Chapter 254: A Voice That Darkens the Sky, Fear That Spills Too Fast, and a Silence That Should Not Exist
Chapter 254: A Voice That Darkens the Sky, Fear That Spills Too Fast, and a Silence That Should Not Exist
Elyn’s POV
I didn’t know why... but there was something deeply unsettling about the way Zorathys spoke.
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t even harsh.
But the moment the words left his mouth, it felt like something shifted in the world itself, like the air had been pulled too tight and forgotten how to loosen again, and I could have sworn the sky dimmed just slightly, the light losing its warmth in a way that made my chest feel tight.
The girl’s eyes widened in fear so suddenly it looked like they might fall out of her face, her entire body going rigid as her hands began to tremble uncontrollably, like she had completely lost whatever control she had over herself just seconds ago.
And I swallowed.
Because this was the first time I was seeing him like this.
If there had been even the smallest doubt in my mind that Zorathys was a demon before, then it disappeared completely in that moment, because nothing about him right now felt lazy or indifferent or even remotely amused.
He felt... wrong.
Like something that shouldn’t be taken lightly no matter how many times he pretended otherwise.
The girl didn’t speak.
Not a single word was uttered from her mouth.
Sweat poured down her face so fast it looked like someone had dumped water over her head, soaking through her clothes and dripping down to the floor until it began to gather at her feet, darkening the floor beneath her.
Even her brother wasn’t spared.
He was sweating too, his hands clenched at his sides, his shoulders stiff like he didn’t even trust himself to move.
"Zorathys," I called softly.
He didn’t respond.
Not even a flicker of acknowledgment.
His gaze remained fixed on the girl like nothing else in the world existed, like I hadn’t spoken at all, like the only thing that mattered was whatever answer he had decided she needed to give.
"I asked you a question," he said.
The girl flinched so hard it looked like her knees nearly gave out beneath her.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
"Zorathys," I called again.
Still nothing.
It was like I wasn’t even there.
And that... that did something to me.
Because one thing about Zorathys was that he always responded to me—even if it was to be annoying, even if it was to say something completely unnecessary—but this silence, this complete lack of acknowledgment, felt wrong in a way I couldn’t quite explain.
"Zorathys."
This time, my voice was firmer, sharper, carrying just enough edge to make it clear I wasn’t asking anymore.
He still didn’t answer.
And that was when something in me snapped.
"Zor," I called, and when he still didn’t move, I didn’t even hesitate before adding, my voice steady in a way that surprised even me, "if you touch that little girl, I will kill you myself."
Zorathys finally moved.
Slowly, like the motion itself was deliberate, his gaze shifted away from the girl and landed on me, those half-lidded ruby eyes locking onto mine in a way that made something tighten in my chest.
For a moment, he just stared.
And I held his gaze.
Because I wasn’t backing down.
Not now.
Not when those children were looking like they were one breath away from collapsing.
Something flickered across his expression then—something I couldn’t quite name—and then just as suddenly, it was gone.
The heaviness in the air cracked, the tension loosening all at once as the sky brightened again and the air finally moved, rushing back into the space like it had been waiting for permission.
Zorathys blinked.
Once.
Then again.
And for the briefest moment, he looked... confused.
Then, without saying a single word to me, his shadows rose and wrapped around him, swallowing him whole in a smooth motion before he disappeared completely.
I just stared at the spot where he had been a few seconds ago.
Then I heard it.
A sniffle.
I turned immediately, my gaze landing on the children, and the sight that met me made something in my chest twist uncomfortably.
The twins were sobbing openly. Their shoulders shook, and their tears poured like a flowing stream.
Zayrion wasn’t much better.
He looked like he was trying to hold himself together, but his breathing was too fast, too shallow, like his body hadn’t realized yet that whatever had just happened was over, and there were tears in his eyes that he clearly wasn’t used to having.
Azerion looked like he was about to collapse.
His face had gone pale, his posture stiff, like he didn’t trust his own legs to hold him up if he moved even slightly.
And then there was the last boy.
I frowned slightly, taking a step closer, because something about him felt... off.
Too still.
And when I looked properly—
I froze.
His skin had hardened.
Not fully—but enough that parts of him had turned to stone, spreading across his body in a way that locked him in place like he had been frozen mid-motion.
He looked like a statue.
A very frightened statue.
My breath caught.
I turned slightly, my gaze shifting to Marrok, and even he was frozen, his stone wings tense behind him, his eyes wide in a way I hadn’t thought possible for something carved from stone.
I didn’t even know Zorathys’ presence could do this.
I didn’t know it could affect them this much.
What exactly had that been?
I didn’t have time to think about it. I had to calm the children down.
I moved closer and knelt in front of them, their tears soaking straight through my clothes without hesitation.
I ignored it.
Completely.
I reached for their hands, holding them gently, careful not to startle them further.
"It’s okay," I said softly.
My voice sounded calmer than I felt, but right now, they didn’t need anything else.
"What are your names?"
The girl sniffled, her voice breaking as she spoke.
"Thalira..."
The boy wiped at his face, though it did nothing to stop the tears.
"Retheris," he said, his voice shaky, before pointing slightly toward the other child. "That’s... Brixton."
I nodded slowly.
"It’s okay," I repeated, softer this time.
I didn’t know if it was.
But I said it anyway.
I pulled them closer, one arm around each of them, steadying them as best as I could before reaching for Azerion as well and drawing him in when he hesitated.
Zayrion was still struggling.
I moved toward him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Breathe," I murmured. "Slowly."
He tried.
He really did.
But it was clear his body hadn’t caught up yet.
And there were too many of them.
Five children.
Five different reactions.
And me.
Trying to hold all of it together.
Where were Morthen, Rin, and Vaelory? Why hadn’t they followed me down?
Before I could think further, a sudden whoosh cut through the air, heat following immediately after.
I turned instinctively.
Fire gathered in front of us, controlled and precise, forming in a way that made it clear this wasn’t an attack.
Then it parted.
And Ignivar stepped through.
His eyes were wide.
"Where is His Maj—"
He stopped as his gaze settled on the children.
And without another word, he moved.
He reached Zayrion first, taking him carefully but firmly, one hand supporting his back as the other steadied him.
"Breathe, Zayrion," Ignivar said, his voice low and controlled. "Slowly."
Zayrion tried again.
This time, it worked a little better.
Then Ignivar’s gaze shifted to Brixton, his expression tightening slightly as he moved closer, reaching out toward the stone that had begun to spread across the boy’s body.
I stayed where I was, holding Thalira and Retheris close, Azerion still at my side.
And all the while—
I couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened... and why Zorathys would react like that.