into the dark

The journey to find Cael was not one Lira was prepared for. The world beyond the temple was not the peaceful, forgotten place she had known. The land stretched out before her, wild and untamed, a testament to the sun's dying light. The sky above was streaked with shades of deep purple, the lingering twilight stretching endlessly. It was as if the entire world had been suspended in an eternal moment, where time itself had stopped in mourning.

Lira walked beside Thorne, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts. She could feel the weight of the power within her, pulsing faintly under her skin, but it was wild, untamed, and she had no idea how to control it. Every time she tried to focus, to summon something that felt right, the power would flicker out of her grasp, like trying to hold onto a flame with wet fingers.

Thorne walked in front of her, his steps purposeful and steady. He was always on alert, his eyes scanning the horizon, the shadows, the trees—anything that could hide an enemy. She wondered how long it had taken him to become this vigilant, to see danger before it arrived. She didn't know what was worse—his calm exterior, or the gnawing fear in her chest that she could not escape.

"The path to Cael is dangerous," Thorne said without turning around. His voice was low, almost as if he were speaking more to himself than to her. "There are people who would rather see you dead than alive, Lira."

"I know," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. She had already been reminded of the dangers waiting for her. The Sunpriests weren't the only ones who had their eyes on her. The world was filled with creatures and factions, all waiting for the right moment to strike.

"But there are also people who will help you," Thorne added, glancing back over his shoulder at her, his amber eyes flashing with intensity. "You're not alone in this. You don't have to fight it all by yourself."

Lira nodded, though she didn't believe him entirely. No one could truly understand what it was like to carry the weight of an entire world's future on their shoulders. The pressure was suffocating, and the thought of failing—of being the one to bring everything crashing down—was something she couldn't shake. She wasn't sure if she could rise to the occasion, or if she was doomed to watch the world fall into darkness.

The terrain was rough and unforgiving. The path wound through dense forests, where the trees grew tall and thick, their leaves dark with the absence of sunlight. Every now and then, a distant howl would echo through the trees, sending a chill down Lira's spine. Creatures lurked in these woods, some rumored to be the twisted remnants of magic gone wrong, others simply wild beasts that had grown too bold in the absence of civilization.

By the time they reached the edge of the forest, Lira was exhausted, her legs sore and her thoughts muddled. The twilight sky was growing darker, and the air felt colder, a biting wind picking up as the day's faint warmth fled.

"We'll make camp here," Thorne said, stopping abruptly and dropping his pack to the ground. "It's not safe to keep moving after dark."

Lira nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. She had been taught how to survive in the wild, to hunt, to gather, to endure. But she had never had to do it under these conditions—never had to do it knowing the entire world was depending on her.

As Thorne began to build a small fire, Lira settled on a large rock nearby, staring out at the darkening landscape. The world felt both vast and small, stretching endlessly in front of her, yet suffocating in its isolation. She had never felt so alone, so small in the grand scheme of things.

The crackle of the fire broke her thoughts, and she glanced up to find Thorne watching her from across the flames. His eyes were softer now, though still filled with the kind of intensity she had come to expect from him.

"You're quiet," he remarked, his voice carrying an edge of curiosity.

Lira shrugged, wrapping her arms around her knees. "I'm just thinking."

Thorne raised an eyebrow. "About?"

Lira hesitated. She could tell him everything—about the fear, the uncertainty, the doubts that gnawed at her every waking moment. But she wasn't sure he'd understand. He wasn't like her, wasn't burdened by the weight of something she couldn't control.

"I'm just... not sure what I'm supposed to do," she admitted finally. "I mean, how do I even begin to fix the world when I don't even know where to start?"

Thorne's gaze softened, and he leaned back against a nearby tree, crossing his arms over his chest. "You don't fix the world all at once, Lira. It starts with one choice. One step. One person."

Lira looked at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "One person? What do you mean?"

"Cael," Thorne said, his tone thoughtful. "Cael is the key. He's been searching for you for a long time. He's the one who can help you understand your power. But more importantly, he's the one who can help you understand the balance that's been lost. Without him, you'll be wandering in the dark."

Lira stared into the fire, the flickering flames reflecting in her eyes. "And what if I don't want to be the Sungod? What if I can't fix it? What if I can't do what they want me to do?"

Thorne was silent for a long time, and Lira glanced up at him, noticing the grim look on his face. "Lira, this isn't about what you want. It's about what the world needs. What it requires. And as much as I wish you had a choice, you don't."

Lira's heart sank at his words. She had hoped—naively, she now realized—that maybe there would be another way. That maybe she could walk away from all of this, live a quiet life, free from the expectations of a god that she didn't understand.

But there was no escaping her fate. She was the Sungod reborn, whether she liked it or not.

"I don't know if I can do this," Lira whispered, the words barely escaping her lips. "I don't know if I'm strong enough."

"You are," Thorne replied quietly, his voice unwavering. "You may not see it yet, but you are. You have more strength in you than you realize."

The silence that followed hung heavy between them. Lira wanted to believe him, but the doubt still lingered, gnawing at her insides. How could she possibly be strong enough to save a world that was already dying?

Thorne broke the silence, his voice turning more serious. "We leave at first light. Cael won't be easy to find. The path to him is hidden, and there are people who would do anything to stop us from getting there. Stay vigilant, Lira. And remember what I told you—trust no one except the people who have already shown you their loyalty."

Lira nodded, though the words felt like a weight. Trust no one. How was she supposed to trust anyone, when everyone around her seemed to have their own agendas?

She turned her gaze back to the fire, the flames dancing in the darkness. The world outside was a place of shadows, of danger, of uncertainty. But there was no turning back. No matter how much she wished she could.

The storm was closing in, and there was no shelter from the coming darkness.

And somehow, Lira knew that this was only the beginning.