Chapter 53. Renewed Pursuit

Celeste’s POV

I was so exhausted after my battle with Cira that every muscle in my body begged me to stop. But I couldn’t—Nora was still out there, and I had to catch her. Clinging to her trail, I pressed on through the dense forest, each step heavier than the last. The sweat stung my eyes, my lungs burned, but I forced myself to keep moving.

As I followed Nora’s scent, a sudden, sharp tang of wolfsbane reached my nose. My pulse quickened. Wolfsbane meant danger. I veered off the path and sprinted toward a hollow in the undergrowth near a small clearing. Heart hammering, I dropped to my knees and peered inside, expecting to see Eryndor trapped or wounded. Instead, all I found was his gear—his sword, gauntlets, and leather satchel—scattered in the darkness.

I gathered each piece carefully, pressing them to my chest as I rose. There was no time to wonder why they’d been left behind. I resumed the chase, moving with renewed urgency. The forest opened into a lar