: Clash o

Person (S

he starlight, its waters reflecting a fading

he river spirits, stood frozen, my hand clutching the

y man; he was the Starborn, a fugitive whose h

th a cloaked figure, their rune stone pulsi

awakened, and the

forbidden attraction that threatened everything I'd sw

er, and why did the

ing in the prairie dust, my flashl

, my voice steady despite

nwood, the golden dynasty of Chicago's steel spires. If they found us here, with t

hood, but their voice; low, familiar, and

n forces you don't

ear swirling in their depths. "Sarah, go," he said, his voi

burn. "I brought you into Willow Creek, Mason. I risked every

hed, a sound that slith

roine. But the Starborn's pa

pulsing like a heartbeat, casting shad

nd I felt the prophecy scroll in my pocket pulse

ond, a world shall

essed, stepping clos

alloused hands and bitter grace screamed fallen heir. Was this fi

"The river spirits you worship are but whisp

ite his wounds. "I belong to no one,"

irt. The figure staggered but didn't retaliate

rm, pulling him tow

. The High Assem

growing louder. Lila, my youngest sister, hovere

l banish you!"

ow Creek, but Mason's presence stirred a clash of identity within me; a d

t, our bond felt unspoken, ancient, like

loaked figure vanishing as if swal

ere t

now Mason was

cy scroll burn hotter

ng us from prying eyes. The air was thick with the scent of earth an

ars glinting in the moonlight. "You shouldn't have interfe

napped, my rivalr

ting like an arrogant drifter. Who was

I couldn't breach. "You wouldn't under

hey're just stories. You think they

striking at the h

fe," I said, stepping close

this land for generations. The river spir

eyes. "And you cling to what you

g with forbidden attraction. I hated how his defiance mirrored my own, ho

ty of the sacred hymns. But the prophecy scroll pul

ah, we can't stay here. The High As

sharp with accusations. Hannah's betrayal had set them on our tr

d know it had activated, and my role as

my mind racing. The caverns, deep beneath the commune, wer

there until I can

Why are you doing this?

ld admit. The prophecy scroll burned,

red you," I said, dodging the

lieve in spirits or prophecies. We moved quickly, Lila lea

orlds. Mason's scars, his calloused hands, his hidden identity; they all pointed to R

ance, hidden behind a cluster

rns swung toward us, the High Assembly closing in. My heart lurched. Hann

rd the cavern. The entrance was narrow, its walls co

ness swallowing us as the e

the fire behind his eyes. "Stay quiet,"

gh me-a supernatural attraction that made my pulse race. T

g to her beads, whispering sacred hymns under her breath. I stra

aid, her tone venomous. "She

than I'd expected. I'd thought she trusted me,

er, his breath wa

his, Sarah. Let me go.

ething in me; a mix o

hispered, my voice fierce. "The riv

crossing his face. For a moment, our bond felt unspoken, an

n, like a heartbeat echoing from the depths. The prophe

bling. The crimson ink glowed

n's shadow wa

caught.

oaked

er; someone wit

owed by a scream. Lila gasped, clut

light snuffed out. In the darkness, a figure moved; cloaked, holding a rune stone that

ne, cold and unyielding, the r

the Starborn, S

orbidden prophec

knows the Starborn and the forbidden prophecy. Is