Darkness swirled around Lyra. A faint noise of an echo came with a dim light coming from a sconce along a dark hallway. She approached the torch with caution, feeling numb to its orangish glow. As she approached, she saw herself and Draven on the defense with their backs against each other.

She reached out, but Draven swung her sword at her, driving her away. She tried to speak, but it only came out as a shriek. A familiar barrage of whispers began to flood into her mind. She rushed to try and clarify what had happened, but instead, she pushed herself into a different room.

Lyra observed herself.

She was smaller, weaker, and unfamiliar. An anger boiled from within her, a resentment of a life she was thrown into.

"You're pitiful," the other Lyra said. "Look at you. You thought you were invincible, untouchable because of how smart you are."

She tried speaking again, but it sounded more like delayed whispers.

"You can't protect those you love," another voice said. She turned to see Draven behind her. "With a closed heart and selfish ambition, you think you can change the world."

The walls began to fade away like dust in the wind. Draven and she followed after, their eyes never stopped staring deeply into hers before they floated away.

She saw a familiar bright purple glow on her skin. She turned to find the floating entity.

"What is this?" she asked, surprised to speak. But the entity just swirled in its mysterious essence.

She tried to approach, but her movements were slow and heavy. Nine bright yellow orbs appeared in a close formation behind the entity. Large clawed hands with three fingers crept around the large purple orb, fitting in the palm of its hands, revealing a shell-like skin comparable to wet stone. It brought the entity to the yellow orbs to reveal its face—the glowing orbs were its eyes, and it had a mandible-like mouth with writhing tentacles. Its colossal head was pointed like a leaf with five points, but its body was veiled by the abyss of space.

"I found you," it said after sounding through millions of languages in a second, its voice like a deep purr.

Lyra couldn't help but feel an impending doom. Her heart raced until it threatened to explode, and her thoughts collapsed in her mind, feeling as if she was melting from the inside. Her body felt as if it were being compressed, her head ready to pop.

She screamed as she shot up from her bed. Her chest heaved as if she ran out of air to breathe. She frantically checked her surroundings, finding hospital beds surrounding her. The walls were a canvas material, waving softly as winds tried to invade the inside. Warmth coiled in from an electric heater just above her bed. Her eyes eventually fell on Kaelen, who stood wide-eyed and ready for whatever may come.

"Hey!" She finally heard. "You're safe! You're at the medical tent by the arena." Kaelen's words grounded her, but something still tugged at her instincts—fear.

"I—" she stopped herself. She may come off as discombobulated, possibly insane, if she were to describe what her dream was, if she could. . .

"Are you alright?" Kaelen finally asked.

She felt beads of sweat roll down her arms and forehead and into the bandages that covered a large sum of her body.

"I'm. . . doing fine." Lyra finally said, the weight of her loss finally crashing down on her. The expectations of Joanne and the faith Helen had in her, she let them down. "I can't believe I thought I was suited for this." Her hands clenched the thin blanket.

Kaelen rested his hand gently on her shoulder and said, "No one's blaming you for anything. You fought hard. There are other ways to show the world what you're capable of."

"Kaelen, you don't understand," her heart throbbed, a tug-of-war between fear and pain and disappointment. "I lost my chance; I lost their respect. I'm way over my head with this. I'll be what they always see me to be—a child."

"You're beating yourself up too much, Algernon," said Helen, entering the tent. To Lyra's surprise, she wasn't furious or even hinting at animosity. "We just need to train more and get more field training too. You've only just started."

"Helen, I—"

She interrupted her before she could speak. "I don't need excuses; I need you to be the Lyra Algernon that took me down. A loss isn't a total defeat; it's a teacher that disciplines you." Helen's seemingly lackadaisical expression was hard to read, but her emotions were shown in how she spoke. And Lyra could tell she was being sincere.

"I think it's best if you go back to Aeris' house," said Kaelen. "Don't worry about anything. I've already packed the armor and sword. I'll be dropping them off, and then I'll be there."

Kaelen gave her shoulder a gentle shake, helping her take a step out of her head. "You did great; don't let your head tell you otherwise."

Kaelen handed her a coat that already felt warm inside. He gave her a smile while Helen gave her an effortless thumbs up.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

Thanks to the coat Kaelen provided to Lyra, the harsh winter winds were more tolerable. But the cold bit at her skin like a whip with every gust. The lit lamp posts guided her way to her destination. Due to the power event, the streets were merely empty. No one recognized her, which relieved her.

