The air was thick with a haunting stillness, as if time itself had stopped. In the distance, the echoes of battle faded into nothingness, but in this secluded sanctuary lost between shadows, the fight had never reached. This place held more than secrets—it harbored broken pasts and uncertain futures.
Transition to the present
Years had passed since the Nevri scattered—since Ibrahim vanished into the shadows, carrying Zaira's body with him. The world had changed, but some wounds never healed. Now, the echoes of that past stirred once more, seeking the resolution that time refused to grant.
Aisha, following scattered tales and fragments of a forgotten prophecy, had arrived at a hidden sanctum belonging to the Community of the Thirteen, deep within a mist-shrouded forest. Her journey was no accident; it was driven by a calling she felt deep within her soul, as if something—or someone—was guiding her.
Moments before
Zaira's body lay atop a stone pedestal, her pale form frozen in death's embrace. Falco, looking at her one final time, whispered with a twisted blend of possession and disdain:
—You won't belong to anyone, Zaira…
With unsteady steps, he turned and disappeared into the labyrinth, leaving the chamber swallowed in silence.
Meanwhile, as guards patrolled the entrance, Aisha moved cautiously through the dark stone corridors. Her hands bled, scraped raw by hidden traps in the walls, but her resolve burned stronger than any pain. At last, she stumbled upon a table, where a blood-stained sword lay untouched.
Raising her gaze, she spotted a figure collapsed in the corner—barely visible in the gloom. A chill pierced her heart as she recognized the battered face before her. Her breath caught.
—No... it can't be... —she whispered, as her world crumbled around her.
A whirlwind of memories
Images of her absent mother flooded her mind: sleepless nights, unanswered questions, shattered dreams. She had imagined this moment her whole life, but never like this.
Return to the present
Heartbroken, Aisha knelt beside Zaira, gently covering her with a cloth. Zaira stirred faintly, her eyes fluttering open.
—Who... are you? —she asked, her voice brittle yet filled with a tender warmth that pierced Aisha's heart.
The air grew heavy as Aisha struggled to speak. Finally, tears welling in her eyes, she whispered:
—I'm your daughter...
Zaira's face lit with a faint spark of recognition. Her frail hands reached for Aisha's and held them tightly.
—Promise me… don't give your blood… not to the wolf, not to the community. Always protect yourself… And never… never trust Darian…
Her words faded into a final sigh. Zaira's hands slipped from Aisha's grasp, falling gently onto her lap.
Unable to hold back her grief, Aisha lit the oil lamp she carried and set fire to the cloth that wrapped her mother, whispering:
"For years, my mother's absence was a weight I carried in anger. But now, seeing her so vulnerable, I understood—her fight was also mine. I can't change the past, but I can carry her legacy forward."
She stood back and watched as the blue flames consumed Zaira's body, carrying away her final breath.
—I'm sorry, Mother… —she whispered, as her tears fell freely.
The reunion with Sanathiel
Staggering out of the sanctum through a hidden passage, Aisha found Sanathiel waiting for her. Their eyes met—and without a word, he embraced her tightly. His warmth was the only comfort in the midst of so much pain.
—Aisha… —he whispered, his voice tender and full of concern.
She looked at him, tears glistening as sorrow and loss flooded her soul. In that instant, all barriers crumbled. Sanathiel leaned down and kissed her softly—a brief kiss, yet full of unspoken promises.
Aisha clung to him, feeling as if she had finally found an anchor in the chaos.
—I won't let anything happen to you, Aisha, —Sanathiel murmured, stroking her hair.
She nodded, finding in him the strength to move forward. Zaira's death had been devastating—but Aisha now knew she wasn't alone.
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the moment. Sanathiel pulled back slightly, still holding her hand.
—We have to go. There's a safe place. —his tone urgent.
Wiping her tears, Aisha nodded. Together, they vanished into the shadows—their footsteps echoing a promise to face the future side by side.