Scar

The Lantern Between Worlds

The moon was a broken coin above the valley half light, half shadow.

The air trembled with the sound of something ancient breathing.

The trees bent, whispering prayers in tongues no one remembered.

Aria stood beneath them, her cloak heavy with ash, her hands still trembling with what she faced in the veil, those visions she had seen of Marco's fall, Ruby’s scream, the god that devoured the sun.

Aria appears in the mountains, gasping from breath.

“Where is he?” she whispered, voice trembling between grief and disbelief.

“Were we able to save him?”

The Ancient One did not answer at first.

His form was a shimmer of gold dust and shadow, his eyes two dying stars.

When he finally spoke, it was like the wind had learned to mourn.

“He walks the edge between life and nothing,” he said.

“His path is hidden, even from me.”

Aria’s jaw tightened. “You told me this will work , you told me we could safe him”

“I told you , you are the one to save your sister, ” the Ancient One replied soft