The sun barely touched the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the camp. Liora stirred in her sleep, her breathing slow but steady. Arya had barely moved since the night before, her gaze locked on the darkened sky. The price of magic weighed heavily on her chest, and the emptiness gnawed at her thoughts. She had given up something precious, and she wasn't sure if she could ever get it back.
"Is she... going to be alright?" Cael's voice broke through her thoughts. He was standing a few feet away, looking down at Liora with concern etched in his face. His hand was resting on the hilt of his sword, a sign of his constant readiness.
Arya nodded slowly, not trusting herself to speak. She had made the bargain, but the exchange had cost more than she had expected. The memory of her brother was now a blur in her mind. It felt like someone had ripped a piece of her soul away, leaving a cold, hollow space behind.
"How long do we stay here?" Cael asked, his eyes never leaving Liora's form.
"Until she wakes," Arya replied quietly. "Then we move."
Cael sighed, moving closer to the fire and sitting down across from Arya. The crackling flames seemed to reflect the turmoil inside her. He studied her for a long moment, as if weighing something in his mind.
"You know, I don't blame you for what you did," Cael said softly. "Liora is important to all of us. But you have to understand something—giving up your memories isn't just about loss. It changes you."
Arya clenched her jaw, looking away. She had heard it all before, and she knew the cost of magic all too well. But this was different. This was something deeper. Her heart still ached from the void within her.
"I'll deal with it," she muttered, her voice raw.
Zephyra, who had been quietly watching from the edge of the camp, now approached. Her expression was unreadable as always, but there was a certain respect in her eyes.
"Do not let the price fool you," Zephyra said. "The forest gives, but it always takes. What you have lost will never return."
Arya nodded grimly. She had understood that much. But there was no time for regrets now. Liora needed them, and they had to move forward.
As if on cue, Liora's eyelids fluttered open, her amber eyes slowly focusing on Arya's face. A weak smile crept onto her lips.
"You're… you're alright?" Arya asked, relief flooding her chest as she leaned over to support her friend.
Liora nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "I feel like I've been through a storm, but I'm alright."
Arya helped her sit up slowly, steadying her. "You were unconscious for a while. I was... I was worried."
"I'm fine now. What happened?" Liora's eyes darted around, taking in the camp, then stopping at Arya with a frown. "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Arya paused, not sure how to answer. She couldn't bring herself to tell Liora the truth—about the price she had paid, the memory that had slipped through her fingers like sand.
"I had to make a deal to save you," Arya said quietly, not meeting her eyes. "A bargain with the spirits of the forest."
Liora gave her a confused look, but said nothing more, clearly too exhausted to inquire further.
Zephyra stepped in, her voice commanding as always. "We can't stay here any longer. The forest is shifting, and the danger is growing. We move at first light."
Arya glanced at Liora, whose eyes had fallen closed again. She was still weak, but the fire of determination was returning to her gaze.
"We'll be ready," Arya said, turning her gaze to the horizon. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. They had made enemies, and their journey was far from over.
But one thing was certain—the price they had paid had changed them all. And the scars of that magic would stay with them forever.