Page 88 of Shadows of Change

"We make sure he doesn't find you alone," Torric finishes.

Mouse growls his approval while Bob snaps into what can only be described as a tactical formation. Even Finnick manages to look serious for once.

"Fine," I sigh. "To the library we go. But Finn?"

"Hmm?"

"If you make one more comment about the twins in my room, I'm letting Bob eat your lunch."

Bob perks up hopefully.

"So cruel," Finn sighs, pressing a hand to his heart. "I love it."

I shake my head and try to cover the smile on my face but it’s really useless at this point. “Alright, Let’s go.”

The weight of the napkin in my hands feels heavier than it should. If Malrik’s realm is tied to this, the answers can’t wait. And neither can we.

59. Kaia

The library is mercifully empty this early, though I suspect Finn's theatrical warnings to other students about "highly contagious shadow plague" on our way here might have something to do with that.

"Was that really necessary?" Malrik asks as we claim a secluded table near the restricted section.

"Absolutely," Finn says cheerfully. "Bob agreed with my tactical decision."

Bob, who's currently arranging other shadows into a perimeter guard, gives what might be a thumbs up.

"Focus," Aspen says, already spreading out several ancient texts. "Malrik, what exactly is Absentia? You’ve been a little vague on the details."

"A realm between realms," Malrik says, his voice dropping lower. "Think of it as a bridge—not just between places, but between life and death itself. But it was never meant to exist that way," Malrik adds, his voice growing heavier. "Absentia was... designed. A construct with a purpose long forgotten by most."

"Was?" I catch his use of past tense.

"Before its corruption." His finger traces the symbol slowly. "Before Alekir began working to shatter its purpose."

"They say his goal was not just power but freedom—freedom for something locked within Absentia itself." Aspen adds, and the room seems to grow colder. Malrik's expression darkens further, his jaw tightening. Even Finn, normally quick with a joke, is uncharacteristically silent, his gaze fixed on the table as if trying to process the weight of what we've just heard. Malrik nods grimly. "A sorcerer who tried to claim dominion over death itself. The stories say he nearly succeeded, but the Valkyries stopped him."

My heart skips. "The Valkyries?"

“Ancient warriors who maintained the balance between realms." His silver eyes meet mine. "They were wiped out many generations ago."

"By this sorcerer?"

"By Alekir," Malrik says quietly. "The Soulbinder."

A chill runs through me every time I hear the name. My shadows press closer, and Mouse's fur stands on end.

"Okay, creepy history lesson aside," Finn interrupts, "what does this have to do with Thorne?"

"Here." Aspen turns one of the books around. "Look at this illustration."

We crowd around the page. It shows the same symbol, but with annotations in a spidery script.

"Can anyone read that?" I ask.

"It's Ancient Shadowtongue," Malrik says. "It describes the ritual Alekir used to try to bind souls to his will. He needed threethings: a corrupted shadow realm, a powerful artifact, and—" He breaks off, staring at the page.

"And what?"

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