CHAPTER 1071: VISIT

The portal bloomed open in front of Arty, spilling faint ripples of silver and red light across the chamber from the vortex.

She lifted her eyes from the heavy tome spread across her lap and she already knew who it was by the color and feeling of the energy alone.

A smile tugged at her lips even before Erend stepped through.

He emerged with his familiar presence. His shoulders still looked steady and his face lit by a small smile that softened the edges of his usual intensity.

"I knew you’d still be awake at this hour," he said.

Arty gave a little shrug, her eyes glinting in the dim light as her smile lingered. "You know that I can’t really sleep these last few days."

Erend nodded, lowering his gaze briefly before letting out a quiet breath. "Yeah. I understand."

He really did understand. After everything she had been through, it wasn’t strange for her to be restless.

She had been touched, or actually in her mind she had been toyed with, by the influence of that unknown entity.

The violation of her own right had left behind a gnawing pressure of anger and a natural urge for vengeance because something dared to twist her thoughts and use her against her will.

Of course she couldn’t rest easily. She had said herself that she wanted to find a way to fight it.

That alone was enough reason to keep her awake.

Erend pulled out the chair beside her and sank into it, the wood creaking faintly beneath his frame.

For a while they sat in silence before he broke it with a softer voice.

He told her that he had been keeping their mother updated whenever he could, snatching slivers of time between all the chaos to reassure her of both their safety.

Arty chuckled quietly. "I’ve been doing the same. She probably gets tired of us both repeating it. I want to go home soon and meet her but this could be too dangerous for her."

Erend smiled faintly at that, the thought of their mother’s worried frown easing into comfort in his mind.

Then his eyes shifted back to his sister. "So... tell me. What have you and Archmage Sylmira found so far?"

Arty leaned back in her chair, her book closing with a muted thump.

"We’ve been working on strengthening my mind and layering Magic defenses so no outside influence can seep in again. Sylmira showed me how to weave Magic wards directly into my thoughts. It was not a spell that would be cast outward like usual, but internal threads of will that anchor themselves in my consciousness. It’s... hard, but I’m getting better. Don’t you worry."

Her expression sharpened slightly as she went on.

"She also made me practice something called mirrored focus. It’s when you split your attention. Part of your mind keeps to your own self while another part mirrors and watches for distortions. It’s exhausting in my brain at first, but it makes me notice instantly if something foreign tries to slip in."

Erend listened, his arms folded as pride softened the lines on his face.

"And," Arty added, her tone quieting, "we’ve been experimenting with what Sylmira called as resonance crystals. They’re attuned to my Magi energy and hum in rhythm with my thoughts.

"If my mind wavers under pressure, they send a sharp feedback that snaps me awake again. Like an alarm for my own head."

She gave a small laugh, though her eyes still looked sharp. "It hurts, but better pain than losing myself again."

Erend nodded slowly, his jaw tight but his eyes filled with respect.

"You’ve been working hard. That’s good," he said.

Arty tilted her head slightly, a smile touching her lips as she met his gaze.

"Of course. I won’t let that thing win again," she said.

Then it struck Erend that perhaps they shouldn’t be speaking about this solution aloud at all. What had been said was can’t be helped. But from now on he should be more careful.

The entity had already proven itself cunning enough to touch Arty’s mind once from unknown places, who could say what else it could or couldn’t do?

For all he knew, it might still be listening.

His eyes narrowed slightly, caution threading through his thoughts.

Without moving his lips, he reached out with his will and projected his voice directly into Arty’s mind.

"Arty, don’t speak more of this out loud. I don’t know if it can hear us, but I’d rather not take the risk."

Arty blinked in shock and silence for a few seconds, then glanced at him sidelong.

Her reply came a moment later, soft within his head, her tone tinged with a quiet understanding. "You’re right. I should’ve thought of that. If it could twist my mind once, then it could be lurking even now."

Erend leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping the corners of the chamber, every shadow seeming heavier than before. Even though he knows that he wouldn’t just find them hiding in the corner right now.

"Exactly. We better be cautious of everything. From now on, anything important about your training or defenses keep it to telepathy with Sylmira as well. We won’t give it any openings."

Arty gave the barest nod, her face calm though her voice in his mind carried strong resolve, or actually just more anger.

"Understood. I’ll hold to that. It won’t take me by surprise again."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke aloud.

The silence of the chamber deepened, filled only by the faint rustle of candle flame and the lingering pressure of their thoughts brushing against each other.

Then Erend spoke aloud again, his tone shifting almost naturally as if nothing strange had just passed between them.

"I’ll head back now. I’ve got my own work to do, and you shouldn’t force yourself too much either."

Arty’s lips curved into a soft smile. She gave a quiet nod. "I know. Go on. I’ll be fine."

Erend rose from his chair, the wood groaning faintly under the release of his weight.

With a sweep of his hand, the air split open once more, swirling with silver and red light.

He cast her one last glance, his small smile still lingering, then stepped through.

The vortex folded in on itself and vanished, leaving the chamber in its quiet candlelit stillness once again.

Arty exhaled slowly.

She opened her book once more, her fingers resting lightly on the pages.

—