Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

The Price of Power

Chapter thirty: The Price of Power

The air inside Madame Calderu's Psychic Readings seemed to thicken, each breath laden with the scent of incense and the unshakable tension of what was to come. Lilia leaned back in her worn velvet chair, her hands steepled under her chin. The light from a single flickering candle reflected in her eyes, making her appear almost otherworldly.

"You're not going to like this" she repeated, her gaze shifting from Agatha to Rio and finally to Nessa. "What you're asking for it's not impossible, but it comes with a price."

Agatha's throat tightened. "What is it?"

Lilia stood, the weight of her response evident in the heaviness of her movements. "There's a relic" She began, pacing slowly around the room. Her long skirt swished against the floor, a faint jingling sound accompanying her every step. "An ancient artifact called the Mirror of Fate. It has the power to bind and shield, to make someone truly untouchable to outside forces. It could protect the girl permanently. But retrieving it will cost you more than just effort."

Rio's jaw tightened. "What kind of cost are we talking about?"

Lilia stopped pacing and turned to face them. "The mirror is hidden in the ruins of an old temple, deep in the forest beyond this town. It's guarded by a sentience a force that doesn't let anyone take the mirror without extracting something in return."

"Extracting what, exactly?" Agatha's voice was sharp, her protective instincts flaring.

Lilia's expression grew grim. "Memories. It feeds on the essence of who you are. If you want the mirror, you'll have to give up a piece of yourself. It won't kill you, but you'll lose something significant....a moment, a bond, a truth. And you won't get to choose what it takes."

A heavy silence settled over the room. Nessa shifted uncomfortably, her fingers gripping the edge of her chair.

"And if we don't do this?" Rio asked.

Lilia spread her hands, a small, resigned shrug. "Then you keep running, hoping that whatever is after her doesn't catch up. But we both know that's a temporary solution at best."

Agatha exchanged a glance with Rio, her stomach churning. The thought of losing even a fragment of herself was terrifying. She thought of her moments with Rio, with Nessa...the small, fragile memories they'd built together. Could she bear to lose one of those? What if it took more than just a moment, what if it takes a piece of her family. The family she finally has after losing Rio for centuries.

"I'll do it" Nessa said suddenly, her voice trembling but firm.

"No." Agatha's response was immediate, her hand reaching out to grab Nessa's. "Absolutely not. You've already been through enough. We'll figure this out without you losing—"

"She's right," Rio interrupted, her tone quiet but resolute. "It shouldn't be her. We're supposed to protect her."

"And who's going to protect you?" Nessa shot back, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don't want you to lose something for me. This is my life, my mess. If someone has to pay, it should be me."

"No one's losing anything...yet." Lilia's voice cut through their argument. "You'll have to decide once you reach the temple. The force guarding the mirror will make its demands clear then. Until that moment, you still have time to figure out what you're willing to sacrifice."

Agatha exhaled shakily, her grip on Nessa tightening. "Where is this temple?"

Lilia walked to a nearby shelf cluttered with jars and trinkets. She pulled out a map, old and yellowed with age, and spread it across the table. Her finger traced a line through the forest that surrounded the town, stopping at a jagged X. "Here. It's about a day's journey on foot. But be careful....the forest has a mind of its own. It won't make your path easy."