Pain was mental. That's what my mother always told me.

The sharp rocks slicing into my bare feet as I ran down the old path.

Mental.

The burning in my throat from all the smoke and screaming.

It was just in my head.

The aching in my heart as I realized my baby sister had been captured by the crown.

It was all in my head.

I could push it away if I tried. That's what she always said.

Focus on something happy. She always told me.

I glanced up at the stars. What would she think now? What would she tell me now?

Probably something useless. Her advice was always useless.

I willed them thoughts away. The last thing I wanted to do was summon my mother's spirit.

My magic was burning me from the inside out. It was so unpredictable now.

I stopped running as I neared the river. The once calm waters raged against the bank.

"Veya!" A voice yelled from behind me.

I turned quickly. My sword was already drawn.

Kovi moved like a shadow. I wouldn't have seen her if she wasn't waving her blade in the air. "They've taken Sifa! They're looking for you!" She caught up to me.

"I know." I looked in my bag to make sure everything was still there. "I only have two artifacts to go."

I didn't count the artifacts with Cassius, he would find me.

"They'll catch you before you can find them. Do you even know if the Stone of Celeste is in Manthe?" She looked out at the water. "The tides are restless, something has happened to Caspian."

I didn't register her words. I was too busy looking behind her at the soldiers running towards us.

I grabbed her without thinking and ran towards the relentless water.

She screamed as she held onto me. "Are you trying to get us killed?!"

I slowed down before my feet hit the water.

"Guide me." I whispered.

Then I was running again.

On the water.

...
Welp. I guess I'm going to have two in-progress books lol.

Let me know your thoughts on this one because it's new territory for me.

<3