Page 124 of Moonlit Fate

Seren leaned forward. “Your markings are glowing brighter now. Much brighter.”

“Are they?” I couldn’t bring myself to look at them. Keeping my eyes shut, I held Aria close as the tingle intensified.

“Definitely,” Seren confirmed. “It’s like you’re each other’s power source.”

Aria shifted slightly within my grasp. “Since the ritual, I can sense the weather patterns, and my control over water has significantly improved.”

“Same for me, but different,” I added, eyes still closed. “The shadows obey me like never before. There’s this... sense that they’re no longer insubstantial, and I could step through them into other places.”

“Planes of existence?” Seren sounded intrigued.

“Maybe,” I said, imagining the possibilities. “Like walking through one door and coming out another, somewhere else entirely.”

“Wild,” Seren muttered, stepping back. “You two are full of surprises.”

I opened my eyes and stepped away from Aria, the cool air of the chamber hitting my skin. The markings on our bodies still glowed faintly.

“Atticus,” Aria said, her forehead creasing in worry, “these markings... They’re a constant reminder, aren’t they? Of everything that’s expected of us now.”

“Yeah,” I replied, glancing down at the intricate designs wrapping around my arms. “They’re a map of choices we haven’t made yet.”

Aria bit her lip. “The seer didn’t know what to make of them. It’s like he was scared. He wouldn’t say why.”

“Scared?” That caught me off guard.

Ilaric pushed away from the wall. “I need to grab something. It might help.” He left without explaining.

“Darkness and imbalance,” Seren mused. “That’s what the spirits warned of. Could it be tied to the markings?”

“The spirits?” I asked, but then something shifted inside me, and I felt a sensation that wasn’t mine. It was Aria’s apprehension spearing into me.

Aria gasped, her gaze locking onto mine. “Atticus, I can feel your emotions. Can you feel mine?”

I nodded, not sure how to process the invasion of privacy.

“Is there a way to stop it?” She was trembling visibly. “I don’t want you to be burdened by what I feel.”

That stung, but I understood her need for space. “It’s not a burden. But I can teach you how to shield your mind. It’ll keep your thoughts and feelings private.”

“Okay,” she said. “When I’m ready.”

“You need to be clear-minded and calm,” I added. Such moments had been few and far between lately.

“Speaking of calm...” Aria hesitated. “My mother’s spirit visited me.”

“Did she?” I wanted to wrap her in my embrace, to comfort her. But I held back, respecting the distance she’d put between us.

“She didn’t have the strength to stay long, but seeing her after so many years was special. It’s the only time I’ve been grateful for the ritual. She spoke of balance.” She laughed bitterly. “Ishouldn’t be surprised. Everyone speaks of balance, but they never explain what they.”

“That can’t have been easy. I know you’ve missed her.”

She smiled softly. “I have. Thank you for understanding.”

I returned her smile, keeping my own disquiet tightly locked away.

Ilaric returned with another book, its ancient cover worn and edges frayed. He laid it on the table and opened it to pages filled with archaic script and symbols that looked exactly like the markings adorning my and Aria’s skin.

“Found something,” he said, tracing the lines of text. “These aren’t arbitrary marks; it’s old magic, part of the foundation of the world itself.”

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