Chapter 35:The Weight of What Comes Next
The forest didn't feel the same on the way back.
No one said it out loud.
But everyone felt it.
Branches cracked beneath their feet as they moved fast—faster than before, but not as controlled. Not as clean.
The rhythm they'd built over months of hunting was gone.
Broken.
Uneven.
This wasn't a hunt anymore.
This was a retreat.
Blue stayed at the front, cutting through the forest without hesitation, his focus locked ahead. His breathing was steady, but his grip on his blade hadn't loosened once.
Behind him—
Kin and Mira carried Zak between them, each adjusting constantly to keep him upright. His boots dragged more than they should.
Gus moved above, gliding through the canopy in silence, eyes scanning everything.
Rito stayed close—closer than usual—her gaze flickering between Zak and the path ahead, her hands still faintly glowing with fading green light.
She hadn't turned it off.
Or maybe she couldn't.
Zak shifted slightly between Kin and Mira, letting out a low breath.
"…You all look like I'm dying."
His voice was rough, but the sarcasm was still there.
No one laughed.
Kin adjusted his grip, his jaw tightening.
"Maybe because you got stabbed by something that shouldn't exist," he shot back.
Zak let out a quiet huff.
"I've been through worse."
Mira didn't even look at him.
"…No. You haven't."
Her tone was flat. Certain.
That ended that.
Blue didn't turn around.
"Save your strength."
Simple. Direct.
Final.
Zak tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk forming despite everything.
"…Since when did you start giving orders?"
Blue slowed—just a fraction.
"…Since someone had to."
Silence followed.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… accepted.
Rito's steps faltered for a moment.
Then steadied.
"…I should've seen it."
The words were quiet, but they cut through everything.
Blue finally looked back.
"What do you mean?"
Rito's hands clenched, faint green light flickering between her fingers like a dying ember.
"The way they moved… the way they positioned themselves…"
She shook her head slowly.
"They weren't reacting to us."
A pause.
"They were waiting."
Kin frowned.
"For what?"
Rito looked up.
Her voice was quieter now.
"For me."
That landed harder than anything else.
"They weren't trying to fight us," she continued.
"They were trying to kill me."
No one argued.
Because deep down—
They knew it was true.
Then—
A voice cut in behind them.
Clear.
Calm.
Too close.
"That's because we thought you were sent to kill us."
Everything snapped.
Blue turned instantly, blade drawn in one smooth motion.
Gus dropped from above, shadow flame igniting in his hands.
Kin shifted, his shadow stretching unnaturally along the ground.
Mira's eyes flashed crimson.
Rito spun—
And there she was.
The Mistborn.
Standing just beyond striking distance.
Unmoving.
Watching.
"You're bold," Kin muttered. "Following us like that."
The Mistborn didn't react to the tension.
"…I wasn't hiding."
"That's worse," Gus said quietly.
Blue stepped forward slightly.
"Talk. Now."
Her gaze moved briefly across each of them—
Then settled on Rito.
"…We believed you were sent from the Veil."
Rito's expression hardened.
"I wasn't."
The Mistborn tilted her head slightly.
"…That is clear now."
"Then why are you still here?" Mira asked, her tone sharp. "You already did enough."
A flicker of something crossed the Mistborn's face.
Not guilt.
Not quite.
"…Because we didn't understand what we were doing."
Kin scoffed.
"That's your excuse?"
"No," she said calmly.
"It's the truth."
Her eyes shifted toward Zak.
"…And the truth is… he won't survive without us."
That changed the air.
Gus stepped forward slightly, his voice colder now.
"You think we're trusting you after that?"
"I don't expect you to trust me."
A pause.
"…But you need me."
Silence stretched.
Then—
She stepped forward, just enough to show she wasn't afraid.
"My name is Lirael."
The name lingered.
"The elder sent me," she continued.
"To guide you to the Veil."
Rito's reaction was immediate.
"We don't need your help."
