Chapter 15: Stormbound
—The Memory—
It crept in real sneaky, didn't even bother knocking. No pain, not a hint of warning—just this sudden jolt, like she'd slipped into someone else's skin.
Lira blinked, and boom—she was somewhere else. Some stone room, firelight flickering on the walls.
A little girl was there at the altar. Black hair hiding her face, eyes all red and swollen from crying. She was gripping a bone staff that looked about twice her size. And behind her, this voice, all syrupy and soft, started humming:
> "This world doesn't love us.
So we'll make one that does."
The kid turned around.
And—yikes—it was Lira's own face staring back.
She shrieked. Snapped back to herself, heart hammering, hands shaking like she'd just been zapped.
Honestly, she couldn't tell where she ended and this other version of herself began.
Kaela was already up, sword out, ready to throw down. Thalen looked like he was about to unleash some serious spellcraft.
"I'm fine," Lira said, except her voice totally betrayed her.
"Yeah, sure you are," Kaela shot back, deadpan.
Lira grabbed the staff.
"She's inside me," she muttered. "Or… maybe I'm inside her. I don't even know."
---
—The Return—
He found them skulking around the ruins, like something out of a bad dream.
Kerris just wandered out of the trees, casual as you please. His hood was shredded, armor half-melted, and his eyes glowed this weird, icy blue.
Kaela didn't hesitate—her sword was up in a flash.
"I'm not here to fight," Kerris said, hands raised. "Unless you want to start something."
"Pretty bold, coming from the guy who saw us take down a god's front door," Lira shot back.
Kerris cocked his head, a little smirk playing at his lips. "You didn't kill the gate."
He took another step closer, slow and steady.
"You became it."
And just like that, everyone froze.