Contents
Chapter Fifteen: Sylvia
Overview
The Urabi use three Visionists to display Galim’s Bend as unleashed monsters ravage the village. A dulhath and Al Anqa’a are among them, enraging Sylvia.
Arin arrives alone, drains Al Anqa’a’s magic by touch, and crashes it before Nizahl troops appear. Sylvia’s voice seemingly reaches Arin, stirring fear and debate over her unpredictable magic while the Urabi celebrate sown chaos among the kingdoms.
Summary
At an icy lake, Sylvia joins Namsa, Maia, Efra, and the Urabi as three Visionists prepare to project Galim’s Bend. Sylvia reflects on rare Jasad magic, Mufsid killings, and Nizahl’s failure to execute captured Mufsids, suspecting Nizahl wants their intelligence.
The Visionists form a water screen revealing Galim’s Bend overrun by monsters, including nisnas and a shapeshifting dulhath—proving a Magic Eater was released. Sylvia realizes Efra’s strategy will draw monsters to Jasadis. Then Al Anqa’a appears, and Sylvia furiously confronts Efra for unleashing it on civilians.
Arin rides in alone. After testing the chaos, he returns to a hilltop and baits Al Anqa’a. At the last moment he dodges, stabs it, then clings beneath its neck and drains its magic by touch. Weakened, Al Anqa’a crashes through buildings; Arin bails out and survives, bloodied. Only then do Nizahl soldiers crest the hill.
As a nisnas creeps up behind Arin, Sylvia silently screams for him to turn. Arin appears to hear and looks directly toward her before killing the vision as the Visionists collapse from exhaustion. The Urabi are shocked that Arin sensed them and that Sylvia’s call seemed to reach him.
Efra unexpectedly defends Sylvia, claiming Arin tracked the Visionists’ magic, not a portal. Lateef warns against projecting him again. After most depart, Efra accuses Sylvia’s rule-breaking power of endangering their hope, citing prior catastrophes. Namsa insists all magic has rules and pushes to discover Sylvia’s.
Who Appears
- SylviaPOV; watches Urabi vision of Galim’s Bend, condemns releasing monsters, seemingly reaches Arin with a shouted warning.
- ArinRides alone into Galim’s Bend, drains Al Anqa’a by touch, crashes it, survives wounded, appears to hear Sylvia across the vision.
- NamsaUrabi leader balancing caution and belief; restrains Sylvia, questions assumptions, argues that Sylvia’s magic has rules.
- MaiaUrabi ally with a severing specialty; observes the vision in horror and supports measured interpretation.
- EfraRadical Urabi; orchestrates monster release, baits kingdoms into conflict, surprisingly defends Sylvia to protect morale.
- Three VisionistsConjure and sustain the distant view of Galim’s Bend until they collapse from magical exhaustion.
- Al Anqa’aMythic predator unleashed over Galim’s Bend; drained of magic by Arin and crashed into the village.
- DulhathMagic Eater seen in the chaos, signaling Urabi released a being that hunts magic sources.
- LateefUrabi figure advising against projecting Arin again, fearing he could see through to them.
- Nizahl soldiersArrive only after Al Anqa’a falls, reinforcing Arin belatedly.