Her heart pulled at mine, like we were one.
We followed the river along, trees lining each side like sentinels. The river twisted and bent, carving through the earth as it rushed.
The further we chased it, the closer we came to civilisation.
When we reached a convergence in the water, I saw the lights of the city sparkle in the stillness. They covered the valley below the mountains, trading rocks and trees for perfectly cut houses and clean paint.
A road straight as an arrow cut through the centre of the town, leading towards the central point of Velithra.
The Temple of the Order of the Light.
I could see it towering above the town, with its symmetrical imposing towers. The marble was white – true white, reflecting the moon in the dark so that it glowed.
It sat high on the ground, like it was lording over the valley below. Archways, at least twenty feet high, were the doorways, closed now with heavy stone doors.
Immovable.
Imposing.
But inside the windows lights glowed.
They always did.
Extinguishing the light in the tower was akin to blasphemy.
Seph leaned forward over me. From our position, we could hear music coming from within, like they were singing a song. Figures robed in blinding white walked toward the doors holding lanterns before them. I could hear the chants of the priests on the wind.
“It’s the Assembly of the Sun,” Seph spoke softly. “A ritual they perform on the night of the crescent moon. This has always been seen as a time when the dark is at its most powerful — second only to the new moon. They believe that by bathing the temple inlight, by carrying fire, they can stave off the shadows once again. Proving once and for all that the Light shall always triumph.”
I grunted in response, flying around the edges of the shadow. My form was hidden in the night sky, but it paid to keep Seph safe.
“I was taught about the power of the Light my whole life. I was told it was something to aspire to.Righteous Light shall cull the shadows,” she scoffed.
“But I never went to a single Assembly. Did you know that?”
I grunted again, angling toward the darkness once more.
“I don’t know how to beat what’s coming,” she said quietly. “Who to support. What I’m even supposed to do. Every choice hurts someone.”
She swallowed.
“And I’m terrified that no matter what I choose… this only ends one way.”
We can leave. Right now.
“And go where?”
Away. Far away, where no one can reach us.
She chuckled. “That would be nice, but I couldn’t leave Dev. Or Ash. Or even Kieran. I couldn’t leave Sable, not after she sacrificed so much for me.”
You would bind your life to theirs?
“Not my life, Sy. But maybe my loyalty. My friendship. My heart.”
And the Equinox?
“Has good intentions, I’m sure. But…”
