Ophelia
The musclesalong my back burned. My ribs were molten lava, and distantly, so very far away, I thought someone screamed my name.
There was a second voice trying to smother it, though. One that boomed like thunder and washed over my senses like rain.
Now…fly, it commanded.
Another wave of fire rippled down my muscles, and then, it was my agonized screams drowning out the voices. My pain spearing through my body, sizzling away the calming cool rain.
No one came to help at my cries—no cool hands along my brow or whispered assurances. Nothing to remind me that I was okay or tether me to consciousness.
But there was…somethingpushing past the pain. A breeze dancing along my burning flesh, carrying a hint of fresh?—
Wildflowers.
Like those decorating Damenal and splashed across the Mystique Mountains, tangling on a crisp breeze, but these were stronger. Headier and dreamy. I clung to that scent, and with impossible force, I wrenched my eyes open, shooting upright to a pain rocking through my body.
“Where in the Angels?” I muttered, even that slight movement aching.
A land of abundant, verdant mountains surrounded me, but these were notmymountains. No, these were far grander than anything Gallantia bore—grander than any range I’d ever heard of on Ambrisk.
These peaks stretched to the clouds, disappearing among fluffy white masses well before they tapered to their points. It felt as if I wasn’t even halfway up this range, but puffs of those clouds danced along the tips of the wild grasses, as if cleaved off by an almighty sword and left to drift down to earth.
As if even this valley was high enough in the mountains to tangle with the heavens.
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I stretched a feverish hand out to one. The misty residue cooled my skin, licking away the burn in my muscles, and a relieved gasp slipped from me. The cloud sliver coiled around my arm, alleviating the soreness until it evaporated into nothing but shimmering, magic-filled air.
Groaning at the aches ricocheting down my spine and abs as if I’d been through a rigorous training, I forced myself to my feet and stepped fully into the nearest wafting clouds. With the world fading in their fog, I forgot where I was and let the magic lick away my pain.
“Wherever I am,” I muttered, “this is glorious.”
As the clouds drifted apart, scattering through the valley, I took in my surroundings. Between sweeping peaks, tall lush grasses curled up around my knees. Vibrant greens were awash with tiny pink, white, and yellow buds bursting in clumps between the stalks?—
A golden light flashed across the valley, and when it cleared, I gasped. “Damien?”
“Hello, Ophelia,” the Angel said with a familiar smirk. His voice was warm with affection. “Welcome.”
“Welcomewhere?” I asked.
The Prime Mystique blinked at me. “It is your dream, child.”
“But I—” I looked around at the abundant trees—not a cypher in sight—and the clear blue sky. “These aren’t the Mystique Mountains.”
Damien surveyed the land. “No, it appears we aren’t at home.” Wistfulness dripped through his words, but before I could inquire, his purple eyes pulled mine again. “You have accessed the light.”
His lips were tight, wings beating softly as they held him gently aloft—or perhaps it was the magic he thrived off of here. He glowed brighter than when he visited me, those wings casting an effervescent shimmer around the earth. Where it touched my skin, my own Angellight purred in recognition. Damien’s feathers ruffled at the sight.
“Yes,” I answered honestly, ignoring his shrewd stare.
“And?”
“And?” I blurted, lurching forward. Pain bolted down my shoulder, and I hissed, massaging my arm. Where was that remedy cloud now? The fire was quickly returning to my muscles. I went on, though, because I needed answers. “It terrifies me. Have you seen what it’s done? How it’s destroyed and consumed?”
Did he know how it had slayed the dead and choked my sister?
“I— ” His word cut off, only silence coming from his open mouth. The Angel collected himself quickly. “I have observed the powers lurking within you, and they are not what you think.” His brows pulled together, and he looked…pained?
“What does it do? Why do I have it? Is this Angellight something I need to use to absolve the Angelcurse?”
