Chapter 113 Distant Whispers
Lyra: POV
I stood behind our market stall, arranging the herbs we'd collected yesterday while keeping an eye on the crowd. Since that day when we discussed not acting rashly regarding the void rift, we've settled down and gotten used to disguising ourselves as merchants. We kept up our merchant disguise, but it was just a cover to buy us time for our next move.
The morning bustle of the marketplace provided the perfect cover—nobody looked twice at yet another herb seller with unremarkable brown hair.
Nova suddenly stiffened against my neck, her tiny spines rising in alarm. She beat her miniature wings against my skin in rapid pulses—our silent warning system.
Something's coming, Stella warned in my mind. Magic energy from Star Crystal Territory. Your mother's signature.
I glanced down at my wrist and felt my heart skip as a faint blue circle began forming on my skin.
I quickly pulled my shawl over it, pulse racing. This was my mother's communication sigil—something she only used in emergencies.
Careful, Stella cautioned. This magical resonance could be detected by Cassius's monitoring arrays. We need to respond quickly and sever the connection.
"I need to restock some supplies," I called to Aria, who was bartering with an elderly customer. "Watch the stall for me?"
She nodded, though I caught the worry in her eyes. She'd been distracted all morning, occasionally staring into the distance toward Emberscale Domain with an unreadable expression.
I ducked into the small tent behind our stall where we kept extra inventory and personal belongings. Once inside, I let the sigil fully form, watching as the blue light solidified into an intricate pattern across my wrist. My mother's voice, anxious and clear, filled my ears as if she stood beside me.
"Lyra, my precious daughter, you've been gone so long. I worry for your safety every day." Lady Selene's voice carried the unmistakable tone of maternal concern. "Why haven't you returned? Have you encountered difficulties? If you need help, please tell me."
I bit my lip, torn between honesty and protection. Telling her the truth would only make her worry more, but lying felt like a betrayal of her trust.
"Mother, I'm safe," I finally whispered. "Please don't worry. Nothing unusual is happening here. I'll return soon, I just have some matters to finish first."
"Are you certain?" Her voice remained unconvinced. "You know you can always ask for my help."
"I'm sure, Mother," I said softly. "Take care of yourself."
As the glow of the communication sigil faded, I took a deep breath to steady my emotions. Nova emerged from my collar, placing her tiny claws against my cheek in a gesture of comfort.
When I exited the tent, I found Kael standing nearby, his sharp eyes telling me he'd sensed something.
"Everything alright?" he asked quietly, pretending to check our herb inventory. "I felt magic energy."
"My mother," I whispered, matching his casual demeanor. "She's worried about me. I'm concerned this connection might be detected by Cassius."
Kael nodded, understanding the implications. "Did you tell her the truth?"
"No," I shook my head slightly. "I couldn't bear to worry her. And if she knew we were planning to confront Cassius and that void rift directly, she might do something reckless."
As the morning stretched into afternoon, Thor and Marcus arrived at the market from their guard shift at our hideout. They brought lunch and updates from Storm's Eye.
"Arden's still secure," Thor reported quietly as he handed me a wrapped sandwich. "No unusual activity around the perimeter either."
Marcus nodded in agreement while setting up a small stool behind our stall. "Though I did notice more imperial patrols in the outer district. They might be expanding their search radius."
As the afternoon wore on and customers thinned out, I noticed Aria's distraction becoming more pronounced. Several times when she thought no one was watching, she would absently touch her left wrist, where a faint mark I'd noticed before seemed to trouble her. Her usual vibrant energy was subdued, replaced by something resembling pain mixed with confusion.
Kael pulled me aside, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. "You look homesick."
"I do miss her," I admitted, the confession easier than I expected. "But I can't just return, not after what we've learned about Cassius's plans."
"I understand," Kael's voice was both gentle and firm. "But trust me, once we make progress here, I'll personally escort you home. Preferably after we've sealed that damn void rift and ensured Cassius can never use it again."
"You two are so in love," an older village woman passing by commented with a smile. "Look at you, still whispering sweet nothings to each other!"
I felt my cheeks flush hot as I stepped away from Kael, but he merely smiled, accepting the misunderstanding. "My wife is quite special," he said, playing into our cover story with surprising ease.
"Look at that blush," Marcus teased as he approached with fresh water. "Just like a newlywed."
Thor, rarely one for jokes, couldn't resist adding, "Perhaps you two should consider making it official? Then we wouldn't have to watch this constant eye-gazing."
"Stop it," I muttered, trying to change the subject, but I noticed Aria didn't join in the banter. She managed a small smile that didn't reach her eyes, her gaze betraying something complex and painful.
After dinner, as we packed up the stall to return to Storm's Eye, Kael lingered close to me. The others walked ahead, giving us a moment of privacy.
"Fighting the void is a marathon, not a sprint," he murmured near my ear. "We can't rush this. Especially now, we need to be more cautious than ever."
His breath against my ear sent a shiver down my spine, but I knew he was right. Our enemies were too powerful to confront hastily. We needed to be strategic.
Back at Storm's Eye, Thor and Marcus immediately went to check on Arden. I heard Thor report that all was secure and Arden seemed completely unfazed.
I noticed Aria sitting alone in the courtyard, her face partially hidden in the evening shadows. Her right hand pressed against her left wrist—that same spot where I'd noticed the faint mark before. Her expression carried worry and pain, so unlike the spirited Aria I knew.
I walked over and sat beside her. "Something's bothering you."
Aria looked up, hesitating as if weighing whether to share her burden. Her eyes drifted toward the distance, precisely in the direction of Emberscale Domain, a flash of unmistakable pain crossing her features.
With Nova nestled against my neck and Stella's presence in my mind, I waited patiently for Aria to speak.