The Obsidian Marks ✔️

| Chapter Twenty Two |

She wanted to be happy for him, she wanted to look over and see his pleasure in this moment and feel pride. She was certain she could do it too. Until Iliya peered over to see something cold and broken, frosting the edges of those storming eyes, his posture locked as she'd once been.

Sorein had the strangest conflict written on his features. The pride and irritation battled for dominance inside of him, even as he stood before the dias with calm reverence.

"Sorein." Ezre smiled down at him. "Come, join us."

He glanced at Iliya once, nodding to her before turning away.

"Rein..." she whispered, the name squeaking out. Her objections and fears sewn to her tongue like foul secrets.

The tiniest corner of his lip quirked. The bond between them tingled. "Go to Qudja, she's across the floor to your left."

His strange warning flared in her chest, static fear warping into a volatile disturbance. Iliya hadn't even known her new friend was in the crowd, let alone where she was.

Iliya was surprised he didn't seek out Rhydian or Siofra to send her to. Instead his eyes flickered to the dark skinned woman in a beautiful ivory gown with two golden shawls and a sparkling belt.

Sorein must've noticed the panic in her eyes because he softened. "Everything will be okay, now go Irie."

She obeyed, gripping her skirts in her hands and slipping away while everyone grew distracted with his sudden rise to the dias.

Sorein adopted the regal, princely grace she always saw him wear in public. He didn't slouch now, his frame towering over most of the guests in the audience with a confidence she didn't know to be possible.

At least not for her.

Qudja covertly gestured for Iliya to step in line with her, her movements hidden behind her back. She smiled tightly, keeping her attention on the stage.

"It is an honor," Sorein said softly, bowing once to his father and Ezre, then again to the crowd. "As well as a privilege to Seal myself in Aida's Chamber."

Iliya noticed the murmurs of agreement and approval rumbling through the crowd. Though many countries tended to their own temples, Aida was universally loved for her sacrifice and compassion. Her actions to protect the world from the Void were honored on every land.

She'd always watched those who were skeptical of Andrin's family line. The children of Heithos were feared for two centuries before Sorein was born.

Afraid to ask, Iliya was faintly aware people either loved or feared him.

All Iliya had ever known for certain was his loyalty to Aida had either blessed or cursed him.

So lost in her thoughts, her eyes vaguely tracked the Prince as he stepped from the Dias to the chamber.

The crowd watched silently as he lifted his hand to the translucent aura, quiet whispers growing louder as the sheath of energy disappeared and allowed him inside.

The hollow sensation in Iliya's gut started to spread, icing her veins as her friend became a glowing silhouette.

"Do you think he'll survive?" A woman asked her companion.

Iliya felt her throat tighten, casting a glare through the crowd to try and locate the owner of such a repulsive question.

A taller man turned to look at her. "I've heard a royal's power can consume them," he answered. "Should he be Sealing himself too young without the training, the Prince could very well go mad."

She almost showered the marble floors with her lunch. Horror and rage warped in her gut, twisting in time with her awful intuition. Iliya's fists clenched with her gut, nails carving into her palms.

"Don't listen to them," Qudja breathed into her ear. "We shall stand vigil and support the Prince, no?"

Mechanically forcing herself to nod, Iliya felt the Chieftain's daughter slip a hand into her own. Qudja gave a tight, reassuring squeeze before turning her honeyed eyes back towards the chamber.

In an attempt to distract herself, Iliya roughly spun one of the rings one her left hand, the chain groaning in protest. She looked around, keeping track of Rhydian, Siofra, Sorein's friends in the corner. Her mother standing beneath the dias, watching intently with a proud smile.

Everyone's guard softened by the speeches, preparing to say their prayers.

Her insides began to tremble with fear and anticipation as the Aphyre began to glisten and flicker with a wild array of purples and blues.

The hushed whispers of the synconized words filled the ballroom. Soothing invocations children could remember from their nights tucked into warm blankets.

Heads tipped down to pray, the Mana sparking around the large crystals shaft went missed.

Iliya lost sight of their connection, the ties between them evaporating as if they'd never existed at all.

She really was going to throw up now.

Breathe, she told herself over and over again. Just breathe.

Iliya had witnessed the Sealing Ceremony so many times now, always for someone she barely knew or couldn't remember. Not many were relatives or even from their country. She supposed this would carry out the way they always did.

The ground started to tremor ever so slightly, a power rippling through the room and sweeping over every surface. A presence. As if his Mana couldn't be contained.

Her heart clenched again, shuddering.

"His birth was prophesied," an old woman's voice echoed now. Iliya didn't recognize her. "The gods fear him."

"Iliya."

She couldn't hear over the ringing burning in her ears. No, not over the words ricocheting her head.

The floor rumbled with strain now, dust fluttering down from the beams overhead.

"Iliya," the voice hissed again.

Her body was locked, frozen and trembling.

A fissure split through the stone beneath them, sending a few guests on their behinds.

Loud screaming erupted from the crowd. "The Aphyre! The cracks!"

"It's shattering!"

A deeper voice Iliya once recognized shouted outwards. Rhydian. "Take shelter!"

Blood dripped from her palm and Qudja's clasped grip, the burning and searing ebbing up Iliya's arms faint compared to the roaring inside her head.

An earthquake ripped through the room and scattered everyone in all directions. Screams echoed along the walls as chaos broke out. Glass shattered as the pressure swelling through the air intensified.

"He's going to kill us!" A Therian male growled.

But Iliya was gone, her head raging and lost within the static.

Swallowed in the darkness.