Capítulo 18: Chapter 16:
The door creaked open, revealing a narrow stone staircase spiraling downward into darkness. A cool draft swept past us, carrying the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic. I hesitated for a moment, gripping the edge of the doorway, before taking the first step.
Xenos followed close behind, his torch casting flickering shadows on the ancient walls, while Alohi trailed behind, muttering about the inconvenience of "ominous stairs with no end in sight."
We descended in silence, the air growing colder with every step. The sound of our footsteps echoed off the walls, creating an eerie rhythm that only added to the tension. My grip on the railing tightened, nerves tingling at the back of my neck.
About halfway down, Alohi's bag began to rustle. I turned, startled, just as Aurora's glowing form emerged, her light cutting through the gloom.
"Aurora!" I exclaimed, unable to hide my relief as she fluttered to my shoulder.
"Miss me?" she asked, her tone light despite her small size.
"Always," I replied, the tension in my chest easing just a little.
Aurora glanced at Alohi, her glow flickering mischievously. "Did you know Alohi's bag is like a little zoo? Scael and her snake have been sharing space with me this whole time."
I blinked, momentarily stunned, before a laugh escaped me—soft at first, then growing louder as the absurdity of it all sank in. "You're kidding."
"Nope," Aurora said, fluttering her wings. "They're surprisingly good roommates, though Scael keeps grumbling about the lack of space."
Alohi huffed from behind us. "Hey, don't blame me. If they have complaints, they can take it up with the bag."
Xenos sighed, but there was a faint upward twitch to his lips. "Focus. We're not here to chat about Alohi's enchanted storage."
"Sure, sure," Alohi replied breezily, though the smirk on her face made it clear she was enjoying herself.
Aurora settled into her usual spot on my shoulder, her warmth a comforting presence as we continued down the stairs. My laughter faded, but the smile lingered, a small spark of light in the oppressive darkness around us.
The staircase finally ended, leading us into a room shrouded in darkness. The air was cold and heavy, the kind of chill that seemed to seep into your bones. My breath caught as I looked around, realizing the walls were lined with mirrors—most shattered, their jagged edges catching the faint flicker of Xenos' torch.
"Why mirrors?" Alohi whispered, her voice unusually subdued.
Aurora fluttered closer to me, her glow casting eerie shadows across the broken glass. "It's… unsettling."
"Lux?" I called out, my voice echoing faintly in the stillness. "Are you here?"
Nothing.
The silence pressed in, thick and almost suffocating. I took a hesitant step forward, my reflection fractured into dozens of distorted pieces across the unbroken mirrors. "Lux? You sent me the letter. I came all this way—please, show yourself!"
For a moment, there was no response, and I wondered if we'd made a mistake. But then, out of the shadows, a figure emerged, his steps deliberate and calm.
My breath hitched as he stepped into the torchlight. Tall and elegant, with light, perfectly tousled hair and sharp features that seemed carved by the gods themselves, the man before me was someone I knew all too well.
"Cynfael?" I stammered, my heart racing.
The crown prince of this world—the one everyone whispered about but rarely saw—stood before me, his gaze piercing and his expression unreadable.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, confusion and suspicion warring in my voice. "This is supposed to be Lux's message. You're not—"
"I am," Cynfael interrupted, his tone calm but laced with a quiet authority. "Lux is my alias."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Alohi was the first to break it. "Okay," she said, her voice slightly breathless. "How is it even possible for him to get hotter every time I see him?"
Xenos groaned audibly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Focus, Alohi."
"What?" Alohi whispered, shrugging. "I'm just stating facts."
Ignoring her entirely, I stepped forward, my confusion boiling into frustration. "You're Lux? The person who sent me the letter and led me here? Why?"
Cynfael didn't flinch under my questioning. Instead, he folded his arms and gave me a measured look. "You have questions, Sage. And I have answers. But before we go any further, there's something you need to understand."
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, my determination hardening. "Then start talking."
Cynfael's gaze didn't waver as he began to speak, his voice low and deliberate.
"Your journey here wasn't by chance, Sage. Everything that's happened—the letter, the maze, even the curse on Xenos—it all ties back to Mortis."
I felt like the ground beneath me had vanished. "Who is Mortis?" I asked, my voice sharp with urgency. "I've never heard that name before."
