Chapter 26: The Sovereign War (2)
The sun rose slowly, shining across a sky that looked broken. The clouds were torn and colored strange shades of purple and gold like bruises.
The platform near the Third Gate looked like a sharp rock sticking out from the world, and it gave off a weak, tired energy.
Below them, the sea no longer spun wildly but now moved slowly in quiet waves like it had taken a deep breath and was holding it. The air didn’t smell like salt anymore; it smelled strange like lightning and an old forgotten dream.
Ning Que was on his knees at the edge of the platform. The wind pulled at his coat like angry hands. His face looked tired in a deep way, like the tiredness lived in his bones. He didn’t look at the sun or the sea. He only looked at the person lying beside him.
Mireya was there, not moving very quietly. Her body wasn’t fading as fast anymore, but it still blinked in and out like a weak light. Parts of her skin looked clear like glass, glowing faintly.
When Ning checked her pulse, it was very soft like the wings of a butterfly under his fingers. He brushed a strand of her wet hair from her face and gently touched her cheek.
"Stay with me," he said softly, his voice shaking. "Don’t leave. Please."
The glowing light under her throat, her sovereign power was almost gone. It used to shine bright, but now it was only a small dying spark. Her breathing was shallow and rough, and it was hard just to take the next breath.
Not far from them, Aeris stood with her arms crossed, her body stiff. She looked out at the sea, then spoke into the small device at her ear, giving orders. But there was only static.
No one was answering. The quiet felt strange and heavy, like the world had paused and didn’t know what to do next.
Lyra sat beside a broken stone holding her spear tightly in both hands. She didn’t move or speak. Her eyes were wide, staring at the sky like she was waiting for something bad to happen again. She looked like a guard waiting for the next storm.