Chapter Seventy-Five:

  “Burning Bridges”

  The warm glow of candlelight and lanterns laid across the stone walls of Elyndra’s home. The space was large enough to fit them all, but the presence of so many figures made it feel smaller, more intimate. The scent of tea, lavender, and smoke wrapped around them, an old, familiar comfort.

  Evelyn’s fingers drummed lightly against the wooden table at the room’s center. Her gaze swept over the gathered faces of her new friends. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the heavy quiet that had settled over them.

  “If the Guardian is inside Keira’s heart, and this Sterling wants the Guardian. We just get Keira on the Aetheris and disappear.”

  A moment passed before Amari gave a short nod. “It’s the smartest move.”

  Asha's response was immediate, steady. "I agree with my brother."

  Everyone responded in kind.

  Even Kaelith and Elyndra, rarely in agreement, exchanged glances before offering silent nods. There was no denying the logic.

  Emily exhaled, arms resting against the back of her chair. “Yes. If your enemy knows where you are, then don’t be there.”

  Keira sat still, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The magnitude of the revelation, of Max, of the Guardian, of what was now inside of her settled over her, heavy and inescapable. She should have spoken, should have offered something to the conversation, but the words never fully formed.

  Leo, the one she felt this immediate love for, sat beside her. He turned a ring on his finger over and over again.

  Lucinda’s eyes shifted toward her, sharp and searching. “Keira?”

  For a moment, Keira thought about telling them she was fine. That this was all just another problem to be solved, another battle to plan for. But the truth wasn't that simple.

  She inhaled, slow and steady. Then, finally, she looked up.

  "And what if disappearing isn’t enough?"

  Elyndra let out a small snicker, leaning forward. Her eyes, warm yet knowing, settled on Keira. "Knowing you, I'm sure you'll burn that bridge when you reach it."

  A small, almost reluctant smile tugged at Keira’s lips. It wasn’t much, but it was real. She lowered her eyes to Leo’s hand, his fingers turning the ring in a quiet, repetitive motion. Without a word, she reached out, her hand slipping over his. His fingers stilled. Leo looked up, meeting her eyes, and for a moment, they just sat there, caught in the simple understanding of each other. Then, they both smiled.

  Ankit, never one to dwell on sentiment for too long, clapped his hands together. "Alright, so if we're about to disappear, any chance you got food we can stock up on?" He hesitated for a moment, then added, "no bacon, please."

  Lucinda nodded in agreement, not wanting to think about bacon. "And healing supplies? Medicine? We need to be prepared for anything."

  Kaelith stroked his chin, considering. "You're right. Stocking up on essentials would be wise. Emberwood will provide what we can. Amari, Evelyn, if you would, go seek out Varra. She runs the apothecary and general store. Tell her what you need, and she'll see to it."

  Amari exchanged a glance with Evelyn, who gave a brief nod. "We’re on it."

  Without another word, they stood and moved swiftly toward the door. As the door shut behind them, the two Sages rose in unison. "Whatever the Dark One has done to alter the way history is unfolding is beyond our understanding. Wherever you go, please, you must remain vigilant. Protect the Guardian at all costs."

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  Emily studied her bow, fingers ghosting over the worn grip, then lifted her focus. "Then we need more than food and healing supplies, we need better weapons."

  Kaelith nodded, approval settling in his expression. "My thoughts exactly." He let his eyes pass over the group, inviting them. "Luckily, I know the perfect person to talk to."

  The decision settled over them, silent but unanimous. The Aetheris crew, those who had fought and bled together, moved as one, gathering their gear and preparing to step outside.

  As they stepped outside, Emberwood Village opened before them, alive with movement. Lanterns glowed in windows, shop signs creaked in the night breeze, and the scent of burning wood wrapped around the cool air. It was home, or could have been, but for some, it might never be again.

  They would see it as it was, one last time, before everything changed forever.

  The wind stirred over Emberwood Village, carrying with it the echoes of lives soon to be uprooted. The crew of the Aetheris continued their objectives, each step drawing them closer to the end of the game, to the moment where choice would slip from their hands.

  And then, far beyond their sight, the realm split apart.

