The cavern grew quiet once more, the golden glow of my power receding until only the faint crackle of lingering energy remained. Lyria still clung to my arm, her grip trembling but firm. Her violet eyes stared at the empty cavern entrance, as though expecting the soldiers to return at any moment.
"They won't come back," I said, though the certainty in my voice surprised even me.
"How do you know?" she asked, her voice small.
"Because I gave them a reason to fear."
I turned my gaze back to her. The terror etched across her face hadn't faded, but there was something else now—something fragile, like a sliver of hope peeking through the cracks of despair.
"We can't stay here," she whispered. "If my father really wants me dead, he'll send more men. Better ones."
"Then we leave," I said simply.
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine. "You're... coming with me?"
It was a good question. I hadn't known this girl for more than a few minutes, yet something about her plight resonated with me. Perhaps it was her fear, so raw and familiar, or the determination she clung to despite it. Or maybe it was simply that, without her, I had no direction.
"I'll stay," I said, "until you're safe."
Her lips parted as though to argue, but she stopped herself. She nodded instead, her shoulders sagging with relief.
"Thank you," she said softly.
The night air hit us like a cold slap as we emerged from the cavern. The stars above stretched endlessly across the sky, their light casting a faint glow over the rocky terrain.
Lyria pulled her tattered cloak tighter around herself, shivering as the wind cut through her. I glanced at her thin frame, noting how she stumbled with each step.
"We need to find shelter," I said.
"There's... a village," she said, her voice hoarse. "To the south. A day's walk, maybe less."
"Do you have anyone there you can trust?"
She shook her head. "No. But it's far from my father's estate. They won't look for me there. At least, not right away."
It wasn't much of a plan, but it was better than staying in the open. I gestured for her to lead the way, and we set off into the night.
The silence between us was heavy, broken only by the crunch of our footsteps on the rocky ground. I didn't mind the quiet, but Lyria seemed restless, her hands fidgeting as she walked.
"Back in the cavern," she said suddenly, "you... you were just a glowing crystal. But then you changed. How?"
I glanced at her. The memory of my transformation was still fresh, vivid in my mind. "I don't know," I admitted. "I only remember... fragments. A life before this one. I was human once, but now..."
I held up my hand, letting a faint glow of golden light ripple across my palm. "Now, I'm something else."
"Something powerful," she said, her tone a mixture of awe and fear.
I didn't respond. Power was a strange thing. It had brought me to the top of the world in my past life, only to lead to my downfall. And now, here I was, reborn into a new existence with a power I didn't understand.
"Why did you help me?" she asked, her voice softer now.
The question caught me off guard. I thought for a moment, unsure of the answer myself. "Because you asked," I said finally.
She blinked, as though the simplicity of my words surprised her.
"That's it?"
I met her gaze. "Sometimes, that's enough."
By the time dawn began to break, painting the horizon in shades of gold and crimson, we reached the edge of a dense forest. The towering trees loomed above us, their branches twisting together to form a canopy that blocked out the early morning light.
Lyria stopped, leaning against a tree to catch her breath. Her face was pale, and I could see the exhaustion in her eyes.
"We should rest," I said.
She nodded reluctantly, sinking to the ground with a tired sigh. I crouched beside her, scanning the area for any signs of danger.
"What will you do?" she asked suddenly.
I looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"After this," she said, gesturing vaguely. "After I'm safe. What will you do?"
The question lingered in the air, and for the first time since my rebirth, I realized I didn't have an answer.
"I don't know," I said truthfully. "But for now, keeping you alive seems like a good start."
She gave a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Well, you're doing a better job of it than anyone else."
As she drifted off to sleep, I sat beside her, watching the forest around us. The quiet was unnerving, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs setting me on edge.
I still didn't understand this world or my place in it. But one thing was clear: whatever power I now possessed, it had a purpose.
And if protecting this girl was the first step, then so be it.