Page 116 of The Ascended
“Terralith? Aella?” Xül pressed. “Thorne? Axora?”
The Lightbringer’s posture changed at the mention of the last name—a subtle tension I might have missed had I not been watching so closely.
“Axora,” Xül breathed. “Axora is creating direct portals into the Capital.”
The Lightbringer’s silence confirmed his guess.
“Since when?”
“A few weeks—maybe a month.”
“This is unprecedented,” Xül said, true shock evident in his voice. “No one can create passageways into the seat of another domain. Divine law forbids it.”
“I’ve said nothing,” the Lightbringer insisted weakly.
“You’ve said everything,” Xül replied, death magic coiling around his fingers like black frost. “And you will continue.”
“I—I misspoke.”
“No.” Xül moved closer, the damned souls hovering just behind him. “You didn’t. They’re merging aren’t they? War and Order? Becoming one?”
I froze.
Bellarium. The domain of War. The domain where Thatcher was.
When the Lightbringer didn’t speak, the souls converged again. Screams cracked through the chamber and echoed off the walls.
The being finally gasped, “I don’t know for certain! That is abovemy knowledge.”
My breath caught.
The Lightbringer’s form wavered, becoming increasingly unstable. “If Olinthar discovers I revealed any of this, he’ll unmake my very essence. No afterlife, no transition—just oblivion.”
“He won’t get the chance.” Xül’s voice was cold as the grave. “You’ve served your purpose.”
Before I could process what was happening, he made a sharp gesture. “Consume,” he commanded, and every damned soul in the chamber descended upon the Lightbringer in a horrifying frenzy. The being’s form contracted violently as the souls tore his essence apart piece by piece, each taking a fragment of light until nothing remained but a fading spark that winked out of existence.
I staggered back, a silent scream trapped in my throat. This wasn’t death—this was obliteration. Complete annihilation. The Lightbringer hadn’t just been killed, he had beenunmade.
Without another word, Xül strode from the chamber, the souls of the damned disappearing from view, returning to whatever terrible place they occupied in this prison. I followed, legs trembling. Olinthar was secretly merging domains, consolidating power beyond what the divine balance permitted…
“We need to see my father immediately.”
“Morthus?” My stomach dropped. “Why?”
He didn’t answer. He simply stormed down the corridor.
“My brother is there,” I said finally as I caught up with him. “In Bellarium.”
He gave a terse nod. “They’re not going to hurt your brother.”
“What does that mean, Xül?”
“It means he’s at least safe for now.” His clipped response held an edge of irritation.
“Will this affect Elaren?” I pressed before coming to a sobering realization. The conversation from the banquet. The one that had gotten Darian killed.
“Olinthar stationing his Priests at mortal military encampments—”I rushed to Xül’s side. “Do you think this has anything to do with that?”
