Page 51 of Favored By the Stars

Together, we made our way through the gardens, weaving between vibrant flora that shimmered in the moonlight. The beauty of this place almost felt surreal after what had just happened between us.

As we approached where we'd left the others, my pulse quickened with anticipation, and dread. Would this ritual really help? Or was I just delaying us because the thought of going after the second artifact made me nauseous? Each one felt like the weight of the world rested on me and if I failed, then I would doom us all to darkness. To say it was stressful would be the understatement of the era.

"Everything will be okay," Thorn murmured as we stepped into a small clearing where Wyn, Van, and Volker waited expectantly.

Their faces lit up at our arrival, but there was an underlying tension that pulsed through the air, the kind that suggested they had been preparing for something significant.

"Finally! We thought you'd gotten lost! I was just about to come looking for you!" Wyn exclaimed, her voice brightening the atmosphere slightly despite her nervousness.

"No time for jokes," Thorn said sharply yet kindly as he nodded toward Van, who had clearly not shared what he'd stumbled across.

Volker glanced between us, a knowing gleam in his eyes that I ignored as he said, "Let's begin."

ChapterNineteen

Senara

Wyn darted around us, setting up all the different items as Volker checked over everything. Her energy radiated like sunlight breaking through clouds, infectious in its brightness.

"Do you think we can really make this work?" she asked Volker as she took my hand and led me into the center of the clearing where they had arranged things.

"I see no reason why it wouldn't," Volker replied and though there was no guile in his voice, the thought of failure was heavy in my chest.

Just then, Van seemed to remember something and blurted, "I forgot I found these!" He pulled an ornate stone resembling a sunburst and another resembling a crescent moon from his pocket. "They were nestled among some roots." He placed them gently on the ground beside me.

"Perfect," I said, awe creeping into my voice as I inspected them. They hummed with energy, an undeniable connection to both elements.

Thorn glanced at our growing collection before scanning the surrounding woods. "We need to hurry," he urged quietly but firmly.

A shiver ran down my spine at his words. The urgency in his tone pulled me from my thoughts. "What's wrong?" I asked, instinctively stepping closer to him.

"I can feel something in the air," he murmured, his brow furrowing as he turned toward where shadows lingered at the edge of our sanctuary.

"Like what?" Wyn questioned, her bright demeanor dimming slightly.

"I'm not sure." Thorn's gaze remained fixed ahead, muscles tensing as if preparing for an unseen attack.

I shifted uneasily, feeling the weight of Thorn's worry settle over me like a thick fog. "What do you sense?" I asked, forcing myself to focus.

He didn't break his gaze. "A disturbance. Something lurking just beyond our sight." His voice was low, edged with tension.

Wyn worried at her lower lip as she watched the two of us. "We need to finish this ritual. If we can amplify the Diadem's power…" Her voice trailed off as she cast a glance in the same direction Thorn was looking.

I nodded, pushing down my unease. The energy from the artifacts hummed beneath my fingers, urging me to act. "Let's do this."

Volker arranged the items into a precise circle on the ground, his movements deliberate before he handed me the crescent stone and then the sunburst one. Their warmth intertwined in a way that felt almost like a heartbeat.

"Thorn," I called softly, my heart racing at what lay ahead. Magic didn't always work the way we wanted it to, as Wyn and I could attest, but I knew we had to try. "Can you stand guard while I do this?" His earlier words about being able to sense something made me nervous.

"Of course," he replied without hesitation, taking a step back but keeping his stance ready for action. The protective energy he radiated gave me strength.

Volker cleared his throat, drawing my attention. His voice was steady as he lifted his hands toward me. "Sit or stand. Just make sure you're comfortable and try to draw from each element. You will handle the sun and moon, while Wyn and I will handle the others and channel them into you once you're ready."

I sat, and after taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and extended my hands toward the circle of artifacts. Golden light erupted from one stone while silvery beams cascaded from the other, sunlight meeting moonlight in an ethereal dance that illuminated our surroundings.

"Keep it steady!" Wyn murmured as she connected with the water and fire elements, her determination anchoring me. On the other side of me, I could feel Volker connecting with earth, air, and spirit, weaving the energies together like a braid.

As Wyn and Volker pushed their energies into me, I did my best to keep the sun and moon energies balanced and blended, allowing them to swirl together in intricate patterns. As they did, I felt shadows stir in response and my pulse quickened as dark shapes flickered at the edge of my vision.

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