The fire inside Anikin's tree-home crackled softly, casting golden light on the ancient wood and the hanging scrolls lining the walls. Outside, the twilight of the Shadowkin village dimmed to black, and the peaceful quiet of the forest took hold.
Selena sat alone in the corner of the common chamber, eyes drifting across Arya, who laughed beside the hearth with Kael and Stormclaw. Luther leaned against the far wall, polishing his blade with quiet care. His gaze flicked toward Arya more often than he'd admit. The tension between them was like a string drawn taut, shimmering with every glance and smirk. Selena watched all of it in silence, a storm brewing behind her eyes.
Jaina's voice still echoed within her, sharp and relentless:
"Within the next weeks… one of your friends will face death in the eye."
She couldn't shake it. Every smile felt borrowed. Every moment, like the hush before a storm.
She held her belly, the faint movement beneath her palm a reminder of the life growing within—a life that tethered them all to something far greater than they yet understood. And yet, she felt like a ghost among the living. How could she tell them what she'd seen?
No. Not yet.
She rose, slipping away from the warmth of the firelight and into the winding wooden halls of Anikin's home.
At the top of the stairs was a narrow passage lit with glowing blue orbs nestled in the bark. She paused at the tall wooden door and knocked softly.
"Enter," came the calm voice from within.
Anikin's study was a cocoon of knowledge—walls lined with scrolls, arcane stones humming faintly, a massive table carved into the tree itself, layered with maps, notes, and softly pulsing artifacts. The old Shadowkin sat behind the table, his expression unreadable, tattoos glowing faintly under the ambient light.
Selena stepped in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need your wisdom… if you have the time."
He gestured for her to sit. "Always."
She sank into the chair across from him, took a deep breath, and began.
"It started with a letter," she said, her eyes distant. "I had just discovered I was pregnant. I was so excited… Markas didn't know yet. I was going to surprise him."
Anikin's eyes studied her, still and sharp.
"But before I could tell him… he died. He was murdered by his own brother. By Mathew."
The weight of his name seemed to thicken the air.
"He was my world," Selena whispered, her voice trembling. "We were going to build a life together. A future. All of that was ripped away before he even knew he was going to be a father."
She swallowed hard, eyes shining. "I ran. I had to. Mathew… he didn't just want the throne. He wanted me."
That caught Anikin's interest. His brow furrowed, the lines of age deepening across his face.
"He's twisted," she continued. "He believes I belong to him. That if he claims me, he also claims Markas's legacy, the loyalty of his people… everything."
"And the child?" Anikin asked gently.
"He doesn't care about the child," she said, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Not the way a father would. He sees me as a prize. The last piece in his conquest."
Anikin leaned back, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"You came here seeking sanctuary?" he asked.
"I came here following fate," she said. "I've been guided by visions. Dreams from something greater—someone who calls herself Jaina. She's shown me pieces of what's to come. This child… it isn't ordinary. It's something ancient. A god-king reborn."
Anikin's eyes darkened with thought. "A soul returned?"
She nodded. "I didn't believe it at first. I was overwhelmed. But everything keeps pointing to one truth: this child is destined to change the world."
"And what of you?"
Selena hesitated.
"I've seen my end," she said softly. "In every vision… I die giving birth."
The silence in the room stretched thin and taut.
Anikin rose from his seat and paced slowly to the window, gazing out at the massive iceberg in the distance—the Icehart glowing like a beacon in the center of the village.
"Do you believe fate can be changed?" he asked at last.
"I don't know," she admitted. "But I'm not ready to give up."
He turned back to her, the golden light catching in his silver eyes. "Then hold fast to that. Your courage is the only thing that might outmatch the gods' will."
Selena blinked back her tears, breathing in the moment.
Anikin stepped closer, his voice lower now. "Thank you for trusting me with this burden. But understand—there are forces far older than either of us at play. I cannot change your fate. No one can."
She nodded.
"And whatever path lies ahead," he added, "know that you are not alone. But I cannot promise you the answers you seek."
Selena offered a faint smile. "I don't need answers. Just someone who understands."
The fire crackled between them as the moment settled. No grand solutions. No promises of miracles. Just two souls in the dark, sharing a candle's light.