Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 3: Secrets and Sacrifice

Jax

I pace the dimly lit corner of the library, the musty scent of ancient scrolls and books filling my lungs. It's quiet here, away from the chaos overtaking Terra and Eltor. For a moment, I wish I could stay hidden among these shelves, where history can be read and rewritten without the burden of prophecy or the lives it affects. But the reality beyond these walls looms, demanding answers that only I seem willing to find.

I glance at the scrolls scattered on the table before me, each one a piece of the puzzle I've been obsessively trying to solve. The Cosmic Crown—the source of power that could tip the scales of this conflict—holds more secrets than any of us imagined. And I'm starting to think that discovering those secrets might cost us more than we're ready to pay.

I look up as a faint rustle interrupts my thoughts. Lira steps into the room, her movements cautious, eyes scanning the shelves until they land on me. She's been doing that a lot lately—watching, analyzing. I can't tell if she's being her careful, diplomatic self or hiding something. But then again, aren't we all?

"Still at it, I see," she says, her voice steady but with an edge that betrays her concern. "You're going to drive yourself mad if you keep searching for answers in these scrolls, Jax."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Better madness than ignorance," I retort, returning to the pile before me. "The Crown isn't just some relic to be used; it's alive, Lira. It has a will, pulling us into a trap we don't even see."

Lira crosses the room, stopping beside me. She picks up one of the scrolls, her eyes scanning its contents with that keen focus I've come to respect. "And what do you plan to do once you uncover the truth?" she asks, her voice quieter now. "If the Crown demands a sacrifice, who do you think it will ask to pay the price?"

I meet her gaze, searching for a trace of the answer I've been avoiding. I see only concern in her eyes, maybe a hint of fear. She's always been the composed one, the rock among the chaos that surrounds us. But even she looks uncertain now, like she's standing at the edge of a precipice.

"I don't know," I admit, frustratingly pushing the scroll away. "But we can't just sit back and let it manipulate us. We have to understand what we're dealing with and what it wants. If we don't, we'll end up where it wants us—lost and broken."

"That's assuming we have a choice," Lira counters, her gaze shifting to the open books scattered across the table. "Kian thinks we can outmaneuver fate with enough planning. Lyara... she's driven by her fear of what the Crown might take from her." She hesitates, her lips pressing into a thin line. "And you? You're driven by a need to control what you can't."

Her words sting, not because they're harsh but because they're true. I have to control something in this spiraling madness. It's the only way I can protect Lyara, the only way I can protect us all. I step back from the table, running a hand through my hair. "What about you, Lira?" I ask, my tone sharper than I intended. "You've been playing peacemaker between us, guiding Kian with your level-headed words. But what's driving you?"

She doesn't answer immediately, her eyes locked on the scrolls as if they might shield her from the conversation. "Duty," she says finally, her voice tight. "To my kingdom, to Kian... and to the balance we're supposed to uphold." Her gaze shifts back to me, piercing and unforgiving. "But don't mistake my loyalty for blindness, Jax. I know how high the stakes are. I'm just not as willing to risk everything on a hunch."

I open my mouth to argue, but the words catch in my throat. She's right in her way. We're all being reckless, gambling with forces we don't fully understand. But what choice do we have? The Crown is awakening, the prophecy is moving forward, and standing idle is no longer an option.