Contents
Chapter 69 — Oro
Overview
En route to Nightshade, Oro is contacted by the Pool of Possibilities, embodied by a silver-haired woman. The pool shows alternate histories proving certain events—Egan and Violet’s love, Oro’s love for Isla—are inevitable, and that Grim’s role ultimately spared Lightlark. Faced with bleak alternatives, Oro learns a pivotal choice awaits and that he can break the repeating cycle.
Summary
Oro departs Lightlark, confident Isla will learn the portaling device’s location, and begins the long flight to Nightshade. Through his bond with Isla, he senses her pain and suddenly perceives a shining silver pool in his mind. A silver-haired woman declares he has been chosen by the Pool of Possibilities.
The pool invites questions. Oro tests pivotal moments: if Egan hadn’t abdicated, or hadn’t loved Violet—yet in every path, Egan and Violet still fall in love, the heartbreak triggers Aurora’s curses, and the same tragedies follow. When Oro asks what if Grim hadn’t found Lightlark’s heart for Aurora, he sees an even bloodier outcome—Aurora kills Violet, Egan, and Oro, and Lightlark collapses into the sea.
Confronting his hatred for Grim, Oro realizes Grim’s action indirectly saved the island. He then tests his own heart: in every possibility where he meets Isla, he loves her. When he asks what if he never meets Isla, he sees himself remain frozen, the curses persist, he dies, and Lightlark dies with him.
Oro cycles through further hypotheticals—Cleo skipping the Centennial, no curses, no war, his parents alive—yet none yield a life happier than the one touched by Isla, even when she chooses Grim. The silver woman explains a consequential choice is coming and urges him to break history’s cycle.
As night falls and the vision fades, Oro realizes a day has passed mid-flight. Haunted but newly resolved, he races on toward Nightshade, carrying the knowledge that some bonds are fixed, that past alternatives were worse, and that his impending decision could finally end repetition.
Who Appears
- Oro ReyKing of Lightlark; contacted by the Pool, tests alternate histories, accepts inevitable loves, and anticipates a pivotal choice.
- Silver-haired woman (Voice of the Pool)Manifestation of the Pool of Possibilities; guides Oro through divergent outcomes and urges him to break the cycle.
- Isla CrownAbsent but felt through the bond; Oro’s love proves inevitable and vital to Lightlark’s survival in the visions.
- GrimHis past act finding Lightlark’s heart is shown to have ultimately saved the island in alternative timelines.
- EganOro’s brother; his love for Violet and abdication remain inevitable across possibilities, triggering Aurora’s curses.
- VioletWildling ruler; her fated love with Egan catalyzes Aurora’s heartbreak and the curses in every scenario.
- AuroraStarling ruler; in alternate outcomes without Grim’s intervention, her rage kills Violet, Egan, and Oro, dooming Lightlark.