Page 117 of A Kingdom so Crimson

"I was the fear…to so many people," his voice trembled. "But I made sure to reach that rank to find you, to infiltrate every part of the politics within these cursed lands; it was the only way I could protect you. And when I finally left that life, I came searching for you, making plan after plan to get us all out and keep you safe. I made sure to steer Jesri to that tavern, without him knowing I was behind all his failed plans for the orphan he did not care for. This Match was the only way to make Jesri give you up willingly and without drawing too many suspicious eyes."

A lump formed in my throat, and I stopped breathing, pressing my hand against my chest to quell the pounding. "Why?" I breathed, my voice shaky. "Why me?"

He stared deeply into my eyes, his breath heavy with unspoken truth. "The convulsions, the change in your eyes, the incident to my face—they're all signs of something far beyond ordinary. Your ability to regenerate strength faster, heal within a matter of hours, and push through when others would have succumbed to the void. And your anger that burns so fiercely…it's not human,Eliah. All of it points to the Ethereal—a power that's been dormant within you and has been waiting to be unleashed."

He paused, his expression a mix of sorrow and awe while my heart seemed to stand still. "You are a Magic, Eliah, one of the last of a rare and ancient kind in this world. But you're not just a Magic—you're something otherworldly, something celestial, anddivine. That energy within you isn't just growing; it's unfolding in ways that transcend even the highest of Magics here in this world and in others. Your true nature is emerging, and it's something that can no longer be hidden or suppressed. Your abilities are awakening, and they will only grow stronger. We can't hide this anymore."

His words sent waves of hysteria through me. I quickly sat up, gasping for breath.

No, this couldn't be happening. I didn't want this. The idea of being a Magicandsomething celestial was too much to understand.

"That's why I couldn't tell you," he continued, his voice a mixture of sorrow and urgency. "Nor would you have believed me if I had. It was too dangerous, and you would have been killed ifanyonefound out. We simply couldn't take that risk."

My mind reeled. The world around me blurred as the truth sank in. All the strange occurrences, the inexplicable moments—they suddenly made sense, yet it was a reality I was desperate to reject. How could this be?

Tears stung my eyes as I struggled to find my breath, my chest tightening with the weight of my unwanted destiny.

There were still too many questions.

Too many fears.

Too many unknowns.

Too many suspicions that I didn't want to be true.

For me, an orphan, to be something more than what I was.

A Magic. An actual Magic. And somethingcelestial?

No. It can't be true.It's not true!

"No, I'm—I'm no one! I'm normal—not a Magic and far from celestial!" I spat, desperately trying to reject the truth yet somehow knowing all along that somethingwas always different within me.

He squeezed my hands, his gaze intense and unwavering. "You're not just anyone, Eliah. You are extraordinary."

I sat there, stunned, shaking my head in disbelief. "I-I don't understand! I'm a nobody. H-how?"

He cupped my blood-stained cheek in his gentle hand. "I'll tell you everything, I promise, but we must get you to safety first. Many people are likely already searching for you, especially after we took you out of the Match. I had no idea the Match would be here, in the Unmarked Territory—" His voice hitched, and his lip quivered. "I'm so sorry, Eliah."

I struggled to catch my breath, to understand, but even with whatever elixir I was given that dulled my pain, I felt utterly drained.

"That's why the Spellcasters want me. Why the Onyx Market placed a bounty on my head? Because I'm Magic?" I asked, trying to calm my rising panic.

"No," his expression shifted, becoming more apprehensive. My brows furrowed as my head swirled with questions. "The Onyx Market is searching for the lone Magic," he continued, "and we still assume they haven't figured out it's you. No leads are pointing to you; we've made sure of that. Kaizen has been silencing any bounty hunters who had leads."

He averted his gaze, looking out the carriage window, then hesitantly returned it to me. "But the Spellcasters, they want you for something entirely different."

"What?" I demanded, frustration and fear tightening in my chest.

Levon took a deep breath, his eyes brimming with concern. "The Spellcasters know you hold the key to this ancient power, something that will alter the course of time and reality itself. They don't just want to capture you—they want to control you, break you until you become a part of them."

I breathed out, the vision of the bloodied throne still haunting my thoughts, the echoes of chanting skeletons still ringing in my ears.

"They want you for control, domination," he stopped, looking deep into my eyes. "And to gift them with immortality in this world and the Cosmos beyond so they can reshape it all to their liking. You're a beacon of power and light, Eliah. A catalyst for somethingmuchlarger thanthisreality."

My head swam with confusion, overwhelmed by too many surreal notions that refused to make sense.

"I don't understand," I muttered again, slumping against him. "I don't understand." Hot tears streamed down my face; none of this could be true.

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