Chapter 16
A Seer's Revelation
✴⋆⋄⋆✴
Darkness surrounded Cater like a suffocating void, pressing in from every direction. He stood motionless, the air cold and thick, pulling at his strength. He tried to move, to summon his powers, but an unseen force bound him in place.
"Vera!" Cater's voice rang out into the abyss, echoing endlessly before being swallowed by the oppressive silence.
He clenched his fists, frustration and dread gnawing at him. Closing his eyes, he summoned his inner power, feeling the familiar heat ignite within him. His body tensed as flames erupted along his arms, but the void refused to yield. The darkness absorbed his strength like a bottomless pit, leaving him more drained with every attempt.
"This place... It's leeching my power," he muttered, the realization sending a chill down his spine.
Then he heard it—a voice, faint yet piercing through the silence.
"Cater, you have to wake up…"
His head snapped up, his breath catching in his throat. He recognized that voice instantly.
"Alric?" he called out, his voice trembling with urgency.
"I don't want to lose a friend," Alric's voice continued, raw with emotion. "I don't want to lose you."
The ache in Cater's chest grew unbearable. He tried to respond, to scream that he was still here, but the void choked his words before they could escape.
He closed his eyes again, straining to focus on the sound of Alric's voice. It was faint, distant, but it fueled his determination. I have to break free. I have to destroy whatever's holding me.
✥─✶─✥
In her room, Jane sat cross-legged on the floor, the tension in her shoulders refusing to ease. She had locked the door, ensuring no one could interrupt her. The air in the small space was heavy with the scent of burning herbs and flickering candlelight.
Her fingers trembled as they traced glowing runes into the air, the ancient symbols hovering faintly before her. Sweat dotted her brow as she whispered a protection spell under her breath, her voice steady despite her exhaustion.
She flipped through her battered spellbook, scanning each page with desperate speed. "There has to be something in here," she muttered.
Finally, her eyes landed on a passage scrawled in faded ink: A barrier of light to shield against curses born of darkness. Her heart leapt with hope, and she quickly read the incantation.
With her hands glowing faintly blue, Jane knelt on the floor, drawing a large rune onto the wooden planks with chalk. She whispered the incantation, her voice rising and falling with the rhythm of the spell. The runes began to glow, the energy they produced filling the room and making the very air tremble.
"I won't let you take him, Vera," Jane whispered fiercely, her voice laced with determination. "I won't let Cater or anyone else fall because of you."
The spell drained her, but she pressed on, pushing her power into the protective enchantment. It took hours to complete, leaving her pale and exhausted.
As Jane sank back onto the floor, catching her breath, a knock at the door startled her.
She froze, her pulse quickening. With a flick of her wrist, she cast a quick concealment spell. The glowing runes faded, the chalk vanished, and the room appeared ordinary once more.
Jane rose to her feet and opened the door cautiously. Standing in the hallway was the blind healer, his milky-white eyes staring straight ahead.
"You," Jane said, surprised. "What do you need?"
The healer stepped inside without waiting for permission, his movements slow and deliberate.
"I can smell magic," he said simply, his tone calm but firm.
Jane laughed nervously, crossing her arms. "Magic? There's no magic here. You must be mistaken."
The healer tilted his head, his unseeing eyes seeming to pierce straight through her. "I know you're a witch," he said evenly.
Jane's blood ran cold, her fingers twitching at her sides. She kept her voice steady. "I don't know what you're talking about. And if that's all, you can leave now."
But the healer didn't move. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence unnervingly calm. "There's only one way to save him," he said, his voice dropping.
Jane frowned. "What do you mean?"
The healer sighed, his weathered face grim. "I am a seer—the last of my kind. My eyes may be blind, but I see things others cannot. If you want to save the Dark Lord's son, you'll need more than spells or desperation."
Jane's eyes widened. "You're a seer?" she whispered, stunned.
"Yes," he said. "And I've seen what's coming. If you don't act, Cater will fall into eternal sleep, and the prophecy will end in ruin."
Jane's hands clenched into fists. "Tell me what to do," she demanded. "I'll do anything to save him."
The healer extended his hands. "Take my hands, and I will show you."
Jane hesitated, her gaze flicking between his hands and his face. After a moment, she stepped forward and placed her hands in his.
The moment their skin touched, Jane's vision turned white. The world around her faded, replaced by a vivid scene.
She saw Cater lying pale and motionless in his bed, his breathing barely there. Alric knelt beside him, gripping his hand tightly, tears falling freely down his face.
"No," Jane whispered, her heart breaking at the sight. "Is he…?"
"Watch," the healer's voice echoed.
In the vision, Alric leaned closer, his expression filled with anguish. He hesitated, his hand trembling as it rested against Cater's cheek. Then, with a deep breath, Alric pressed his lips to Cater's in a kiss.
A surge of energy erupted around them, bright and radiant. Cater's eyes snapped open, glowing faintly red, as the curse shattered.
The vision ended abruptly, and Jane staggered back, her hands falling away from the healer's. She stared at him, her thoughts racing. "What does that mean?" she asked, her voice shaking.
The healer's lips curved into a faint smile. "The curse is tied to his heart. It will only break when the one he loves does the unthinkable."
Jane blinked, her heart pounding. "You mean… Alric has to… kiss him?"
The healer nodded. "There is no other way."
Jane shook her head, overwhelmed. "But Alric doesn't even know how Cater feels about him. How am I supposed to convince him to—"
"You'll find a way," the healer interrupted, his voice calm. He turned and walked toward the door, pausing briefly. "If you care for him, you'll make sure Alric understands. Time is running out."
And with that, the healer left, the door closing softly behind him.
Jane stood in the silent room, her mind spinning. How was she supposed to make Alric kiss Cater? How could she make him realize the truth before it was too late?
She clenched her fists, her determination hardening.
"I'll figure it out," she murmured. "I have to."
✴⋆⋄⋆✴