Liara spent the next few days in a haze, the weight of Farin's words pressing heavily on her chest. The knowledge of Seralyn's essence, the third key, and the looming threat of destruction if it was unlocked kept her on edge. But despite everything, her mind kept returning to Aeron.
There was something about his presence, something she couldn't shake. Was he really just a fellow student, or was there more to him than met the eye? Farin had hinted that Aeron was part of the prophecy—the second soul. But why hadn't he said anything? Why hadn't anyone told her?
It was late one evening when Liara found herself on the training grounds, her thoughts too restless to sleep. The academy had quieted down, the moon casting long shadows across the stone courtyard.
A familiar figure approached through the mist.
Aeron.
His dark cloak fluttered behind him, his footsteps soft but deliberate. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those dark, intense eyes—met hers with an unsettling depth.
"You've been avoiding me," he said, his voice low, but not unkind.
Liara stood frozen for a moment. She didn't know what to say. Everything felt tangled inside her. The third key, Seralyn, and now Aeron—she could feel the threads pulling tighter, wrapping her in a knot she couldn't untangle.
"I…" she began, but her voice faltered. "I didn't know what to say."
Aeron stepped closer, his gaze steady, unwavering. "You don't have to say anything."
Liara shook her head, finally meeting his gaze. "I'm not sure what I should believe anymore. I keep hearing things—about the prophecy, about the third sigil, about you."
He didn't flinch. In fact, his gaze softened, just a fraction. "I knew this day would come."
Liara's heart skipped. "What day? Why didn't you tell me?"
He sighed deeply, as though carrying a burden too heavy to share. "Because I didn't think you were ready. And to be honest, I wasn't sure if I was ready to tell you. But now, there's no escaping it. You already know too much."
Aeron took a step back, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "Liara, you're not the only one with a mark. You're not the only one connected to this prophecy. I am too."
Her breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"
Aeron's expression hardened, his eyes darkening with something—regret, maybe. "I was chosen to carry the second sigil. The second soul. And like you, I didn't have a choice in the matter."
Liara's pulse quickened. "You're… you're the second key?"
He nodded, his voice low. "I am. And I've been trying to figure out my part in all of this for as long as you've been trying to figure out yours. But there's something you need to understand, Liara. The sigils—the marks we carry—they're not just symbols. They're the key to unlocking something much more dangerous than either of us could have imagined."
Liara's chest tightened. "So, you've known all along. And you never told me."
Aeron met her gaze, his expression softening. "I couldn't. Because I didn't know if I could trust you with the truth. But now, it's becoming clear that we're running out of time."
Liara's mind was racing. "What do you mean, we're running out of time?"
Aeron stepped closer again, his eyes flickering to her collarbone, where the sigil pulsed faintly beneath her skin. "If we don't stop this… the third key will consume us both. It will tear us apart. The prophecy was written to ensure that the sigils stayed sealed. But if the third key—Seralyn's essence—is awakened, it will take more than just us. It will take everything."
Liara could feel the heat rising in her chest, the sigil burning hotter. The weight of his words was almost too much to bear.
"I don't understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Why is it so dangerous? What happens if we unlock the third key?"
Aeron's gaze grew distant, his voice darkening with an edge of sorrow. "When Seralyn locked the Vault, she didn't just seal away her power. She sealed away the magic itself. The third key is not just a sigil—it's the magic that controls everything. The Vault is a prison, and unlocking the third key could open it, letting out what's been held back for centuries."
He paused, his expression conflicted. "If that happens, it will not only destroy the academy—it will tear apart the very fabric of reality."
Liara felt a chill run down her spine. "Then why don't we just destroy the sigils? Get rid of them?"
Aeron's eyes flashed. "It's not that simple. The sigils are bound to us. We are the keys. And the only way to stop what's coming is for us to make a choice."
Liara frowned. "A choice?"
"Yes." Aeron's voice was steady, but there was a haunted look in his eyes. "We have to choose whether to open the Vault and let Seralyn's magic free—or whether to lock it away forever. But if we lock it away, it's not just the Vault that will remain sealed. We will, too. Forever."
Liara's chest tightened. "So, either way, we're trapped."
"Not trapped," Aeron corrected softly. "Sacrificed."
The night air hung heavy between them, and Liara's mind struggled to comprehend everything she had just learned. The sigil, the prophecy, Seralyn's essence—it was all connected. And now, she had to make a choice.
Aeron reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. "Liara, whatever happens, we'll face it together. But you have to decide. What kind of world do you want to live in?"
Liara stared at him, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She couldn't answer yet. But the time for answers was running out.