Chapter 7: The Blood of the Bound One
Lirien's heart pounded in her chest as the Silver Mask stepped closer. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air.
"The Bound One," Varian repeated, his voice strained. "I thought it was a myth. A god imprisoned beneath the Sea of Echoes."
The Silver Mask's mask gleamed in the pale moonlight, reflecting the depth of his knowledge. "You've heard the legends, Varian, but the truth is darker. The Bound One is not just a god—it is a force of nature, ancient and terrible. The Veil of Ash believes it can control this power, but they are only pawns in the game."
Lirien took a step back, her mind reeling. "Why do they want me?"
The Silver Mask tilted his head, his voice as cold as a winter's night. "Because of your bloodline, Lirien. Your mother, your father—they were part of a cult that sought to awaken the Bound One. And you…" His voice softened. "You are the vessel."
Lirien staggered as though she had been struck. "A vessel?" she whispered. "For what?"
The Silver Mask stepped closer, his tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "For the soul of the Bound One itself. Your blood holds the key to its awakening. You were born for this."
Lirien clenched her fists, feeling the weight of destiny pressing down on her. "No. I don't want this. I didn't ask for it."
Varian's voice cut through the silence. "Then why haven't you told me, Lirien? Why have you kept it from me?"
Lirien's gaze met his, and the pain in his eyes mirrored her own. She had never wanted to keep secrets from him, but the truth was a weapon that could destroy everything they had fought for.
"I couldn't," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "I didn't know what it meant. I didn't want to believe it."
The Silver Mask's cold, calculating voice interrupted. "It doesn't matter now. The Veil of Ash is on the move. They will stop at nothing to claim your power, to use it for their own ends."
Varian's eyes narrowed. "And what about you? Who are you really?"
The Silver Mask's lips twisted into a smile, but there was no warmth in it. "I am one who has seen the truth, Varian. I have seen what the Bound One can do. I have seen what happens when it awakens."