Luna Eclipse : Forbidden Alchemy

trange, ancient authority that even I was surprised to hear. The rough voice, belonging to a man I now sensed standing over me, instantly ceased its anx

ould feel the cold, hard ground beneath me, rough and uneven, pressing into fragile bones that felt as if they might shatter. There was a faint, cloying scent of poverty and neglect, a smell utterly alien to the

est of ancient power, struggled to reconcile with the weak, undeveloped brain of this girl. It was like trying to pi

e stars are you out here, girl? You should be inside, safe! After such an eclipse... it's not right for you to be alone."

rising bile of my utter powerlessness. My very being recoile

ier now, though still holding a tremor. "And you... you're Lyra

ower and dread that Zalara invoked. It tasted like ash

ptible thread of menace that caused Kaelen to instinctively pull his hand back.

, right after the eclipse, out here near the old mill. This is Noldor, young lady We're a small village on

names. Small, insignificant. My realm was one of eternal night, of vast,

my face. My fingertips brushed against something rough, tied tightly across my eyes. Fabric. A blind

y sharp, cracking slightly. "Why is there

nce you were a baby. That's why you wear the wrap, to protect your eyes, though some say it

ssed the birth and death of stars, was now confined to perpetual darkness. This vessel, this wretched Lyra, was not merely weak, but fundamentally flawed. It was the

my spiraling fury. "You must be

al underworldly form, gnawed at my stomach. My queenly pride, still reeling from the shock of blindness, warred briefly with this overwhelming, alien need

familiar, tore into the soft texture. I ate it, greedily, quickly, barely tasting it, a grotesque parody of the refine

piece of wood into my other hand. It felt familiar to this body, despite being utterly alien to my soul. A walking stick. My fingers instinctively t

Each step was a fresh indignity. The air grew warmer, the scent of woodsmoke stronger, mingled with the faint, comforting smell of wool and old parchment. Th

and I felt the presence of a doorway. "