The weight of the forest lingered in my thoughts long after we left the clearing behind. The whispers of the trees, the pulse of the orb, and the cryptic figure who had spoken of Kai Xu's fate… everything felt like a heavy mantle settling over my shoulders.
As we made our way back to the school, the full extent of the figure's words began to sink in. The prophecy, Kai Xu, the Azure Dragon… and now, the Soul Sphere. It felt like the universe had set something into motion that I couldn't ignore. I had to find this artifact, even if it meant venturing into places I wasn't prepared for, even if it cost me more than I was willing to give.
"Sky," Aerin said, pulling me out of my thoughts. She had been walking beside me in silence, but now her voice was gentle, laced with concern. "What do you think the Soul Sphere is? Do you think it's really the key to saving Kai?"
I took a deep breath, trying to organize my swirling thoughts. "I don't know," I admitted. "But if it's the only thing that can help him, then we have no choice but to find it. That… that feeling I got from the orb, the connection I felt—it wasn't just random. It's tied to me, to Kai, and now to this Soul Sphere. I know it's important."
Mira, walking ahead of us, turned and gave a small, thoughtful nod. "It's strange, though. An artifact like that… I can't say I've ever heard of it before. It doesn't sound like something ordinary people can get their hands on."
Caius, who had been quiet for most of the journey, spoke up, his voice low but steady. "Maybe it's not meant to be found easily. But if it's connected to the prophecy, it won't be the first time something has been hidden away for centuries, waiting for the right person to come along."
His words hit home more than I wanted them to. The prophecy had already shaped my life in ways I never could have predicted. The more I learned, the more I realized how much was riding on me, how much of the world depended on what I did next. There was no turning back now. I had to do this.
As we approached the gates of the school, I felt a familiar prickling sensation at the back of my neck—the sense that something, or someone, was watching. I turned, but the courtyard was empty. The feeling lingered, though, like a shadow just out of sight.
"Sky," Aerin said again, her voice more insistent this time. "What about the egg? You still haven't told us what happened with that. You know, the one from the Beast Tamer Faculty?"
I blinked, momentarily distracted from the storm of thoughts about Kai Xu and the Soul Sphere. My hand instinctively went to the satchel at my side, where the egg—the crimson-and-gold one—rested. I had completely forgotten about it amidst everything else.
I pulled it out slowly, holding it up for them to see. The egg was still warm, its surface faintly glowing in the light of the setting sun. There was no denying the sense of ancient power that emanated from it now, far stronger than before.
"It's… it's different," I said, my voice a little shaky as I examined it. "I feel like it's responding to me, as if it knows what's happening. There's something here, something linked to me and to all of this." I looked at the others, searching their faces. "It's almost as if this egg is part of the same mystery—the same prophecy."
Caius narrowed his eyes at it. "What do you think it is? It doesn't look like any spirit beast egg I've ever seen before."
"I don't know," I replied. "But I feel… connected to it, somehow. There's power inside, I'm sure of it."
Aerin reached out carefully, her fingers brushing against the shell. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if sensing something herself. When she opened them, there was a knowing look in her eyes. "It's strange, Sky. But whatever it is, it's tied to you. And that can't be a coincidence. Not after everything we've learned."
We fell into a thoughtful silence, the only sound the soft rustling of the wind through the trees. The weight of the world seemed to press down on me with every passing moment, each decision carrying more and more consequences. The fate of Kai Xu, the mystery of the prophecy, and now the egg—all of it seemed to be spinning together into something I couldn't quite see but couldn't avoid either.
"Sky," Mira spoke up, her voice quieter than usual. "Do you think… do you think this is why the prince is sick? His connection to the Azure Dragon, I mean. It sounds like it's a part of him, like it's been awakened somehow. Maybe this egg has something to do with that."
I thought about it, my mind racing through all the things the figure in the mist had said, all the clues I had gathered. "It's possible," I said slowly. "The Azure Dragon, the bloodline, the power inside Kai Xu—it's all connected to the prophecy, I can feel it. But what I don't understand is how this egg fits into all of it."
"Maybe it's a sign," Aerin suggested, her tone almost hesitant. "Maybe you're supposed to find it, like you were meant to. It's your path now, Sky. We're all with you, but it's your journey."
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words settle deep in my chest. It was true—this was my journey. My responsibility. And I had no idea where it would take me.
"We'll find this Soul Sphere," I said, a sense of determination rising inside me. "We'll save Kai Xu. And whatever it takes, I'll figure out what's going on with this egg."
Mira smiled, and Caius gave me a rare nod of approval. "We'll be with you every step of the way," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
And for the first time in days, I felt a flicker of hope.