Semua Bab Bound by Crystals and Shadows: Bab 31 - Bab 40

The forest did not feel the same anymore.The deeper Corin and I walked into the valley, the more the world around us seemed to change. At first it was subtle—small things that might have gone unnoticed if I had not already been uneasy.The wind had quieted.The insects that had hummed softly through the trees earlier had vanished.Even the river beside us seemed to flow more cautiously now, its steady rush over the rocks sounding louder in the strange silence that had settled over the valley.I kept close behind Corin as we followed the narrow trail along the riverbank.The moon had climbed higher into the sky, casting pale silver light between the tall branches above us. Shadows stretched long and dark across the ground, twisting around tree roots and patches of moss.Every few steps, Corin glanced into the trees.Watching.Listening.His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword.“Do you feel that?” I asked quietly.Corin slowed slightly but didn’t turn around.“Yes.”“What is i

The long walk through the forest had really taken its toll on me. Every muscle in my body ached in a way that made even breathing feel like effort, and my legs felt heavy, as if they no longer fully belonged to me. The image of the shadow demon lying lifeless beside the crystal lingered stubbornly at the back of my mind, refusing to fade no matter how hard I tried to push it away. It wasn’t just the sight of it that unsettled me, but the way it had felt—how real the danger had been, how close I had come to something far worse than I could even begin to understand. Even now, stepping away from the forest and into what should have been a place of safety, that unease followed me like a shadow that refused to let go.I pushed the large wooden doors of the Guardian Hall open, expecting to step into something cold and unwelcoming, something that matched the idea I had built in my mind. When you think of guardians, you imagine a place filled with weapons scattered across every surface, harsh

The pull of the courtyard and the strange connection I felt there lingered for a moment longer than I was comfortable with, but eventually I forced myself to step away from it. As much as I wanted to stand there and try to understand what had just happened, I knew I didn’t have the energy for it. My body was already beginning to protest again, the earlier ache creeping back in now that I had stopped moving. Enough distractions. I could explore this place later, when my mind was clearer and my body didn’t feel like it was slowly giving up on me. Right now, all I needed was rest.With a quiet breath, I turned and made my way back toward the long hallway lined with doors. The faint glow of the crystals guided my path, their soft light casting long shadows that moved gently along the stone walls as I walked. The silence here was different from the main hall—deeper, more settled, like this part of the building was meant for stillness rather than movement. My footsteps echoed softly, the so

I looked back at him, my brows pulling together slightly. “Don’t change the subject,” I said, my voice firmer now, grounding myself in the question that had been building since the moment I woke up. “Where were you, Corin?”Before he could deflect again, I moved.I slipped out from beneath the blanket, pulling it tightly around my body as I stood, the fabric bunching slightly in my grip as I held it in place. The cool air brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed it. My focus was entirely on him. I stepped closer, slow but deliberate, closing the space between us as I searched his face for something—anything—that would give me a real answer.He went completely still.I saw it the moment it happened.The way his jaw tightened, the muscle there flexing sharply as his hands curled into fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white with the force of it. His breathing shifted, slower, heavier, like he was forcing himself to stay in control of something that was dangerously close to sli

The moment the door closed behind Corin, the room felt different.Quieter.Colder.I stood where he had left me, the blanket still clutched tightly around my body, my breath slow but uneven as I tried to steady myself. The space between us still lingered in the air, like something that hadn’t fully faded, and no matter how much I tried to focus on anything else, I could still feel it—the warmth of his hands, the closeness of his body, the almost that had been stolen from us.I let out a slow breath, tightening my grip on the blanket before finally forcing myself to move.My gaze shifted toward the door he had pointed out, the one I hadn’t even noticed before, tucked beside the tall wooden dresser. It blended so naturally into the wall that it was easy to miss, as if it had been placed there for those who already knew it existed.I stepped toward it, my legs still slightly unsteady, though whether it was from exhaustion or everything that had just happened, I couldn’t tell.Pushing the