The small shadow moved beneath the wagons without making a sound.
Celestine remained hidden behind the trees, watching the column of soldiers slowly making its way along the road. Beside her, Leonhardt held his sword firmly, while Seris analyzed every movement of the inquisitors. The Guardian remained a few steps behind, his eyes fixed on the white carriage.
— Something is wrong — Celestine murmured.
— Do you feel it again? — Leonhardt asked.
She nodded.
— It's inside the carriage.
Seris narrowed her eyes.
— The commander of the inquisitors is a man named Valerian. He's extremely dangerous, but he possesses no power related to the Void.
— I'm not talking about him.
Celestine closed her eyes.
Her perception of the Void spread across the road.
She felt the soldiers.
She felt the prisoners.
She felt the horses.
And then she found that presence.
It was small.
Weak.
But familiar.
Celestine's heart began to race.
— There's someone in there who has a connection to the Void.
The Guardian immediately became serious.
— Impossible.
— You've said that many times lately.
He ignored the comment.
— If someone has a connection to the Void and is being transported by the inquisitors, then they've found another bearer.
Celestine opened her eyes.
— Or someone they're trying to turn into one.
Seris fell silent.
The idea seemed even worse.
— We need to find out who it is — Celestine said.
Leonhardt looked at the road.
— Then let's get inside.
Seris grabbed his arm.
— We can't attack directly. There are too many soldiers.
Celestine observed the formation.
— We're not going to attack.
— Then what are we going to do?
Celestine pointed toward the small shadow moving beneath the wagons.
— It's already doing it for us.
The shadow reached the white carriage.
Celestine concentrated.
The Void extended through it, forming a small connection.
The invisible creature slipped beneath the carriage and found an opening.
Then it entered.
Celestine saw through its senses.
The inside of the carriage was dark.
Two soldiers were sitting in front of a chained girl.
She appeared to be about the same age as Celestine.
Her hair was completely white.
Her skin was pale.
And there was a black mark on her neck.
The girl kept her eyes closed.
One of the soldiers spoke:
— Is she awake?
— No.
— Are you sure?
— Since we found her, she hasn't opened her eyes.
Celestine felt something strange.
The girl wasn't sleeping.
She was hiding.
— She knows we're here — Celestine whispered.
Seris looked at her.
— How?
— Because she's using the Void to hide her own presence.
The Guardian approached.
— Then she's not an ordinary victim.
Celestine watched the girl for a few more seconds.
Then the girl's eyes opened.
And, through the connection, she stared directly at Celestine.
The two remained motionless.
Celestine felt a wave of energy pass through her body.
The girl spoke without moving her lips.
Can you hear it too?
Celestine replied mentally:
Hear what?
The girl closed her eyes.
Him.
Celestine felt the Void tremble.
Who?
The answer came almost like a whisper.
The one sleeping beneath the capital.
The connection was severed.
Celestine suddenly opened her eyes.
— We have to act now.
Leonhardt didn't ask.
He drew his sword.
Seris did the same.
The Guardian raised one hand.
— If we do this, there will be no way to hide our presence.
Celestine stared at the carriage.
— We're already no longer hidden.
She charged.
The first soldier died before he realized he was under attack.
Leonhardt emerged from the trees like an arrow, striking the man with the hilt of his sword and knocking him to the ground.
Seris appeared moments later.
— Left!
Celestine advanced through the formation.
The Void spread across the road, confusing the soldiers. Some attacked shadows that didn't exist. Others completely lost their sense of direction.
— Enemies!
— The Bearer!
— Protect the carriage!
The shout revealed everything.
Celestine stopped.
— They know who I am.
Seris answered:
— Now everyone knows.
A man dressed in white appeared on top of the carriage.
His armor was different from the others'.
Heavier.
More ornate.
He held a long sword covered in golden runes.
— Celestine d'Arnoir!
She raised her eyes.
— So you know my name.
— I know your name, your history, and the fate that awaits you.
Leonhardt positioned himself beside her.
— You talk too much.
The man smiled.
— I am Valerian.
Celestine immediately felt the difference.
That man wasn't merely a soldier.
His presence was like a wall.
Cold.
Impenetrable.
— You're carrying a girl — Celestine said.
Valerian looked at the carriage.
— She doesn't belong to you.
— She doesn't belong to you either.
— She belongs to the Empire.
Celestine took a step forward.
— People don't belong to governments.
Valerian drew his sword.
— Pretty words.
He disappeared.
Leonhardt managed to block the first strike.
The impact sent his feet sliding several meters.
— Leonhardt!
— I'm fine!
Valerian attacked again.
Leonhardt blocked.
This time, his knee nearly touched the ground.
Celestine realized immediately.
Valerian was too strong for him to face alone.
She advanced.
The Void enveloped her sword.
Valerian noticed.
— So it's true.
Celestine attacked.
The two blades collided.
An explosion of energy swept across the road.
Valerian was pushed backward.
Celestine was as well.
He looked at his own sword.
There was a crack in it.
— Interesting.
Celestine tightened her grip on her sword.
— Do you still want to continue?
Valerian smiled.
— Now more than ever.
He raised his hand.
All the inquisitors retreated.
Celestine realized what was happening.
— Seris!
— I see it!
The soldiers were forming a circle around the carriage.
Runes began appearing on the ground.
The Guardian shouted:
— It's a containment ritual!
Celestine looked at the girl.
— They're going to activate the mark!
Valerian raised his hand.
— Bearer, watch closely.
The mark on the girl's neck began to glow.
She screamed.
Celestine felt a similar pain pass through her own body.
The Void reacted violently.
The ground began to crack.
— Stop!
Valerian smiled.
— You finally understand.
Celestine raised her head.
— Understand what?
— The girl isn't a prisoner.
He pointed toward her.
— She's the first step.
The Void inside Celestine roared.
And, far beneath the earth, something answered.
A vibration traveled across the entire road.
The mountains trembled.
The horses began to flee.
The trees shook without wind.
Then the girl opened her eyes.
This time, her eyes were completely black.
She looked at Celestine.
And said:
— He has awakened.
The earth beneath everyone's feet began to split apart.
Celestine realized that this battle was no longer about saving a girl.
It was about preventing something ancient from finding a passage into the world.
She raised her sword.
— Leonhardt.
— Yes?
— Get all the prisoners out of here.
— And you?
Celestine looked at Valerian.
— I'm going to destroy this ritual.
Seris gripped her sword tightly.
— Alone?
Celestine smiled faintly.
— No.
The Void expanded behind her.
— This time, it's going to fight alongside me.