Page 8 of Shadows of the Lost Relic (Vanguard of the Ancients #1)

Chapter 8

Lyra

T he days after my first mission were tense. The constant undercurrent of worry kept me from sleeping. I wandered the halls late at night, searching without knowing what I was looking for. No matter how much I looked, though, it always felt out of reach.

I wasn’t the only one who was restless; Evan was often out as well. Sometimes we walked together, not saying anything to each other, until he left me again at the door to my room. We were all on edge, waiting for anything that would help us understand the Mirror of Shadows and the strange connection I had with it. But no matter how hard we tried, the answers remained frustratingly out of reach. It was like the other shoe was dangling over our heads, and nothing we did could get it to drop.

Theo spent hours in the Vault, poring over ancient texts and consulting with any of the scholars who had even a passing knowledge of artifacts like the Mirror. Kane’s joking and flirting felt forced whenever he tried to keep things light, and he couldn’t hide the concern in his eyes. Evan, though calm on the surface, was more guarded than usual. He spent hours sitting in the Vault beside Theo, staring at the Mirror, with his fingers moving through the air while he tried to track the threads that led to the other artifacts we were seeking.

Then there was Caspian. He was still the one who intrigued me the most, with his quiet intensity and the way he seemed to ground me even as he made me question everything. I wasn’t sure what to make of him, or the way I felt whenever he was around. But one thing was becoming clear: I cared about him. The truth was, I cared about all of them, and that scared me more than anything else. It felt silly admitting that feelings scared me more than artifacts with the ability to hurt everyone around them, but the truth was often silly.

It was late, and the Vanguard headquarters were so quiet, it felt like I was the only person in the world. I hadn’t come across anyone during my walk, not even Evan. It wasn’t long before I found myself in the workshop, a place I appreciated for its solitude. Caspian spent all of his time here, tinkering with gadgets and devices I couldn’t begin to understand. Sometimes I watched him, sitting silently on one of the counters so I didn’t disturb him as he worked. Tonight, however, the space was empty.

I needed some time to clear my head, to sort through the mess of emotions and thoughts that had been swirling inside me since we’d retrieved the Mirror. The workshop was as good a place as any, and I found myself at the workbench I most often saw Caspian at, my fingers tracing the scattered tools and half-finished projects that littered the surface before I lifted myself onto it, sitting with my feet dangling in the air.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting there when the door creaked open behind me. I didn’t turn. There was no need. The only person who would come here at this hour was Cas.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, his voice rough.

“Yeah. I guess I needed to clear my head.” I did my best to sound casual, even though my heart skipped a beat when I heard his voice.

He nodded, not saying anything as he crossed the room to the other side of the workbench. He picked up a small, intricate piece of machinery—part of one of his many projects, no doubt—and began fiddling with it, his hands moving with a precision that came from years of honing his craft.

I watched him in silence, unsure of what to say. Caspian didn’t fill the silence with jokes or small talk like Kane did. He was comfortable with the quiet, with letting things be. It was a quality I appreciated about him, even if it made it difficult to get to know him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke. “You’re worried about the Mirror.”

It wasn’t a question, just a statement of fact. I lifted my knees up to my chest, hugging them close to my body. “Yeah. It’s a lot to take in, and none of what I am taking in makes any sort of sense at all.”

He set the piece of machinery down and turned to face me, his eyes locking onto mine. The intensity in the gray made my heart pound harder, and I could feel that this was about more than just the Mirror.

His voice was softer when he spoke, softer than I’d ever heard it. “You’re not used to relying on other people. But you don’t have to do this alone.”

I swallowed, trying to ignore the lump that had formed in my throat. “I know. It’s just… hard. I’m not used to any of this. The missions, the artifact, you guys. Being part of a team is different. It’s weird.”

Caspian’s gaze didn’t waver. “You’re stronger than you think, Lyra. You’ve already proven that.”

“I’m just trying to keep up,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Sometimes it feels like I’m in over my head.”

He took a step closer, closing the distance between us until I could feel the warmth radiating off him. He was the warmest of all of them, like there was a furnace burning inside of him. “You’re not. We’re all figuring this out together. If you need help, all you have to do is ask.”

