Chapter 221 - A Dark Return

As Aryana was ready to leave Valtheon, the sky was still covered in darkness. She and Cyrus had decided to leave before dawn in order to make the trip during twilight, even though dawn was still hours away. Aryana gathered her remaining possessions and moved silently around the guest rooms. The time she had spent with her aunt in Valtheon had changed her; she felt more intricate and stronger, her abilities rekindled. She was hesitant to leave the place where her mother had lived and where she felt so connected to her heritage, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing as she glanced about. Queen Sylara was waiting to greet them when Aryana entered the courtyard. Sylara opened her arms and gave Aryana a tight embrace as she arrived, “I wish it could always be like this” Sylara murmured, her voice filled with a warmth that Aryana had grown to cherish, ““I wish you didn’t have to go” Aryana hugged her even tighter, her voice soft, “I’ll see you soon, Aunt Sylara, this isn