

He needed to get out of here—needed time to think without Sylthris's taunts or Cyrus's accusations ringing in his ears. The woods called to him, their dark embrace a refuge from the chaos of the town and its suspicions.

"Aric." Davin's hand touched his arm lightly, and Aric stilled. "Are you all right? You . . . looked like you were in pain."

"It's nothing," Aric said, forcing a smile. "Just a headache."

Davin's mouth pressed together, as if to stop himself from saying more, and he simply nodded, but Aric knew he was unconvinced.

As the town leaders continued to debate the anomaly's effects, the doors to the town hall burst open, and a young mage Aric didn't recognize rushed in. His robes were a deep indigo,marked with the Silver Tower's insignia, and his eyes were wide, his pale cheeks flushed.

"Forgive me for interrupting," he said, breathing heavily. "But we've got a serious problem."

Olaya frowned. "Lysander, what is it?"

Lysander hesitated, and looked at Aric before speaking. "It's about the anomaly. It's affecting our magic—mine and several others'. We're experiencing strange fluctuations, just like Aric and Davin reported."

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Even those who had been skeptical of Aric's warning looked uneasy now.

"This changes things," Townmaster Virida said quietly. "If even Thornhaven's mages are being affected . . ."

Cyrus's expression was still dark as he glared at Aric. "Or it could be an elaborate ruse—one that he's orchestrating."

Aric tensed, fighting to keep his composure in the face of Cyrus's insinuation. The other leaders' eyes were on him now, questioning, suspicious.

"I swear to you all," Aric said evenly, "my only goal is to help Thornhaven—and our realm—survive this threat. Whatever these fluctuations are, we need to understand them quickly."

Cyrus scoffed, but his gaze was fixed on Aric with an intensity like burning embers on Aric’s skin.

"And if you are somehow at the center of this storm?"

Aric hesitated for only a moment before answering.

"If no one else believes me," he began, "then let me show you."

He reached into his satchel, withdrawing a small crystal orb that shimmered with arcane energy. It was a tool he'd used during his time in the demon realm—a way to channel and focus his magic. But here, among the skeptical stares of Thornhaven's leaders, it felt like a lifeline.

"Aric, what are you—" Davin started, but Aric held up a hand to silence him.

"I can demonstrate the reality of the threat," Aric said, his voice steely. "But it's not something I can control completely."

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