Song of Seven

Song 19: Symphony of Light and Dark

As the survivors packed their belongings and prepared to follow Seven into the treacherous north, tension, and apprehension were clearly visible on the faces of them all. Trust in the sorceress had yet to be fully earned, and though there was plenty of doubt among them all, Seven had healed many of the injured and channeled the power of Lyris herself to do so. Many of the camp survivors saw this as evidence that she was a force for good, religious beliefs varied among the people but it was hard to ignore the miraculous feats of healing and magic that the dreadlocked sorceress had performed. 

A young woman, her eyes searching Seven's face for reassurance, spoke up hesitantly as she carried the last of her possessions upon her back. "Are you certain we're doing the right thing, Seven? Those storm clouds on the horizon frighten us all. We wish to lend you our aid, but..."

Seven met the woman's gaze with a calm resolve and assisted the young woman in securing her bag to her shoulders. "I understand your concerns, and I don't ask you to follow blindly. I serve the Goddess Lyris, and it's her will that guides us. Together, we will face the darkness and seek to halt the cataclysm that looms."

Axel, still recovering from his wounds, stepped forward slowly through the camp, his eyes showing a mix of determination and worry. "We've all seen the devastation that Graylen can unleash. If we don't stop him, countless lives will be at risk. Something gave way before his ritual was completed, it might not be too late to put an end to his ascension."

Percian, the enigmatic Mayj, offered his insights. "This is a journey into the unknown, but one we cannot avoid. The magic brewing in the northern sky threatens the very balance of our world. We must uncover the truth and act swiftly. I get the feeling that Graylen is in recovery, gathering up the last of his arcane power. I think Axel is right, his spell didn't feel complete. Something happened."

Seven turned to Axel and Percian, her eyes filled with gratitude for her companion's support. "We will face the unknown together, Axel, with the strength of our purpose to guide us. We have more support this time, including your Crown Hound friends."

Hearing their names, the Crown Hounds gathered in a loose circle around Seven. Gavin, Elena, and Lara exchanged glances, and each of them looked to Seven for guidance. It was clear that they needed a plan, a direction, something more concrete than the uncertainty that currently shrouded their path.

Gavin, his voice gruff but filled with resolve, finally broke the silence. "Seven, we need to know what our next move is. Can we simply march back to the dark pit where the ritual took place, or do you have another plan in mind?"

Elena, her dark eyes no longer hiding the vulnerabilities she felt about herself, chimed in. "And what about the remnants of that spell? You said yourself it could be dangerous. We can't afford to walk into another trap. You save us, sure. But, how long can your divine magic hold out? Graylen is out there somewhere and we don't know what he's up to."

Lara, with an uncharacteristically somber demeanor, added, "We want to help, Seven, but we need a clear direction. We can't keep wandering blindly into danger."

Percian, who had his eyes firmly fixed on the unnatural storm clouds forming on the northern horizon, nodded absent-mindedly. "They're right. The area could be filled with residual magic, unpredictable and perilous. It would be too risky to march in without a plan. My reserves of arcane power are feeling low at the moment, I'm not sure if there is much I can do if we face Graylen again."

Seven felt a sense of unease wash over her. She was desperately trying to be their guiding light, their connection to the divine, but now she found herself uncertain of their next steps. It was a humbling moment for her, and a touch of embarrassment colored her cheeks. She had enlisted these people for aid, and now she was at a loss.