Chapter 137: The Ancient Incantations

Thelma Zane’s POV: An unbearable pain wrenched me out of my spiraling thoughts, pulling me back to the dimly lit chamber where Hayley worked with unwavering precision. The sharp sting intensified, and I couldn’t suppress a cry of pain. Hayley gave me a reassuring glance, though her hands, steady and firm, never wavered as she carved intricate seal scripts into my skin. The blade gleamed under the flickering light, its edge tracing patterns older than any of us could fathom. Each curve and line connected to the next in an unbroken flow, a delicate balance that, if interrupted, would nullify the ritual entirely. The first section of runes on my left hand was complete, the skin raw and throbbing. Now, Hayley worked on my forearm, where the pain felt sharper, deeper. My wrist, fragile and thin, seemed to scream under the pressure. Yet, in some cruel twist, it hurt less than the carving on the softer, thicker parts of my arm. “Please bear with it,” Hayley murmured as her pace quicken