The storm hit before the rain did.
By the time Aadi pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the Church of the Silver Veil, thunder cracked above the hill, shaking the sky itself. Rune rushed in behind him with Aria, but Aadi didn't stop to breathe. He carried Riva in his arms like she was made of glass—her head resting against his chest, her breaths shallow and trembling.
Candles along the walls flickered as if bowing to the wind. The moment they crossed the threshold, a faint silver shimmer brushed over their skin—protective wards activating, recognizing that those entering were not enemies.
For the first time since the attack, Aadi exhaled.
They were safe.
At least, for now.
A woman in flowing white robes appeared from behind a row of pews, her steps soft but urgent. Her eyes—pale lavender—glowed faintly, like she saw more than just flesh and bone.
The High Healer.
Lysa.
She approached them without fear, without hesitation.
"Lay her here," she said, tapping the long stone altar at the center. "She bleeds with steel, not darkness. She can be saved."
Aadi carefully placed Riva on the altar. Rune hovered protectively behind him, hands clenched, breathing harshly.
Aria stepped forward."She was struck by a prophecy hunter. A cursed blade."
Lysa didn't even flinch."Then she's lucky you reached me before the curse dug deeper."
Her hands hovered over Riva's wound, and silver threads of light unraveled from her palms, weaving themselves into Riva's skin. Aadi watched every second—jaw tight, fists trembling. Each shaky breath Riva took made his stomach twist painfully.
He had never feared losing anything as much as he feared losing her.
Rune whispered beside him, voice cracking."She'll be fine… she'll fucking be fine, right?"
Aadi swallowed hard."She has to be."
Lysa's healing continued—steady, methodical. And then, abruptly, she spoke.
"You're finally awake."
Aadi blinked.
"What?"
Lysa didn't look up."Not your body. Your lineage."
Rune stiffened.Aria tensed.Aadi stepped forward slowly.
"What do you know?"
Lysa's voice remained calm, almost unnervingly so.
"You carry the mark of the First Sun—the birthright of kings and executioners. I knew I would meet you someday."
Aadi's breath caught.
Not because of what she said.
But because she said it like she'd been waiting.
The Healer's Revelation
Riva groaned softly as Lysa removed the curse from her wound. The silver threads turned darker, then evaporated.
"She'll wake soon," Lysa said. "Her strength is… impressive. Ordinary people would've died minutes ago."
Aadi exhaled shakily, relief crashing into him so hard his knees almost gave out.
But Lysa wasn't done.
She turned to him.
"You think your enemies ended with the prophecy hunters?"
He shook his head."No… this was only the start."
Lysa's eyes softened with both pity and dread.
"Correct. The prophecy has been misinterpreted for centuries. Most believe you're destined to destroy magic… or save it."
Aadi's jaw tightened."That's what the message said."
Lysa exhaled slowly."That message was incomplete."
Rune frowned."So what's the full prophecy then?"
Lysa raised her hand, summoning a shimmering silver barrier around them—a privacy seal so no one could overhear.
"The child of the First Sun will decide not the fate of magic… but the fate of every realm. Earth, Etheria, and the lost worlds between."
Rune cursed softly."Shit…"
Aria stared at Aadi, horrified."So that's why every kingdom wants him."
Lysa nodded."Yes. Because the prophecy says something else—something even more dangerous."
Aadi braced himself."Say it."
Lysa's voice became a whisper.
"The Sun-Bearer will not be alone.He will choose a companion—and the one he chooses decides the future of every world."
Aadi froze.
Rune's eyes widened.Aria's lips parted.Riva—still weak—opened her eyes just enough to whisper:
"…me…?"
Aadi spun to her instantly, his hand holding hers before he even realized it.
"Riva— don't move. You're still healing."
Her fingers squeezed his weakly.
Lysa watched them—expression unreadable.
"You were wondering why assassins attacked your group instead of just you? It's simple."
She met Aadi's eyes.
"Because the prophecy doesn't fear you.It fears the one who walks beside you."
Silence fell like a dropped blade.
Aadi stared at Riva—heart pounding painfully.
Was she really part of this destiny?Or was she in danger because fate chose to be cruel?
Rune whispered, voice trembling with emotion and fear."Then Riva's not just a target… she's a threat to them."
Aria clenched her fists."And a threat to anyone who wants to control Aadi."
Aadi felt his throat go dry.
This wasn't about him.
It was about them—all of them.
The Unspoken Moment
Aadi sat beside Riva as Lysa finished sealing her wound.
Rune and Aria stepped back, giving them space.
Riva looked up at him with tired eyes, a weak smile pulling at her lips.
"You carried me here," she whispered.
He swallowed hard."You scared the hell out of me."
"…sorry," she breathed.
"Don't be," Aadi said softly. "Just… stay alive. That's all I want."
Riva blinked slowly, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.
"You held my hand the whole time…"
Aadi looked away, embarrassed yet unable to let go.
"Yeah… well. You'd have slapped me if I didn't."
She laughed—weak but beautiful.
Then her expression softened, voice trembling.
"Aadi… I'm not afraid of being part of your fate."
He froze.
"Riva—"
She brushed his hand with her thumb, her touch light as a sigh.
"That's not why I'm with you."
Their faces were close—too close—her breath warm against his cheek.
He could've kissed her.
For a moment, he almost did.
But then—
The church bell shattered.
Not rang.
Shattered.
A crack split the ceiling as a shockwave of black energy surged across the sky.
Aria gasped.Rune reached for his weapon.
Lysa's face drained of color.
"No… impossible… they shouldn't have found him this fast—"
Aadi stood, the ground trembling under him.
"Who?"
Lysa whispered the name like a curse.
"The Night Sovereign.""The one who started the hunt.The one who swore you would never live long enough to choose your fate."
Aadi's eyes hardened.
Then the church doors blew open.
And a shadow stepped inside.