I looked up at him, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. Feelings simmered below the surface. It was in the way he said things, in the way he looked at me, that made me want to believe him.

But it was hard to let go of the habits that had kept me alive for so long. The instinct to rely only on myself, to trust no one but me.

Still, being here with Caspian made me want to try. There was a steadiness to him, a calm that I found myself drawn to. And beneath that calm, I could sense a storm, roiling deep and powerful that he kept tightly controlled.

“Caspian,” I began, my voice faltering as I searched for the right words. “Can I ask you a question?”

He nodded, the sudden openness of his expression encouraging me to continue.

“Your arm. You never told me how it happened,” I said, glancing down at the scarred skin that peeked out from under his sleeve.

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I regretted bringing it up. But then he let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing as he looked down at his arm. “It’s not a story I tell often. But I trust you, Lyra. And I want you to know more about me.”

I held my breath, waiting for him to continue. Caspian was a private person. The fact that he was willing to open up to me, to share a story that was so personal, meant more than I could put into words.

He lifted his arm, pulling back the sleeve to reveal the full extent of the scarring. It was worse than I remembered. Thick, twisted lines of puckered skin covered most of his forearm, trailing up to his elbow and disappearing beneath his shirt.

“It happened when I was younger. I was experimenting with one of Hephaestus’s old designs that has been passed down in my family. Or so they say. A piece of technology that had been lost for centuries. I thought I could recreate it. Improve it, even. But I underestimated the power of the forge, the heat required to bring the metal to life. The forge wasn’t just a tool. It was alive, in a way. Hephaestus had imbued it with a part of himself, a spark of his divine power. When I tried to control it, I wasn’t ready. The fire, it lashed out at me, it sensed my hesitation, my fear. I couldn’t stop it in time.”

I winced at the thought of it, imagining a young Caspian standing too close to a forge, the heat searing his skin, burning deep. “Caspian…” I breathed, not knowing what else to say. The pain in his voice was raw, a wound that had never fully healed, much like his arm.

He pulled the sleeve back down over his arm. “The scars are a reminder of my limits, of what happens when you underestimate the power you’re dealing with. An important lesson here in the Vanguard. Everyone learns it eventually.”

I wanted to reach out to him, to offer some kind of comfort, but I wasn’t sure how. I’d never been good at that, at knowing what to say when someone was hurting. The people I had grown up around didn’t show their pain until it became unbearable. So instead, I just stood there, my heart aching for him.

“Do you still use the forge?” I asked, hoping the question didn’t come across as insensitive.

He nodded, his expression softening. “Yes. I have to. The forge is part of who I am, part of my lineage. I couldn’t let fear control me, so I went back and learned to harness it properly. I’m more careful now, more aware of what I’m dealing with. I only use it when I have to.”

“And your powers? Are they connected to the forge?” I was curious about his abilities; he hadn’t spoken of them. I hadn’t even known he was a Scion of Hephaestus.

“In a way. Hephaestus’s power runs through my veins, but it’s not just about fire and metal. It’s about creation, about bringing ideas to life, turning thought into reality. That’s what I do here. I take the impossible and make it possible.”

I couldn’t help but admire him. Caspian wasn’t just a mechanic, wasn’t just a tech geek. He was an artist in his own right, someone who took the raw materials of the world and shaped them into new and incredible things.

“Thank you for telling me.” I grinned up at him, deeply touched by him sharing all of this with me. I wanted to know everything about him, but he was such a closed off person.

He shrugged, but there was a faint smile on his lips. “You’ve trusted us with a lot, Lyra. It’s only fair that I do the same.”

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of his words hanging between us. I wanted to say more, wanted to let him know how much I appreciated his trust, but I couldn’t find the right words. Instead, I just let the silence stretch on, comfortable in a way I hadn’t expected.

Caspian finally broke the silence, his voice still soft, but with a note of determination. “You’re not alone, Lyra. You have us, all of us. We’re a team now. That means we’re here for each other, no matter what.”

I nodded, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “I know. And I’m glad. I’m glad to be part of all this. The team, that is.”

He gave me one last look, his gray eyes filled with more emotion than I wanted to consider, before he turned back to his workbench. I watched him for a moment, feeling the warmth of his presence even as he focused on his projects. There was a connection between us, and it was growing stronger with every passing day.

