All Chapters of The One: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

*Akin* The moment Caelan strode into the Oceanan camp to save us, I recognized his fighting style. There was a rhythm in the way he moved, in the stance he took. It was unmistakably Altinnian, the subtle weight shift, the way his fingers hovered near the hilt of his weapon, always prepared for the unexpected. It was something only someone trained for combat in Altinna would know, and I knew that we were saved. His rescue mission was, obviously, a complete success. I watch as he talks to Maerilee now, offering her words of assurance with a calm that doesn’t waver. When he turns to me, I can’t help the grin that pulls at my mouth. “I’m glad to be fighting alongside another Altinnian,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder. “Not to speak ill of Maerilee’s other three men, but one was a traitor, and the other two are completely spoiled princes. Literally.” He

*Brook*It’s been a long two days since our rescue, and tensions are clearly running high. Maerilee and River slipped away to have some kind of argument, and when they came back, they sat on opposite ends of the fire. Maerilee went to sit by Akin, of course, making herself small against him as he wrapped her in his arms.I feel uncomfortable watching them, but they aren’t exactly quiet about their affection for each other. Literally. I could barely sleep the other night, hearing how wild they were for one another. It’s unfair to feel jealous about it. I know she didn’t choose this life. She wouldn’t have chosen all four of us if she’d had any say in the matter.She loves Akin. She hates River. She… doesn’t much seem to notice that I’m around. Not than anyone else does. None of the rebels have spoken to me; they’ve only spoken around me. River’s, surprisingly, been my only real companion on this journey, but only when the mood suits him. Per usual, the mood rarely does, and he often p

*Maerilee* The message feels weighty in my hands as I read it, each word burrowing into my mind, stirring a confusing blend of relief and uncertainty. Permiton has tried, on a very small parchment of paper, to explain his version of events. He’s written why he turned against us, how he saw a vision of our destruction and had to make a quick decision, how there was no time to explain.In a few short words, he tries  to convey that we can still trust him, that he would never truly betray us. Even still, I feel the urge to crush the paper in my fist, to rid myself of the tangled emotions twisting inside me, but instead, I reach for Brook, who’s been sitting nearby, quietly watching, waiting. I need him to read this, to make sense of it with me.“It’s from Permiton,” I say, holding the note out to him. “I’m not sure what to make of it.”He takes it carefully, his brow furrowing as his eyes scan over Permiton’s handwriting. His silence stret

*Akin* Caelan stands in front of us, his gaze hard as steel, jaw clenched, and I know instantly that this won’t end with us simply walking away. The way he’s squared his shoulders, planted his feet, every muscle in his body is telling me he won’t let us leave without a fight. And I don’t want to fight him. Not here, not now, when we’re all running on fumes and tensions are high enough to snap. But there’s something militant, almost desperate, in his stance. It’s the way he’d face an enemy, and it feels wrong. We’re supposed to be allies, yet here we are, at a breaking point.“Caelan,” I say, forcing my tone to stay calm. “Let us go. This isn’t about abandoning the cause or betraying the rebels. Maerilee needs this. Altinna needs this.”Caelan’s eyes flash, the determination in them blazing. “And what do you think we’re doing here, Akin

*Permiton*The journey to Bright Waters is far from easy. Even ignoring the difficulty of the mountainous terrain, the Oceanan army lurks on every edge of my awareness, their patrols crisscrossing the region, and I know that at any given moment I could be captured and taken to my death. The path is treacherous, winding through rugged terrain and dense forest, and I keep myself shrouded in shadows, careful to stay hidden. I’ve taken every measure possible to avoid detection, slipping off the main path to blend with the undergrowth and navigating around the pockets where I can feel soldiers lingering like predators waiting to pounce.But I know I’m getting close. The pulse of magic grows stronger with each step, a faint resonance in the ground beneath me, guiding me toward Bright Waters. I feel it more acutely now, like a current running through my veins, thrumming with purpose and calling me forward. My Sight tells me I’m on the right path, that I’m close to the others, and that they,