Lirael didn't argue.
"You do."
Rito stepped forward, her energy flaring again.
"I said we don't—"
Zak coughed.
Hard.
His body tensed violently, and for a moment, the air around him distorted as something dark pulsed beneath his skin.
Kin tightened his grip.
"Hey—hey, stay with us—"
Blue stepped in immediately.
"…Enough."
Everything stopped.
Blue lowered his blade—but didn't sheathe it.
"We're done arguing."
He looked at Zak.
Then at Lirael.
"We get him back first."
A pause.
"My mom and dad will figure this out."
There was certainty in his voice now.
Not hope.
Not doubt.
Decision.
Then—
He pointed at her.
"And you're coming too."
Lirael didn't hesitate.
"…Understood."
No one liked it.
But no one argued.
They moved.
Hollowfen
The gates opened before they reached them.
Word had already spread.
It always did.
But this time—
The reaction was immediate.
People stopped.
Turned.
Watched.
They saw Zak.
And everything changed.
"…Go!" someone shouted.
"Get Selene—now!"
"Where's X?"
"Move!"
The calm order of Hollowfen broke instantly.
Blue didn't slow.
"Infirmary. Now."
They pushed through the estate quickly, urgency building with every step.
Selene was already waiting.
She didn't ask what happened.
Didn't waste time.
"Lay him down."
They did.
Her hands were already glowing.
Golden light spilled from her palms as she pressed them over the wound.
The room went still.
Her magic spread slowly.
Carefully.
Then—
It stopped.
Her expression shifted.
Slightly.
But enough.
"…Step back."
They did.
Selene's magic surged again—stronger this time.
The wound reacted instantly.
Dark energy lashed outward—
Then snapped back.
Violently.
Selene pulled her hands away.
"…No."
That one word settled heavily over the room.
X entered.
And everything shifted again.
"What is it?"
Selene didn't look at him.
"…Something I cannot remove."
That was rare.
Too rare.
Blue stepped forward.
"The Mistborn said it was a curse."
Lirael spoke.
"It is."
Selene's eyes flicked to her.
"…Explain."
Lirael stepped forward slowly.
"The blade binds him," she said.
"It is not killing him."
A pause.
"It is rewriting him."
Silence.
Kin blinked.
"…That's worse."
"Yes," Lirael said.
"…It is."
X's voice lowered.
"How long?"
Lirael didn't hesitate.
"…Not long."
Selene crossed her arms.
"And the cure?"
Lirael met her gaze.
"The Veil Kingdom."
Selene's answer came instantly.
"No."
Everyone looked at her.
"It's too dangerous," she said.
"They will not survive that journey."
Lirael didn't raise her voice.
"Then he will not survive at all."
Silence fell again.
Selene exhaled slowly.
"…Why can't you go and bring it back?"
Lirael's answer was simple.
"…Because we are exiles."
That word carried weight.
"We left the Veil," she continued.
"…and we are not meant to return."
A pause.
"…But we will."
Selene studied her.
"…Why?"
Lirael didn't look away.
"…Because this happened because of us."
Selene turned.
"…Everyone out."
They left.
The Decision
Only a few remained.
Selene.
X.
Darius.
Zak's wife.
His son.
Darius stood silently near the wall.
Watching.
Listening.
Selene spoke first.
"…If we send them…"
She didn't finish.
X did.
"…If we don't, he dies."
Silence.
Darius stepped forward.
"…Then I'll go."
All eyes turned.
He didn't hesitate.
"I'll take his place."
A pause.
"I'll make sure they get there."
Another.
"And I'll make sure they come back."
Selene studied him carefully.
"…You understand what that means."
Darius nodded.
"…Yes."
X held his gaze.
Then—
Gave a single nod.
"…Then you lead them."
And just like that—
The path forward was decided.
Outside—
Rito stood still.
Looking toward the horizon.
The Veil wasn't just ahead.
It was calling.
End of chapter 35…..