Chapter Thirty-Five: Sylvia

Sylvia confirms Arin is breathing after knocking him out in Rory’s wrecked apothecary. Surveying Mahair, she anticipates Nizahl soldiers will soon arrest the Urabi for using magic, risking another bloodbath. She decides to exploit the Nizahl’s highest order—the Heir’s safety—by spiriting Arin away so the soldiers will abandon the village.

Despite fear of her growing gold and silver veins, Sylvia uses magic once more, manifesting two powerful kitmers she names Niseeba and Ingaz. With Niseeba’s help, she loads and secures the unconscious Arin, ensuring his skin cannot touch the kitmer. Unable to explain to the Urabi, she leaves a note as Essiya: she is pursuing their first plan and to meet her at the intended destination.

Sylvia mounts Ingaz and blasts from the shop, flying over the standoff between villagers, Urabi, and Nizahl soldiers. She publicly taunts the soldiers with the sight of their Heir bound to Niseeba, goading them to give chase and ensuring they will quit Mahair. She then heads across Essam toward a known Nizahl holding where she intends to drop Arin before rejoining the Urabi en route to Omal.

As the green expanse of Essam rolls beneath them, Sylvia allows herself a moment of awe. Arin stirs awake, bruised and bound, and begins freeing his arms despite her warning to keep his legs restrained due to his injuries. Their tense exchange recalls earlier clashes over care and control.

Suddenly, both kitmers falter midair, wings laboring as if through sand. Arin’s alarmed gaze fixes on the trees; he orders Sylvia to hold on and identifies the threat: the Mirayah is drawing in the kitmers’ magic. With their power siphoned, the flight fails, and they plunge toward the woods.