The Threadbound series : Unraveling

A Leap of Faith

Ash

"Are you going to jump?"

Nafs voice, laced with amusement, asked from behind me. I leaned on the balcony, my gaze fixed on the air elementals practicing in the arena below.

"Even if I am," I replied without looking back, "you know I'm going to land perfectly on my feet by manipulating the air around me."

She chimed in, "Or you could open a portal mid-air."

Either way, I wouldn't end up drowning or getting impaled by stalagmites and dying a gruesome death, like in my recurring nightmares. I had those dreams every night, preventing me from getting a peaceful night's sleep.

But yesterday's nightmare was different. There was someone with me who had asked the same question as Naf had just now.

"What's with the scarf? Had a wardrobe disaster?" She asked lightning pulling on its end

" And you look cranky. No sleep yesterday either, I presume?"

"Yup, good old 'fell from a cliff and got impaled' nightmares," I replied sarcastically, making light of my recurring dreams.

She seemed genuinely concerned, but I quickly changed the subject.

"So, when are we doing the 'thing'?" I asked her, referring to a plan we had discussed earlier.

Naf nodded in agreement. "We can do it now, we just need to find a quiet place."

Just then, Sru appeared in the corridor. "We are ready," she announced.

I turned to Naf. "Don't you have classes now?"

Naf shook her head. "No, and no one will miss us at this hour, if that's what you're worried about."

Without wasting a moment,we ventured out of the Academy grounds. I focused my concentration, drawing a portal into existence. With our destination set, we stepped through it and found ourselves in the heart of the Sylvanwood forest.

Tall trees and epiphytes created a dense canopy above, allowing only slivers of daylight to filter through. The occasional murmur of the wind, the chorus of crickets, and a bird flapping its gigantic wings somewhere in the distance contributed to the slightly eerie atmosphere of the Sylvanwood forest. Beasts wandered in the shadows, and a slithering noise could be heard in the underbrush.

"Ash, are you sure?" Sru asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

At the same time, Naf spoke up, her tone equally cautious. "Her soul hasn't passed the Veil yet, so this is the best time since her consciousness of her past life is still there. But remembering it would be painful for her."

I nodded resolutely. "Do it."

Sru reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pouch. "These are her nails," she said as she opened it.

Naf took out the nail cuttings and placed it on her hands, closing her eyes in deep concentration.

Silver glowing threads emerged from the nails on Naf's hand, gradually forming a spectral body beside her. The apparition of Taluleya Bhama, an Elder, appeared, but instead of her usual strong and soothing voice, she let out a shrill cry. "It hurts, it hurts," she croaked, her voice hoarse and unlike her usual self.

"Gran..Elder Bhama??" I called out, addressing her with respect.

Her silver eyes fixated on me, and she hissed, "Sashelle."

Naf urged us, "Ask her the question, I can't keep her here for long."

"Elder, were you killed?" I asked the most pressing question on my mind.

"Yes,Poison," she mumbled in response.

"Who did it?" Sru inquired, but Elder Bhama bellowed cryptic words,

"Thread weaves,

Thread binds

Thread unravels.

Take a leap of faith,

Prepare for the battle,"

and then she disappeared.

"What just happened?" Sru asked, bewildered.

"She can't travel far from her body, so she left. It's painful for her," Naf explained, exhaustion etched across her face as her knees failed her. I caught her in my arms and made her body lean against me as I settled her slowly on the ground.

Sru contemplated, "She gave us a riddle."

"That's not just random gibberish; Taluleya always loved her riddles," I said, reminiscing fondly about her.

"What does this mean for us?" Naf asked, her brow furrowing in concern.

"She confirmed that she was killed," Sru stated.

"Though that confirms our suspicions, we don't have solid evidence. It's not like the Senate takes specters as witnesses," Naf added, emphasizing the challenge we faced.

I recalled a memory from last year, when I had visited Elder Bhama. "Back when I visited her last year, we went on a treasure hunt. She left clues and riddles around, and I followed them," I recounted, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat.

"Yeah, I remember you telling me about it. You got that history tome and pendant from the treasure chest, right?" Sru recalled.

I was resolute. "I know there's foul play involved here. Someone poisoning an Elder and keeping it under wraps—it has to be an inside job, and someone powerful. I'm going to find them and make them pay," I declared. And I should find them before the New Elder is appointed. My initial assumption is that they are aiming for the Senate Seat

"We are going to find them," Naf and Sru chimed in simultaneously, their determination matching mine.