Chapter 67 One of the paths
Dawn brought no relief.
The morning light cautiously pierced the observatory, as if even the sun feared touching what had been revealed there. The marks on the ground remained visible, motionless, but different—some had faded completely, while others appeared for the first time, traced with unsettling precision.
We slept little. Or rather, we only rested our bodies, because our minds remained vigilant.
Lior awoke with a start shortly before sunrise, breathless, murmuring incoherent words. They weren't clear warnings, but fragments: doors, echoes, choices. Anor stayed by his side for hours, ensuring the shadows didn't return.
Conrad watched the horizon in silence. The conversation with the Keeper of Silence still weighed on his shoulders, not as guilt, but as an old wound reopened. I knew he was thinking of his father. Of the kingdom. Of how many decisions had been made in the name of order.
Kael was the first to break the silence.
"If there are others like that Guardian, then we were never truly free," he said, running his fingers over the recent inscriptions. "History has been... edited."
I approached the center once more. The mark responded immediately, but in a restrained, almost respectful way. The observatory no longer wanted to show me the past.
It wanted to prepare me for what was to come.
"They don't guard the rift," I said slowly. "They guard who can change it."
Conrad turned to me. "And now that they know you exist?"
I looked at the path that opened beyond the forest, where the trail split into three distinct routes—something that hadn't been there the previous night.
"Now," I replied, feeling the weight of the choice settle in, "the world will have to decide whether to follow me... or try to erase me."
Neither of us spoke for a long moment.
The three paths before the observatory seemed alive, pulsing in distinct ways. The one on the left was shrouded in a low, cold mist, laden with an ancient, silent magic. The one in the center was steady, marked by smooth, worn stones, as if many feet had already trod there—repeated choices, safe paths. The one on the right was almost invisible, hidden among twisted roots and dense shadows, vibrating with an energy too unstable to ignore.
Kael was the first to approach. "These trails aren't natural," he said. "They're responses."
"To your presence," Anor added, his gaze fixed on me. "The Link is reacting."
Lior took a hesitant step forward. "The voices spoke of three trials," he murmured. "But they never explained what they were."
Conrad held my hand firmly. "Then choose," he said. Not as an order. As a sign of trust.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
The mist to the left called to me with memories that weren't my own—echoes of ancient Elyrion, of sacrifices made in silence. The central path offered stability, protection, the chance to gather strength and return to the kingdom with partial answers. But the hidden trail… it promised nothing but raw truth.
The mark burned slightly when I thought of it.
"I can't take everyone down this path," I said, opening my eyes. "It demands loss."
Conrad didn't let go of my hand. "Then don't go alone."
Kael took a deep breath. "If this trail exists, it's because someone has already tried to avoid it."
Anor nodded. "And failed."
I looked at Lior. He stared at me with fear, but also with something new—decision. "I'll go," I said. "If I survived the call, I need to understand why."
The ground responded, the hidden trail revealing itself a little more.
The observatory began to close in behind us, as if it had fulfilled its purpose.
"I don't agree at all!" Conrad denies immediately. "I'm not going to leave you alone, Maya!"
His expression is hard, leaving no room for intervention.
There was the King and, above all, my companion.
I smile affectionately and approach him. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his lips tenderly.
"I don't want to leave you alone at any time either. I don't want to risk our safety."
I confess sincerely, but let out a sigh of weariness.
Conrad's grip on my waist intensifies, as if he knows my next words.
"But we can't control this. You can't follow me everywhere."
I see his jaw clench and his arms hold me close to his body.
"Then let's find another way," he says, still unyielding. "We'll find solutions, just don't ask me to leave you." There was raw concern in Conrad's eyes.
Fear.
The thing we had felt most in recent days.
"The erasers won't come now, my King. I will enter a path made by my ancestors. The Elyrion would do nothing to harm me." I try to calm him. "I will be quick, and I promise I'll be back in less than an hour."
Conrad looks at me intently, without saying a word. It was obvious that my words hadn't consoled him; Conrad was still worried.
"It's her destiny, Conrad." Kael says, touching his shoulder and gaining his attention. "At times we can only support her and ensure that we will always be here. Ready to help her."
Kael speaks the last words looking at me, encouraging me. I give him a small smile, as thanks.
I look at my companion once more and see his dissatisfaction. But soon I feel his lips on mine, stealing a passionate kiss. I smile at the end of the kiss, adoring that gesture.
"One hour. One hour, and if you don't come back, I'm heading for the trail." Conrad negotiates.
I smile and give him a quick kiss, not daring to question the King.
"I'll be back," I assure him.
I say goodbye to Anor and Kael with a nod. I walk towards the trail, followed by Lior.
The fog suddenly advanced, thick as a wall. In seconds, it enveloped Kael and Conrad until their silhouettes became distant, blurred, unreachable.
"Maya!" Conrad's voice echoed, muffled.
I carefully released his arm. "Trust me."
Then I crossed.
On the other side, the world seemed different. Quieter. The trail narrowed, and ancient symbols emerged among the roots, glowing softly. I approached, mesmerized. They were Elyrion markings—living maps, pointing to something beyond. “See?” Lior murmured behind me. “She answers you.”
I reached out, and the mark on my chest responded in unison. A thread of light appeared on the ground, indicating the direction of the Rift.
That’s when I felt the air break behind me.
I turned too late.
Lior advanced silently, the shadow enveloping his arm like a living blade. The blow passed inches from my neck as I stumbled forward, more by instinct than luck.
“What are you…”
“I’m sorry.” His voice changed. Cold. Hollow. “But someone needs to stop you.”