Page 34

34

T he decision had been made. Owen insisted they follow the river toward the waterfalls, but they couldn’t afford another disaster like the canyon. No one argued. Cirrus accepted the plan without hesitation, partly because guilt scratched at him for leading them into danger, but also because this stretch of terrain was uncharted. They were walking blind now, no maps, no clear plan—just instincts and the luring rumble of the waterfalls to guide them.

Lewis limped behind them, dragging his feet more than walking. “If I’d known how much godsdamned cardio this trip required, I would've stayed home.”

“Didn’t the king force you to go on this voyage?” Owen asked dryly.

“Yes,” Lewis muttered, his expression twisted in a grimace. “Sadistic bastard. He probably uses cardio as a torture technique.”

He wasn’t the only one drained. Cirrus, usually quick with a quip, barely had the energy to keep his head up. Owen carried himself with his usual poise, but even he couldn’t mask the exhaustion darkening the skin under his eyes. Every part of Vivienne ached. The canyon’s dust clung to her sweat-slicked skin, turning her into a walking layer of salty, gritty mud. Every step chafed. Every breath a small rebellion against her fatigue.

"The waterfalls are getting louder, that means we’re close, right?" Lewis mumbled, dragging his sleeve across his face. "Please tell me we’re close. I don’t care if it’s a lie."

As they rounded a bend, the world ahead transformed. The thick foliage parted, revealing a breathtaking vale. A crystalline lagoon shimmered under freckles of sunlight, cradled at the base of the mountainside. A smaller waterfall spilled over jagged rocks, feeding the river in a misty cascade. The sounds of rushing water and the scent of damp earth caressed their senses. Lush greenery framed the scene—towering ferns, leafy vines, and flowers of impossible color. It was an oasis in the midst of an unforgiving landscape.

Vivienne’s jaw dropped, momentarily forgetting the weight in her limbs. “It’s… stunning.”

Cirrus exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Looks like we finally caught a break.”

“We need rest,” Owen said, sweeping the group and assessing their battered state. “And a rinse… or two.”

Lewis didn’t need more encouragement. He broke into a hobbling jog, already tugging off his boots as he headed for the water. Vivienne chuckled, shaking her head as she slowed near a cluster of enormous flowers flanking the path. Their broad petals curled outward in a halo of deep violet, encircling a faintly luminescent orange center. The thick green stalks swayed with the breeze. Their scent was inebriating—sugar on bricks after fresh rain.

She leaned closer to breathe them in?—

PTHHH-CHOOFF!

The bloom sneezed. A puff of bright orange pollen exploded onto her face and chest. She gasped, staggering back, waving her hands uselessly through the cloud. The flower’s outburst rippled down the line. One by one, each bloom puffed, sending a neon storm of pollen over the entire group.

The scent intensified, cloying and overwhelming. Vivienne’s head spun as the mist overtook the air around them. She wiped at her face, blinking rapidly, but the fine powder clung to her like a second skin. A slow, bubbling laugh escaped her throat, unbidden.

Then she heard them—Lewis, Cirrus, and Owen, all laughing, hard.

Lewis yanked off his glasses, revealing a perfect, untouched outline of skin around his eyes, making the rest of his face a tangerine mask. He gaped at them before collapsing into wheezing laughter.

“Gods,” Cirrus choked between cackles, clutching his ribs. “We look ridiculous.”

Vivienne doubled over, her sides aching, helpless against the absurdity. Tears of mirth streaked trails through the pollen coating her cheeks. It had been so long since they’d laughed—really laughed.

Lewis wiped at his face, still giggling. “Wait… is anyone else… seeing…?”

Vivienne’s head snapped up. She turned to look, but her vision swam. A dizzying lightness bloomed in her chest, tingling down her limbs. The world warped at the edges, blurring like ripples on water. The vibrant rainforest twisted, colors bleeding together.

Her knees buckled.

She barely heard Owen calling her name before everything disintegrated into darkness.