Chapter 153: Essence Pool!
Descent into Silver
Miryam curled up again near Kai’s side, her tail wrapped around his wrist like a ribbon of warm light. Her breath was even. Her aura was stable.
Skyweaver remained perched above, half dozing but always scanning. Tunnel Crown and Stone Ram took first watch, alternating positions along the ridge line.
Kai set up the trip-grid, a line of stinglets hidden in rock crevices, each primed to spike with lightning if unauthorized aura crossed them. A low, invisible wall.
He glanced back at Luna, who had already nestled into the tent they shared. Her white silver hair caught the dim glow, eyes half lidded, fingers brushing Miryam’s cheek before sleep claimed her.
But Kai couldn’t sleep yet. He stared up at the storm sky, at the shifting runes etched by lightning. And felt the pull in his chest again. This time not just the desire to grow, but the responsibility to lead. To choose.
They’d reached the Vein Gate. They’d done it without losses. But tomorrow... Everything would change. Tomorrow the essence pool will form.
A few hours later....
The second surge came with a sound like stone cracking underwater. Kai felt it in his instinct long before the others heard the echo: a low, grinding moan that rolled up the spiral cliffs and rattled the mirror poles they had planted earlier.
"Time has come," he said.
He took point. Luna followed, cloak hooded, a crystal lantern in each hand. Skyweaver gilded overhead, her wings half furled to catch rising heat; the boar brothers trudged behind, dragging the empty essence casks the way miners haul treasure chests in reverse. Tunnel Crown and Heart Mason carried rune stakes and rope.