Lulu

“They’ve done the ritual before.”

Caspian finally spoke as we left the underground medical chamber. His voice was low, like water moving beneath thick ice—calm, but carrying something powerful underneath.

We returned to Sapphire Water just before dusk. The territory welcomed us in deep shades of blue, the vast lake almost completely still, as if holding its breath. Only then did I notice the leaves on the trees had begun to turn yellow, some already scattered across the ground.

The ...