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2024-11-18 19:10:55꧁༒☬𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓭𝓪𝔂☬༒꧂
The hacking shrill, relentless frenzied alarm from Lyra's room pierced early morning silence as if fingernails were being dragged down a chalkboard. It filled the room with that unmistakable sound of dread as it woke her from the bottom of her sleep into unwanted consciousness. Groaning, she fumbled for the snooze button, blind to shed herself from the warmth cocooning her beneath the blankets. The soft embrace of her bed was holding her tightly and didn't want to let her go, luring her into stealing at least some minutes more of the valuable sleep.
But reality had other plans. Today was the first day of her final year at Evervale University. The weight of the realization hit her hard. She felt terrible. Of course, Ivy wouldn’t let her hear the end of it if they were late for class.
As if on cue, Ivy’s voice cut through the apartment, sharp with annoyance. “Lyra! We’re going to be late!”
There was a gentle clanging of pots and pans from the kitchen and a rapid opening and closing of cabinet doors that Lyra recognized too well. No matter how much time there was, Ivy was always too quick for her own good. But today, Lyra knew, they were genuinely running behind. Still, she snuggled deeper into the covers, trying to ignore the world beyond her room, but the approaching footsteps meant her momentary peace was about to be shattered.
Outside, a car horn sliced through the morning air, no doubt Rhett's unmistakable call to action. Lyra could already envision him behind the wheel: one hand lazily draped over the steering wheel, while the other tapped rhythmically against the dashboard. He was never truly formal, despite his flair for the most dramatic of entrances. Harrison would no doubt be riding shotgun, nose buried in some book or another, oblivious to everything but his latest intellectual interest.
Lyra glanced at the clock; it read 7:32 AM. They really were running behind.
“On my way!” she yelled, tossing the duvet away and moving her legs out of the bed. The instant her feet touched the cold hardwood floor, a shockingly icy feeling jolted through her.
She paused, fully awake, staring at the floor as the chill seeped into her bones.
It felt surreal that this was the beginning of her last year; it was just another new day. Lyra dragged herself to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face to shake off the remnants of sleep. Looking at the mirror, her own face bent back at her, messy and worn out. Her sun-kissed brown hair was tousled and her light brown eyes were swollen, clearly due to the sleepless nights. She ran a brush through her hair, wincing as it caught on knots, but just couldn’t find the motivation to care anymore.
She had no need to impress anyone today, only to survive.
Another insistent honk echoed from outside. Rhett, as impatient as ever. Lyra grimaced, grabbing the nearest T-shirt—black, plain, practical—and pairing it with her favorite jeans and worn-out black boots. She wasn’t trying to win any style awards. She just needed to get out of the apartment before Ivy exploded.
“Two minutes!” She shouted down the corridor, shoving her mobile in her pocket and grabbing a jacket before heading out. As she reached for her bag, she was stopped by the sight of Ivy framed in the doorway with her arms crossed and her manner oozing impatience. With her blue eyes filled with annoyance and auburn hair tied messily in a ponytail that still looked sophisticated, Ivy was ready to make her move.
“If you don’t come downstairs in two minutes, I'm gonna leave you behind,” Ivy issued a threat, her voice challenging Lyra's willingness to test her.
Lyra simply rolled her eyeballs as she knew without a shred of doubt Ivy would not abandon her. Nonetheless, she also knew when to stop pushing her luck. She put her bag over her shoulder and went straight up to her friend and the door.
“I’m ready,” she could barely hide how irritated she felt as she ran downstairs, and out the front door. A bright sun outshone her the moment she emerged from her house causing a brief blur to blind her momentarily. She squinted against the brightness and saw Ivy already halfway to the car and walking briskly as always.
Lyra hurried after her, quickening her steps as Rhett leaned out of the car window, flashing her a teasing grin. His tousled black hair fell over his gray eyes, which sparkled with amusement.
“You’re late,” he called, his voice laced with playful sarcasm.
Before Lyra could respond, Ivy slipped into the backseat, shooting Rhett a scowl. “You’re obnoxious,” she snapped, though the smirk playing at her lips betrayed her irritation.
Lyra climbed in beside her, slamming the door behind her as Rhett eased the car into motion, the engine purring beneath them. Harrison, sitting in the front seat, glanced back over his shoulder, his warm chocolate eyes locking onto hers. His usual lazy grin appeared as he took in her frazzled appearance.
