Aria woke to silence real silence.
Not the kind that trembled with magic or hidden screams the shrine was still the world felt… calmer but inside her?A storm raged.
---
She sat up slowly the mark on her chest glowed faint gold — soft, but alive.
Lysander and Caelen hovered nearby. Soren stood apart, arms crossed, eyes unreadable Aria looked at her hands they no longer trembled but they burned.
---
Is it over?she asked Soren shook his head. You passed the Trial but the war hasn't started yet.
---
Lysander stepped closer what does that mean?
Soren's voice was steady the Nexus wasn't just a source of magic it was a prison and the one it held back—he paused
—is waking up now that Aria is whole.
---
Aria's chest tightened you mean… someone worse than Eryss?
Soren nodded someone who ordered her seal who ordered mine who feared what you'd become.
---
Suddenly, Caelen tensed Aria turned to him you knew something.
He looked away i suspected but I didn't want to believe…Aria stood tell me.
He hesitated then whispered:
There's a prophecy.
The Moonborn who becomes whole… will either heal the world or burn it.
---
Lysander added quietly,the prophecy was banned we weren't allowed to speak of it.
Aria's eyes widened so all this time… everyone feared me?
Soren's voice dropped to a whisper.
They didn't fear you,they feared what you'd choose.
---
She turned away, heart racing everything was so loud inside her again but it wasn't the past this time.
It was emotion and then — fingers brushed her wrist.
---
Caelen I should've told you, he said but I thought if I protected you, you'd never need to know.
I didn't trust you with the truth that at was my mistake.
Aria's eyes shimmered why?he stepped closer because I remembered everything…
Even the life where I loved you and you never chose me.
---
Lysander clenched his jaw,Soren's eyes darkened but Aria?
She froze i never…Caelen smiled bitterly you always chose duty,power,sacrifice but never… me.
---
She stepped back, shaken.
Then Lysander spoke, voice low and sharp I didn't serve you because you were powerful.
I followed you because… I saw the real you.
Even when you couldn't.
Soren said nothing but his silence was heavier than both their words.
---
Aria's heart pounded.
Three men.
Three truths.
And for the first time… she didn't know which pain hurt more.
The one she forgot
The one she ignored.
Or the one she never got to feel.
---
Suddenly—the mark on her chest flared gold-red,magic pulsed out and a voice — not hers — whispered in her mind:
They will turn on you just like last time.
Love… is your greatest weakness.
---
She fell to her knees not in pain.
In fear.
---
💫 Author's Note:
> Chapter 30 is that emotional slow-burn heartbreak mixed with endgame prophecy fire 😮💨
Aria's finally whole. But now she must decide…
Who does she trust?
And more importantly…
Who does she love?
💬 Question for you:
Would you open your heart again if it had betrayed you in every life?
📚 Add this to your collection if your soul is SCREAMING from all these love twists 😭❤️🔥