The Arbiter's Betrayal

ht of Silas

expanse of The Crossroads. Silas, steady

nt as Adjudicator, stood by her t

wful soul had shaken her resolve. Silas had put a reassuri

, Elara," Silas had

Clara ha

w felt like a

ll, knowing what she now knew, was

he key. In her first life, she had a

raw, open wound. How could they have planned it

The Crossroads could not procreate. Whe

. She would not be a

silent corridors toward

mic energy around hi

ot just closed, but sealed with a ward s

ut with her s

biter. Only a deathly stillness, a profou

This was... something e

ne, or incapacitated, who had "appointed" S

ker, more complex t

la

there, flanked by four Crossroad

g here?" Silas ask

iter," Elara replied,

her earlier warmth gone, replaced by a chil

rder?" Elar

ore he entered deep meditation,"

their hands near t

was outnumbered. To force the issue here wou

was truly indisposed, or worse, then confronting th

me. She neede

turbed, then he cannot. I will prepare for my Trial." She paused. "Abo

ed a quick, almost impe

e wise, Elara

walked away, their eye

r. They thought she was

were

r chambers, Elara locked

ss... it confirmed her deepest fears. Something w

. It pulsed with a warm, familiar l

ught was agony. It had been with her sin

wielding it, of it obeying S

turned, she needed a new o

y ounce of her Aura. The process was

the bond with the ancient

sputtered, and died. It lay inert in he

a's face, for the loss,

from the raw essence of judgment itself. A slow, painstaking p

unadorned, and completely

, kindled within her. This n