Page 98 of The Onyx Covenant

“That settles it,” Theron says, identifying the smallest of the five indentations. “We start with this one, then follow in increasing size.”

“Hold on,” I say, noticing yet another layer to the runes. “There’s a warning here.False steps wake the thorns.”

Kieran grimaces. “Wonderful. Get it wrong, and we get skewered.”

“Footsteps,” Theron hisses suddenly, his head turning toward the chamber entrance. “They’ve found the right corridor.”

My heart pounds against my ribs.

“I’ll do it,” I say, positioning my finger above the smallest indentation.

Theron’s hand covers mine, gently but firmly moving it aside. “No,” he says, his voice allowing no argument. “My responsibility.”

“This isn’t about protection, Theron,” I snap, irritated by his assumption. “I can read the runes. I know what I’m doing.”

His eyes harden, not with anger but with determination. “This isn’t protection, Lyra. It’s strategy. You’re the only one who can read these markings. If something goes wrong, you need to be uninjured to figure out the next step.”

Put that way, his logic is sound. Kieran watches our exchange with poorly concealed impatience.

“Fine,” I concede. “But be careful.”

Theron nods once, then presses his index finger firmly against the smallest indentation.

For a heartbeat, nothing happens. Then, a soft click resonates through the chamber, and one of the silver branches shifts slightly, rotating a few degrees clockwise. The thorns along that branch retract into the metal with tiny mechanical whispers.

“It worked,” Kieran whispers, eyes wide.

“One down,” Theron says, not celebrating yet. “Which next?”

I identify the second-smallest indentation. “This one should represent the second star—it appears slightly higher in the formation.”

Theron presses it. Another click, another branch shifting, more thorns retracting.

We continue through the sequence, each press followed by mechanical movement within the cage. With the fourth indentation, a narrow path opens through the structure of metal and thorns—not enough to reach the Moonstone, but close.

“Last one,” I say, indicating the final, largest indentation.

Theron presses it without hesitation.

Nothing happens.

“That can’t be right,” I mutter, frustration building inside me. “We followed the sequence perfectly.”

“Maybe there’s a timing element?” Kieran suggests, shifting nervously. “The voices are getting closer.”

Indeed, I can now hear Selene and Erebus clearly, their footsteps echoing just outside the chamber entrance.

“There’s nothing about timing in the runes,” I say, scanning them again frantically. “There must be something we missed.”

That’s when I notice a smaller set of symbols beneath the main inscription, partially obscured by years of dust. I brush it away carefully.

“As above, so below,” I translate. “The reflection reveals the path.”

“Reflection?” Kieran looks around wildly. “I don’t see any mirrors in here.”

“Not literal reflection,” Theron states, his eyes fixed on the pedestal. “The stars’ reflection. The Hunter’s Crown is mirrored in the waters below it in the ancient sky charts.”

Understanding washes over me. “It’s a test of knowledge,” I breathe. “The final step isn’t the fifth star—it’s the sequence in reverse, reflecting the original pattern!”

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