In front of them lay the forest, a never ending labyrinth of darkness and quiet. Running caused Selene's legs to burn, but she was able to keep going because of the adrenaline in her blood. She glanced at Asrael, who appeared just as tired and tense as she was, his hands still clenched around his sword despite his obvious weariness.
They had escaped the celestial warriors of heaven. For the time being
With seasoned accuracy, Asrael guided her farther into the forest while his gaze scanned their surroundings. "We must continue to move. They'll catch us before dawn if we stop now."
Something gnawed at the edge of Selene's awareness as she nodded and pushed forward. A whisper barely comprehensible. It started as a faint hum in the back of her mind, growing stronger with each step.
And then, suddenly, a word slipped from her lips—unbidden, unknown.
"Vrythos."
The world shuddered.
The trees trembled as if caught in a silent quake. Asrael stopped in his tracks, eyes snapping toward her.
"What did you just say?"
Selene's breath hitched. "I… I don't know. It just—came out."
Asrael's expression darkened. "That's not just a word, Selene. That's a spell. An ancient one."
She swallowed. "How do you know that?"
His jaw tightened. "Because I've heard it before. A long time ago. And the last time it was spoken, an entire city fell."
The whispering in her mind grew louder, a chorus of voices speaking in tongues she didn't understand yet somehow felt connected to. Her fingers twitched, warmth pooling in her palms. It was instinctual, primal.
And it terrified her.
She met Asrael's gaze. "What am I?"
He exhaled. "That's what we are going to find out."
🔥 A HIDDEN POWER AWAKENS 🔥
The tension between them increased as they ventured farther into the forest. Selene could'nt get rid of the sensation that something aged and restless was strring within her. Her fingertips occasionally tingled as if they wanted to move independently and create invisible symbols in the air
She sent the feeling away by clenching her hands.
After what seemed like hours, they arrived to a clearing where an old stone archway wrapped in the moonlight peeking though the canopy.Under his breath Asrael cursed at the sight
"What is this place?" Selene asked, stepping closer.
Asrael hesitated. "A sanctuary. Or it was. It belonged to those who spoke the old tongue. The same one you just did."
Selene's stomach twisted. "You believe i have a connection ?"
"I don't think, I know. And if you are, then we're standing in the only place that might give us answers."
She hesitated before stepping beneath the arch. The moment she did, a strange pulse rippled through the air. Her breath hitched as ghostly symbols ignited along the stone's surface, glowing faintly.
Asrael's eyes widened. "It recognizes you."
Before Selene could respond, a gust of wind swirled through the clearing, carrying with it the echoes of forgotten voices. Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, her lips moved, speaking words she had never learned.
"Vrythos elthian mor'akai."
A blinding light erupted from the ground beneath her, spiraling upwards. The moment it touched her skin, memories—not her own—flashed before her eyes. A temple lost to time. A war between realms. And a name, whispered in reverence and fear.
"THE SERAPHIM'S SHADOW."
She gasped, stumbling back. Asrael caught her, his grip firm. "What did you see?"
Selene swallowed hard. "A past that isn't mine. A power I don't understand."
Asrael nodded grimly. "Then we need to learn fast. Because if you don't control it…"
His gaze flicked back to the glowing archway, now pulsing like a heartbeat.
"It will control you."