Chapter 9: The Journey to the Peaks

The next morning, Aurelia set out for the Forgotten Peaks, leaving the Shadow Market and everything familiar behind. She moved quickly, taking less-traveled roads and staying hidden in the dense forests that bordered Lysandra. Every now and then, she glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see Luka or his mysterious allies lurking in the shadows. But the path remained clear—for now.

The mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks cutting into the sky like the teeth of some ancient beast. As she neared them, the terrain became rougher, the air colder. The once lush forests thinned into barren, rocky slopes, and the wind howled through the narrow valleys.

Aurelia pressed on, the weight of the Veil heavy in her pack and even heavier in her mind. She couldn’t shake the visions it had shown her, the future it had laid out so clearly. Could she really change it? Or was she simply walking toward the fate she feared most?

By the third day of her journey, Aurelia reached the base of the Forgotten Peaks. The path up the mountains was steep and treacherous, with loose stones that threatened to send her tumbling with every step. But she climbed steadily, her breath coming in short gasps as the altitude rose and the air thinned.

At last, as dusk settled over the mountains, she saw it: a small stone structure nestled in a narrow pass, barely visible against the backdrop of the rocky cliffs. It was simple, unadorned, and yet something about it radiated an undeniable power.

This had to be Amara’s lair.

Aurelia approached cautiously, her hand hovering near the hilt of her dagger. She had no idea what to expect from the sorceress—or whether she would be friend or foe. All she knew was that this might be her only chance to stop the future she had seen.

She stepped up to the stone door and knocked, the sound echoing eerily in the cold mountain air.

Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in deep purple robes. Amara.

The sorceress’s eyes, sharp and bright as polished gemstones, locked onto Aurelia. “I’ve been expecting you.”