45. Tessa

Isolated and suppressing her feelings, Tessa tests her light magic while keeping mental shields against Theon and Luka. Craving an end to the stalemate, she reaches out briefly, then steels herself as masked Augury members burst in. She accepts restraint bands to control the situation, warning someone will die if they touch her.

Escorted through silent Pantheon corridors and a dark tunnel, Tessa nearly panics until guided by Luka and Theon over the bond. Emerging into a snowy amphitheater near the Wynfell, she faces Valter Arius and his Source. Valter admits working around Tessa’s visions and derides Theon for failing to control her.

Valter reveals he and Rordan once built the Augury together, that Rordan concealed Tessa, and that Theon uncovered her maternal lineage—and likely her paternal line—yet told no one. Valter implies he intended to bind Achaz blood to Arius power. When Tessa declares she is here to end the war, Valter draws dark blades and orders her subjugation.

As Eviana’s vines pin Tessa and Valter moves to kill her, a storm intensifies and the ground quakes. Fissures encircle Tessa, flaring with golden light as identical, pale, floating beings rise from the earth. Eviana tries to pull Valter back, but he refuses, focused on finishing the act.

The beings divide their attention between Valter and Tessa. One draws a golden sword and slices her ankle bonds; another addresses her with an eerie proclamation: “Blood of death, yet blood of life. We serve at his bequest, and thus at yours.” Their allegiance shifts the balance, halting Valter’s execution attempt and upending the Augury’s plan.