I lingered for a few more minutes, but exhaustion had set in, so I made my way back to my room, falling asleep faster than I had in weeks.

The next morning, I made my way to the training room with the triplets. It had become a routine of ours, one that I relied on to keep some sense of sanity amidst all the chaos. Kane was sparring with Theo, their movements fluid and precise, while Evan stood off to the side, his gaze sharp as he observed their technique.

I joined Evan, my eyes following the brothers as they moved across the mat, their skills on full display. They had been doing this for years; their familiarity with each other’s strengths and weaknesses was clear in every move. It was more of a dance than a fight.

“They’re impressive,” I said, more to myself than to Evan.

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “They are. But so are you.”

I raised an eyebrow, glancing at him. He knew I wasn’t a fighter. I knew enough to keep me out of trouble, but I hadn’t spent years training like they clearly had. “Me? I’m just trying to keep up.”

He was always so calm. It inspired similar feelings in me, feelings I was grateful for. “You’re doing more than that. You’re holding your own. Not everyone manages that, believe me.”

A flush of warmth spread across my cheeks at his words, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the compliment or from the way he was looking at me, with that quiet intensity that made me desperate to know what he was thinking.

“Thanks,” I said, not sure what else to say.

He gave me a small smile, one that made my heart skip a beat. “It’s the truth, Lyra. You belong here with us.”

The words hit me harder than I expected after my conversation with Caspian the night before and I had to look away, unable to meet his gaze. My feelings for the triplets, and for Caspian, were growing stronger by the day. I wasn’t sure how to handle them. I wasn’t used to caring about people like that, not used to letting myself be vulnerable. I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere with them, anywhere meaningful, if I didn’t let myself be vulnerable.

But they were making it harder to keep my guard up. Each of them, in their own way, was breaking down the walls I had built around myself—Kane with his effortless charm and infectious energy, Theo with his quiet strength and unwavering focus, Evan with his calm presence and thoughtful words, and Caspian with his intensity and the depth of emotion he kept so carefully hidden. I was falling for them, all of them, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

Kane and Theo finished their sparring session, both of them breathing hard, but grinning like they had just won a prizefight.

Kane wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to me, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He tossed me a training sword. Luckily, I had good reflexes and caught it easily. “You’re up next. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I had swung a sword a few times, after I had stolen one. I had been curious about what it would feel like in my hands. But fighting with one, that was going to be different. “All right. Who’s my opponent?”

Kane grinned, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Me, of course. Theo’s a bit too intense for you, and Evan, well, he’s too nice.”

Evan shot him a look, but there was a hint of amusement in his expression. “I’m nice when I want to be. What he means, though, is I’m the best of the three of us with a sword.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the banter, feeling some of the tension in my chest ease. This was what I needed to remind myself that I was still me, still capable of holding my own, even amid all the uncertainty.

“Okay, Kane,” I said, settling into a defensive stance. “Let’s do this.”

He didn’t waste any time. He lunged, his movements quick and precise. I barely parried his strike, the sound of clashing metal echoing through the training room. He grinned, clearly pleased with my response, and pressed the attack, his strikes coming faster and harder.

I did my best to meet each one with equal force, my focus narrowing to just the two of us, and the rhythm of the fight. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, the thrill of the fight sharpening my senses. Kane was a skilled fighter, far more skilled than I was, but I wasn’t about to let him get the best of me. A sword was different to daggers, but some principals were the same.

We moved across the mat, the sound of our swords ringing out with each clash. I could see the approval in Kane’s eyes, the respect that I was trying. My arm was aching more and more by the second, but I wasn’t going to let Kane beat me. He would never let me live it down.

Finally, he stepped back and lowered his sword with a grin. “Not bad, Lyra. A bit of work and you might even be good.”

I lowered my sword gratefully, my arm shaking, and flashed him a grin, my breath coming in heaving pants. “Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”

He laughed, a sound that was infectious and warm. “Not so bad, huh? I’ll take that as a compliment coming from you.”

Theo stepped forward, his expression more serious, but with a hint of amusement in his eyes. “You’re improving, Lyra. But remember, it’s not just about strength. It’s about strategy, timing, knowing when to strike and when to hold back.”

