The world tilts as I draw in a ragged breath, my chest burning with the effort. The power I've taken surges through me, like a living thing—wild, uncontrollable, and fierce. The Revenant who tried to strike me down collapses at my feet, his form crumpling as the energy leaves his body, his Gift now mine.
But with it comes the familiar ache in my chest, the sensation of something cold and brittle slowly creeping into my heart. I grit my teeth, refusing to give in to the feeling, even as the stone in my heart grows heavier.
Kael moves swiftly, his movements precise as he takes on the second Revenant who was coming for me. The glint of his knife is the only thing I can see as he engages in a flurry of strikes—quick, efficient. There's a controlled chaos to his every movement, like he's done this a thousand times before.
I try to focus, to ignore the coldness spreading through me, but it's impossible. Every time I take someone's power, a part of me turns to stone.
"You're doing well," Kael calls out to me, his voice steady despite the danger. "But don't overdo it. You can't keep doing this, Lyra."
I can hear the warning in his tone, the fear buried beneath the calmness. He's afraid of what I might become, and I can't blame him. I'm afraid too.
But there's no turning back now.
I stagger back, my vision blurred as the stone presses further into my chest. I try to summon more of the Revenant's power, to push through the pain, but my body isn't responding the way I want it to. The stone is suffocating, and my heartbeat is slow—too slow.
Kael finishes off the second Revenant, and before the last one can react, he's at my side, his hand on my arm, pulling me away from the fray.
"Lyra, listen to me," he says, his voice urgent, his grip tight. "You can't keep using your power like this. You're too close to losing yourself."
I open my mouth to argue, but the words die in my throat. The stone inside me is a constant reminder of what I'm becoming, and I can feel it now—like a deep crack in my soul, widening with every choice I make.
"I'm fine," I lie, even as the tremor in my voice betrays me.
"You're not fine," Kael snaps, his gaze filled with something I can't quite place. "You're slipping away from me, Lyra. You have to stop."
"I can't stop," I whisper, my voice breaking. "If I don't keep fighting, we lose. If I don't keep taking their power, I'll die, and so will everyone else."
Kael's eyes soften, and for a brief moment, the storm inside him seems to calm. "There has to be another way. A way that doesn't cost you everything."
I shake my head, the stone heavy in my chest, choking the breath out of me. "I don't have time to find another way. The Revenants are out there. They're getting stronger. They'll keep coming until we're all dead."
His face hardens, a flicker of something dangerous lighting in his eyes. "And what happens when you're gone, Lyra? What happens to me? To everyone you care about? If you keep going like this, you won't have a heart left to fight for anyone."
I bite my lip, the sting of his words cutting through me. But I don't have the luxury of thinking about the future. I can't afford to think about the consequences of my actions. The Revenants are hunting us, and every moment I delay is another step closer to losing everything.
The last Revenant stirs, groaning as he begins to rise. I turn, ready to end this, but Kael steps in front of me, his posture rigid.
"Stay back," he says quietly, his voice almost too calm. "I'll handle this one."
I hesitate, but then nod, stepping to the side. He's right. I can't let myself be the one to kill again, not when the weight of what I've already taken is too much.
Kael moves quickly, his knife flashing in the dim light as he finishes the last of the Revenants off with brutal precision. The sound of his strikes is deafening in the silence that follows, and I feel a pang of something deep inside me. I want to help. I want to fight. But I can't ignore what I've already done to myself.
Kael doesn't say anything as he wipes the blood from his blade, his expression unreadable. I can feel the tension in his body, the tightness in his shoulders as he turns toward me.
"I won't let you lose yourself, Lyra," he says softly, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "I'll keep you safe, no matter what it takes."
I nod, but the weight of his promise presses down on me, heavy and suffocating. The stone inside me is growing, spreading through my chest like ice. I don't know how much longer I can hold on.
"Kael..." I start, my voice shaking. "What if there is no way out? What if this is the only future I can have?"
He steps closer, his hand reaching for mine. "Then we'll make sure it's not your end. Together."
I look into his eyes, searching for a glimmer of hope in the darkness. And for the briefest moment, I almost believe him.
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