INNER DESTRUCTION

Elira sat curled in the corner of her narrow cell, her knees pulled tight to her chest, her amber eyes wide open despite the darkness. The ot

me ou

ide the walls, nor through the cracks in the floor. It ca

e tasted blood. The pain ground

ep," she whispe

ountains. She slipped from her cot and tiptoed down the hall toward the upper cloister. The moonlight poured

, frostbitten things with gray petals. The p

ed it some

oo sharp for beauty, hair like dying fire, and eyes that glowed faintly even in the d

birthday. That was five years ago. And

e. You were

t hissed. She pulled her hand back in shock-steam

, no," sh

li

his thick black cloak. His white beard gleamed in the moonlight

ldn't be

eep," she said

stepped forward, slow and measured,

poke

no

owing st

und to. The signs are alig

e," Elira whispered. "Y

tained," he replied. "I

touched it. Her heart pounded. She felt it now-not fear, but something wor

e?" sh

t see," Sarthos said, igno

e air turned thick and hot, the stones pulsed with faint heat. He opened a rusted gate, and behind it lay a hidden chamber. The

s this

arthos said. "Where the Te

d the chains with a flick of hi

breath

ed in flame, eyes like stars, arms outstretched. Around him

," she w

os confirmed. "He was no

, heart hammering.

troy him. So they tore his soul into fragments and locked them aw

him, unwilling

Elira?" he asked gently. "In the ol

athed. "That

was no pity in his voice.

She sank to the st

omes," Sarthos said. "He

he clutched her arms, feeling th

she whispered. "

"You learn to master i

ough the chamber. "Tomorrow, we begin."

inued.....

Elira sat curled in the corner of her narrow cell, her knees pulled tight to her chest, her amber eyes wide open despite the darkness. The ot

me ou

ide the walls, nor through the cracks in the floor. It ca

e tasted blood. The pain ground

ep," she whispe

ountains. She slipped from her cot and tiptoed down the hall toward the upper cloister. The moonlight poured

, frostbitten things with gray petals. The p

ed it some

oo sharp for beauty, hair like dying fire, and eyes that glowed faintly even in the d

birthday. That was five years ago. And

e. You were

t hissed. She pulled her hand back in shock-steam

, no," sh

li

his thick black cloak. His white beard gleamed in the moonlight

ldn't be

eep," she said

stepped forward, slow and measured,

poke

no

owing st

und to. The signs are alig

e," Elira whispered. "Y

tained," he replied. "I

touched it. Her heart pounded. She felt it now-not fear, but something wor

e?" sh

t see," Sarthos said, igno

e air turned thick and hot, the stones pulsed with faint heat. He opened a rusted gate, and behind it lay a hidden chamber. The

s this

arthos said. "Where the Te

d the chains with a flick of hi

breath

ed in flame, eyes like stars, arms outstretched. Around him

," she w

os confirmed. "He was no

, heart hammering.

troy him. So they tore his soul into fragments and locked them aw

him, unwilling

Elira?" he asked gently. "In the ol

athed. "That

was no pity in his voice.

She sank to the st

omes," Sarthos said. "He

he clutched her arms, feeling th

she whispered. "

"You learn to master i

ough the chamber. "Tomorrow, we begin."

inued.....