The Shadowbound Prophecy

Chapter 26: Echoes of the Lost

The path they followed wound along the cliff's edge, where jagged rocks fell sharply into the churning sea below. The sound of waves crashing against the shore echoed up toward them, filling the silence that had stretched long between them. Harry's thoughts raced as the weight of their journey pressed down on him, but it wasn't the threat of the gods or the daunting task of finding the Fallen God that had his heart pounding—it was Seraphina.

He had grown closer to her over the course of their quest, more than he ever thought possible. Her presence had become a source of comfort, a steadying force amidst the chaos of his life. But now, as the air grew colder and the skies darkened, he couldn't shake the fear that lingered in the back of his mind. His power, the crack in the seal—it all felt like a ticking clock counting down to something inevitable, something dangerous.

Harry glanced at Seraphina beside him, her green eyes fixed on the horizon ahead. Her fiery hair whipped around her face in the wind, and there was a tension in her expression, a determination he admired. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder how much longer she would stand by him once the truth of his power fully unraveled.

"Harry," she said softly, breaking the silence. "You're quiet."

"I'm thinking," he replied, his voice low, almost lost to the wind.

"About what?" Her gaze shifted to him, and there was genuine concern in her eyes—concern he didn't feel he deserved.

He sighed, slowing his pace. "About everything. The seal... my power... what happens if I lose control."

Seraphina stopped walking, turning to face him fully. Her hand reached out, gently touching his arm. Her warmth was soothing against the cold, and Harry found himself leaning into it, craving the comfort she so easily provided.

"You won't lose control," she said firmly, her voice filled with confidence. "Not with us by your side. Not with me by your side."

Harry looked down at her hand on his arm, feeling the weight of her words. She believed in him—truly believed that he could handle the immense power buried inside him. But that belief scared him as much as it comforted him. What if he couldn't live up to it? What if the power consumed him, and he became the very thing the gods had sealed away for centuries?

"I don't know if I can, Seraphina," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've seen glimpses... of what I'm capable of. It's not something you can just control."

Seraphina stepped closer, her fingers trailing down his arm to take his hand. She squeezed it gently, her eyes never leaving his. "Harry, you're not defined by your power. You're more than that. I've seen who you are—who you truly are. And I know you won't let the magic control you. Not as long as you remember what's important."

"And what's that?" he asked, his voice catching slightly.

She smiled, the corners of her lips lifting just enough to soften her expression. "The people you care about. The ones you fight for."

Harry's chest tightened, the emotions swirling inside him nearly overwhelming. He had fought for so long, unsure of his purpose, unsure of who he was meant to be. But Seraphina had been with him every step of the way, reminding him of his humanity, of his heart. She made him want to fight—not just for the world, but for her.

"Seraphina, I—"

Before he could finish, a sudden cry broke through the air. The sharp, mournful sound of a seal echoed from the rocky shore below, startling them both. Seraphina's eyes darted toward the edge of the cliff, her grip on his hand tightening.

"Did you hear that?" she asked.

Harry nodded, his heart still pounding from their conversation. "Yeah... it sounded like—"