Chapter 310: Severed
It’s very quiet.
Where is this?
Where am I?
Why so quiet?
Where is everybody?
------------------------------
Sonia Hart exhales in relief.
After almost thirty-six hours of traveling, she has finally landed safely at Solarys International Airport, Lor’en.
So many transits, she has lost count. During the final flight to Lor’en, it was nearly canceled due to the extreme weather that has been affecting Solarys for the past two days.
Her original flight had already been canceled because of it.
At the last minute, Sonia switched to Aurenvale Airways, the only airline in Altheon with aircraft powered by heartstones, capable of withstanding extreme weather like this one, when all other flights had been grounded.
Her already thin wallet nearly cried when she paid the fare.
But she had no choice.
No one knew when the storm would clear.
Not a single weather expert in Altheon could explain it.
For the past two days, it has baffled the entire world and dominated every conversation.
Concordia’s President has been trying to downplay the situation, unwilling to let his country become known for extreme and unexplainable weather.
It would devastate tourism.
Sonia stands in a very short immigration line.
"I can’t believe I’m really here!" she squeals, drawing a glance from the officer in front of her.
She notices his look, quickly composes herself. "Sorry. I’m just excited."
The officer chuckles lightly.
"It’s good that you’re excited. Most of us aren’t," he says.
"Is it because of the storm?" Sonia asks.
He nods. "Yes. And look around, Ms. Hart. This is an international airport. This is the capital of a country. But..." He exhales.
"As you can see, it’s empty."
He is not exaggerating.
Lor’en is empty.
The usually crowded airport now feels abandoned. Most of the shops along the endless corridors are closed.
Large screens throughout the airport display world news, all of them discussing what has now become known as "The Solarys Storm," the crisis that has gripped the entire city.
The air feels cold.
Eerie.
The staff all wear the same drained expressions.
They move without energy. Just moving. No life. No urgency.
It almost feels wrong.
Sonia might be the only person here who still feels excited.
She glances behind her, at the few people in line, then at the empty booths beside her.
"See, Ms. Hart?" the officer continues. "We only have one booth open, and even then, there’s barely a queue. Normally, we’d have five or six booths running, and you’d be waiting at least an hour."
He stamps her passport.
Hands it back.
"Welcome to Solarys. I hope your stay is more pleasant than the current weather. Stay safe, Ms. Hart."
------------------------------
Theo slowly opens his eyes.
The first thing he sees is the ceiling of his bedroom.
Then he notices the silence.
Everything feels still.
Too still.
Stagnant.
The air in his room smells musty, like it has been closed off for some time.
Theo frowns.
What’s going on?
He blinks slowly, reaching out with his senses, trying to feel everything the way he always does.
Then—
He gasps.
Nothing.
Theo’s heart begins to pound loudly in his chest.
A tightness grips his chest, something he has never felt before. Not even when he lost Aldric.
He lies still on the bed.
He lifts his right arm into the air, trying to feel the flow of it, like he always does, even when he never realized he was doing it.
Still nothing.
What?!
He begins to sweat.
He sits up slowly.
Theo feels slightly dizzy. Disoriented.
He looks at his palms. Then the back of his hands.
I can still see.
I can still hear.
But...
I also can’t.
I’ve gone blind and deaf.
My mana...
My magic...
Is gone.
------------------------------
Click.
Liam opens the door carefully.
He peeks inside, moving soundlessly, afraid he might wake Theo.
Then he stops.
Theo is sitting upright on the bed.
Liam cannot see his expression clearly. The room is too dark.
He smiles and straightens.
He gently knocks on the door. "Knock, knock, Princess."
Theo jolts.
Liam’s eyes widen.
"Oh my God, I’m sorry, Thea. I didn’t mean to startle you."
He steps in, trying to calm him.
Then he sees it.
Theo snaps his head toward him, eyes wide, fear clearly written across his face, framed by his white hair.
Like a deer caught in headlights.
Liam quickly turns on the light.
"Thea, it’s me. Liam," he says softly, staying where he is, not moving closer.
Theo is clearly afraid of something.
Liam just doesn’t know what.
------------------------------
Liam?
Theo blinks rapidly, staring at the figure standing by the door, next to the light switch.
His heart pounds so hard it feels like it might burst out of his chest.
