Page 33 of Bonds of Starfall

A baying noise echoed off the thick canopy of leaves overhead. A large Rogue charged toward him with its pointed rock head lowered. It ran past Vesperin, forgoing her entirely.

Celestials, he was over this.

Auren used his swift speed to cut in the Rogue’s path, sliding before it, half on the ground. His white cloak was already covered in dirt and mud—what was a bit more? He held his scythe, the end jabbing into his ribs from the tight angle as he sliced the blade in an upward arc, right through the Rogue’s hind limbs, cutting them off completely. It let loose a furious roar, hobbling on only two front legs, which Auren made quick work of butchering. The Rogue fell to its side, unable to do more than twitch on the ground, black eyes cutting into him.

His heart panged as he watched the creature. Once a beautiful Soul, now turned to this.

Each kill made his heart heavy with anguish at what could have been. A Soul robbed of the Stars and a chance at living again.

"I’m sorry," he murmured, cutting through the Rogue’s chest. Blood sprayed him as the monster gave a dying screech.

It all happened in a few seconds, and he turned back to Vesperin, hating that he had to leave her for even a moment unwatched. He had to get her out of here. He held his scythe before him in an offensive position as he ran toward her.

Just as Auren started to slide on the ground, his scythe hooked over his shoulder, and one arm stretched out to grab her, the air grew charged with crackling electricity. His hair stood on end, like lightning had struck nearby—as though hundreds of ants skittered down the back of his nape and his spine.

Pure white light radiated from Vesperin. In shifting tendrils, the light arced out from her chest. The very air sparkled around her, encasing her in its brilliance.

Auren fell to the ground, throwing an arm over his eyes to shield himself from the startling white. It burned.

As long as he had lived, he had rarely come across such Stella.

Aether?

It flowed from her in the purest, most raw of forms.

Pulsing from her.

Like—like the Pulses emitted from high levels of Nova.

Celestials, she was resplendent.

The forest was buzzing with dying croaks of the Rogues, strangled chitters, and roars. They could not hide from whatever it was flowing from within her. But it never touched him.

Auren knew this had to do with the Nova in her heart.

He had been busy since he had first found her in these woods. He hadn’t lied to her; as a Soul Searcher, nothing was off-limits to him. He could go anywhere, do anything. And no one would stop him. Not even the corrupted Hunter’s Guild—they had certainly tried, however. When Auren had ripped through a portal into the heart of headquarters, all it had taken was one look at the Star etched under his eye, and they fumbled and pleaded.

So, he knew of the Nova in her heart. Just as he knew the vile lengths the Hunter’s Guild would go to discover how they could use it for their own gain.

The air trembled with the force of her Aether, wavering in pulsating motions as the sparkles grew in intensity—and then, all at once, the light was sucked back inside her. It was as if it had never even happened.

But the dead Rogues around them spoke of another story.

Auren carefully removed his arm from his eyes, unfolding his body from the ground as he stared at her. Her white hair lay around her head in a simple halo, her eyes closed, her expression peaceful.

"What are you?" Auren asked the still air.

She remained a motionless enigma.

He fit his scythe behind him to keep his arms free as he walked to Vesperin. Carefully, he lifted her in his arms, trying to ignore the way he shook. She was too still. Her heart was too slow.

Please, he prayed to the Celestials,do not let her die. I just met her. Let us have this life.

He shifted his hold to one arm, muscles barely straining from her weight. She was small, and he was strong—he could carry her to the end of this world if he so wished.

With his free hand, he grabbed his scythe, quickly thinking of Solar City General Hospital—a place he had only seen in passing—so he could craft a portal.

It was enough.