Chapter 159 CHAPTER 159

Chapter 159 CHAPTER 159
Night settled over the camp. They had stopped in a sheltered hollow beneath a cluster of trees, the branches thick enough to block most of the wind. They had created a fire which was crackling, throwing soft orange light across them. Talia sat between Elara and Kaelan, wrapped in a blanket, her head resting against Elara’s arm.

She had been quiet all evening, not withdrawn, just quiet. Watching the flames. Watching the shadows. Watching Elara.

It weas clear that Kaelan had noticed too. He’d stayed close, offering her small comforts without drawing attention to them, handing her the warmest portion of stew, adjusting her blanket when the wind picked up, sitting just close enough that she could lean on him if she wanted to.

And she did. Eventually.

She shifted, hesitated, then leaned her shoulder against his. Kaelan didn’t react with surprise or fuss. He simply stayed still, steady as a wall, letting her decide how much closeness she needed.

Elara’s heart softened at the sight. Talia was starting to trust him too.

When Talia yawned, Elara brushed her hair back. “You should sleep.”

Talia nodded, rubbing her eyes. “Will you stay with me?”

“Of course.”

Kaelan stood. “I’ll take first watch.”

Raven rose too. “I’ll join you.”

Saphira added, “I’ll stay close. Call if anything changes.”

Talia’s gaze flicked to all three of them, uncertain. Raven offered a soft smile. “We’ll be right here. Nothing will get near you.”

Talia nodded, reassured.

Elara guided her to the bedrolls, settling down with Talia curled against her chest. The girl’s breathing slowed, her body relaxing. Elara stroked her hair until her breaths evened out completely. Only then did Elara let her own eyes close.

She didn’t know how long she slept.

Only that she woke to heat, not warmth… actual heat.

A pulse of it, sharp and sudden.

Elara’s eyes snapped open.

Talia was rigid in her arms, her body glowing faintly beneath the skin. Her breath came in short, panicked bursts. The air around them vibrated.

“Elara…” Talia gasped, voice strangled. “It’s… it’s happening.”

“I’ve got you,” Elara whispered, already pulling her upright. “I’m here. Look at me.”

But Talia couldn’t. Her eyes were unfocused, her pupils blown wide.

Kaelan was at their side in an instant. “What’s wrong?”

Raven appeared behind him, her expression tightening. “It’s a flare.”

Saphira was already moving, dropping to her knees beside Elara. “How strong?”

“Too strong,” Raven murmured.

The glow intensified, light spilling from Talia’s skin in frantic pulses.

Elara grabbed her hands. “Talia, listen to me. Breathe with me. Just breathe.”

But she couldn’t hear her. In response a wave of raw, wild energy burst outwards. Kaelan shielded Elara instinctively.

Saphira reached out, placing both hands on Talia’s back. “Sweetheart, you’re safe. We’re right here.”

Her voice was low, soothing, she was trying to use her magic to reach her.

Raven stepped forward, palms open. “Elara, you need to anchor her.”

“I’m trying.”

“You need to try harder,” Raven said. “She’s slipping.”

Elara pulled Talia into her lap, wrapping both arms around her. “Talia, sweetheart, you’re safe. You’re safe. I’m right here.”

Talia shook her head violently. “It’s too much.”

Her magic flared again, brighter this time, a blinding pulse that lit the entire area.

Kaelan swore under his breath. “What do we do?”

Saphira pressed her forehead to Talia’s back, whispering something in an ancient tongue, a chant, soft and rhythmic. The glow flickered, but didn’t fade.

Raven knelt beside them. “Elara has to pull her back. She’s the only one that can get through to her.”

Elara pressed her forehead to Talia’s. “Come back to me. Right now. Look at me.”

Talia’s breath hitched, a tiny sound, but it was enough.

Elara pushed her magic outward, wrapping it around Talia’s like a shield. It burned, gods, it burned, but she held on, tightening her grip.

Saphira added her strength, her hands glowing faintly as she layered her magic beneath Elara’s, creating a second shield.

Raven placed her palms on the ground, stabilising the flare’s outer edge, containing the blast radius.

Kaelan held Elara steady, his arms braced around her waist, holding her steady as the magic tore through the clearing.

Then Talia screamed, and the flare exploded outward, a shockwave of light and heat that knocked Kaelan backward.

Elara didn’t let go.

She couldn’t.

She poured everything she had into the connection, her strength, her fear, her love, until she could feel herself breaking from the inside.

Then suddenly it all stopped and Talia collapsed against her, sobbing.

Elara exhaled shakily. “It’s alright. It’s over. I’ve got you.”

But the world tilted and her vision blurred.

“Elara?” Talia whispered, voice cracking. “Elara?”

Elara tried to answer, but the magic had drained her dry. Her body gave out, her head falling forward as darkness closed in.

“Elara!” Kaelan’s voice cut through the fog.

Elara blinked awake, disoriented, her body heavy and unresponsive. Someone was holding her upright, Kaelan, she realised, his arms tight around her, his breath uneven with panic.

“Elara, stay with me,” he said, voice rough. “Come on. Open your eyes.”

She forced them open. “Talia…?”

“She’s here,” Kaelan said quickly. “She’s okay. Raven and Saphira have her.”

Elara turned her head.

Talia was kneeling a few feet away, Saphira’s arms wrapped around her, Raven crouched beside them. Talia was shaking violently, tears streaming down her face.

“I hurt her,” Talia sobbed. “I hurt Elara… I didn’t mean to.”

Saphira cupped her face gently. “Sweetheart, no. You didn’t hurt her.”

“But she fell because of me.” She sobbed.

Raven shook her head, her voice soft. “She fell because she protected you. That’s what love does. It doesn’t mean you did something wrong.”

Talia cried harder, burying her face in Saphira’s shoulder.

Elara tried to sit up. Kaelan steadied her immediately. “Easy. You’re still pale.”

“I need to go to her.”

Kaelan hesitated, then he helped her to her feet.

Talia looked up and ran to Elara, throwing her arms around her waist, clinging so tightly Elara could barely breathe. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Elara sank to her knees and pulled her close. “Hey. Look at me.”

Talia shook her head, sobbing.

Elara gently lifted her chin. “You didn’t hurt me. Do you understand? You didn’t hurt me.”

“But you fell?”

“Because I pushed too hard,” Elara said. “Not because of you.”

Talia’s breath trembled. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t,” Elara whispered fiercely. “You won’t lose any of us.”

Kaelan knelt beside them, placing a hand on Talia’s back. “She is stronger than she looks,” he said softly.

Talia sniffed. “Really?”

“Really,” Kaelan said. “I’ve seen Elara blow up half a training field. You’re practically calm compared to her.”

Elara glared weakly. “Kaelan.”

Talia let out a tiny, watery laugh.

Kaelan smiled. “There she is.”

Raven approached. “The flare was strong, but it’s passed. She’ll be alright for now.”

Saphira joined them, brushing Talia’s hair back. “You did nothing wrong, sweetheart. Magic flares when it’s frightened. Just like people.”

Talia curled into Elara’s chest, exhausted. “Please don’t let go.”

“I won’t,” Elara whispered. “Not ever.”