His breathing is short. Uneven.
He does not dare close his eyes to calm himself.
What if the person changes into...
What exactly? What do you think he would turn into, Theo? his mind presses.
That... that... that he would harm me, Theo answers.
The answer shocks him.
Just the sight of a man has scared him senseless.
That is not Theo, the Archmage.
That is Thea.
Weak.
Helpless.
Sorry, Thea. No offense.
------------------------------
Liam watches Theo intently. He notices everything.
Theo’s face. Fear, clear and unmistakable.
Theo’s hands, gripping the bedcover so tightly his knuckles turn white.
Theo’s body, leaning back, as if trying to escape.
He is terrified.
But what stuns Liam the most are Theo’s eyes.
Not only do they show pure fear, there is no recognition in them.
Thea doesn’t recognize me? Why? Is she having a nightmare?
Liam speaks again.
"Thea," he says softly, slowly.
"It’s me. Liam. Liam Monfort."
A beat.
"Do you recognize me, Thea?"
His voice remains soft. Careful.
Trying to soothe him.
------------------------------
Liam. Liam Monfort.
I know that name.
I think... I know him.
After a moment, Theo’s mind begins to steady.
He exhales slowly, still shaky.
His body relaxes a little. Not entirely.
The world still feels wrong.
Empty.
He cannot sense anything.
"Liam," he says, hoarse, barely audible.
The sound grates against his ears.
He clears his throat and tries again.
"Liam."
Better. Still a little bit hoarse and a whisper, but clearer.
Liam hears it.
He exhales in relief.
At least she recognizes me. So... it was probably a nightmare.
"May I come closer?" he asks cautiously. He does not want to startle Theo again.
Theo hesitates.
Then nods, slowly, uncertain.
Liam notices.
He takes one step forward.
And stops.
"Are you okay, Thea?" he asks.
Theo blinks once. Quick.
He takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly.
Then he shakes his head.
Once.
Eyes still locked on Liam, tracking every movement.
"Are you in pain?" Liam asks, inching forward again.
Theo shakes his head once more.
This time faster.
More certain.
Liam smiles faintly. No pain is good.
"Did you have a nightmare?" he asks, inching forward little by little.
Nightmare?
Theo thinks. Yes. I’m in one.
I can’t feel anything.
It is a nightmare.
But Theo stays silent. He doesn’t know what to say.
By now, his heart no longer pounds as hard. His breathing steadies. He relaxes, just a little more.
He knows the person in front of him is Liam.
And he knows him.
"No. I didn’t have a nightmare," Theo says.
His voice is steadier now. Louder. Clearer.
Almost like his old self.
Liam notices.
His smile grows, and his steps become more certain. No longer as cautious.
"You said you’re not okay. What’s wrong? What can I do to help?" Liam asks.
Theo tries to find the words—
A sudden flash of light bursts through the window.
A few seconds later, thunder crashes.
Loud.
Deafening.
Theo yelps.
His body jerks, his face pales instantly.
Tears well in his eyes.
He reaches for Liam, who is already just a step away.
He grabs him.
Hides his face against his chest.
Liam freezes for a split second.
Not because of the thunder.
But because of Theo.
Then he moves.
He pulls Theo into a firm embrace, holding him close, one hand running up and down his back.
"It’s okay, Thea. It’s okay."
He repeats it.
Again.
And again.
------------------------------
They stay like that for what feels like forever.
The first thing Theo notices is the warmth.
And the steady rhythm of a heartbeat.
It anchors him.
Gives him something solid to hold on to.
He listens.
Liam’s heartbeat is strong. Steady.
Grounding him. Pulling him out of the fear.
Slowly, Theo pulls away.
Liam follows his lead.
Liam looks at him. "You okay?"
His voice is laced with concern.
It reaches Theo.
Theo gives a faint smile.
He nods weakly. "Yeah. I am now."
Liam pulls a nearby chair and sits in front of him.
"Tell me."
Just two words.
But Theo understands.
Liam is asking for everything.
What scared him.
What’s wrong.
Everything.
No judgment.
No pressure.
Just trust.
That alone gives Theo strength.
He lifts his head and looks straight into Liam’s eyes.
And says,
"I can’t feel my mana. I can’t access my magic."
He starts.