Chapter Thirty-Six: Zélie

After six grueling days crossing the desert, Zélie, Tzain, and Amari enter the lush Gombe River Valley, relieved now that they possess the scroll, sunstone, and bone dagger with six days left until the solstice. They pause by the river, joking and splashing, briefly reclaiming a sense of safety.

The calm shatters when Zélie is yanked into Inan’s dreamscape, a sudden, stronger pull that signals his physical proximity. Moments later, Inan arrives alone on a panthenaire, bloodstained and exhausted. Spotting no guards, Zélie decides she can face him. Amari, trembling but resolute, steps between them to reach her brother.

Amari urges Inan to reject their father’s brutality, insisting they can choose a different future. Inan wavers, tears rising as he mutters that magic “destroyed her,” echoing their father’s fear. Amari lowers his blade, but the hesitation breaks; Inan shoves Amari aside and charges Zélie.

Zélie meets Inan head-on. Their weapons clash as Inan’s fatigue battles Zélie’s fury over the raids and Lekan’s death. Zélie taunts his concealer and strikes to end the threat. Inan counters with lethal intent, declaring that if Zélie dies, magic dies with her, and drives in for another blow.