NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 16: EMBERS OF TRUST
The storm passed, leaving the world drenched in silence. Morning light trickled through the forest canopy, refracting off droplets that clung to the leaves like tiny jewels. The forest felt alive, every chirp and rustle amplified in the stillness. Yet, amidst the serene beauty, an unspoken tension hung in the air, heavy and unavoidable.
Kai and Lyria walked side by side, scouting ahead. The dirt path beneath their boots was soft and damp, and the occasional splash of water from the canopy above punctuated their silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but one that hinted at words unsaid.
"You've been quieter than usual," Kai finally ventured, his voice breaking the spell of stillness.
Lyria didn't look at him. Her sharp eyes continued scanning the treeline, her fingers brushing the staff she always carried. "There's a lot on my mind," she replied. "The trials we've faced so far are just the beginning. You realize that, don't you?"
Kai nodded slowly. "I do. But that's why we stick together. No matter what comes, we're a team."
At his words, Lyria stopped abruptly. Kai nearly stumbled as he turned to face her. Her piercing gaze locked onto his, and he was startled by the intensity in her eyes.
"A team," she repeated, her voice quieter now. "And what happens when this so-called team becomes a liability? When emotions… cloud judgment?"
Kai frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Her shoulders sagged ever so slightly, the smallest crack in her usually unshakable demeanor. "You've grown stronger, Kai. But strength isn't just about power—it's about control. If you let your feelings blind you, people will get hurt. They always do."
Kai's frown deepened as the meaning behind her words began to take shape. "Lyria, is this about me? Or is it… something you've been through?"
Her jaw tightened, and for a moment, her stoic mask faltered. Vulnerability flickered across her face, fleeting yet unmistakable. Kai opened his mouth to press further, but the forest interrupted him. A low growl, guttural and menacing, rumbled from the shadows ahead.
Both of them tensed. From the underbrush emerged a pack of shadow hounds, their glowing red eyes fixed on the pair. Their sleek, dark forms seemed to flicker, as though they were caught between existence and oblivion. Lyria immediately stepped in front of Kai, her staff blazing to life with a bright, white light.
"Stay sharp," she said, her voice firm and commanding.
Kai didn't argue. He raised his hands, summoning a swirl of fire that licked at his fingertips, its heat reassuring. The hounds prowled closer, their movements unnaturally fast and fluid. Then, as if responding to an unseen signal, they pounced.
Lyria moved first, her staff sweeping in an arc that unleashed a pulse of radiant energy. The leading hound was thrown back, its form dissolving into wisps of shadow. Kai followed her lead, hurling a wave of fire that engulfed two more hounds. The air was filled with snarls, the crackle of flames, and the hum of Lyria's magic.
For a moment, the chaos of the battle overtook Kai's thoughts. His instincts took over, the world shrinking to nothing but the rhythmic pulsing of his magic and the ferocity of his enemies. But even in the heat of the moment, a nagging thought tugged at the back of his mind—Lyria's words. What did she mean by emotions clouding judgment? Why did it feel like something heavier than just the fight was at stake?
He shook his head and pushed the thought aside as another hound lunged at him. With a quick flick of his wrist, he unleashed a burst of fire, disintegrating it before it could even reach him. The last of the shadowy creatures dissolved into nothingness, leaving only the lingering scent of burnt ozone in the air.
Kai's chest heaved as he extinguished the last remnants of fire from his hands. Around them, the forest was eerily quiet once more, the hounds reduced to wisps of smoke.
"You didn't have to stand in front of me," Kai said, breaking the silence. His voice was softer now, and as he looked at Lyria, he saw something in her he hadn't noticed before—a crack in her stoic exterior. A vulnerability she'd hidden from everyone, even herself.
Lyria didn't respond at first. She studied him, her expression unreadable. Then, her gaze softened, and she took a step back, her staff dimming as the last trace of magic faded. She met his eyes, her voice low but resolute. "Just don't make promises you can't keep."
Kai's heart skipped a beat. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you," he said earnestly. "You don't have to carry the weight of it all alone. We're in this together."
Lyria's gaze flickered briefly to the ground before she met his eyes again, her lips pressing into a tight line. For a moment, she was silent, as if wrestling with something within herself.
"I'm not as strong as you think," she admitted quietly, almost too softly for him to hear. "I don't want anyone to depend on me. Not again."
Kai didn't know how to respond, but he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "You're not alone. Not with me."
Lyria's breath hitched, and her eyes widened slightly, but before she could say anything further, the distant sound of footsteps broke through the moment. A figure appeared at the edge of the clearing, its form familiar but distant.
Lyria pulled herself together almost immediately, her usual guarded expression returning. She didn't look at Kai again as she turned toward the newcomer. Kai, though, couldn't shake the weight of the unspoken words that still hung between them.
As they continued down the path, the warmth of the moment faded, but the unspoken promise remained. A bond had been formed—fragile, yet strong enough to withstand whatever trials lay ahead. And for the first time, Kai wondered if Lyria might just let herself believe that, too.