Volume 43
Writer: Sabbir Ahmed
Chapter 11: The Truth Beneath the Stars
After the Rift settled—temporarily subdued by Lina's power—the group retreated to a hidden ledge overlooking the glowing scar in the mountains. Lina's hands still trembled, residual energy from the pendant pulsing faintly through her veins.
Kael finally broke the silence. "You handled yourself well back there. I've never seen anyone bond with a Rift like that—especially not a teenager."
Lina shook her head, guilt and confusion churning inside her. "It's not just me. It's the pendant… it's my mom. I know she's involved somehow."
Mira's face grew solemn. "Lina… there's something you need to know. About your mother. About why she left you."
Lina's heart thudded. "I thought she abandoned me to keep me safe."
Mira nodded slowly. "She did. But there's more. Your mother wasn't just a Guardian. She was the one who sealed the Rift you're standing in front of. And the reason she disappeared… she made a deal."
Lina froze. "A deal? With who?"
Mira's eyes didn't waver. "With the ancient force inside the Rift. She bound herself to it, becoming its protector—and its prison—so that it could not break free and consume the world. That's why she couldn't return. Every moment she was gone, she was holding back the Rift's true power."
Lina felt a mix of awe and fear. "So… all this time… she's been inside it?"
"Yes. Part of her exists within the Rift's seal," Mira said. "And now… because the Rift sensed you, it called to you. You carry a fragment of her power. You are her daughter, but also… her successor."
Lina's mind reeled. "I'm supposed to… what? Finish what she started?"
Kael put a steady hand on her shoulder. "It's not just a responsibility. It's a choice. You can follow her path—or forge your own."
The pendant flared violently, silver light spilling across Lina's face. She felt a tug toward the Rift—not a pull of danger, but of familiarity, of belonging.
Mira spoke softly. "Your mother's sacrifice saved many lives. But the Rift grows restless. If you hesitate, the Hunters will exploit it. If you act… you might awaken her completely."
Lina clenched her fists, resolve and fear colliding. The weight of her mother's secret pressed on her, heavier than any Hunter's blade.
Finally, she whispered, "Then I won't let her sacrifice be in vain. I'll finish this… for her."
The Rift pulsed as if approving. Far above, silver cracks in the sky shimmered again.
The battle was far from over—but now Lina understood what was truly at stake.