The voice sounded again in her mind, deep and ancient:
Thank you, Healer and Warrior. The Soulbonded. For centuries I was scattered, silent. But now I am whole.
Kara opened her eyes in shock and saw bursts of light erupting from the Arcanth. Every colour and a flood of ones she couldn’t even name. But the Arcanth wasn’t done.
I bless you with the power to stand against the storm that comes.
Together, or not at all.
The finality of those last words made a shiver run up her spine, and Sebastian’s hands tensed against hers.
“What does that–”
But before Kara could finish, or even register her unease at the words, the force of the Arcanth surged through them. Kara felt it – raw, unnameable power surging into her. A flood. Air in her lungs. Water rushing through her veins. Fire crackling behind her eyes. Earth making her muscles heavy. The magic exploded inside her. Mind. Emotion. Strength. All of it, all at once.
She gasped. Sebastian swore under his breath. They weren’t just Hale and Thorne anymore. Not just a healer and a warrior. They carried every House. Every element. They were all of Vallenna. When the light finally dimmed, the Shards were gone. In their place, one crystal, perfect and gleaming, hovered between their hands – the Arcanth, whole at last.
Kara lifted her gaze to Sebastian. His eyes were wide, reflecting the same awe she was feeling.
We did it.
Sebastian spoke first, but the words tangled. “Did the Arcanth – was that – did it... did it speak to us?”
“You heard it too?”
He nodded, gaze fixed on the diamond-shaped crystal in front of them. It pulsed as if it was alive, its insides swirling with colour like both liquid and gas.
Veyra stepped closer, her usual serenity edged with reverence. “The Arcanth has blessed you,” she said. “All of Vallenna’s magic. It is... an extraordinary gift.”
Sebastian and Kara stared, awestruck, at the Arcanth. Their power thrummed across their bond. It was so much... almost too much. It rolled in waves, too vast, too fierce. It should have been unbearable, buttheir bond contained it. Kara knew in that moment that sharing it with Sebastian was the only reason it hadn’t swallowed her whole.
“It’s – Gods, it’s everything,” Sebastian breathed. He gripped her hand so tightly – like letting go would shatter them both.
“Now what?” Kara asked.
“Now, you must train,” Veyra said.
“Train?” Sebastian repeated.
“Yes,” Veyra said seriously. “Most of this power, you have never used before. You will need to learn control, to wield it properly against Draknor.”
This is madness.
“Right,” Sebastian said weakly as he reluctantly removed his hands from Kara’s and laid the Arcanth carefully back in the satchel.
“I can assist you, if you wish.”
“Yes,” Kara said immediately.
Sebastian nodded reluctantly beside her. “Please.”
They were both too overwhelmed to even pretend otherwise.
“Let’s begin,” Veyra stated.
Already? My legs still feel like water.
Veyra stepped back into the circle, folding her hands behind her back. She looked at Kara as if she knew exactly what she was thinking. “Draknor are coming. Last time... we lost thousands of Vallennans. I do not wish for that to happen again.” Veyra glanced up at the shielded sky, its tinted ruby glow. “There can be no delay.”
