Chapter 19

The Platform of Surrender

I stepped down the spiral staircase, winding away from Theodore's graveyard. With every step, my breathing was faster and heavier. My eyes were red and puffy and my legs were burning and aching. Still, I pushed onwards.

Every ounce of me wanted to give up, to stop right there. I had been through too much to continue, yet I had been through too much to give up. So down the spiral staircase I went.

Darkness was descending upon me. I wished Raven was down there with me, searching for the Azurro. Nothing was scarier than having to do it alone.

The staircase seemed to continue for an impossibly long time. Wherever the Azurro lay, it must have been far beneath Nightingale's lair.

Just like it had a few minutes earlier, a light began to shine. This time, however, it was electric blue. I dashed towards it. Step by step, I ran downstairs, but I was going a little too fast. I stumbled down the stairs and fell flat on my face.

That's when I saw it.

As I lay on the floor, I saw a vast golden platform. On a pedestal in the center was a round, blue crystal the size of a soccer ball. Electric blue energy circled around the crystal. I had finally found the Azurro.

I stood up and wandered towards the platform. I stepped up onto the platform and looked at the crystal from a distance. It was beautiful for sure. Nothing else screamed "I am a valuable gem from Elven folklore" like the Azurro. I wandered closer to the Azurro.

As I approached the crystal, I stared into it. The crystal reflected my tear-stained, sweat-drenched face. It occurred to me that I was becoming the third Reflektor from the river, the one with violet eyes. I was becoming my own future.

I took the Azurro off of its pedestal and found it to be surprisingly light. I stepped off of the pedestal with the crystal. Glancing upwards at the light, I began my journey back up to the restaurant.

I carefully ascended back up the staircase with one hand on the railing and one hand draped over the Azurro. As I reached the top of the staircase again, I breathed in something new.

Success.