Chapter 177

Chapter 177
Arius‘s pov.

They were ahead of me now, just slightly, but enough that I could watch them from behind without them noticing. Their bickering, their childish squabbles—they were absurdly entertaining. The way they snapped at each other like rival sisters, it was ridiculous... and oddly endearing. I found myself grinning, unable to help myself. From the outside, it was like watching two storm clouds trying to out-rain each other, and somehow, I was the fool smiling in the downpour.
I swore under my breath.
Emotions. Actual emotions. What a disaster.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was never supposed to feel anything, let alone whatever strange warmth was trying to make a home in my ribcage. And it was all because of her. That stubborn, reckless, impossible girl.
Freya.
She talked too much. Smiled too brightly. And for someone so young—just barely stepping into her own power—she had already lost more than most, and yet still, she kept going. Freya got under my skin faster than a silver blade. And yet... she made me laugh. Me. Arius the Cursed, Arius the Cold. I caught myself watching her when I shouldn't. Wanting to be closer. Wanting to be better.  She fought, still, she searched for joy, for love, for something worth building. That kind of spirit… it was maddening. And beautiful. 
It was infuriating.
"The valley is close," she had said. And for once, I believed her. There was a hum in the air, a whisper of ancient magic that teased the edges of my mind. Obsidian Valley... we were nearly there.
But then the wind shifted.
I halted my horse, my instincts flaring.
Freya turned to look at me, eyebrow raised. "What is it?"
I lifted a hand. "Something's wrong."
The trees to our right shimmered unnaturally, the leaves vibrating as if caught in an invisible storm. The horses grew uneasy. Selene stopped in her tracks and slowly drew one of her blades.
"That’s not normal," she muttered.
The ground beneath us trembled.
Freya slid off her horse. "Is it a creature?"
I narrowed my eyes. "No. It’s a barrier. A magical one. And it’s waking up."
Before I could say more, a wave of energy burst from the forest and slammed into us like a tidal force. Freya stumbled back, caught herself on her knees. Selene cursed and rolled to the side. I stood my ground, gritting my teeth against the pressure.
"The valley is warded," I said. "And it's rejecting us."
Freya looked up, face pale. "Why? We came for the Mirror. We're not enemies."
"Doesn’t matter. The valley doesn't think. It remembers. And it remembers pain. Bloodshed. Something's wrong with it—something or someone has wounded it, left it scarred. It's not just keeping us out. It’s rejecting us because it’s afraid. The valley doesn’t want us here."
Selene stood, brushing dirt from her knees. "Can we break through it?"
I hesitated. "I can try. But it won’t be easy. This is old magic. Maybe even older than me."
"Should we go around?" Freya asked.
"There is no around," I said. "It surrounds the valley like a shell. If we want to get in, we go through."
The wind grew colder. I walked forward, placing my hand against the invisible wall of energy. It burned, not with fire, but with memory. I saw flashes – a woman screaming, a blade, the mirror’s surface cracking and sealing itself again. Grief. Loss. Rage.
It was made of echoes.
I pulled my hand back, blinking hard. "We need a key."
Freya stepped closer. "What kind of key?"
"Not a physical one," I murmured. "A memory. A sacrifice. Something we carry that the valley will accept."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "You're making it sound like the valley is alive."
"Maybe it is."
They both fell silent.
I turned to Freya. "We need more than force to enter this place. We need visions—proof that we are not here to harm, but to heal. Freya, we need you to share your visions. The truth of what you did—for Reyna, for Hera. We need the valley to see that we come not to take, but to trade. To show that we carry sorrow, not greed. That what happened wasn’t your fault... you gave them up to win the war. You sacrificed, Freya. You’re the only one among us who has. ."
She swallowed, visibly shaken. "You want me to relive it?"
"Not relive. Just share it. Give it shape. Let the valley feel it."
She looked down at her hands, then nodded. "I’ll try."
She walked forward, slowly, and placed both hands against the shimmering wall. Her lips moved, whispering names, memories. Her shoulders trembled. The barrier pulsed, flickered.
And then, it parted.
Just slightly.
Enough for a person to squeeze through.
I felt awe rise in my chest.
"You did it," I said, stepping closer.
Freya nodded, blinking away tears. "Let’s go before it changes its mind."
I looked back at Selene. She hesitated, then pushed through the opening. I followed.
The air on the other side was warmer, heavier with magic. The Obsidian Valley was real, and it was waiting.
As we walked forward, I stole another glance at Freya.
She had broken through ancient magic.
And I… I was starting to believe that maybe, there was still something pure in me too.
Gods help me.