The shimmer in the sky pulsed, a quiet rhythm that matched the pounding of my heart. My mother's words settled deep within me, shifting something I hadn't realized was fragile—my sense of self.
I wasn't just a child of the sky. I was a guardian. And my mother… she was a Taidyain, too.
I turned back to her, my voice steadier than I expected. "You're from Taidya?"
She nodded, her silver eyes glowing softly. "I was born there, just like you."
A thousand questions fought for space in my mind. "Then why did you leave? Why didn't you tell me?"
She sighed, looking down at her hands. "Because I had to protect you. And because I knew that one day, Taidya would call you back."
I swallowed hard. "But if you're a Taidyain, then you can return too, right?"
Her expression darkened. "It's not that simple. When I left, I severed my bond with Taidya. The doorway calls to those who still belong. And I… I gave up my place."
The weight of her sacrifice pressed against my ribs. She had left everything behind—her home, her people, her life—to keep me safe.
I clenched my fists. "Then I'll find a way to bring you back."
She smiled, but there was sadness in it. "You have your father's determination."
My breath hitched. "My father?"
She hesitated, then nodded. "He was the strongest guardian Taidya had seen in centuries. And he fought to keep you safe until the very end."
I felt the words like a strike to my chest. "He's gone?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked toward the sky, where the doorway still shimmered. "I don't know. But if he is, his legacy lives in you."
I took a deep breath. The doorway wasn't just an invitation—it was a challenge. A test.
I had spent my life feeling like I didn't belong. But maybe that was because I had been meant for something greater.
I turned back to my mother, my wings twitching. "Then I have to go."
She nodded, pride and sorrow mingling in her silver eyes. "Then go, my child. Find the truth. Find your place."
I stepped toward the window, the sky calling me forward.
And as I leapt into the shimmering light, I knew—this was only the beginning.