Chapter 23: Oblivion
January 18, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Cold.
That was Flora’s first sensation.
A deep, bone‑piercing cold that felt older than the world itself. She opened her eyes to find herself standing on a vast plain of black stone. The sky above was a swirling vortex of violet and silver, streaked with lightning that made no sound.
Aestus shivered beside her. “This place is… wrong.”
Flora nodded. “This is where the sword is hidden.”
The dragon emerged behind them, its scales dimmed by the oppressive atmosphere. Even its fire seemed muted.
Aestus unrolled the map. The silver ink glowed faintly, pointing toward a distant mountain shaped like a jagged fang.
“That’s our destination,” he said.
They began walking.
The ground cracked beneath their feet, releasing wisps of pale mist that curled around their ankles. Whispering voices drifted through the air — faint, unintelligible, but persistent.
Flora tried to ignore them.
But one whisper grew louder.
“Flora…”
She froze.
Aestus turned. “What is it?”
She swallowed. “Someone said my name.”
Aestus scanned the empty plain. “There’s no one here.”
The whisper came again — closer.
“Flora… come to me…”
Flora’s flames flickered involuntarily.
Aestus grabbed her arm. “Don’t listen. Oblivion feeds on doubt.”
Flora nodded, forcing herself to keep moving.
But the whisper followed.
And it knew her name.
