Page 54 of Emylia

Flowers blossomed along the rails, the sweet scent of jasmine filling the air, while purple pansies popped wildly with intense color.

As soon as I took my first step onto the bridge the canopy of leaves above us ceased to exist.

Air punched from my lungs as I realized what the trees of Aelinthian Forrest had been hiding. An ancient tree that demanded complete attention rose to the skies. I wouldn’t be surprised if its leaves brushed the tips of the stars.

Power crackled from it; even from this distance, it swarmed around me, making the air so dense it was difficult to breathe.

“It’s the tree of the Gods. The Tree of Life!” A mystified breath stilled in my chest: a hallowed exclamation.

Maalikai’s eyes met mine, they glowed luminescent in the incandescent aura of the tree.

Somehow, it glowed with a light that felt overwhelming and all-consuming. Maalikai claimed my hand again, leading me across the bridge and into the resplendent radiance of the anomaly that rose before me.

The roots rose so large from the ground that I would have to climb over them to reach the trunk.

Hesitantly, I reached out a hand to one of the large roots, the tips of my fingers tracing along the length, following the bark.

Power ebbed at my skin, lightning sparkling along my fingertips, jumping between each finger like it had a life of its own.

I jolted back. Brandishing my hand like I’d just been burned. “What in Nexus?”

Maalikai’s hands were on me in an instant, his fingers cupping mine. “Does it hurt?”

I shook my head as I watched the lightning flares absorb into my skin, momentarily making them glow an incandescent purple light before they disappeared, the glow now completely nonexistent.

“Is that normal? Did it—did it electrocute me?”

It didn’t feel like something had shocked me. My eyes studied his as I looked to him for answers.

“Was it magik?” I asked quietly.

“Honestly, I have no idea.”

Maalikai stepped up to the tree, running his hand along it, as I had done. No lightning crackled along his fingertips; maybe I had already consumed the power from the tree?

“I can feel the power within it. But that’s it.”

Hearing Maalikai acknowledge aloud that there wassomethingthere to feel and that perhaps I had already harnessed it, gave me chills.

“I can feel it in my veins like a power source resides in my soul. Hibernating beneath the surface of my skin, as though it’s waiting for something. Waiting for me to release it,” I murmured, feeling like the words had come from someone other than myself.

“Do you feel like it’s going to consume you?”

Hysteria clawed through me. He spoke as if it was all real. As if what I was feelingwasreal.

“Like I’m going to spontaneously combust or something?”

He shrugged. “I guess so.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

Fingertips traced the curve of my cheek as Maalikai studied me like I was a wounded creature.

“You feel normal.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement.

“So, I’m not going to die in a blaze of glory?” Humor masked my trepidation. If I was going to burst into flames, there was nothing I could do about it now.

“I really hope not.” He stepped closer, stealing my air. “Because then, I’d never get a chance to do this.”

---