Chapter 563: On the Horizon
Dawn arrived all too quickly, and a gentle shake on my shoulder pulled me from the depths of my soulspace. I had spent the entire night lying beneath the vast expanse of the starry sky, wrestling with the undeniable conclusions that had been thrust upon me. It had been so easy to cloak myself in fear, to keep Luke at arm’s length. But now, stripped of my excuses, the fragile tendrils of hope within me dared to unfurl. The part of me that yearned for connection, for trust, could no longer be silenced.
"Xiviyah, wake up."
R’lissea’s gentle voice penetrated my thoughts, causing my eyelids to flutter open. I gazed blankly up at her face, lost in soft green eyes, before everything I witnessed the night before came crashing down. Any lingering remnants of sleep fled as I stiffened, a dark blush warming my face. She would have no idea I’d eavesdropped on what was meant to be a private conversation, but it wasn’t so easy to forget their discussion.
Her brow furrowed in concern as I instinctively shrank back, burying myself deeper into Fable’s fur. Her hand settled on my forehead, her touch cool and feather-light, yet it sent shivers down my spine as her fingers brushed against the edges of my horns.
"Are you feeling alright?"
When I nodded, my eyes darting away from her intense gaze, her frown deepened. It wasn’t until she sent a pulse of life magic washing through my soul that she finally relaxed, though her eyes remained clouded with worry.
"Another bad dream?" she asked softly.
I nodded again, allowing her to take my hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. The misunderstanding wasn’t far from the truth. The prospect of facing Luke now, stripped bare of my convenient fears, felt far more daunting than any nightmare.
Her expression softened, and she rose, gently pulling me up from Fable’s side. A jolt of resistance ran through me as the winter chill crept in to replace his comforting warmth, but I quickly suppressed it and steadied myself.
"What’s happening?" I asked, my gaze sweeping across the scene before me.
The sun was still partially hidden behind the horizon, casting long, luminous beams that danced across the snow-covered hills. The demons were restless, their movements chaotic, like ants whose nest had been disturbed. An excited hush hung in the air, punctuated by the eager growls of the scions.