Cynfael studied me, his expression unreadable. "Mortis is the king of demons," he began, his voice low. "A being so ancient and malevolent that even his name was wiped from most histories to prevent anyone from invoking him. He's the reason your world fell apart before you were even born."
I felt my chest tighten. "What do you mean?"
"Mortis thrives on chaos, destruction, and control," Cynfael explained. "He didn't just kill the dragons—he eradicated them to ensure there would be no one strong enough to oppose him. He cursed Xenos, your strongest protector, to weaken his spirit. Then he turned his sights on your mother."
"My mother?" My voice wavered. "What does this have to do with her?"
Cynfael stepped closer, his tone heavy with sympathy. "Mortis took the powers of the chosen one—your mother, Astrid—and cast her into the human world, severing her from her destiny. He thought he had destroyed the chosen line forever, but what he didn't realize was that it would find you instead."
I stared at him, a storm of emotions swirling in my chest. "And my grandfather? Smokey? What happened to him?"
Cynfael's expression darkened. "Mortis stripped Smokey of his powers, locking him in a liminal space—between the earth and the heavens—where he can neither interfere nor escape. To make it worse, Mortis took on Smokey's form, using his likeness to wreak havoc. It was Mortis, disguised as Smokey, who cursed Xenos and slaughtered the dragons."
I turned to Xenos, my heart aching. "The curse... your curse. That wasn't because of the gods?"
Xenos didn't respond at first, his jaw tightening as his fists clenched at his sides. Finally, he said, "So it was Mortis all along." His voice was low and bitter, the weight of this revelation settling heavily on him.
I felt anger rising in my chest, hotter than I'd ever felt before. "Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner? Does anyone else know about this?"
"Only me and Mr. Edwin," Cynfael admitted. "And now you. I didn't tell you because I needed to make sure you were ready to hear it."
I shook my head, my voice trembling with frustration. "And now I'm supposed to just… what? Fix it all? I don't even know where to begin!"
"You begin by finding the Brugmansia flower," Cynfael said firmly. "Its scent is the only thing that can help you connect with Smokey. Through him, you'll gain the wisdom and strength you need to face Mortis."
I stared at him, trying to process everything. The weight of what he was asking felt impossible to bear, yet I knew deep down I couldn't turn away.
"If finding the flower is what it takes, then I'll do it," I said, my voice steadier now. "But I need to know… why me? Why am I the chosen one?"
Cynfael's gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw admiration in his eyes. "Because you're stronger than you realize, Sage. And whether you like it or not, the fate of this world depends on you."
I clenched my fists, determination flaring in my chest. "Then we'd better get started."
From behind me, Alohi muttered, her usual mischief creeping back into her voice, "Okay, but can we all take a second to appreciate how insanely hot he sounds explaining all this? Like, seriously, Cynfael, stop being perfect—it's distracting."
The tension broke, and despite the overwhelming weight of the moment, I let out a small, exasperated laugh. Typical Alohi. But maybe that was exactly what I needed.
A heavy silence settled over the room as everyone processed Cynfael's words. The tension was palpable until Xenos finally broke it, his tone measured but firm.
"I'll go to the Brugmansia Wall and retrieve the flower," Xenos said, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. "Alohi, take Sage back to the tavern. It's safer there for both of you."
"What?" Alohi frowned, crossing her arms stubbornly. "Why do I have to babysit? I'd rather stay here a little longer." Her eyes flickered to Cynfael with a not-so-subtle pout.
Cynfael's lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. "Next time, I'll invite you over to my castle, Alohi," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with charm. "We'll have all the time in the world to... catch up."
Alohi's cheeks flushed as she struggled to maintain her composure. "You better keep that promise, Your Highness," she said, trying to sound unaffected but clearly failing.
Xenos sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We'll meet at the tavern in an hour," he said firmly, cutting off any further debate. "No detours, no distractions."
He gave Cynfael a curt nod before turning on his heel and heading toward the shadows, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness without another word.
Alohi grumbled under her breath as she picked up her bag. "Fine. But this better be worth it." She threw one last longing glance at Cynfael, who gave her a wink, before gesturing for me to follow her.
As we left the room and headed back up the winding stairs, I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder, a strange mix of emotions swirling within me. Cynfael's revelations had left me shaken, but Xenos's determination sparked something steadier—a faint ember of hope.
We had a plan now, even if the road ahead felt impossibly long.
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