SWNOVELS Chapter 93
The old town hall stood as a silent witness to the tense gathering within its walls. Lyra surveyed the room, noting the clear divide between the unaltered humans on one side and the Convergence Children on the other. Fenris stood beside her, his presence a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling through the chamber.
“We’re here to find a way forward,” Lyra began, her voice steady despite the weight of responsibility she felt. “To understand what’s happening and how we can all coexist peacefully.”
The burly man who had led the charge earlier – now identified as Marcus, the village’s former blacksmith – scoffed. “Coexist? With those freaks? They’re not even human anymore!”
A ripple of anger passed through the Convergence Children. The one who had first greeted Lyra, now known as Aria, stepped forward. Her iridescent skin shimmered with barely contained emotion.
“We are still ourselves,” Aria insisted, her otherworldly eyes scanning the crowd. “Husbands, wives, children – we haven’t lost our memories or our love for you. We’ve simply… evolved.”
“Evolved?” Marcus spat. “My wife disappeared into thin air and came back looking like some kind of fairy tale creature. How is that evolution?”
Fenris cleared his throat, drawing all eyes to him. “Perhaps it would help if we understood the process better. Aria, can you explain what it felt like to transform?”
Aria nodded, her expression thoughtful. “It was like… waking up from a dream. Suddenly, I could see colors I never knew existed. I could feel the ebb and flow of magic in the air. And my body simply responded, changing to accommodate this new awareness.”
Lyra listened intently, her mind racing with the implications. “And the abilities you’ve developed – the phasing, the flight – they came naturally?”
“As natural as breathing,” another Convergence Child chimed in. “It’s as if these abilities were always a part of us, just waiting to be unlocked.”
A murmur ran through the human side of the room. Lyra could see fear and confusion on many faces, but also a glimmer of curiosity in some eyes.
“What about those of us who haven’t changed?” a young woman asked, her voice trembling slightly. “Are we… lesser somehow?”
Aria shook her head emphatically. “Not at all. The transformation seems to be tied to one’s innate magical potential. Not everyone has that potential, and that’s perfectly natural.”
Lyra seized on this opening. “Which is why it’s so important that we learn to work together. Each group has unique strengths and perspectives that could benefit everyone.”
Marcus, however, remained unconvinced. “And what happens when this ‘evolution’ spreads beyond the Convergence Zone? Are we supposed to just sit back and watch as more and more people turn into… them?”
The question hung heavy in the air. Lyra exchanged a glance with Fenris, seeing her own concerns reflected in his eyes. They had reshaped reality, but the full consequences of their actions were still unfolding.
“That’s something we need to study carefully,” Lyra admitted. “But for now, our priority should be finding a way for this community to function together. You all shared lives and history before the change. Surely that counts for something?”
A tense silence fell over the room as both sides considered her words. Then, unexpectedly, a small voice piped up from the back of the crowd.
“Daddy?”
All eyes turned to see a young Convergence Child, no more than seven or eight years old, with delicate butterfly wings sprouting from her back. She was looking directly at Marcus, her eyes wide and hopeful.
Marcus’s stern expression crumbled as he recognized his daughter. “Lily?” he choked out, taking a hesitant step forward.
The girl ran to him, wings fluttering excitedly. Marcus knelt, opening his arms just in time to catch her in a fierce embrace. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as the tough blacksmith broke down, cradling his transformed daughter.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he sobbed, stroking her iridescent hair. “I’m so sorry. I was just scared. You’re still my little girl, no matter what you look like.”
Lyra felt Fenris’s hand slip into hers, squeezing gently. This was the breakthrough they needed – a reminder that beneath the physical changes, the bonds of love and family remained unbroken.
As the emotional reunion continued, Lyra noticed other families cautiously coming together, humans and Convergence Children alike reaching out to bridge the divide that had sprung up between them.
“It’s a start,” Fenris murmured, his voice rough with emotion.
Lyra nodded, allowing herself a moment of cautious optimism. “But we still have a long way to go. The changes aren’t stopping at the zone’s borders, and sooner or later, the rest of the world is going to take notice.”
Aelindra, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, stepped forward. “Then we need to be prepared. We should establish this village as a model for integration, show the world that coexistence is possible.”
“Agreed,” Lyra said. “But we also need to understand more about the transformation process itself. Aria, would you and some of the other Convergence Children be willing to work with us? To study your abilities and how they developed?”
Aria nodded eagerly. “Of course. Anything to help ease the transition for others who might go through this.”
As the meeting began to break up, with families reuniting and tentative plans being made for rebuilding the community, Lyra pulled Fenris aside.
“Where were you?” she asked softly, unable to keep a hint of hurt from her voice. “Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”
Fenris’s expression was pained. “I’m sorry, Lyra. I… I felt something changing in me, after our last big working. The wolf was restless, pushing to get out. I was afraid I might hurt you if I lost control.”
Lyra’s eyes widened in understanding. “You think you might be undergoing your own transformation?”
“I don’t know,” Fenris admitted. “But I needed to get a handle on it before I came back.
I never meant to worry you.”
Lyra leaned into him, drawing comfort from his solid presence. “Just don’t disappear on me again, okay?”