Chapter 45
Lisa’s POV
Something cold and wet hit my face.
I flinched.
Cram
My eyelids fluttered open. The world was spinning slowly around me. My vision was blurry at first, but then
I saw him.
Rylan.
He was leaning over me. His eyes were wide with worry. He was holding a water pouch and gently letting
drops fall onto my cheeks.
“Lisa?” he said softly. “Hey, can you hear me?”
I nodded, but it was barely more than a twitch.
Every part of me ached. My head was pounding, my arms felt like lead, and my chest burned like I had run
for miles. I tried to sit up, but the moment I moved, pain shot through my entire body and I let out a weak
gasp.
“Careful,” Rylan said, placing a hand on my back and helping me up slowly. “You passed out.”
“I… I feel so weak,” I whispered.
“You scared the hell out of me.” His voice cracked slightly, like he was trying to hold something back. “One
second you were standing… and the next, you were on the ground. I thought…” He stopped himself,
shaking his head. “I thought I lost you.”
His words made my chest tighten, but not from pain this time.
“I think…” I started, then paused to catch my breath. “I think it’s because of my powers. Every time I use
them, I feel… drained. But this time, it was worse. Like something exploded out of me.”
Rylan frowned. “It did. You sent out a shockwave. Knocked everyone off their feet. Even the rogues. Hell,
even Jared hit a tree.”
My eyes widened. “Jared?” I looked around in panic. “I didn’t mean to…”
Rylan chuckled. He was clearly trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry. He is tough. Might need a bandage or two, but he’ll live.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, guilt rushing through me. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
“I know,” a voice said from behind Rylan.
I turned my head slightly and saw Jared leaning against a tree. His temple was wrapped in a bloodstained cloth. He gave me a tired but kind smile.
Clem
“I know you didn’t do it on purpose,” he said. “You were protecting yourself. And us. That blast saved our
lives.”
Still, my stomach twisted with guilt. “I couldn’t control it. I didn’t even know it was coming”
Rylan reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was gentle and warm. “That’s why we’re going to figure it out together. You’re not alone, Lisa.”
My heart gave a small flutter.
For a moment, I let myself look into his eyes. Really look. There was something there. Not just concern. Not just protection. Something more.
He helped me to my feet, keeping one arm around my waist as I tried to steady myself.
“You sure you’re okay to walk?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, maybe a little too quickly. “I’m fine.”
Rylan raised an eyebrow. “You just passed out and nearly took out half of the group with your magic blast. Maybe I should carry you.”
My eyes narrowed. “I said I’m fine.”
He smirked. “You sure? I wouldn’t mind. You’re light. I could probably throw you over my shoulder like a
sack of flour.”
“I dare you,” I said, trying not to smile. “Try it, and I’ll blast you next.”
“Ooh,” he said, laughing. “There she is. That fire is back.”
I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugged at my lips anyway. “Don’t get used to it.”
We started walking again. The others fell into formation around us. The forest was quieter now but the air was still felt heavy. Like it was holding its breath.
We didn’t speak for a while. The crunch of leaves underfoot and the soft murmur of the wind were the only
sounds.
But Rylan stayed close. He was always one step beside me, watching me out of the corner of his eye.
“Hey,” he said after a few minutes and nudged me with his elbow. “You scared me back there, you know.”
I looked at him. “You already said that.”
“Yeah, well, I mean it. I’ve seen a lot of battles. A lot of injuries. But when I saw you fall…” He shook his
head. “It felt different.”
Something warm spread through my chest, despite the cold ache in my limbs. “Thanks for staying with
me.”
“Always,” he said.
We walked for what felt like hours. The sun barely pierced through the thick canopy above us. The deeper
we went, the darker the forest became. The air smelled of damp earth and old magic.
And then, I heard it.
A rush of water ahead.
We broke through the last wall of trees and came to a stop.
A river stretched before us. It was winding through the forest like a serpent. But it wasn’t blue.
It was red.
A deep, crimson red.
I froze, my mouth falling open slightly. The water churned and flowed like blood, glistening under the
cloudy sky.
“What… is this?” I asked and stepped closer but not too close.
Rylan came up beside me. His expression was unreadable.
“The River of Blood,” he said softly.
“Is it actually blood?” I whispered, my stomach churning.
He shook his head slowly. “No. Not real blood. At least… not entirely. Some say there’s a strange mineral in the water that makes it look this way. Others say something happened here long ago. A battle so bloody,
the river never washed clean.”
I shivered.
“I don’t like it,” I said quietly.
“Neither do I,” he admitted.
The river pulsed with a strange energy. It wasn’t just the color, it was the way it moved. Like it was alive.
I took another step back.
Rylan noticed and gently reached for my hand. “We don’t have to cross it today. We’ll camp nearby, rest up,
and move at first light.”
I nodded. “That sounds good.”
But my eyes stayed on the water.
It was beautiful in a haunting way.
And something inside me whispered that this place mattered.
That something was waiting.
“I don’t think this river is just a river,” I murmured.
Rylan turned to me, his face serious now. “I think you’re right.”
A chill rolled down my spine.
We stood there in silence, watching the red current twist and turn like a warning.
