Page 162 of The Last Guardian

Would I ever be able to recall the day she had left us? Would I ever be able to find out who took her from us? And if I didn’t, would she forgive me? Would I forgive myself?

I gently caressed the pendant hanging around my neck, and I tightened my grip on it as if it were a talisman linking me to her forever. I could almost sense her presence.

I exhaled, taking deep, deliberate breaths. I focused on the sound of my heartbeat, trying to slow its rhythm. To alleviate the pain, even slightly.

In the dark of the night, I let go and closed my eyes,

Until there was nothing more left.

FOR AN INSTANT, I thought I fell through my dreams, my mind dancing in the stars and falling through emptiness.

Still, the mere essence of this place stirred memories, and I knew I was in the Void.

How did I do this? I wasn’t sure.

It felt somehow wrong without Zaid; his essence inside my mind still lingered like an impossible trace to erase.

Toward the stars of my own mind, I reached out. To whatever called me, I let it flow through the back of my soul, dancing, swirling with the stars, the door waiting for me to touch.

And I pushed.

The grass under my palm was damp from the chilly air that had enveloped Lorath. I savored the delicate touch, immersed in the moment.

The stars were particularly bright tonight, and the moonlight shone through the river, right behind the palace. I liked to come here when everyone was asleep.

A few years ago, I discovered a secret passage near the library, which led to the garden. Thanks to this passage, I was able to sneak out of the palace and meet Lyra in the Old Town.

However, tonight I was yearning to be with the stars, the river, and the moonlight. It was like a pause in life, taking in these beautiful things we didn’t seem to notice in our daily routines. Tonight, I decided to stop time.

“My reckless child,” my mother’s voice called out from behind me. She wore a green coat and carried a gray blanket, her smile illuminated by the moon’s rays. “You will catch death in this cold,” she said, covering me with a blanket and hiding my light nightgown. She snuggled up to me, her presence radiating a warmth that enveloped me even more than the cozy blanket.

“Did I wake you, Mama?” I asked.

She smiled and replied, “Not at all. I saw you from the library.” She gently caressed the back of my hand with her thumb. “How did you find this spot?”

“Uncle Marlon showed me,” I confided, my eyes brightening at the mention of my mischievous uncle.

Her eyes glistened, as if she was holding back tears. “Ah, Marlon the troublemaker,” she chuckled, looking away.

“I like it here. It’s peaceful. It helps me gather my thoughts.”

“I see,” she whispered, her breath forming a small gust in the cold air. “Is something bothering you, my sweet?”

I searched for the right words. “Nevan is back.”

“Oh, it’s been quite some time since he left. How is he doing?”

A moment of quiet settled over us as I watched the river flow, gently dancing around the rocks. Its melodious rhythm soothed me.

“He told me he loves me.”

Her hand gently caressed mine, her gaze fixed on me. “And?”

I turned to meet her gaze. “I’m afraid it’s futile. We can’t be together.”

With a tender smile, she gazed at our intertwined hands. “Love is all we have in this world. Sometimes, just a glimpse of it is enough, even if it leads nowhere.”

“That’s quite sad,” I replied. “Love shouldn’t be kept hidden. It should consume us entirely, making it impossible to leave its embrace.”