LOGINThe room was bathed in the soft glow of the mountain's eternal light. I lay on a bed of silk and furs, my body aching with the strange new power that had been building for days. The faith of the people was a constant hum in my veins, warm and insistent, pushing against the barriers that had held my true self prisoner. I had been laid up here for hours, the worship too much to bear. My servants had brought me grapes and wine, but I could not eat. The power was spreading through my veins like fire, like ice, like something I had no name for. It was pain. It was pleasure. It was everything. The beast within me was breaking free. I gasped as another wave hit me, my back arching off the bed. My hands clawed at the silk sheets, my vision blurring. The frost in my core had transformed into something else, something ancient and primal. It was no longer just cold. It was creation itself. The door opened. Aldric stepped inside. She was wearing the crimson gown, the one that left her shoul
. I woke one morning to find offerings at our doorstep. Flowers, bread, small carved figurines of frost and moonlight. The people of the sanctuary had begun to worship me. Lyra explained it simply. "They believe you are a god. Or something close to it. Your power, your beauty, your consorts. You are what they have been waiting for." I stared at the offerings. "I am not a god." Lyra smiled. "You are becoming one. The mountain has chosen you. The people have chosen you. And their faith is power, Jade. The most powerful force in the world." I did not fully understand until I felt it. The first time I walked through the village, the people bowed. Their faith washed over me, warm and tangible, filling the hollow spaces in my core. The frost in my chest responded, not with cold, but with heat. The beast within me stirred, stretching, hungry for more. The faith was unlocking something. My innate power. The power that had been sealed away with Zero, the power that had been frag
The golden mountains rose before us like sleeping giants, their peaks catching the morning light in a blaze of amber and rose. The path wound upward, narrow and steep, lined with ancient oaks whose branches intertwined overhead. We walked in single file, Seraphiel in the middle, Aldric behind him and Elias behind him. "The sanctuary is just beyond the ridge," Elias said, pointing ahead. "A village built into the mountain itself. The healers there have been tending to travelers for centuries." I nodded, but my attention was elsewhere. The frost in my core had been stirring since we entered the mountains, restless and alert. Something was watching us. "Do you feel that?" I asked. Aldric's gold eyes narrowed. "Feel what?" "Something in the trees. Following us." Elias's wings rustled. His face was pale. "I feel it too. Beast foxes. A large herd, from the weight of their presence." Seraphiel's hand went to his chest. "Beast foxes? How many?" "A dozen. Maybe more." Elias's voice w
The golden mountains grew closer with each step, their peaks catching the last light of the setting sun. The green hills had given way to a gentler landscape, dotted with small farms and winding streams. The air was warm and sweet, carrying the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth. We had been walking for two days. Seraphiel's strength was slowly returning, though he still leaned heavily on Elias. Aldric's steps were steadier, her gold eyes brighter. The flower path's effects had faded, leaving behind a quiet contentment that none of us wanted to break. "There," Elias said, pointing ahead. "A settlement. We can rest there." I followed his gaze. A small cluster of buildings nestled in a valley, their roofs thatched with golden straw. Smoke rose from chimneys, carrying the smell of cooking food. My stomach growled. "A settlement," Aldric repeated. "Are we safe there?" Elias nodded. "This is neutral territory. The people here are farmers, not fighters. They trade with everyone and
We rose from the flower path slowly. The petals released us with a final soft sigh, their glow fading as we stepped onto the ordinary grass beyond. I looked back at the path, at the crimson and pink blooms that had witnessed so much. They were already closing, their work done, their purpose fulfilled. Aldric stood beside me, her small frame trembling slightly. Seraphiel leaned heavily on Elias, his dark eyes still hazy but clearer than they had been in days. Elias supported him without complaint, his torn wings folded tight against his back. I looked at the three of them. My three. The word felt strange in my mind, but not unwelcome. "Where do we go now?" Aldric asked. I touched the jade pendant around my neck. It was warm, pulsing gently. The map in my mind showed a path leading east, through the green forest, toward mountains that glowed with a soft golden light. "East," I said. "There is a place. A sanctuary. The jade says it is safe." Seraphiel coughed, his breath ra
The flowers still glowed softly around us, their petals brushing against our skin like gentle fingers. The warmth from earlier had not fully faded, leaving a languid contentment in my limbs. I lay in the center of the moss, Aldric curled against my chest, Seraphiel's head on my stomach, Elias tucked under my arm. His wings were draped over all of us, a blanket of silver and light.For a long moment, none of us spoke. The silence was comfortable, filled with the soft rustle of petals and the distant sound of wind through the trees.But then I asked a question that had been burning through my chest, it's been one thing after the other after loosening my seal and I needed to know."Why?"Aldric stirred against my chest. "Why what?""Why did you seal me?" My voice was quiet, but it cut through the warmth. "I need to understand. I need to hear it from both of you."Seraphiel's hand found mine. His grip was weak but steady. "Jade...""Tell me."The silence stretched. Aldric sat up slowly, h
I told myself I was going to apologize, the hurt I felt in my soul watching them walk away from me due to my stupid pride and choice to prove something that was already obvious. I had to apologize. If it's the last thing I do. I wouldn't plan the conversation. I told myself I’d bring it up cas
I told everyone it didn’t matter, smiled through the loss, even clapped Aldric on the shoulders like a good sport.Said something light about “healthy competition.”I even laughed.But the moment the sun dipped and the campus lights flickered off, I couldn’t go home.I ended up at the indoor pool.
The sixth night was the worst. Hope had worn thin. The priest, Zephyr, as Magnus had finally spoken his name aloud, had spent days tracing symbols no one in Del Imperium recognized. Circles within circles. Threads of light woven so fine they seemed like breath captured midair. Zero had not stir
They called it an emergency convocation. The great hall had never felt so suffocating. Rows upon rows of students filled the crescent tiers, uniforms pressed and immaculate, faces bright with curiosity that curdled into something uglier the moment I was led onto the central platform. The ceilin

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