Nyx froze when she heard her name. That voice—so familiar and warm—sent a rush of emotion through her. Slowly, she turned her head toward the source, her heart pounding.
“Nyx?”
It was Till.
He stood a few feet away, his breath uneven from running, his clothes slightly rumpled. His wide blue eyes locked on her, searching for recognition, hope flickering within them.
Nyx’s lips parted in surprise before they stretched into a wide smile. Her heart swelled with joy, and before she could stop herself, she jumped up from the stairs and stood right in front of him.
“Nyx, is it really you?” Till’s voice trembled, his words spilling out in a rush. “How have you been? Were you hurt in the fire? What are you doing here?”
Uriel’s voice translated Till’s frantic questions in her mind, but Nyx couldn’t answer him. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, her expression softening. She could only smile at him, the language barrier stealing her words.
Till frowned slightly, his excitement giving way to realization. “Oh… you can’t understand me, can you?” he muttered, scratching the back of his head.
The two stood in awkward silence for a moment. Nyx tilted her head, watching Till closely as something clicked in her mind. Her eyes widened beneath the veil as she gasped softly. She lifted her wrist, patting it lightly, and held it out toward him.
At first, Till blinked in confusion. His gaze shifted to her wrist, and then his eyes widened in understanding. “The bracelet!” he exclaimed, his voice rising with excitement.
He remembered it—the intricately woven bracelet she’d given him back in the forest. “I still have it!” he said, a smile breaking across his face. “Wait here, Nyx. I’ll go get it!”
Nyx nodded eagerly, her smile never fading. She watched as Till turned and bolted toward the village, weaving through the crowd with hurried apologies.
She sat back down on the stairs, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her veil as she waited. The minutes stretched on, but she didn’t mind. He remembered her, and that was enough to keep her patient.
“Nyx,” Uriel said softly in her mind, “he seems genuinely happy to see you.”
Nyx nodded, her chest warming at the thought. She turned her gaze toward the gate, her eyes scanning the road for any sign of Till.
But her waiting was cut short.
“Little one ?” Sister Clara’s voice broke through her thoughts. She turned to see the kind woman approaching, her soft smile unwavering. “The priests would like to see you again for a moment. Come along now, dear.”
Nyx hesitated, glancing back toward the gate. Her feet didn’t move, and her eyes darted from the road to Sister Clara.
Sister Clara frowned slightly, following her gaze. “Is something wrong?”
Nyx shook her head quickly, but she couldn’t hide the way her shoulders tensed. Sister Clara waited a moment, then placed a gentle hand on Nyx’s shoulder. “Come, little one. It won’t take long.”
Nyx reluctantly stood, her feet dragging as Sister Clara began to lead her toward the church. Her heart twisted with unease, her eyes constantly flicking back to the gate.
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Then, just as they were about to cross the threshold, she saw him.
Till came sprinting into view, clutching the bracelet tightly in his hand. His face lit up when he spotted her, but his expression faltered when he noticed Sister Clara leading her away.
“Nyx!” he shouted, his voice breaking with urgency.
She stopped in her tracks, her head snapping toward him. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. She smiled faintly, but Sister Clara gently tugged her forward, not understanding what was happening.
Till froze, watching helplessly as Nyx disappeared into the church. The bracelet dangled loosely in his grip as his shoulders slumped.
Nyx glanced over her shoulder one last time before the door closed behind her. Her chest tightened, but Uriel’s voice soothed her.
“Don’t worry, Nyx. This isn’t the end. You’ll see him again.”
She nodded slightly, though her heart ached with longing. All she could do now was wait—and hope.
———————————————————-
Sister Clara led Nyx into another room, the sound of her gentle footsteps echoing softly against the stone floors. The warm glow of sunlight from a nearby window illuminated shelves lined with old books and scrolls. At the center of the room, three priests stood together, deep in conversation. Their voices, low but animated, discussed the details of an upcoming hunt.
“Take a seat here, little one,” Sister Clara said, guiding Nyx to a small wooden chair near a large table.
Nyx nodded and sat down, her gaze immediately drawn to the thick tome resting on the table. Its worn leather cover bore an intricate design of swirling stars and crescent moons, with faint silver lettering that seemed to shimmer in the light.
As she reached out hesitantly, Uriel’s calm voice spoke in her mind.
“Nyx, this is an opportunity. If we can scan the text, I’ll be able to record and add their language for you.”
Nyx’s fingers brushed over the raised lettering on the cover before she opened the book. The scent of old parchment filled the air, and as she began flipping through its pages, her eyes lit up beneath the veil. Strange symbols and diagrams filled the text, each page more intricate than the last.
One of the priests glanced over and noticed her quiet curiosity. He paused mid-conversation and walked over, a kind smile softening his weathered face.
“Ah, interested in the history of the Seons system, are we?” he asked, his voice gentle.
Nyx froze, unsure of how to respond. She glanced briefly at Sister Clara, but the priest didn’t seem to expect an answer. Instead, he pulled a chair closer and gestured toward the open page.
“This book explains how magic works in our world,” he began, pointing to a diagram of a glowing circle surrounded by jagged lines. “But it also warns of the dangers. You see, using magic isn’t without risks…”
Nyx tilted her head, her fingers tightening slightly on the edge of the book. The priest continued, his tone turning more serious.
“Overusing magic can lead to severe consequences. Vomiting is common—your body’s way of rejecting the overload. But worse…” He paused, his expression grim. “Some lose their minds entirely. The magic overwhelms them, leaving them broken. And for those truly unlucky, their bodies can fail altogether.”
Nyx’s heart skipped a beat as she listened, her mind racing.
“I’ve never felt anything like that,” she thought, recalling the countless times she’d used magic in the forest. Not once had she experienced the side effects he described.
Uriel chimed in quietly. “That’s because your magic isn’t ordinary, Nyx. The Constellations shielded you, and your body has adapted to their divine energy. You’re… different.”
The priest smiled again, softening the weight of his words. “Of course, with proper guidance and restraint, most can avoid these dangers.”
As he spoke, he caught himself and chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I suppose you can’t understand me, can you?”
Nyx offered a small smile, nodding slightly to feign understanding. The priest seemed satisfied and patted her on the shoulder before returning to his colleagues.
She exhaled quietly, her attention returning to the book. Uriel’s voice came again, steady and confident.
“We’ve completed the scan, Nyx. I’ve added the language for you. You can now understand and speak it fluently.”
Nyx’s eyes widened beneath the veil, her hands gripping the edges of the book. “Really?” she thought, her excitement tempered by caution.
“Yes,” Uriel replied, his tone serious. “But don’t reveal it just yet. Speaking now would raise suspicion. Wait for the right moment.”
Nyx nodded subtly, closing the book with care. Her mind swirled with questions about her immunity to magic’s side effects and what it meant to have this new understanding of their language.
Across the room, the priests continued their discussion, occasionally glancing at her. Sister Clara stayed nearby, her comforting presence a quiet reassurance. Nyx remained still, her thoughts racing.
She wasn’t sure what the right moment to speak would be, but she knew she had to tread carefully.