I resist the urge to open the Sun God's prophecy first. Pulling out The Compendium of Light, my heart was beating out of my chest.

  I opened the book. Even the beginning was full of new skills I hadn't even thought of, concepts I hadn't imagined. Spells, rituals, diagrams. I turned the pages wide-eyed and smiling. Despite everything-Larissa's death, the Tribunal, the fear gnawing at my spine-I loved to learn. I always had.

  The tome outlined the hierarchy of casters:

  ? Mages mastered spells, charms, and arcane casting.

  ? Sorcerers specialized in projectiles, defenses, and elemental arts.

  ? Witches ruled over the elements and raw arcana.

  ? Lords were those rare few who unified both paths-or bore divine favor.

  Fire from Vorn, or the Tijani god Ifrigar.

  Water from Quilonius of the Elves.

  Earth from Vana, or Boreos of the Dwarves.

  Light... Light also comes from Vana but in ancient times, was believed to come from the Sun God. Which is why those blessed with divine favor in light are still called Sun Lords.

  Light Magic and Sorcery in ancient times was thought to be divine.

  However, since the ancient Sun God's defeat, only one has been blessed with the title Sun Lord. Now, Divine Lords or those blessed by Valos are granted favor with Holy Magic.

  I felt a pit in my stomach the more I read the mention of the Sun God. He had blessed me, touched me... cursed me. I wasn't sure which, and recently, it started to feel like all three.

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  The last section of pages was odd, whispered of something stranger and powerful. A diagram of a sigil, detailed notes: Collection of knowledge concerning The Light Champion's Seal.

  "The Light Champion's Seal." I whisper the name aloud. Testing the feel of it in my ears.

  I had seen this name before in Larissa's private library. I wanted-desperately-to study it here and now.

  But looking around, the reality was stark. I was just in the woods somewhere, dirty and hungry. I needed something useful. The way the illusions had been at helping me sneak into the church - I needed something that would help me survive.

  That's when I found the disk. Intriguing because, unlike the blades, it seems I should be able to control and move it around at will.

  It was simple on the page but elegant in execution. I positioned myself and imagined the radiant circle.

  It appeared at my feet, pulsing golden, warm but not burning.

  When I lifted my hand, the disk rose. When I decided to test the control I accidentally released, it zipped forward and cut cleanly through a tree trunk.

  Crack. Crash. Thud.

  The tree fell in a shower of leaves. My breath caught. I dismissed the disk quickly, but an idea took root.

  I summoned it again-this time standing upon it. I feel the warmth of its energy pulsing beneath my feet. I raise my hand, and the disk raises with me on it. My stomach dropped when it lifted &me skyward.

  "Oh-shoot!" I muttered, wobbling dangerously.

  But I steadied myself.

  I am in control.

  And then I was above the treeline, clouds brushing my skin, wind tearing through my hair. A laugh burst from me-sudden, bright, uncontainable.

  I use my mana to fortify my connection to the disk through my feet. Then the fun really began.

  I twisted, spun, and even turned upside down, skimming a river with my fingertips as I glided along its length. For the first time in months, I felt light. I felt free.

  I zoom around on the disk for a while. Getting used to how it turns. It is easy to shift directions quickly due to the shape.

  I lower back down just above the treeline when suddenly ‐

  "Rrrrraaaaaaaaaaghhhh!!!!!!"

  A sound like metal grinding against stone split the air. The treetops thrashed. Something vast moved below, snapping trunks like kindling.

  It emerged: a Chimera, twisted by mana corruption. Lion's body, serpent head tail, wings of a dragon. Its scales gleamed black in the moonlight, eyes glowing with hatred.

  Even a squad of adventurers would think twice before engaging. And it had fixed on me.

  The disk shuddered as the beast lunged skyward. I tried to veer aside, but its wing clipped me. Pain exploded across my ribs.

  I was flung. Branches tore at my cloak before a tree trunk slammed into me. My vision swam. Blood wet my lip. The disk flickered, spinning away.

  The Chimera roared.

  I forced myself upright, summoning my light blades out of instinct. They thrummed in my hands, alive with power.

  The first clash was desperation-dodging the serpent's snap, parrying claws. My strikes seared furrows into its hide, but each hit only enraged it further. My mana surged wild, uncontrolled, lashing in all directions.

  It pinned me against a boulder. Its breath stank of rot and fire. My blades wavered. I was going to die

  No.