The day has given way to dusk, turning the skies dark. Since the clouds were too busy snowing, the stars remained hidden to Lyra's discontent.

Each step she took was hopeful that the Everfire would help warm her—she could barely hear the whipping of the flames, the scratching of Aeris' quill—the complete set of her ideal comfort. Lyra hoped to see her. This was the longest time they'd been apart since the fall of the armistice, and the distance only felt like it was growing.

She hurried through the gates of Aeris' manor, where she was greeted by some servants. Kaelen's mother approached her. Her gentle figure and eyes reminded her of her mother's, softening her weary mind and body.

"Good evening, Ms. Lyra," she said with a bow. "I hope the tournament went well. I can see the bandages on your body. I have a few Lycran remedies that'll fasten the healing process if you'd like."

"No, I'll be fine," she replied, though she knew she wouldn't mind it. "But I'll take you up on it another time."

"Very well."

"Have you seen Aeris?" Lyra asked.

"I heard some scuffling upstairs; it might be in her office."

Lyra gave her a nod and made her way to the office.

Every step she took felt as if a shadow was slowly consuming her. Her solace lies in the form of a person she cared for deeply, the only light at the end of her tunnel.

Once she reached the doors, she knocked.

Silence. . .

"Aeris!" she called. But there wasn't a response.
Her heart raced, sensing something was wrong. Lyra burst through the doors only to find her office was a mess, but not due to a robbery of any sort. As she investigated, she found muddy boot prints on the floor circling her desk, then ending at the window next to it, which was open, allowing the winds to usher in the cold with haste.

"Aeris!" She called again.

The banging of the window responded in return.

"Ms. Lyra," called a familiar voice. She turned to find Higgs puzzled at the doorway.

"Higgs, where is Aeris?!"

"Ms. Aeris went through here in a hurry, but I didn't know she would create such a mess. I do believe she's made her way to the Senate building." Higgs began to pick up the papers that spread on the floor. She waved down a servant passing by, asking him to bring a mop. "What could be so urgent to go in this storm?"

Lyra ran out the door, throwing caution to the wind. Something is wrong; she could feel it in the pit of her stomach.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

Visibility was low, but the way to the Senate building was a short one. After letting the lamp posts guide her, she entered the familiar grand hall of the building. Shaking off the powdered snow, she hurried to the reception desk, breaking her momentum by slamming herself against the counter, shocking the receptionists.

"I need to know where Aeris Veil is!"

They looked at one another, checking their logs and shaking their heads.

"I'm sorry, we have no recollection or documentation that they've entered the building. We can schedule an appointment, however, if that may help. . ."

Lyra sighed heavily, her mind racing around herself. Where are you, Aeris? She wondered to herself.

"Lyra!" a voice called. She turned to find Senator Fogan approaching her. "I'm sorry about the tournament, but you still achieved the satisfaction of doing your best." Being a father showed too much in his comfort.

"Have you seen Aeris?" Lyra barked. The more time passed, the more desperate she became for an answer to her simple question.

"Ah, Aeris must be making her rounds here. She called for an emergency meeting with the Council, so she should be leaving that about now."

Lyra wasted no time asking any more questions. Her legs burned, the wounds finally catching up to her. But she pushed through the pain, clenching her fists and her teeth.

The Senate building was too big to search. Where could she be? Lyra stopped in a chamber that led to multiple areas of the Senate building, amplifying the maze in her head. Her eyes scanned, her mind running through the hallways in her head but leading nowhere.

Then a familiar feeling pressed softly against her back, the feeling she felt before she left for the fortress. When she turned, no one was there, but her eyes widened at the hallway that led to the garden.

Lyra had never run so fast in her life, but her gut feeling didn't allow her to slow down. Once she made it to the clearing, her eyes immediately darted through the garden. The leaves had fallen off the trees, leaving pine to be the only remnant of life. Even the bushes met their time in the season, decorated with withered leaves and flowers.

"Aeris!" She called desperately.

She ran straight through the garden but didn't find any traces of life.

"Lyra!" Aeris' voice called out, a hint of desperation in her cry.

