Page 138 of The Last Guardian

A soft, damp mist beaded on my fingers as the air cooled, and the weight of the ceiling bore down on me, depriving my lungs of air.

In the far back of the cave, a soft crystalline shard, bright as any star, urged me to follow the path.

The soft voice purred, I’m waiting.

My steps quickened. I almost ran as I followed the shard, guiding me in the darkness. Until I stumbled.

The world went black as I fell.

Fell.

Fell.

Fell.

Hells swallowing me in, eating me, devouring the very stars of my blood.

Until—

A burst of light bloomed on my skin, cutting through the darkness.

A SERENE PEACE bloomed in every fiber of my being, reaching the deepest layer of my own soul. It felt like breathing again after being deprived of air for too long. It felt like tasting water after a long day in the sun. It felt like finding the part of yourself that’d been missing for so long, warming each corner of your heart.

“You’ve passed it,” Zaid said as I opened my eyes. His beautiful face gleamed with the sun’s golden rays of my Anchor.

“The Threshold,” I murmured, taking in the beauty in front of my eyes. “Did you follow me?”

He shook his head and stepped forward, his eyes boring into mine. “I followed you in the Void, but you’d been sucked in—” Lifting his hands, his fingers found one of my rebellious locks of hair. He put it behind my ear, his fingertips brushing my skin. He added, “I thought you had reached your Anchor, but you weren’t there, either.” He shrugged. “So, where were you?”

“I fell into a memory first. But then, a voice called me in the Void,” I answered, swallowing hard. I added, “And I tried to reach it but—” I swallowed. “A light ate me alive, and everything shifted. I fell into a jungle that transformed into a cave. The same cave…” I stopped, confused. How could it be?

“The same cave as what?” Zaidkiel asked, with a frown.

I took a deep breath and continued, “The same cave I have dreamt about since my mother died.” He furrowed his brow as I asked, “How is that possible?”

“I’m not sure… Dreams can be tricky to understand,” He admitted, touching his jaw. “We’ll go see Eirlys. But before leaving, we need to spot the second pillar.”

I nodded.

“Let the power flow through your blood, flowing through your bones,” He monitored, his voice gentle. “Breathe. Clear your mind. Like last time.”

Air filled my lungs, pushing me to reach for the very stars of my mind—dripping in the peak of my own soul.

Slowly, my eyes opened, welcomed by the same silvery rope as the first time—urging me to a place behind the cottage. It sang in my blood and vibrated my bones. My feet moved on their own, Zaid at my heels.

The rope stopped a few feet from the house, near the forest, in front of a stone, a power waning inside, pleading to release the small gemstone embedded in it. A gem with a pale blue tint, absorbing energy from the stone. Crystalline. With the palm of my hand, I gently caressed the crystal as the energy melted into my soul.

ZAID HURRIED DOWN the cobblestone street, while a few passersby looked in our direction, surely recognizing the commander.

I followed in his tracks, the buzz in my pocket never stopping. The moment we returned to our bodies, the relic Kraktos had given me had vibrated against my skin, shaking my core. The gem in the center shone as brightly as any diamond—flaring at my touch. It was lit in a light blue shade. It kept buzzing in my pocket, so violently that sometimes, I stumbled at the burn.

We reached a pretty stone building with a purple door and flowers all over the frame, the words ‘Bea’s’ engraved on a sign.

Zaidkiel opened the door for me as we were greeted by a charming little entrance hall leading to a lounge with colorful chairs and a couch. Closing the door behind him, Zaid walked over to meet the blond woman behind the counter.

A radiant smile on his face, Zaid said, “Good morning, Bea.”

“Commander, it’s nice to see you again.” Bea glanced at me quickly, giving me a welcome nod with a smile. “How may I help you?”