"Barely," I shouted back, helping Cypher as Zoya cleared a path.
We emerged into the eerie purple-green light of Nytheris. Jask brought the skiff down close enough for us to climb aboard. Kora practically yanked me up, wrapping me in a fierce hug that made my bruised ribs protest.
"I thought you were dead," she whispered.
"Not yet," I said, helping Vic pull Cypher aboard. "How are the others?"
"Safe and waiting at the Reliquarium," Jask replied, already lifting us away from the island as Zoya scrambled aboard. "We found a safe docking point at the top of the main tower."
Cypher leaned heavily against the side of the skiff, his face pale. "Any trouble?"
"Nothing we couldn't handle," Jask said, his eyes lingering on Cypher's bandaged shoulder. "Knives took down one of the krell. The rest scattered after that."
As we ascended through the shattered realm, the Reliquarium came into full view. It was even more magnificent up close—a sprawling structure of pale blue stone and golden crystal that somehow remained mostly intact despite the devastation around it. The central tower rose highest, its spire reaching toward a sky that no longer existed.
"It's beautiful," I murmured.
Cypher's eyes met mine, and I saw centuries of loss reflected there. "It was home."
We docked at a platform near the top of the main tower where Knives and Tor stood guard, crossbows ready. The relief on their faces when they saw us was staggering.
"Thought you'd gotten yourself killed, Captain," Knives said, helping Vic with Cypher.
"Not today," Cypher replied, straightening. "Where's the entrance?"
Tor pointed to a wide archway that led into the tower. "Through there. We've secured the immediate area, but we haven't gone deeper."
"Good. Let's move," Cypher said, suddenly urgent. "The sooner we find the codex, the sooner we can leave this place."
The tunnel beyond the archway was lined with luminescent crystal that emitted a soft blue glow, providing just enough light to navigate by. It sloped gently downward, leading us into theheart of the tower. Click emerged from my pocket, scurrying up to my shoulder for a better view.
"You okay?" Kora whispered, falling into step beside me.
"I've been better," I admitted, touching the matted blood in my hair. "Cypher took a Scather bite meant for me."
Her eyebrows shot up. "The captain did that?"
I nodded, not wanting to share Cypher's secret without his permission. "There's more, but it'll have to wait."
The tunnel opened into a vast circular chamber with multiple corridors branching off in different directions. The walls were covered in intricate carvings in a language I couldn't read.
"The wards begin here," Cypher said. Our voices echoed through the chamber, bouncing all around us. "Stay close."
He approached the nearest corridor, which was shrouded in a faint shimmer of energy. As he stepped toward it, the shimmer intensified, swirling around him like mist. For a moment, I thought it might reject him, but then the energy parted, creating a clear path.
"It recognizes you," I said softly.
He nodded once, his expression unreadable. "Blood wards. They're keyed to the royal family." He gestured for us to follow. "Stay within arm's reach of me. The wards will let you pass if you're with me."
Kora gave me a loaded look, and I just shook my head. Later. I'd explain it all later.
We moved through the corridor, the magic thick enough that I could taste it. Each time we encountered a new ward, Cypher would pause, allowing the magic to recognize him before proceeding. Some wards manifested as walls of light, others as swirling mists or patterns of energy that danced across the floor.
With each barrier we passed, I felt the weight of Nytherian history pressing in on us. These defenses had stood for thirtyyears since the collapse, protecting whatever lay beyond from looters and time itself.
Finally, after what felt like hours of navigating an increasingly complex maze of corridors, we emerged into a wide hallway that ended in a massive bronze door. Intricate patterns were etched into its surface, and it looked incredibly thick and heavy.
Cypher approached it slowly, his injured shoulder seemingly forgotten. He placed his palm against the door, and the patterns flared brightly, tracing lines of light across the bronze surface. With a low groan, the door began to swing inward.