  Dark energy carved through reality, unfurling in a spiral of violet and black. The portal tore open at the forest’s edge, and from within, two figures stepped forward, deliberate, unhurried. Sterling. Hex.

  The ground beneath Lord Sterling shuddered, rejecting his presence. The twisted, antlered mask obscured his face, save for the cold, blue glow of his eyes, burning through the slits. His fiery cloak billowed in the breeze, revealing blackened armor, silent and unyielding. Beside him, Hex skipped forward, her lace-draped silhouette impossibly light against the grass. Her black eyes gleamed with newfound amusement.

  Sterling exhaled slowly, his gaze rising to meet the sky.

  The Aetheris loomed above the village, its silhouette stretching over rooftops, an emblem of safety.

  His voice was soft, but absolute.

  "Fools."

  The sky above Emberwood transformed.

  A shudder rolled through the village, undeniable. Something was wrong. The villagers paused, hands stilling over their work, conversations cut short, an eerie hush blanketed the streets.

  A colossal, spectral shape manifested against the heavens, wreathed in dark and violet energy. His presence alone stirred unease through the town, but his voice? His voice was something else entirely.

  It was low, almost soothing, a melody of false reassurance that crept into the mind with ease.

  "Emberwood Village, hear me well."

  Every soul turned their eyes skyward. Among them, the crew of the Aetheris stood frozen as Lord Sterling's masked visage dominated the heavens.

  The sky above Emberwood transformed.

  A shudder rolled through the village, undeniable. Something was wrong. The villagers paused, hands stilling over their work, conversations cut short, an eerie hush blanketed the streets.

  A colossal, spectral form bled into the heavens, wreathed in dark and violet energy. His presence alone stirred unease through the town, but his voice? His voice was something else entirely.

  It was low, almost soothing, a melody of false reassurance that crept into the mind with ease.

  "Emberwood Village, hear me well."

  Every soul turned their eyes skyward. Among them, the crew of the Aetheris stood frozen as Lord Sterling's masked visage dominated the heavens.

  "All I seek is the Guardian of Fire. Fear not, I seek only to grant them eternal safety. I already safeguard the Guardians of Air and Nature, and as you can see..." He gestured with an unseen hand. The villagers, as if compelled, lowered their eyes.

  The damp earth at their feet was changing. Grass, vibrant and green, pushed through the soil. Flowers, delicate yet defiant, bloomed where only ruin had stood before. The scent of fresh growth drifted into the air, soft but deceptive.

  "You are still breathing," Sterling continued, his tone unwavering. "The wind still moves, the world still thrives. And so, I ask you, why resist?"

  Hex angled her chin, gazing up at her father’s spectral form in the sky. Her black eyes gleamed with mischief, her voice light, almost teasing. "Maybe they assume we’ll kill them anyway."

  Sterling’s gaze lowered to her, and for a fleeting moment, a rare smirk curved his lips. "You make an excellent point, daughter."

  His voice cascaded over Emberwood Village once more, smooth as ever, yet laced with the barest hint of amusement. "You may all be telling yourselves that I will simply kill you once I get what I want."

  A deliberate pause. Silence settled over the village, the force of his words pressing down, heavy and unmoving.

  "Let me be clear, your meaningless lives hold no value to me. I care not whether you live or die. I do not feel like wasting my precious time eradicating you." His tone remained eerily even, detached. "So I implore you… Give me the Guardian of Fire, and continue your pathetic existences."

  The silence that followed Sterling’s proclamation was absolute. The village remained still, Sterling’s words sinking into every hesitant breath, every uncertain glance. Then, slowly, sound returned, not in the whispers of the fearful, but in the exhale of someone who had already made up his mind.

  Leo.

  His eyes remained on the sky for a moment longer, taking in the towering image of Sterling’s projection, that smug, hollow certainty. Then he looked at Keira.

  That feeling hit him again, that deep, unyielding love, not just for her, but for all of them. He turned, his eyes passing over Emily, Asha, Ankit, Lucinda. Each one met his gaze with the same unspoken understanding, the same defiant, unwavering fire.

  Leo huffed out a breath, rolling his shoulders as if he was shaking off the last remnants of tension.

  "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing… what a dick."