The Shadowbound Prophecy

Chapter 19: The Weight of Power

The aftermath of the battle hung heavy in the air, the quiet of the forest returning in an unsettling wave. Harry stood, breathing heavily, his body trembling as the last remnants of the magic he'd unleashed crackled through his veins. The stone golem lay defeated in a pile of rubble, its once-mighty form reduced to shattered fragments. But despite their victory, Harry felt anything but triumphant.

A sharp pain lanced through his head, followed by a wave of dizziness that nearly knocked him off his feet. He clutched his temples, trying to steady himself, but the world around him spun. His vision blurred, and the strength he'd summoned moments ago began to drain away as if it had been ripped from him.

"Harry!" Seraphina's voice cut through the haze, but it sounded distant, muffled like she was speaking from far away.

He turned toward her, but his legs buckled beneath him. The earth rushed up to meet him as he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The pulse of magic that had coursed through him moments ago now left a void so deep that it felt like his soul had been drained. His body ached all over, muscles screaming in protest, and the unbearable weight of exhaustion pressed down on him.

Seraphina was at his side in an instant, her hands gripping his shoulders, trying to steady him. "Harry! What's wrong? Talk to me!"

"I—I don't know," he gasped, his voice weak. His vision swam again, dark spots clouding the edges. "I used too much. I can't—" He couldn't even finish the sentence. His entire body felt like it was on fire, his energy completely spent.

Seraphina's eyes flicked to the pile of rubble where the golem had fallen, then back to Harry. "You drew on too much magic, more than you're ready for. We need to get you somewhere safe."

She hoisted him to his feet, but Harry's legs were like lead. He leaned heavily on her, barely able to stand. His head pounded with the rhythm of his own heartbeat, and his breathing was ragged and shallow. Every muscle in his body protested even the smallest movement.

"I didn't know it would—be like this," Harry said, his voice shaking. "It was like the power took over, and then...nothing."

"You weren't ready for it," Seraphina said, her voice strained as she struggled to support his weight. "The seal on your power isn't fully broken yet, and when you pushed yourself—" She trailed off, glancing over her shoulder as if sensing something in the distance. "We need to move, Harry. Now."

The urgency in her voice cut through his haze of exhaustion. He nodded weakly, though every part of him screamed to just lie down and give in to the darkness tugging at his consciousness. But he couldn't. They were still deep in enemy territory, the gods' forces likely closing in after the battle with the demigod's golem. They couldn't afford to stay exposed.

Seraphina helped him limp away from the clearing, her eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement. The silence was suffocating. The usual sounds of the forest were gone, replaced by an unnatural stillness. Every step felt like a monumental effort for Harry, his limbs growing heavier by the second.

Eventually, they reached a small grove by a stream. The gentle sound of water trickling over rocks was soothing, and the cool, fresh air helped clear some of the fog from Harry's mind. Seraphina eased him down against a moss-covered boulder, his body sagging with relief.

For a long moment, he simply lay there, unable to do anything but breathe. His heart still pounded in his chest, the aftershocks of the magic rippling through him in painful waves. He couldn't even lift his arms. It was as if the magic had drained him to his very core.

Seraphina crouched beside him, her expression grim. "You need to rest. Whatever power you accessed, it was too much for your body to handle."

Harry nodded weakly. He didn't have the strength to argue. "I didn't know it would be this bad," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I thought...with the seal weakening, I could control it."