I nodded, absorbing his advice. Theo was the more analytical of the brothers, the one who saw the bigger picture, who planned three steps ahead. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, meeting his gaze.

We stood there in a comfortable silence for a moment, the bond between us growing stronger with each passing day. I could feel it; the connection that tied us together, that made us more than just a team. But for now, I was willing to let it be. To let myself feel, to let myself care, even if it scared me. Because whatever was coming, whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew I wouldn’t be facing them alone.

And that was enough.

Later that evening, I found myself back in the workshop, unable to sleep again. My thoughts were a tangled mess of emotions and questions, the weight of everything that had happened since I joined the Vanguard pressing down on me. I needed to clear my head, to find some semblance of peace from the thoughts.

Caspian was there when I arrived, as I had expected. He was always working, his focus unshakable as he tinkered with his projects. Tonight was no different. He was bent over a workbench, his hands moving with practiced ease as he adjusted a small, delicate piece of machinery.

I watched him for a moment, feeling a strange sense of calm just from being in his presence. He made the chaos in my mind a little less overwhelming.

He looked up after about a minute, his gray eyes meeting mine. “Couldn’t sleep again?” he asked, his voice as rough as it always was.

It wasn’t the first time I wondered what gave his voice that quality.

I shook my head, moving closer to him. “No. Too much on my mind.”

He nodded, not pressing for more details. Caspian had a way of understanding when to give space and when to offer comfort. It made me feel safe talking to him. “Want to help me with this?” he asked, gesturing to the piece of machinery on the workbench.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Sure. What is it?”

“A new piece of tech I’m working on,” he explained, his voice steady as he handed me a small tool. “It’s supposed to help us track the artifacts more efficiently. It’s still in the early stages.”

I took the tool, feeling the weight of it in my hand as I looked at the intricate wires and circuits on the workbench. “How does it work?”

Caspian smiled, the expression softening the lines of his face. “It’s all about energy signatures. Every artifact gives off a unique signal, like a fingerprint. This device will help us isolate those signatures and track them more accurately.”

I nodded, trying to absorb the information. “That sounds complicated.”

He chuckled, the sound low and comforting. “It is, but that’s what makes it interesting. There are always new things to learn and discover. It’s one of the good parts of being in the Vanguard.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, at the way his eyes lit up when he talked about his work. “You really love what you do, don’t you?”

He met my gaze, his expression serious. “I do. It’s not just a job for me, Lyra. It’s my purpose. My way of contributing to the team, to the mission.”

Warmth spread through my chest at his words, at the sincerity in his voice. He wasn’t just a mechanic, not just a tech expert. He was someone who cared deeply, who put his heart into everything he did.

We worked in comfortable silence for a while, the only sounds in the workshop the soft hum of machinery and the occasional clink of metal against metal. As we worked, I slowly relaxed, the tension in my shoulders easing as I focused on the task at hand. It was a welcome distraction from the storm of emotions inside me, a way to center myself amid all the uncertainty.

But as the minutes passed, I found my thoughts drifting back to Caspian, to the way he had opened up to me about his past, about his scarred arm and the connection to his powers. He didn’t need to share that with me, but the fact he had meant more to me than I could put into words.

“Caspian,” I began, my voice hesitant.

He looked up from the workbench, his expression open and patient. “Yes?”

“I want you to know that I’m glad you told me about your arm, about what happened. I know that wasn’t easy, and I really appreciate it.”

He was quiet for a moment, his gaze steady on mine. “It wasn’t easy. But I trust you, Lyra. And I want you to know that you can trust me, too.”

A lump formed in my throat at his words, the sincerity in his voice making my heart ache in a way I hadn’t expected. “I do trust you, Caspian. More than I thought I could.”

He smiled then; a small, genuine smile that made my chest tighten. “Good. Because we’re in this together, all of us. And I want you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what.”

As the night wore on, I found myself hoping that this connection, this bond we were building, would only grow stronger with time. Because whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever dangers we would face, I knew I wouldn’t be facing them alone. I had Caspian, and I had the triplets. That was enough to give me the strength I needed to keep moving forward.