Sorrow Lantern Novels & Stories

" Whoaaah! Wow!" Liana walked around touching each lantern as she passed, checking the name engraved over it. She stopped when she reached the one that read Draco's name. The moment she touched it, she thought she saw it flicker. She turned towards the hooded lady to confirm. " Careful, " that was the word she uttered. " Why? Did I do anything wrong? " Liana immediately moved away, afraid she might have done something offensive. " These are Life Lanterns. It is connected to it's owner's soul. It reacts ... "

"And now, through us, he lives." They leaned into one another, the ache of loss softened by the warmth of triumph. It had been a journey through fire, and they had emerged not untouched, but transformed. Outside, the first lanterns of the Covenant Festival floated into the air—spheres of light symbolizing each life reborn, each lie conquered, each truth that endured. From a balcony above, Catherine watched as one child released a lantern with both hands, laughing as it rose. Her breath caught in her throat. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Symbols faintly glowed along the brass frame—spirals and wave-like markings she had never seen before. “Those weren’t there,” she whispered. “They reveal themselves to each keeper,” Alden said. The air inside the lantern room felt heavier now, humming faintly. Like the inside of a seashell pressed to the ear. “What is it?” she asked. “That thing.” Alden hesitated. For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face. “We called it the Drowned One.” Mara swallowed. “That’s not a real answer.” “It is the only one I have.”

Finally, Robert returns to the podium and reads the list of our fallen pack members. When he has finished and we completed the moment of silence, everyone in attendance lights and releases the lantern they hold. Soon the lanterns adorn the night sky, rivaling the brightness of the stars shining down on us. I know the Moon goddess is with us tonight because of how bright the moon and stars shine, and so many shooting stars fly across the sky, almost as if they too are weeping for the losses we feel. A sad but comfortable silence fills the beach as everyone stands watching the lanterns float away. With a squeeze on Rafe’s hand, I release it and make my way up to the podium, ready to relay the

Volunteers cycled through, inspecting for damage, cleaning, stamping dates. Caelan showed her one of the shattered globes. "Still lights." Elira scanned the surface. "It says: 'Grief can be a way to tend to others.'" A teenager next to them inquired, "Is that a clause?" "Not yet," replied Elira. "But it's being remembered." The teenager looked down at a vacant lantern. "Then I'll write something worth being remembered, too." They extended the lantern to Elira. "Can you hold it until I'm sure?"

The stones wove together into a cairn that resonated softly with magic, fragile yet unwavering in its strength. At the base of this tribute, Autumn laid thoughtful offerings. She scattered polished mirror coins, their surfaces gleaming like captured starlight, designed to catch the wandering fragments of Luma’s essence. Small heaps of grave salt were placed meticulously to anchor a sense of peace and calm. Wisps of lavender smoke curled upward into the velvety night sky, carrying with it a soothing aroma, a gentle balm against their sorrow. And at the heart of the altar, cradled tenderly in her palm like a fragile heartbeat, lay a flickering whisper of soul-fire, pulsing with a warm glow.

“Let me help you.” He reached out. Siron felt his mind being tugged. Images surfaced, not happy memories, but sad ones: the time he was afraid of Morat, the time he grieved for Lyra. They were painful memories. “Those aren't beautiful memories!” Siron protested. “For spirits like us, sacrifice and sorrow are the purest forms of love. Tears of the lost lovers, that is what we need. Give me your grief.” Elara grabbed Siron’s shoulder. “Don’t! He’s trying to drain your energy through negative emotions!”

She looked unsure of what was happening and hesitantly brought her hand up and wrapped her fingers around his index finger. Brett pulled them back and turned his palm over to examine what he wrote on it. He looked back and Sapphire and pushed his lips out, forming a small sad face. “Sorry, Sapphire. It’s Statue of Liberty for today.” “What?” Sapphire asked and pulled his hand to examine what he wrote.. On the index finger was written ‘S’ and on the middle, one was written ‘L’.

The chain was adjustable, allowing Aqua to wear the pendant at just the right length so that it rested over her heart. As she wore it, Aqua noticed the stone's clarity, reflecting her calm and balanced state of mind. Whenever she felt at peace, the pendant remained clear and pristine. However, when her emotions stirred, the pendant would change. A slight hue of blue appeared when she felt sadness, while a warm golden tone emerged during moments of happiness. If anger or fear took hold of her, the gemstone would darken, turning a deep, unsettling black.

Isolde, scanning the runes, mused, "This one radiates anger. So, to counter it, we'll need..." "Calm," Liora finished for her, closing her eyes and murmuring a spell of serenity. The rune reacted, shimmering and then fading. Elysia darted forward, pointing at a rune pulsing with a haunting blue hue. "This one... It's sorrow." Niamh stepped forward, her voice filled with determination. "Then we combat it with joy." Conjuring a series of light orbs that danced and twinkled, she directed them toward the sorrowful rune, which reacted by glowing warmly and dissipating.