Page 91 of Eluvonia
I look at Declan and Kaida, who hesitate, exchanging brief glances, uncertainty flickering in their eyes before they shift their focus back to me. There’s a tension in the air, like they want to say something, but it hangs unsaid. Finally, I grin and shoo them away. “Go on, I’ll be fine.”
Kaida grunts, his shadowy tendrils twitching like restless serpents, unsure whether to follow me or not. He stands frozen for a long beat, his eyes narrowing as though calculating the safest course. He grunts and I see his shadows surge forward and slip under my bare feet. “I will know if something is wrong,” he says, his words lingering in the space between us. Only after a heavy pause does he walk off down the path with the child Ymiral, his heavy steps echoing softly.
I watch him go, the shadows clinging to my feet like a second skin. There’s an unfamiliar feeling—comfort, maybe. The sensation is strange, but not unwelcome.
Declan, too, lingers for a moment longer than expected, his brow furrowing as though grappling with some inner hesitation. He opens his mouth to speak, then seems to think better of it, opting for a tight nod. “If you need anything, just—” His words trail off, unfinished, before he follows Kaida, his steps almost reluctant.
I laugh softly, a warmth spreading through my chest at their protectiveness. I glance down at the shadows beneath my feet,the lingering feeling of their presence like a silent promise.
“Come, young Fae,” the earth Ymiral beckons gently, her voice a calming presence in the swirl of emotions around me. “The realm has much to teach you.”
I glance back at Kaida and Declan one last time, my heart still beating erratically but starting to settle, and with a new sense of purpose beginning to take root, I follow her down the path to the right.
Chapter 38
AERIS
The forest is alive around us, every leaf trembling in the golden sunlight that filters through the canopy. The earth Ymiral walks ahead of me, her gown rippling as though stirred by an unseen breeze. Vines seem to rise to meet her steps, only to retreat just before her feet touch the ground. I don’t know what I expected when I agreed to follow her, but this… certainly wasn’t it.
She halts abruptly, the hem of her gown brushing against a patch of moss. “Here,” she says, her voice low and resonant, a cadence that feels like the heartbeat of the forest itself.
I glance around the clearing. Sunlight streams down in thick, golden beams, painting the grass in various shades of green. Wildflowers dot the ground—tiny bursts of color swaying as if dancing to some secret melody. The air smells rich, earthy, and alive. It’s a peaceful place, the kind that almost makes you want to believe in magic. Almost.
The earth Ymiral turns to face me, her glowing green eyessoft but unreadable. “You were chosen for this, Aeris,” she says, the weight of her words anchoring the moment.
I adjust my weight from one foot to the other, trying to ignore the awkwardness curling in my chest. “Chosen? By whom, exactly?”
Her gaze sharpens, though her tone remains gentle. “The realm. It deemed it necessary.”
“That’s… vague,” I say, mostly to myself, but loud enough for her to hear. My fingers tug at the edge of my tunic, a nervous habit I refuse to admit to.
The Ymiral tilts her head, a hint of amusement flashing in her expression. “The realm does not explain itself to me. It speaks, I listen.”
“Of course,” I say with a dry smile. “The mysterious, all-knowing realm. How convenient.”
She doesn’t respond, merely gestures for me to come closer. “Shall we begin?”
I step into the clearing, the grass cool beneath my feet. “What exactly am I supposed to be doing here?”
“Connecting,” she replies simply, as if that clears up everything.
“Connecting,” I echo, deadpan. “Right. And how do I do that? Hug a tree?”
Her lips twitch, almost a smile. “Not quite. Sit.”
I lower myself onto the grass, cross-legged, and glance up at her expectantly. “Okay, now what?”
“Close your eyes,” she instructs, kneeling gracefully across from me. “Feel the realm beneath you.”
I do as she says, though I can’t help but grumble under my breath, “Feel the realm. Sure, because that’s not vague at all.”
She ignores my sarcasm. “The realm is alive, Aeris. Itbreathes, it pulses, it listens. Let yourself become part of it.”
I frown but focus, letting my hands rest on the ground. The soil feels warm, the blades of grass tickling my palms. I try to clear my mind, but my thoughts are a relentless tide, crashing and swirling no matter how hard I try to still them.
Minutes pass. Or maybe hours. It’s hard to tell. My legs start to ache, and my patience wears thin.
“Nothing’s happening,” I say, cracking one eye open. The Ymiral hasn’t moved, her serene expression infuriatingly calm.