Lyra's head snapped to the direction she heard, as if she was using echolocation to determine where she was. She broke out in a sprint, jumping over bushes and scuffing the trees as she passed them. The branches rattled to a stop as she made it into the clearing where the garden ceased. Lyra saw a cloaked figure hunched on the ground, legs protruding from under its cloth.

"Aeris?" Lyra called, her face perplexed at the sight.

The cloaked figure whipped its head around, blood flowing from its lips. Her eyes widened as she saw Aeris propped up in its arms, blood flowing from her neck and a dagger sticking out of her like a thorn.

Her heart rate increased as her eyes glared at the cloaked person. Tears welled in her eyes as she ran towards them, her fists clenched and ready to destroy. Once she swung, they moved with fluent ease, getting behind her in a second. But she swung her fist backwards as she twisted her body, only to meet the soft materials of their cloak. Before she could do anything else, the cloak disappeared around the corner.

She wasted no time getting to Aeris' side. Her pallid skin caused Lyra to scramble around for rags, tearing off her bandages. Aeris rested her hand on Lyra's leg, giving a gentle squeeze, which was all she could muster. She stopped, denying the answer that was presenting itself.

Aeris coughed. "It's no use, Lyra," she said, soft-spoken. "I should've listened." She gulped, then let out a harsh breath. "I cannot speak words aloud; people can be listening."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Her lips quivered along with her words.

It was a rhetorical question, hoping to stall time. But she knew better; hoping was all she could do.

"I've discovered something about this kingdom," she said through strained breaths. "It's corrupt, Lyra."

"Stop talking; conserve your strength." She held her hand, applying a cloth to the dagger wound.

A tear fell from Lyra's cheek. Aeris' solemn face softened; a smile appeared amidst all the anguish. Her bloodied hand softly landed on Lyra's cheek, her thumb brushing gently on her cheekbone. Aeris' eyes narrowed with her smile, serenity filling her gaze.

"You've grown so much," her sentence, cut short due to a gasp. Lyra squeezed her hand tighter. "How could I ever shine as bright as you?"

"Please!" she begged, her face a sobbing mess. "I can't lose you too." Her head turned, searching for any passerby. "Help!" She cried desperately. "Anyone, please!"

But Aeris' hand pulled her face back to look at her. "I need you to promise me something."

"No, no, no, please! Aeris!"

"I need you to stay alive. I know it's selfish of me. But I see it now. The stage is set for you—you will bring peace."

"I can't. . . I can't do this without you," she spoke ever so softly.

"You can!" She coughed out, blood dribbling out the corner of her mouth, followed by a groan.

"Aeris. . ." Lyra lifted her, bringing her into a hug.

"You'll know what you need to do. We're all with you. We'll always be by you."

"Please. . ."

A long, drawn-out exhale escaped Aeris. "You're so warm."

She didn't want to move; she couldn't. Petrified at the loss of the only person that tethered her to this world, now severed and left drifting in a dark abyss. She held Aeris close, wishing to the heavens by their graces—even though she was never religious—that they would make an exception. But just as Aeris' warmth faded, so did her hopes.

Footfalls came rushing around the corner.

"Lyra!" shouted Kaelen's voice.

She looked up at him slowly. Her vision of him blurred through the tears. Her face broke like a dam, her emotions all pouring out.

Kaelen hugged her tight, pressing her head against his chest.

Guards hurried to flood the scene. Their weapons were drawn at any potential threat. When some saw the lifeless body of Aeris Veil, their defensive angles dropped, bowing their heads in prayer.

Kaelen began to pull Lyra from her, reluctant to leave, but he had no problem grabbing her in her weakened state. Carrying her, Lyra kicked and screamed, but her efforts were short as something turned off inside of her.

Before Lyra turned away, she glanced at Aeris one last time. A smile stayed on her face, lying serenely with her eyes shut.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

Lyra's eyes were lost in the gaze of her reflection on her mother's breastplate—her hair was a mess, eyes red and puffed—her shoulders dropped as far as they could.

She was lost.

A lit torch being the only thing of comfort she had in the darkness, but even its warmth wasn't enough to bring Aeris back.

"I'm trying to live in the moment," she said, her voice broken and raspy. "Like you told me. I'm trying to control it without giving it up; I'm a soldier, and I'm on my feet. . . for now."

She closed her eyes in hopes that when they opened, all of it would have been a dream.

One last hope. . .