Clouds Of Witness Novels & Stories

“You used Matteo.” “He volunteered to deliver the evidence.” Evelyn looked towards the ledger. “I need that book.” “No,” Gabriel said. “It contains evidence relating to corruption and murder.” “It also contains names of witnesses who will be killed if their identities become public.” “We can protect them.” “Your department couldn’t protect this estate from Jonathan Hale.” Evelyn’s expression tightened. “Hale corrupted one regional office. He didn’t control all of us.” Alessia held the book against her chest.

No sooner had he spoken than the quiet sky erupted in a cascade of dazzling fireworks. One after another, they painted the night with a tapestry of light, each burst more breathtaking than the last. I was so captivated by the display that I could not even blink, afraid to miss a single moment. What girl could resist the charm of fireworks? Certainly not me. Overwhelmed with joy, I bounced off Luis's lap. "Wow... It's so gorgeous, so stunning!" Luis, with his arms still around me, agreed. "It really is beautiful..."

"What are you? You’ve been watching this happen for lifetimes. You knew this was coming." The stranger turned to her. For the first time, his eyes weren't just brown or blue; they were swirling vortices of fading light, reflecting the countless universes he had watched perish. "I am the Witness," he said simply. "When the First Hunger consumes, I watch. When the Sovereign transcends, I record. When the Endwalker concludes, I remember. I am the archive of the 'Before.'" "Then act," Lucian snapped, his hand gripped tight on his weapon, though it felt useless in this atmosphere of impending erasure. "If you know how this works, stop it. Save him."

The moment I saw her name flash on my screen, I blocked it without hesitation. I refused to let her intrude on the journey I had longed for. What I never expected, though, was that the first familiar face I would encounter in Marshlowe was Nicholas's. I had just arrived at an outdoor ski resort. After a smooth run down the slope, a group of men suddenly rushed from the edge of the trail. One of them swung a heavy stick against my head. Darkness swallowed me. When I opened my eyes again, my wrists and ankles were bound. I was lying inside a nearly abandoned wooden cabin.

Familiar spiritual signature indicating potential witness with particular significance to broader objective. "We will remain," he decided, cosmic awareness perceiving opportunity beyond conventional understanding. "Approaching witness provides connection to specific accountability beyond general demonstration." The nightmare steed retreated to clearing's edge, midnight substance blending with shadows between ancient trunks. The Shadow Knight positioned himself beside central sentinel, transformed armour adjusting coloration to maintain visibility while minimizing threatening appearance. This encounter would serve instructive purpose beyond intimidation, demonstration beyond confrontation. Mi

It came in memory. A ripple through the air. A breath that didn’t belong to the wind. > “I watched when the First Flame kindled,” the voice said—not aloud, but in every heart. > “I watched when the gods turned away.” > “I watched when names were born, and when they were buried.” > “I watched when the world chose silence.” Azriel’s voice was barely a whisper. “You never slept.” “No,” the figure said. “I was the Witness.” ---

My word now carries as much weight as Kaelen's. After a moment's hesitation, they stepped aside. I threw open the door to see Kaelen peeling an apple for Seraphina. The cozy domestic scene made me sick. "You are a gifted liar," I said, slapping the dissolution papers down on the bedside table. "Sign them. Now." Kaelen put down the apple and stood up to face me. "I won't sign." "You swore an oath!" My voice trembled, not with anger, but with the pain of thirteen years of trust shattering.

The sun dips below the mountains, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. "There is something coming," I say. "Something I cannot name." Kael tenses. "A threat?" "No. Something else. Something that has been waiting." My mother nods slowly. "I have felt it too. A presence at the edge of the world. Watching. Waiting. Deciding." "Deciding what?" "Whether we are ready." The Witness arrives three days later. She does not ride. She does not walk. She simply appears at the western border, as if she has always been there. Her fur is ash-grey, her eyes the color of deep winter, and she carries no weapons, no banners, no marks.

She stammered, “Matthew, she is just trying to destroy what we have. Please… don’t believe her.” However, Matthew had survived too many battles in the business world. He knew she was lying. I signaled the guards to release him. He sank to the floor, drained. He looked at me with a complicated expression like he wanted to say something, but no words came out. “That’s all about it. The two of you can wait for the court summons.” “Oh, and to everyone who attended this auction. Your recordings of exploiting underage girls and organizing group debauchery have all been documented. I’ll be handing those to the police, too.”

It rises high, the towers scraping the sky, raising as high as the tallest mountain. I call it quits when I can’t see the sun in the sky anymore, opting instead to sit against a tree and break bread. I refuse to travel through the night, not with how dangerous the forest is. Gods only know where I would end up stumbling through the dark. I nestle back, stretching my legs out in front of me. I flip my bag open, and paw through the jumbled mess. As I pulled the humble meal from my satchel, I hear a voice.