Chapter 38

The room was silent, the kind of stillness that presses against your ears, making you hyper-aware of your own breath, of the steady thrum of your pulse. My fingers trembled as I placed the final item at the edge of the circle—a small, polished stone to represent the earth. It glinted under the faint light, a dull sheen, but enough to make me feel its weight, its grounding presence.

I stepped back, feeling the faint pull of the elements around me. The air was thick with anticipation, like the room itself was holding its breath. I closed my eyes, centering myself, letting my focus drop into the pit of my stomach where my fear twisted with excitement. This ritual was unlike anything I’d attempted before. It wasn’t just about unlocking power—it was about confronting the parts of myself I’d kept hidden, buried deep in the shadows.

Taking a deep breath, I began the invocation, my voice steady despite the tremor of anticipation beneath it.

“I call to the Elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. I seek your protection, your guidance. Join me here, in this circle, and grant me safe passage as I step into the shadows.”

The silence stretched, pressing against me from all sides. But then, a subtle shift—a faint rustling, as if something unseen had just stepped into the room.

I faced north, my hands raised in respect. “Earth,” I called, feeling the weight of the stone at my feet. “Steady my steps and ground my spirit. Lend me your strength.”

For a moment, nothing happened. I stood, holding my breath, waiting—and then, warmth spread through my feet, solid and reassuring, like the embrace of old, unmoving roots. The air around me grew denser, an invisible force settling into the circle. I could feel Earth’s presence—heavy, grounding energy that filled me with calm.

“I will hold you, child of shadows,” a voice murmured, deep and ancient. It felt like standing in the presence of a mountain, immovable and watchful.

I froze, my breath hitching. Earth had spoken to me. The shock settled in my chest as I struggled to steady myself. I’d called on the elements before, asked them for guidance, but they’d never answered. Not like this.

I swallowed, grounding myself further in Earth’s strength, before turning to face east.

“Air,” I called, my voice a little stronger now. “Clear my mind and grant me clarity. Guide my thoughts with wisdom.”

This time, there was no delay. A soft breeze swept through the room, carrying the faint scent of pine and fresh rain. It curled around me, cool and gentle, playful yet sharp. It lifted the hairs on my arms, ruffling my clothes as it swirled through the circle.

“I am your breath, your thoughts, your dreams,” a whisper drifted into my ear, light as gossamer, as if spoken by a thousand voices. There was a mischievous edge to it, yet its presence was soothing, lifting the fog that clouded my mind.

I felt my pulse quicken. Another answer. I hadn’t expected this, hadn’t thought the elements would actually… speak. But here I was, surrounded by forces that were finally acknowledging me. They weren’t just present—they were with me.

I turned to the south, feeling the pulse of heat even before I called.

“Fire,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Ignite my spirit, fuel my resolve. Burn away my doubts.”

Heat flared at the edge of the circle, a spark that quickly blossomed into a flame, its light casting a warm glow against the darkened room. The flames flickered, bold and wild, almost daring me to look away. It roared within me, fierce and unyielding, an energy that made my heart race.

“I am your courage,” Fire crackled, its voice sharp and fierce. “I am your passion, your fury. Do not fear me.”

A flare of excitement and thrill shot through me as the heat intensified, filling me with a defiant surge of courage that pushed back against every doubt in my mind. Fire’s power was demanding, a force I knew could consume as easily as it could protect. But I accepted it, feeling the fierceness settle into my bones, a shield of confidence.

Finally, I turned west, feeling a familiar, gentle coolness settling over the room. My pulse slowed, steadied, as if it recognized what was coming.

“Water,” I called, feeling the warmth of Fire now tempered by a familiar, calming presence. “Wash over me. Soothe my spirit and reveal what lies hidden.”

A soft, refreshing chill seeped into the room, a quiet, calm presence that flowed like a river, wrapping around my ankles and rising up, snaking around my torso in a comforting embrace. It was the same presence that had mended me so many times before—gentle, nurturing, and strong.

“I am your solace,” Water murmured, its voice soft, melodic. “Your healer, your peace. I will carry you.”

My heart swelled, warmth and gratitude blooming within me. I remembered every moment Water had come to my aid, every time it had soothed an ache or eased an injury. It was the element that had protected me most fiercely, and now, as it wrapped around me like an old friend, I felt a surge of emotion, a trust that went deeper than words.

I let out a breath, feeling the balance of all four elements around me—Earth’s grounding strength, Air’s clarity, Fire’s courage, and Water’s calm embrace. They surrounded me, a shield woven from their combined power. And yet, as powerful as they were, they were only the beginning.

“Shadows,” I murmured, bowing my head, feeling my pulse quicken. “I come to you not in command but in need. I ask for your guidance, for your help. Show me the path within myself—let me unlock what lies hidden.”

The room grew darker, the edges of the circle blurring as shadows pooled and deepened, drawn to my call. My pulse quickened, and I felt the warmth of the elements against my back, each one of them steady and unwavering. But the shadows… they were different.

The darkness coiled around my feet, slithering up my legs, winding their way up my arms. Their touch was cold, a biting chill that sank into my skin, yet there was something oddly familiar about it. They pressed in close, shifting and swirling, molding themselves into a form—a silhouette, dark and faceless, yet undeniably human.

I held my breath as the figure solidified, the shadows falling away to reveal a familiar face. I took a shaky step back, my heart pounding as I recognized the sharp, toothy grin, the piercing eyes that seemed to see right through me.

Draven.

The spirit I’d seen in the graveyard, the one who had told me about my mother. But this wasn’t just some spectral presence. No, this was something much older, much more powerful. The shadows pulsed around them, responding to their presence as if they were a part of them—a part of it.

They tilted their head, their eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “I have been waiting for your call, Mara.”

I felt a chill run down my spine, my thoughts scrambling to make sense of what was happening. Draven… Draven was the shadows themselves? Shadow magic in a form I could see, speak to? The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

“You… you’re the Shadow magic,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Their grin widened, a glint of something ancient and knowing in their eyes. “Very perceptive, Love.”

My heart raced as I stared at them, feeling the weight of their gaze settle over me. This entire time, I’d thought Draven was just a spirit, a messenger. But they were so much more. They were the very essence of shadow magic, the force that had chosen me, marked me, waited patiently for me to take the first step.

They took a step forward, their form shifting slightly, their edges blurring and reforming as the shadows coiled around them. “You are here to seek your truth, are you not?”

I swallowed hard, unable to tear my gaze away from them. The elements stood at my back, their presence steady and strong, but Draven’s gaze was unrelenting, piercing through every defense I’d tried to build.

“I… I am,” I managed, my voice trembling.

Draven’s smile widened, their eyes gleaming with approval. “Then prepare yourself, Mara. For the shadows are not kind. They will show you everything, strip you bare, and leave you with nothing but the truth. Are you ready for that?”

I hesitated, the weight of their words settling over me like a shroud. The truth. That was what I’d come for, what I’d asked for. But now, standing in the presence of the shadows themselves, I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

But it was too late to turn back now. The shadows had answered my call, and there was no escaping their gaze.

With a deep breath, I nodded, my heart pounding as I prepared to face whatever lay hidden within me.

Draven’s smile widened, a dark, gleeful glint in their eyes. “Then let us begin.”