Page 109 of Lore of the Tides

“My people are in desperate need of saving. My only hope is to use the powers of both grimoires to protect them. No innocents will be harmed by me. I promise you that.”

He remained quiet, listening.

“Your legacy will be safe in my hands. I will cherish them, care for them, and I will uphold your values.”

The griffin chick squawked from its perch before awkwardly fly-falling to land on Lore’s shoulder. It nuzzled its sharp beakin her hair for a moment before pulling out... a bug and swallowing it whole. Lore gagged;gods, it had been in her hair this whole time.

“You did pass the first test I set. Which, I am quite proud to say, ultimately becomes the most important. Nothing would have opened that lock without a token rightly earned from helping the weakest of the griffins.”

“I hadn’t even realized it was a test,” Lore admitted, scratching the griffin’s fuzzy wing.

“Which makes it more admirable.”

She untied the bow and pulledAuroradelfrom the cloth.

“I’m so tired. This fear that my creations would cause pain and suffering has long kept my soul from resting. It would be a welcome thing to entrust that burden to another.”

Lore raised her chin.

“I have carried burdens before, and this one I would shoulder willingly.” Matleus did not answer, only gazed upon her as though weighing what she’d said.

Auroradelvibrated in her hands. Lore could not see what was stitched on it in the low light, and she tried to touch the edges as little as possible. Her gloves were filthy. She was filthy. She withdrew the gloves and cast them away.

With shaking fingers, she parted the bindings and opened the grimoire of the sun.

The cave became awash with sunlight and warmth. Immediately her fingers began to thaw. Lore wanted to shield her eyes from the bright light, but she kept them open, ignored the burn, and gazed upon the pages ofAuroradel.

I am free.

“You are free.”

My savior. And you have brought my sister to me.

“It’s time to leave this prison. Will you guide my friends and me back?”

I will give you anything and everything you desire. I have been waiting for you so long, Lore Alemeyu.

“Shall we go?”

You must pledge yourself to me and I to you, and when we are as one, I will guide you home.

“Right now? We don’t need to be in the sun or anything?”

The sun is with me; can’t you feel it on your face?

“I can.” Lore’s eyes watered in the blinding light. “I pledge myself to you, be mine, and I yours.”

A wave ofSourceexploded from the book asAuroradelignited, bathing the chamber in light and warmth and life.Sourceinvaded her body, and Lore accepted it willingly, as her body became inflamed with the heat of a star. It overtook her entire being, as though cleansing it. It was white-hot agony. It was glorious.

The blaze lasted a single breath, a moment, all of eternity.

It was the end of all things and the beginning of everything. It was pure power.

She was power.

When it was over, when they were connected as one, Lore heaved a breath, and it felt like the first she’d ever taken. She felt new and fresh and more wonderful than she ever had before.

Lore closed the book, extinguishing the light, and tucked it besideDeeping Lunein her satchel.