Chapter 15:The Weight Of A Soul

*Chapter 15: The Weight of a Soul*

The moon hung heavy in the night sky, its cold light spilling across the grounds of the academy. Seraphina stood by the edge of the balcony, her hands gripping the stone railing as she gazed out into the distance. The wind whispered through the trees, a haunting lullaby that did little to soothe the storm raging inside her chest.

It had been a long, exhausting day. The letter, the stranger, and the conversations that followed had drained her—body and soul. For the first time in her life, Seraphina felt as though the weight of the world was too much to bear. She had always known that being born into the Silver-Blood family came with expectations, but now, those expectations felt like shackles, binding her to a destiny she didn't understand.

The words of the stranger echoed in her mind: *Your enemies are closer than you think.* Who was he? Why had he come after her? What did he want?

*No one is untouchable,* he had said.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. *What if he's right? What if I'm just a puppet in some grand scheme, just like my family has always said?* Her thoughts were spiraling, each new doubt feeding the next, until she felt as though she were drowning in a sea of uncertainty.

"Seraphina," a voice broke through her thoughts, soft and familiar. It was Maria, standing just behind her, her footsteps barely audible on the stone floor. "I've been looking for you. Are you okay?"

Seraphina's heart tightened at the sound of her friend's voice. She turned slowly, meeting Maria's concerned gaze. Maria had always been the one who could see through her walls, who could read the unspoken words in her eyes. But how could Seraphina explain everything when she didn't even understand it herself?

"I'm fine," Seraphina said quickly, her voice too sharp, betraying her true feelings.

Maria raised an eyebrow, clearly not fooled. "Seraphina, you don't have to pretend with me. I can see it in your eyes." She stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Seraphina's shoulder. "What's going on? Talk to me."

For a moment, Seraphina remained silent, the weight of everything pressing down on her chest like a heavy boulder. The truth hung in the air, thick with tension. Could she trust Maria with this? Could she even trust herself to understand what was happening?

"I…" Seraphina's voice faltered. She turned back to the balcony, her eyes scanning the horizon as if the answers would appear there, if she only stared long enough. "I don't know, Maria. I don't know what's happening to me. I don't know what's real anymore."

Maria's hand tightened on her shoulder, urging her to look at her. "It's okay. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

Seraphina's chest tightened, her emotions bubbling to the surface in a rush. "No, Maria. You don't get it." Her voice cracked, the tears she had been holding back threatening to spill over. "I've been keeping so much from you. I've been hiding so much about who I am, about what I'm supposed to do. I'm scared. I'm terrified of everything I don't understand. Of what's happening to me. And I don't even know if I can do this… I don't know if I can live up to all these expectations."

Maria's expression softened, her eyes full of empathy and understanding. She gently turned Seraphina to face her, cupping her friend's face in her hands. "Seraphina, look at me." Her voice was steady, grounding. "You don't have to do this alone. I don't care what's expected of you. I don't care about prophecies or powers. All I care about is you. I'm here. I always have been, and I always will be."

Seraphina's vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes. *How can she still say that?* She thought. *How can she stand by me when everything around me feels like it's falling apart?*

"You don't understand," Seraphina whispered, her voice barely audible. "There's so much I don't know. So much about myself, my family… about everything. It feels like I'm losing control of everything. The prophecy… it's not just a story. It's real, Maria. And I have to make choices. Choices that could hurt people. Choices that could break me."

Maria's thumb brushed against Seraphina's cheek, wiping away a tear. "I'm not going anywhere, okay? You don't have to have all the answers right now. And maybe you never will. But you can take your time. You can be scared. You can be uncertain. Because you don't have to carry all of this by yourself."

Seraphina shook her head, trying to keep her composure. "But what if I'm not strong enough? What if I fail? What if I disappoint everyone?"

Maria's expression grew firm, her voice unwavering. "Seraphina, you are strong enough. I've seen you fight, seen the way you face things head-on even when you're terrified. And if anyone can make it through this, it's you. You've got this, even if you can't see it right now."

Seraphina swallowed hard, the knot in her throat growing tighter. "But what if I lose everything? What if I lose you?"

Maria's eyes softened. She pulled Seraphina into a tight hug, her arms enveloping her like a shield. "You're not going to lose me. Not ever. No matter what happens, I'll be right here by your side, fighting with you. You'll never lose me, Seraphina. I promise."

For a long moment, they stood there, the world around them fading into the background as Seraphina clung to the warmth of Maria's embrace. The tears flowed freely now, but there was a strange comfort in allowing herself to cry—allowing herself to feel. She had spent so much time holding everything in, afraid of letting anyone see the cracks in her armor. But now, with Maria holding her, those cracks began to widen, and she let the tears come.

She didn't know what the future held. She didn't know if she was strong enough to carry the burden of the prophecy or to face the enemy that was lurking in the shadows. But for the first time in days, she didn't feel so alone.

When the sobs eventually subsided, Seraphina pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She met Maria's gaze again, grateful for the unwavering support her friend had always shown.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Maria gave her a small smile. "You don't have to find out. We're in this together. Whatever happens, we'll face it side by side. Just like we always have."

Seraphina nodded slowly, her heart still heavy but a little lighter than before. She didn't have all the answers. She didn't even know where this path would lead. But one thing was certain—she wasn't alone.

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