“Rough morning?” he asked, his tone dripping with dry humor.
Lyra shrugged. “More like a typical morning,” she replied, leaning back into her seat, already resigning herself to the day ahead.
Rhett chuckled, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “Don’t worry, you’ve got the whole year to be late.”
Lyra shot him a smirk. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
In the course of driving around the city of Evervale, with the wind bearing down on Lyra through the open window, she felt the contents of her hair dancing back. Lyra viewed the scenery passing by with a sense of loss: the cafe where they used to spend hours, the park in which they lay basking in the sun doing nothing. Everything was the same, only to a different degree. She had one foot already out of the door, which was a bit troubling as if she was standing at the brink of an abyss.
The car came to a halt outside the university of Evervale where the high rise stone buildings loomed, throwing their lengthy shadows on the tarmac. Before the car had even fully stopped, Ivy was out, her excitement palpable as she bounced toward the front steps.
Lyra followed at a slower pace, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and tossing a glance back at Rhett and Harrison. “Thanks for the ride,” she said quietly, offering a nod of appreciation.
“Anytime, Donovan,” Rhett called, flashing her a wink before speeding off toward the parking lot.
Ivy elbowed her playfully as they ascended the steps together, practically vibrating with energy. “Final year, Lyra! Can you believe it? We actually made it!”
Lyra forced a smile, still shaken by the persistent sense of unease that had settled over her all summer. “Barely,” she muttered.
They walked across campus; students bustled about as their laughter and chatter filled the air. Lyra could not shake off the feeling that something was amiss. Beneath the surface of this very ordinary day, something shifted. The feeling kept nipping at her bones—a deep, unsettling anticipation—as if the world she knew was going to change.
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The forest was alive with the murmurs of dusk—leaves rustling in the breeze, branches creaking under the weight of night-dwelling creatures, and distant howls echoing in the cool air. Lyra crouched low behind a jagged stone, her fingers tightening around the smooth wooden shaft of a borrowed bow. Viana knelt beside her, whispering instructions that only half-registered in Lyra’s buzzing mind.“Steady your hands, keep your eyes on the target,” Viana murmured, pointing toward their prey—a deer grazing in a moonlit clearing not far ahead. Its ears twitched as if sensing danger, though it continued its meal, oblivious to the two figures hidden among the shadows.Lyra exhaled deeply, feeling her heartbeat resonate loudly as she pulled the string back. Her muscles quivered under the unfamiliar strain, yet her anticipation overshadowed any physical discomfort. Peering intensely along the arrow's path, she observed her breath forming mist in the crisp air. Her focus narrowed to a singular
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The air reeked of sulfur and decay. Shadows swayed unpredictably on the uneven walls, driven by a restless, simmering fire casting erratic flickers in the heart of the chamber. Within the vast expanse, skeletal remains, devoid of flesh, stood in rows, their empty sockets giving an impression of a perpetual, haunting gaze.The oppressive heat of the place made even the darkness feel alive, writhing with malicious intent.From the depths of the gloom came laughter—low and guttural at first, then rising into a cacophony of voices, each more twisted and deranged than the last.“Awake. Awake!” one voice hissed, its tone dripping with mockery. “The son of Aureon lives again. Can you believe it?”Laughter rippled through the chamber, sharp and biting, like claws scraping against stone.“Foolish,” another voice sneered. This one was deeper, a slow rumble that seemed to shake the very ground beneath. “He should have remained buried, forgotten. Who dared disturb the seal?”A third voice join
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Zarekth scowled, his patience already wearing thin. He cast a cold glance at Viana, who stood before him with a determined look in her eyes and a travel bag slung over her shoulder. The sight of her preparing to join their journey only added to his irritation. It was enough that Lyra had been thrust into his path—an unexpected weight he hadn’t asked for—but now this? Another mortal tagging along? He released a quiet exhale, gently squeezing the bridge of his nose.“You should go back,” Zarekth said, his voice flat and commanding. “This journey isn’t for you. It’s dangerous, and you’ll only slow us down.”Viana tilted her head proudly, indifferent to the biting coolness of his refusal. "I'm no longer a child," she said in a steady tone.“Alda knows that, which is why she let me leave. I’m seeking a better future, and I’ll find my own path when the time comes. But for now, I’ll travel with you both.”Lyra, standing at Viana’s side, crossed her arms and looked at Zarekth with a raise
