Chapter 7: Shadows on the Horizon

Chapter 7: Shadows on the Horizon

Silvia's POV

The air was thick with tension as Silvia and Dragon left the ruins behind, their pace brisk and urgent. The landscape stretched before them—rugged terrain, sparse trees, and the distant outline of an abandoned city swallowed by nature's reclamation.

Silvia's thoughts kept circling back to the silver-eyed man. A messenger from the underground race. Someone who knew more about her magic than she did. And worst of all—someone who had been watching her.

Dragon had said the king of the Terrans now knew about her. But what did that mean? Was she a threat? A target?

The fire inside her simmered with unease.

"We need a plan," she said, breaking the silence.

Dragon glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "We keep moving. Stay ahead of whoever's looking for you."

Silvia exhaled sharply. "That's not a plan. That's running."

Dragon's jaw tightened. "Running keeps us alive."

Silvia stopped walking, crossing her arms. "And what happens when we can't run anymore? If the king of your people wants something from me, don't you think we should figure out what before they come for it?"

Dragon turned to face her, golden eyes dark. "You want to fight an enemy you don't even understand yet?"

Silvia didn't waver. "I want to know why they're after me. And I want to be ready when they come."

Dragon studied her for a long moment. Then, with a sigh, he rubbed the back of his neck. "There might be someone who can help us."

Silvia's brows lifted. "And you're just telling me this now?"

"She's not easy to find," Dragon said. "And even if we do find her, she's unpredictable. But she knows things—about the underground, the magic that binds us, and maybe even what's happening to you."

Silvia hesitated. "Who is she?"

Dragon's lips quirked into a dry smirk. "An old witch. The last person anyone in their right mind would go looking for."

Silvia's stomach clenched. A witch? Magic users outside of the organized city-state ranks were rare—and usually dangerous. "And you trust her?"

Dragon huffed. "Not even a little. But she's our best shot at answers."

Silvia chewed her lip. It wasn't much to go on, but it was better than walking blindly into danger. She nodded. "Fine. Where do we find her?"

Dragon exhaled through his nose. "Deep in the Scorched Vale. And trust me, sweetheart—you're not gonna like the journey."

The Scorched Vale was a land of ruins and fire.

It stretched like a graveyard across the earth, its charred remains a testament to the battles waged here long ago. The very air shimmered with heat, carrying the faint, bitter scent of ash. Silvia wiped the sweat from her brow, eyeing the crumbling remnants of buildings jutting from the blackened earth.

"Remind me again why anyone chooses to live here?" she muttered.

Dragon walked beside her, his stance relaxed but his gaze alert. "Most don't. But the ones who do? They don't like visitors."

Silvia scoffed. "Great. Can't wait to meet them."

As they made their way deeper into the Vale, the wind shifted—carrying a scent that sent a shiver down Silvia's spine.

Burnt metal.

She tensed, scanning the area. "Something's wrong."

Dragon stiffened beside her. "Yeah. We're being watched."

Before Silvia could respond, a figure dropped from the ruins above, landing gracefully on the cracked ground before them.

A woman.

She was draped in dark, tattered robes, her hair a wild cascade of silver and black. But what stood out the most were her eyes—a deep, shimmering violet, filled with something ancient and knowing.

Silvia's stomach clenched. A witch.

The woman smiled, slow and sharp. "I was wondering when you'd come."

Dragon crossed his arms. "We need information."

The woman chuckled. "You always do, little prince."

Silvia blinked, whipping her head toward Dragon. Prince?

Dragon's scowl deepened. "Don't call me that."

The witch ignored him, turning her violet gaze to Silvia. "And you. The girl of fire."

A strange warmth curled in Silvia's chest at the name, but she ignored it. "You know who I am?"

The witch tilted her head. "I know what you are becoming."

Silvia's breath hitched. "Then tell me."

The woman's smile widened. "For a price."

Dragon sighed. "Of course."

Silvia squared her shoulders. "Name it."

The witch's eyes gleamed. "A favor. One day, I will call upon you, and you will not refuse."

Silvia hesitated, but if this was the only way to get answers…

She nodded. "Deal."

The witch's smile sharpened. "Then listen closely, little flame. For your fate is far grander than you realize."

The witch motioned for them to follow as she turned toward the ruins.

"Come," she said, her voice lilting like wind through old bones. "If you seek answers, you must first understand what has been set in motion."

Silvia exchanged a glance with Dragon before stepping forward. They entered what had once been a temple—stone pillars still standing against time's relentless erosion. The air inside was cooler, carrying the scent of old magic.

The witch stopped before an altar, her violet eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Do you feel it?"

Silvia's breath caught as a pulse of energy surged through her. The fire inside her flickered, as if responding to something unseen.

Dragon tensed beside her. "What is this place?"

The witch's smile deepened. "A remnant of the old world. A place of power. And a place where the truth may reveal itself."

She gestured to the altar. "Step forward, Silvia Earthstar. Let the flames speak."

Silvia hesitated. She could feel the heat building inside her, drawn to whatever force lingered here. Her fingers tingled with the promise of power, but was she ready to face what lay ahead?

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward—toward the unknown.