Chapter 6 The Rift in the Sky

Nyxira POV

The sky broke.

Like paper tearing.

A long, dark line split the red clouds.

Light poured out.

But it wasn't sunlight.

It was deeper. Older. Like something waking up after a very long sleep.

The air pulled back. Like it was holding its breath.

Zeryn pulled me behind him.

Darian's hand was on his sword.

The rift opened wider.

And something stepped through.

At first, I didn't understand what I was looking at.

It was too big.

Too wrong.

The creature had a body like smoke and stone. Its arms were long. Its head almost touched the clouds. Wings spread wide behind it, not made of feathers or skin-but of shadows.

Its eyes were the only thing that looked alive.

They were white.

Pure white.

No pupils. No blinking.

They stared right at me.

I couldn't breathe.

The mark on my palm pulsed hard. Like it knew.

Like it remembered.

"That's not a hunter," I said.

"No," Darian said. "That's a Herald."

Zeryn's voice was low. "What does it herald?"

"The end," Darian said.

The Herald raised its arm.

And pointed.

At me.

Zeryn growled. "We have to move."

Darian shook his head. "We can't outrun that."

The Herald opened its mouth.

No lips.

No teeth.

Just a hole.

And sound came out.

It wasn't loud.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

Like a whisper inside my bones.

Zeryn fell to his knees.

He held his head.

Darian did too.

Even the ground shook like it was afraid.

But I didn't fall.

I felt the whisper crawl over me, inside me.

But it didn't break me.

It woke something.

A heat in my chest. A light in my eyes.

I stood tall.

And the Herald tilted its head.

Confused.

Afraid?

I took one step forward.

My hands burned with gold light.

The air around me shimmered.

Like a shield was forming.

Zeryn looked up, panting. "What are you doing?"

"I don't know," I said.

But I couldn't stop.

I raised my hand.

And fire shot out again.

But this time, it didn't hit the Herald.

It bent around it.

Like it didn't want to touch it.

The Herald stepped forward.

Slow. Careful.

And from its shadow, smaller shapes came out.

Ten. Twenty. Maybe more.

Dark creatures.

Their bodies twisted. Made of bone, smoke, ash.

Their eyes were red.

Hunters.

But not like before.

These ones were faster.

Smarter.

They moved like wolves.

But with swords.

Zeryn stood beside me.

Still shaking, but ready.

"I'll hold the front," he said.

"No," I said. "We hold it together."

Darian stepped between us.

He threw something to the ground.

A bottle.

It broke-and thick smoke rose.

Green. Sharp-smelling.

He grabbed both our arms.

"This way," he said. "Now!"

We ran.

Back through the crypt door. Into the tunnels.

Behind us, I heard the Herald scream.

But it wasn't a scream.

It was a song.

A terrible, broken song.

It echoed in the stone.

Made the walls drip black.

"Keep moving!" Darian shouted.

We ran through winding halls.

Past old bones. Past crumbling doors.

The light from my hand showed the way.

Zeryn was silent.

Focused.

But I saw his hand-it trembled.

I knew mine did too.

We reached a fork.

Two paths.

Darian stopped.

He looked at me.

"Your call," he said.

"Me?"

"You woke the flame. You choose the path."

I looked at both tunnels.

One sloped down.

The other curved up.

I closed my eyes.

Listened.

The mark on my palm pulsed once.

Then twice.

The tunnel on the right felt... colder.

But the air moved. Like something alive was up there.

Not just death.

"This way," I said, pointing right.

We ran again.

This time, slower.

The tunnel narrowed.

We had to crouch.

Then it opened into a small round room.

A dead end.

"No," I said, heart sinking.

Zeryn cursed under his breath.

But Darian walked to the far wall.

He touched a stone.

Pressed it.

And the wall slid open.

Behind it-stairs.

Old. Cracked. Leading up.

"Smart," I said.

Darian shrugged. "Not smart. Just old tricks."

We climbed.

The air grew warmer.

Then colder again.

Like the weather couldn't decide.

Finally, we reached a wooden door.

Darian pushed it open.

We stepped out into-

Silence.

Not the burning field.

Not ash.

Just... snow.

White snow.

A forest of tall black trees.

Sky clear and blue.

Birds sang.

I blinked.

"What...?"

Darian looked up.

"This is the Mirror Grove," he said. "A place between."

"Between what?"

"Worlds. Times. Dreams."

Zeryn sniffed the air. "It smells... real."

"It is," Darian said. "But not for long."

We walked through the snow.

Each step felt strange.

Like I was walking on clouds.

Or memory.

Then we saw her.

A girl.

Standing in the trees.

She looked about ten years old.

Bare feet. Thin dress. Long black hair.

She stared at me.

I stared back.

She didn't smile.

Didn't move.

Just waited.

Like she knew I'd come.

Zeryn touched my arm. "Who is she?"

"I don't know."

But part of me did.

I stepped forward.

The girl turned.

And ran.

Not away.

But into the trees.

"Follow her," I said.

We ran after her.

The trees got thicker.

The snow deeper.

But I didn't feel cold.

We came into a clearing.

And the girl stood at the center.

By a stone table.

She placed her hand on it.

Then looked at me.

"You came late," she said.

Her voice was soft.

But strong.

Like a thousand voices in one.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am what you were. Before you forgot."

"What does that mean?"

She stepped back.

And the stone table lit up.

Images appeared.

A firebird.

A broken tower.

A throne made of stars.

And a war.

So big it tore the sky.

Then a woman fell from the sky.

Her wings burning.

Her eyes gold.

She looked like me.

But not me.

The girl pointed.

"That was you. Long ago."

I shook my head. "No. That's not possible."

"It is."

"Then why don't I remember?"

"Because forgetting was the only way to live."

I looked at the images.

The fire. The fall. The flame.

I was shaking.

Zeryn stepped beside me.

"You okay?"

"No."

"But I want to know."

The girl nodded.

Then walked to me.

She touched my hand.

The mark.

It flashed bright.

The forest shook.

The snow flew into the air.

And the sky opened again-

But not red this time.

Gold.

A voice boomed from the clouds.

"Child of Flame."

I fell to my knees.

The mark burned.

The girl was gone.

Darian helped me up.

"You saw the truth," he said.

"I don't want it."

"But it wants you."

Zeryn's eyes were wide.

He looked at the sky.

Shapes were coming.

Not hunters.

Not Heralds.

Something else.

Wings of light.

Swords of fire.

Darian whispered, "The Guardians have awakened."

"Guardians?" Zeryn said.

"They come when the balance breaks."

I stood slowly.

The pain fading.

The fire inside calm again.

"What do they want?" I asked.

Darian looked at me.

His voice was quiet.

"You."

I looked at the sky.

At the glowing army coming down.

And I didn't run.

Because deep down-

I knew this was only the beginning.