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But there are no weaknesses. It is pure and strong, but I refuse to give up. Closing my eyes and eliminating distractions, I empty my thoughts of Sunder, Yurghen, and my worries about Bobble. Relaxing my mind, like meditation. I push aside the pain that stings across my body and heart. In this moment, there is only me and the power begging to be unleashed. My thoughts float like a leaf on the wind.
As if a dam breaks, the power floods into my body. My skin emits a bright red glow as Chroma surges through the shield like a torrent of lava, shattering it completely. Heat and light envelop me as Yurghen looks on, amazed but unperturbed.
I surge internally, feeling the Chroma no longer residing in the well of energy stores but scattered throughout my body, embedded into every atom that makes up my flesh. It flows through my veins like water through pipes, pulsating through my muscles and bones like electricity through wires.
I’m no longer myself. There is no Mira. Only Chroma.
A small blade materializes between my fingers and hovers momentarily before I snatch it, using it to slice through the black ropes that bind me. I turn swiftly and lunge towards Yurghen, commanding my dagger to transform into a longsword.
Yurghen’s eyes widen with excitement. He frantically takes notes in his book, clearly not threatened by my presence. With a shout, I charge at the wizard, only to collide with an invisible barrier between us.
Just a few steps away from his podium, where he watches and takes notes on my actions, I stand like an animal confined to her cage. My arm reaches out towards the wizard, but my wrist throbs with the weight of the sword. I struggle for control, but my strength fails me and the sword shrinks back to the size of a dagger.
Yurghen laughs excitedly, scribbling more notes. Tears well in my eyes as anger boils within me. I despise my helplessness against him, yet Sunder’s lifeless body and pale skin remind me I cannot give up.
I close my eyes and picture flames bursting forth from my hands, obliterating everything in the room. A swell of strong wind swirls past me as Chromatic energy surges from the depths of my being, erupting from my fingertips.
I scream as the power rips through me, pushing against the barrier between us. Towering flames stream ceaselessly from my hands, channeling immense energy into breaking through.
This surge of red Chroma is more potent than anything I’ve ever experienced. It feels intoxicating, as though I am merely a conduit for something greater. I direct the flames, pushing with all my might against the shield.
Suddenly, the barrier shatters, leaving Yurghen dumbfounded. Quill in hand, he stands motionless as the flames swarm around him and engulf the entire room. I incinerate every book, every piece of wooden furniture, and every scrap of paper. The flames spare only Sunder and Yurghen.
Once the room is sufficiently destroyed, I retract the flames, creating a small opening that surrounds the three of us.
“My research! This cannot be,” Yurghen says in disbelief.
“Heal him!” I demand. Power fills me, and I let it fill the air around me, sparking like a summer thunderstorm.
Yurghen’s face twists in rage as he spins, sending waves of yellow light swirling from him to Sunder. Golden tendrils of magic shoot through Sunder’s body, knitting his torn skin together and healing his wounds. He remains prone on the floor, but within seconds, I see the labored rise and fall of his chest.
Relief washes over me as I turn my gaze back to Yurghen. The Chroma is fading, its flow diminishing and the stores depleting within my body. Time is slipping away, and I must decide. What if he has cursed Bobble again, and he is stuck in cat form? If I kill him, we may never find a way to help free him or merge the Shards. Yet, if I leave him alive, he will seek vengeance.
“Wait!” Yurghen cries. “If you—”
I don’t give one single fuck about him.
Rage roars through me. I let the flames consume Yurghen, watching as they lick and char his flesh. His screams echo throughout the room as he burns alive. The scent of roasted flesh and burning hair fills my nostrils. In an instant, his lifeless, blackened body collapses to the ground. I continue to press the flames into him, even after his soul has left his body, until nothing remains but a pile of ash.
Finally, I release the flames, collapsing on the floor in utter exhaustion.
I’m only vaguely aware of Bobble calling my name before blackness consumes me.
Chapter Forty
Sunder
I rouse from my slumber, my eyes bleary as I find myself on a soft bed, covered in furs. Beside me, a warm fire crackles, casting a comforting glow. Rays of bright sunlight stream through tall windows, showing that it is late afternoon. Across the room, a desk is cluttered with papers scattered everywhere.
As I slowly sit up, I attempt to push past the blinding pain in my head. The memory of being whipped by Yurghen lingers, but I’m surprised to find that my back doesn’t feel ripped or excessively sore.
“You’re awake,” a deep voice says from the chair behind the desk. I try to shake my head to clear my vision, but a sharp pain shoots through my skull once again. A tall, broad man with auburn red hair walks towards me. His dark, neatly trimmed beard creates a stark contrast against his fair skin. He is dressed in a loose-fitting white tunic adorned with intricate designs that wrap around his waist. With his dignified demeanor and feline grace, he exudes an air of authority. A long sword hangs loosely from his hip with a jewel encrusted hilt and ornate pommel.
The Third.
“Rest. You’re still recovering from your ordeal.”
“Where’s Mira?” My voice comes out hoarse and raspy as I struggle to sit up straighter. My eyes dart around the room in a frantic search. I reach out, feeling for the bond, and find it there once again, easily accessible.
