CHAPTER 129 Amaria stood at the head, radiating quiet authority as she addressed the room.“We need confirmation. If Valarieth truly sits among us again, then every action we take from now on must anticipate his hand in the outcome. There will be no neutral ground.”A young scribe near the back shifted uncomfortably, his golden quill trembling slightly. He raised his hand.Amaria’s eyes snapped to him instantly.“Speak.”The scribe hesitated. “I—uh—I was tasked to deliver this from the Luthien branch of the divine scouts. It contains recent movement data on the lower circles.”Amaria didn’t blink. “Did you now?”He nodded. “Yes, Mother Amaria.”Her voice went still. “The Luthien scouts don’t use scrolls anymore. They switched to memory gems a week ago.”The entire hall froze.The scribe’s form shimmered, flickering. His smile faltered.A heartbeat passed.Then Amaria’s hand lifted, glowing with golden fire.“No second chances.”Before anyone could speak, she flicked her wrist—light s
CHAPTER 128The sun broke gently over the horizon, but the air was sharp with tension.Lucian stood on the dewy grass, blade in hand, shirt tossed over a tree branch. He hadn’t spoken much all morning. His face was tight, his jaw locked. Kairis had asked if he was alright.He wasn’t.He hadn’t slept. Not really. The dreams lingered like smoke—flashes of golden eyes and a betrayal he couldn’t name.So when Elias stepped out into the yard, stretching lazily and looking at him with those knowing eyes, Lucian already knew what was coming.“You look like you need to hit something,” Elias said casually.Lucian snorted. “And you volunteered yourself?”“I’m generous like that.”Lucian didn’t smile.Elias paused, then tilted his head. “Come on. Spar with me.”Lucian hesitated. “You sure?”“You asking if I can take you?”Lucian rolled his shoulders. “No. Asking if you can take me today.”Elias gave a sharp grin. “Try me.”They moved into position.No crowd. No fanfare. Just the two of them, bar
CHAPTER 127The house was quiet again.Wards re-established. Bodies exhausted. Even Elias had finally gone quiet in his room, too drained to speak another word. They had all gone to sleep, one by one, drifting into that rare pocket of peace before another inevitable storm.But Lucian didn’t find peace in sleep.Not anymore.The dreams came quickly.Blinding light. A battlefield. Screams. Ash falling like snow.Lucian stood at the edge of something enormous—a cliff of stars, overlooking a realm that shimmered with impossible color. His hands were coated in blood that glittered gold under an unfamiliar sun.“You’ll never forgive me for this,” he whispered to someone behind him.He turned—The face was blurry. Glowing eyes. A voice that sounded like Elias. Lucian tried to reach forward. “Elias…?”The figure blinked at him, eyes glowing, mouth opening as if to speak—A flash of light swallowed everything.He jolted awake, chest heaving.The room was still dark. Only the sound of the wind
CHAPTER 126The hall pulsed with divine tension.The celestial torches lining the chamber burned a harsh silver, casting tall shadows on the ancient stone. Amaria stood in the center of the chamber, fists clenched behind her back. She was the first to speak.“The Eye has awakened.”Gasps broke out. Luthiel stood so fast his chair scraped back with a screech.“Impossible,” he hissed. “That entity was sealed beneath the Void!”Amaria’s tone was sharp. “And now it has been unsealed. Nihareth completed the first Cultfire, corrupted sacred relics, and awakened him.”Raziel leaned forward, golden hair gleaming. “You’re saying The Eye… sides with Nihareth?”“Willingly,” Amaria said. “He’s already begun answering Nihareth’s calls. We believe he sent hybrid creatures made of corrupted relic blood to attack Elias’s estate.”Murmurs erupted across the chamber.“Then this is war.” Cassiel’s voice was calm, cold. “We cannot delay. The heavens must retaliate.”“Retaliate?” Erelah scoffed. “You wan
CHAPTER 125“What… what is that?” Elias’s voice was hoarse, shaking, his body suddenly buckling forward.Lucian caught him before he hit the ground. “Elias—hey, breathe. What’s happening?”But Elias couldn’t respond.Inside him, Azazel screamed. Not in rage. In fear."NO!" the demon roared. “HE'S AWAKE—STOP HIM—”Thal’rean’s voice cracked through the maelstrom next. “Seal it again—Elias, you must—seal it—it should never awaken—”But Elias clutched his head, golden eyes wide, glowing, flickering like flames trying to stay lit during a storm. “It’s too loud… I can’t—can’t focus—”A ripple of divine energy tore through the atmosphere. It was like reality folded in on itself for a second, and everyone felt it—down to their bones.Kairis, who had been outside checking the perimeter, froze mid-step. Her breath caught. The glyphs over her skin flared violently. She spun and ran.Inside, Dorian and Kai had just reached Elias when Kairis burst in, panting.“It’s The Eye.”Lucian’s head snapped
CHAPTER 124Elias stood in the dark hallway, his footsteps light despite the storm that had just passed outside. The scent of blood and ash still lingered on his skin, but he ignored it. There was something heavier calling to him now—pulling at the edge of his thoughts.He pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside the room. There lay the memory shard. Elias stepped forward, hesitating only once before reaching out."Here we go," he muttered under his breath, fingertips brushing the shard.A pulse.His breath caught. The shard sank into his palm, disappearing into his skin like water into dry earth. The room blurred—and then everything was gone.He was somewhere else. Somewhere old. Ancient.A war hall of light and power. Golden banners hung from high ceilings. Celestial warriors knelt before him. He stood tall, godlike, crowned in radiant flame. But his face was younger, untouched by the weariness of the present.Three figures stood behind him.He turned to them—but their faces