18. The Waiting

Chapter 18: The Waiting

Kael paced restlessly at the base of the Gate of Shadows, his eyes flicking toward the dark portal as if willing Lyra to emerge. Arden stood in quiet contemplation beside him, his gaze steady but his expression unreadable.

“How long has it been?” Kael muttered, his golden eyes scanning the shadowed landscape.

“Not long,” Arden replied, his voice calm, though there was a slight edge of worry in it. “The trials within the Gate are personal. Time distorts in the Veil.”

Kael stopped his pacing, hands clenched at his sides. “She’s strong, but this place—this trial—it’s twisted. I don’t like it.”

Arden nodded, his eyes narrowing as if sensing something in the distance. “The Gate feeds on fear, guilt, regret. It brings out the darkest parts of us. But Lyra is different. She’s carried that burden for so long, she’s learning how to face it.”

“I hope so,” Kael muttered. His mind raced with thoughts of Lyra—of how she had faced her past, her father’s abandonment, and the loss of her mother. How much could one person endure before the weight of it all became too much?

Arden turned his head slightly, his voice softer than before. “You care for her, don’t you?”

Kael’s eyes flickered briefly to the older man. He knew Arden had a keen sense for these things, but the question still made him hesitate. “Of course. She’s… she’s more than a companion on this journey.”

Arden smiled faintly, but there was no judgment in his expression—only understanding. “I can see it in the way you protect her. But know this, Kael: she has her own path to walk. And sometimes, the most important thing you can do is stand back and let her face her demons alone.”

Kael’s jaw tightened, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. “I’m not sure I can do that. I don’t want her to be alone. Not in this.”

Arden turned fully toward him, his expression serious. “It’s not about being alone. It’s about trusting in the person she’s becoming. She may need you, but she also needs to face the truth of who she is without distraction.”

“I know.” Kael’s voice softened, and he looked at the Gate once more. “But I can’t shake the feeling that this trial is only the beginning of something far worse. The Forge… whatever it is, it’s going to demand even more from her.”

Arden’s gaze turned distant, his mind perhaps on the same thoughts. “The Ashen Forge is more than a place. It is the heart of the curse, the source of everything that has shaped Lyra’s fate. Whatever it holds, it will test us all.”

“Even you?” Kael asked, his tone edged with curiosity.

Arden’s lips tightened, but the answer didn’t come immediately. Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet and heavy with years of unspoken truths. “I’ve already been tested, Kael. In ways that go beyond any trial the Forge could offer. But Lyra’s path is hers alone, just as mine was mine.”

Kael looked at Arden, sensing the weight in the older man’s words. He wanted to ask more—about Arden’s past, about the burdens he carried—but there wasn’t time for that now. Not when Lyra was in the heart of the trial.

A soft rumble vibrated through the ground, followed by the groan of the Gate shifting.

“Lyra?” Kael’s voice was urgent, and both men turned to face the Gate.

The portal began to pulse with light, and with a sudden rush, it cracked open.

Lyra stumbled out, her breath shallow, her face pale but resolute. Kael rushed forward, catching her before she could fall.

“Lyra…” Kael breathed, his heart catching in his chest.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, her voice hoarse but steady. She stood on her own, but Kael could feel the tremor in her body. The weight of the trial had clearly left its mark.

Arden’s gaze softened. “You’ve passed the Gate of Shadows.”

Lyra nodded, her eyes distant for a moment before she focused on Kael. Her lips trembled, but she offered him a small, weary smile. “It wasn’t easy. But… I’m ready.”

Kael looked at her, the fire in her eyes rekindled, but the shadows of the trial still lingered in her gaze. He wanted to ask her what happened, what she faced, but he held back, sensing she needed time. Instead, he gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her skin.

“You did it,” he said softly, his voice filled with quiet awe.

Lyra closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, but the weight of the trials was still evident in her posture. “I’m not sure I’m the person I was when I entered,” she murmured.

Arden watched them both, his expression unreadable. But after a moment, he spoke, his voice steady and full of purpose. “We’ve passed the first trials, but the Forge is still ahead. Whatever we face, we face together. But we must remain focused.”

Kael nodded, his grip on Lyra tightening slightly. “Let’s go then. The Forge is waiting.”

Lyra met his gaze, her voice firm but touched with the weariness of the trials. “Let’s end this. Once and for all.”

To Be Continued

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