Page 108 of The Scars Within
In the veiled echoes of Mareki’s grace,
When the past unfolds anew,
The truth will come face to face,
As scattered elements entwine in the few.
The splintered shards will become whole again,
Once the forgotten realm is due.
The key lies within the Crimson Wraith,
Whose flames will guide what shadows pursue.
“I’ve been wondering if ‘the past unfolds anew’ is connected to how I lost so much of my memory,” Lakota said, his voice tinged with frustration.
My grip tightened on his spikes as I thought about it. “I don’t think our history books recorded what actually happened in the Battle for Mareki,” I began. “My friends and I did some digging, and we think the essences of the Mareki were originally part of a single Gem. Like, maybe Zervos did something—broke the Gem into pieces or split its power somehow. But we’re still lost when it comes to the prophecy mentioning a ‘forgotten realm being due.’ We have no clue what thatpart even means.”
Lakota was quiet for a moment, his wings slicing through the cold mountain air as we flew. “A forgotten realm…” he murmured, his voice distant. “It stirs something, but it’s like trying to recall a dream just out of reach.”
His uncertainty made the weight of the prophecy feel heavier. Whatever secrets it holds, it’s like they are woven into both of our fates, and it feels like time is running out for us to figure them out. I definitely felt a surge of magic when I touched the runes in the chamber, and two of them somehow illuminated after I channeled two elements. It all seemed way too coincidental. And the fact that I am able to enter the warded barrier while my friends are not.
Shayde turned around on Drithan’s back, waving a signal at me.
“We’re here,” Lakota said.
I guess my historical investigation will have to wait. We began to descend, and the weight of the mission settled back over me. There would be time for answers later—hopefully. For now, I have to focus on the task ahead.
Chapter 42
The sun was harsh today, beating down without mercy, making our stealth all the more challenging. We landed about half a mile from the opposing team’s camp, careful not to let the sound of our dragons’ wings alert them. I followed Davis and Shayde through the rugged mountain terrain, and we moved in complete silence, communicating only with quick gestures.
The boys leaned their backs against a stone wall, and I mirrored them, waiting for the signal. Davis carefully peeked around the edge of the boulder and then motioned for us to follow. We crept along, ducking behind rocks as we advanced toward the cavern. Just inside its entrance, we spotted a small fire that had recently been extinguished—but no cadets.
“Think they left to invade our camp?” I whispered, glancing around warily.
Shayde pressed his lips together, shaking his head. “Not sure. We need to check out their camp, just in case. If we don’t find anything, we’ll rush back.”
We approached the cavern cautiously, every sense on high alert. As we stepped inside, the scene was quiet—almost too quiet. The fire wasdying, and bedrolls were scattered around the space, but no one was there.
Davis crouched beside the fire, brushing his hand over the embers. “It’s still warm,” he muttered. “They must have just left.”
“Or they’re hiding,” I muttered. The cavern seemed to stretch endlessly into darkness, and I couldn’t shake the thought of how similar it was to our own. My curiosity spiked, urging me to explore deeper.
“Thorne, where are you going?” Shayde whispered sharply.
I stopped, turning to face the boys and tilting my head in silent invitation. They exchanged a look before following me reluctantly. I channeled a small flame to light the way with a flick of my wrist, which earned me a stern look from Shayde. The dim glow cast eerie shadows against the stone walls. Davis and Shayde quickly followed suit, summoning their own flames.
The temperature dropped tremendously after the first few feet as we cautiously stepped into the darkness. The shift was jarring—like stepping from day into night. I could feel the chill creeping through my leathers, raising goosebumps on my skin. Our breath formed visible clouds in the air, each one hanging for a moment before disappearing into the black void ahead.
There was a deafening silence all around us, the kind that made every footstep feel louder than it should have. We moved slowly, deliberately, listening for any sign of movement, but the deeper we went, the colder and quieter it became.
The quiet was unnerving.
“We should head back,” Shayde whispered urgently on my right.
“Agreed,” Davis muttered from my left.
