Chapter 8: Ashborne City
Lyra stood amidst the shattered remnants of her once-idyllic life, her essence ability newly awakened but barely radiating around her. As she focused on the unfamiliar sensations coursing through her mind, she detected a presence rapidly approaching. With a mixture of fear and anticipation, she turned towards the door just as it burst open, revealing Jasper, the village courier and a trusted friend to her family.
Jasper's eyes widened in horror as he took in the scene before him—the lifeless bodies of Elara and Oren amidst the frozen rubble, and Lyra standing alone, her aura dim and flickering. Without hesitation, Jasper rushed to Lyra's side, his emotions a swirling vortex of shock, concern, and urgency. As he gathered her in his arms, Lyra's newly unlocked essence ability, Empath, allowed her to sense these emotions from Jasper. She felt his determination and worry for her safety, lending her a flicker of warmth and reassurance in her heart.
"Lyra, your essence... it must have triggered," Jasper said softly, helping her to her feet. His words were a whisper of comfort, confirming the strange new power she felt awakening within her. This rare and coveted ability of telepathy, Empath, was her bittersweet gift, born from unimaginable loss and sacrifice.
In the days that followed, Lyra struggled to come to terms with her grief, each morning rising from the ashes of her shattered home with the weight of her parents' sacrifice heavy upon her shoulders. Nights were the hardest, haunted by memories and an aching emptiness that seemed impossible to fill.
One afternoon, as she sifted through the remnants of her parents' workshop, a sharp knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Startled, Lyra made her way to the entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. It was Jasper again, this time holding a weathered envelope bearing the official seal of the Medicine Guild.
"Lyra," Jasper began softly, his eyes filled with sympathy, "I came as soon as I heard. I'm so sorry for your loss." He handed her the envelope, his fingers brushing hers in a gesture of comfort. "This arrived for you yesterday. It's from your relatives in Ashborne. They wanted to check up on you and offer their support."
Lyra took the letter, her fingers trembling slightly as she broke the seal and unfolded the parchment within. The letter was from her Aunt Selene, her mother's estranged sister. Though the words expressed condolences, the tone was formal and detached. Selene explained that as Lyra's closest living relative, she was now her legal guardian, and that arrangements had been made for Lyra to be brought to the capital to live under her care.
As Lyra read and reread the letter, her mind reeling with the implications of this sudden change, she heard the sound of hoofbeats outside her window. She looked out to see a magnificent carriage, drawn by four sleek, black horses and emblazoned with the crest of her Aunt Selene's house.
With a heavy heart, Lyra gathered her few belongings and stepped out into the sunlight, ready to embark on a new chapter in her life. As she traveled towards Ashborne City.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone