Chapter 64

Sofia obeyed, scrunching her eyes shut and thinking hard. After a moment, she reached into the pouch and withdrew a stone, cold and solid in her palm.

"Open your eyes," Eve instructed. "What did you receive?"

Turning over the smooth obsidian rune, Sofia found a simple straight line etched into the black surface. "This one?" She looked at her mother uncertainly.

Eve smiled knowingly. "That is the rune Isa - which represents stillness, pause, turning inward. It seems the runes are counseling you to be patient, to resist force, and seek clarity within yourself during this challenging time."

Sofia turned the potent little stone over and over in her hands, considering this guidance. "I do feel stuck, like I'm struggling against an invisible force. And looking inward for answers is..." She trailed off with a sigh. "It's really hard when my heart and mind are such a jumble of emotions."

Put