CHAPTER 56: 53: INCONSISTENCIES.

Time crawled to a standstill, and Edward instinctively bracing himself. Anticipating whatever misfortune was about to befall them.

Though, contrary to his worries...

Nothing happened.

Literally.

The sunlight was still drowning the clearing with its intensity, the warm light bouncing off of the petals and flowers, making them look a little ethereal. There was a light breeze coming in from somewhere, making the faint trace of mana simmer in the air.

"That’s... weird." Aria still looked like she was on edge, her hand extended out, most likely to summon her blade if it was needed.

"The mana looks natural." Selene said in a low voice, her eyes still glued to the strange flowers on the ground.

"I don’t sense anything either." Rowan added.

Aria nodded.

"Then we will take a break here, take turns on standing guard."

Then she turned to Edward.

"You should sit for a while."

Edward reluctantly agreed, and took a seat under a nearby tree as the rest of the group huddled close to discuss something, eventually splitting off into every direction.

Calen lingered for a moment longer than the others, watching Edward lower himself to the ground. His expression was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly once Edward was seated safely. Then he turned and moved to take his position deeper in the clearing.

Soon, only Selene remained within immediate reach, quietly checking the perimeter with her wand raised just a little.

Edward pulled his knees up and leaned back against the bark. The tree felt blessedly cool against his overheated skin. He let out a shaky breath, trying to ease the uncomfortable tightness in his chest.

...He hated feeling like this.

So helpless. So out of place.

So small compared to everyone else.

A soft shimmer floated past his face—one of the drifting motes of mana—and he watched it lazily, almost hypnotically. It moved like a firefly, leaving a faint trail of pale blue light in its wake before dissolving into the air.

Peaceful. But unsettling.

This place didn’t feel wrong, exactly—just... unfamiliar. Too perfect. As if the forest were holding its breath with them.

His gaze drifted to the others.

Rowan was crouched by the far end of the clearing, poking through the underbrush in search of tracks or signs of movement. His fiery hair caught the sunlight, turning him into a beacon between the trees.

Selene glided past him, tracing faint circles in the air as she measured the flow of mana. Her eyes glinted with something close to fascination.

Calen stood a few paces behind her, expression sharp, posture rigid—an unmoving guardian statue that refused to rest even for a moment.

And Aria...Aria had climbed onto a fallen log for a better vantage, gaze sweeping across the treeline like she was scanning for the slightest hint of trouble. Her presence alone seemed to keep the clearing from breathing too loudly.

Edward watched them all for a long moment.

They were strong. Capable. Collected.

And then there was him.

His fingers curled tightly into the fabric of his trousers.

Why did they even drag me along?

He knew the truth. Even if no one said it aloud. He was the one they needed to protect, save, carry—because without them, he would have died in that forest a dozen times already.

He swallowed, forcing the bitterness down.

He didn’t want to be a burden.

Suddenly—

A soft shadow fell over him.

Edward looked up.

Aria stood there, looking down at him with an unreadable expression. Her hair glowed like spun silver under the sun, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Your heartbeat is too fast," she said quietly.

He stiffened. "I’m fine."

"No, you’re not."

Her calm tone cut through him sharper than any blade. She lowered herself to sit beside him, leaving barely an inch of space between them.

"You don’t have to pretend when you’re exhausted," she murmured. "No one here expects you to act strong."

Edward’s breath caught.

He stiffened, trying—and failing—to look anywhere but at her.

She reached out, gently brushing a leaf off his shoulder.

"You’re allowed to rest, Edward."

The words were simple. Soft. Almost too soft.

But they pierced through all the noise in his head.

He let out a slow exhale, shoulders sagging as the tension finally—finally—loosened.

"...Just for a moment," he whispered.

She nodded once.

"That’s enough."

Aria stayed beside him in companionable silence, letting Edward settle into the brief moment of peace. He watched the drifting lights again—those faint motes floating lazily across the clearing like stray embers.

One hovered near his knee.

Edward blinked.

The mote didn’t fade like the others. Instead, it bobbed once... twice... almost as if acknowledging him.

Then it flickered out of existence.

A strange chill crawled up his arms.

He rubbed them discreetly.

Probably just nerves.

He tried distracting himself by scanning the clearing, letting his gaze wander toward the strange flowers carpeting the ground. There were too many of them—every shade between pink and gold, blooming thickly despite the soil looking dead.

"...Aria," Edward whispered.

She looked at him.

"These flowers... Are they normal?"

She tilted her head thoughtfully. "They shouldn’t be this many. This region of the forbidden grove usually lacks the soil for flowering plants." A pause. "But mana sometimes accelerates growth. It happens."

Her explanation made sense.

And yet...

Edward’s stomach twisted.

Before he could say anything else, Rowan called from across the clearing.

"I found something!"

Aria rose gracefully. "Rest. I’ll be back."

She joined Rowan and Calen at the far end of the clearing, leaving Edward alone beneath the tree.

Silence settled again.

He pressed a hand against his chest. His heartbeat had steadied earlier... but now, it was climbing again. A prickling sensation spread across his skin—uncomfortable, itchy, like dozens of eyes brushing against him.

Is it the mana? Or—

Ding.

A soft chiming sound rippled against his ears.

Edward tensed, expecting another system message.

But no panel appeared.

"...Hello?" he whispered under his breath.

No answer.

The forest hummed quietly.

Only—

For a split second, the sunlight dimmed. As if a cloud had passed overhead.

But when Edward looked up...

There were no clouds. Only a flawless sky.

His breath hitched.

Something was wrong.

He couldn’t explain it—not logically—but every instinct in him screamed that something about this clearing was off. Like a thread pulled too tightly. Like a painting with one wrong brushstroke.

A faint breeze drifted past him.

And carried with it a whisper.

So soft he couldn’t tell if it was real or imagined.

"...don’t trust what you see."