The path lit beneath her boots not silver, like the moonlight she'd always know but blue
A deep, glowing blue — soft, steady, ancient it pulsed with each step she took, as if the magic itself recognized her or remembered her.
---
Lysander and her teacher remained behind. She needed to walk this alone — and they knew it the deeper she moved into the glowing trail, the more silent the forest became. Not empty… but watching.
She passed old statues, cracked symbols, and once-grand pillars now covered in ivy. Her pendant was warm again. Not heavy like before it was comforting like it was finally glad she had chosen to move forward.
---
As she reached a clearing surrounded by faded banners and fallen weapons, a whisper touched her ears you never asked why we did it she turned quickly.A figure stood at the edge of the blue-lit path — a woman cloaked in crimson, hood pulled low, but Aria could see her clearly those eyes,am ber sharp and too familiar Selya, Aria whispered,the woman removed her hood beautiful,proud,and dangerous once, they had trained together fought together an laughed like sisters now she stood as a ghost from a life Aria had barely remembered you were the last one I expected to see, Aria said softly selya's smile was thin then you've forgotten more than I thought.
---
They circled each other slowly the blue path glowed brighter where Aria stood — and dimmed where Selya stepped Aria felt it and the magic rejecting her what happened to you?Aria asked.
You did, Selya replied you rose too high thee moment they named you Blade of the Second Circle, everything changed. You stopped needing us that's not true, Aria said.
You started glowing, Selya hissed and the rest of us became shadows.
---
Aria felt a sharp pain behind her eyes.
Another memory surged a training hall.
Selya standing behind her.
A blade drawn — not in practice, but betrayal.
And the sound of a door slamming shut she gasped.
You told them to lock me away.
I begged them to," Selya whispered. Because I knew what was coming. The Nexus… it was burning you from the inside I saw it and I was scared.
Aria's hands trembled you weren't scared for me,she said you were scared of being left behind.
---
The air between them grew cold selya stepped closer I still dream of you sometimes I wonder if you remember the last thing I said to you before they took you away Aria's heart thudded and then she remembered it should have been me.
--
Aria stepped back, her chest tightening the blue magic flared around her feet — brighter than ever selya shielded her eye you were never chosen,Aria said you forced your way in and now the magic refuses you.
Selya's face twisted then take your spotlight. But know this she turned toward the shadows you weren't betrayed by one person you were betrayed by all of us and with that, she vanished into smoke
---
Aria collapsed to her knees the blue trail flickered — unsure, waiting behind her, footsteps approached Lysander knelt beside her queit i saw it,he whispered Selya she was part of it he nodded slowly she wasn't alone Aria looked up at him tell me
Lysander sighed the day they took you… I watched from the tower i didn't fight them,i didn't stop it i told myself it wasn't my place.
She closed her eyes I was afraid,he said of what you were becoming of what I felt of losing you, like everyone said we would
---
Aria stood she didn't scream she didn't cry the pendant pulsed against her chest her magic didn't lash out it listened and stayed calm.Because she was calm i'm not going to burn the past down,she said I'm going to rise above it.
---
The blue trail lit again brighter than ever not a path backward but a way forward.
And Aria finally understood:
Her story didn't begin with betrayal.
It began again… with choice.
---
💫 Author's Note:
> Chapter 22 shows the sharp truth 🌌
Aria finally sees that not all pain comes from enemies. Sometimes, it comes from those closest to you.
But she's not here to break anymore.
She's here to become.
💬 Question for you:
Should Aria forgive Selya if they meet again… or face her in a duel of memory and pain?
📚 Add to your collection if you're still breathing with this story one step at a time 🩶