Flashback ( PDFDrive )

She closed her eyes, swaying softly to some inner rhythm as her
delicate voice sang a melody in a language too ancient for Sophie to
fully grasp, but somehow she still caught the meaning. The lyrics
poured through the air like honey, slowly sinking under Sophie’s skin
—flooding her heart with warmth and energy, sending it tingling
through her veins.
It wasn’t a happy song, or a sweet song.
It was deep and rich and poignant.
A song of weathering storms.
An anthem for rising up and growing stronger.
The last note lingered in the air, a fragile, perfect thing neither of
them wanted to shatter, and only then did Sophie realize how quiet
everyone else had gotten.
She turned to find all eyes not on her—but on Flori. Even Bo stared
at the tiny gnome with a hint of wonder. And Tarina was blinking
hard enough that she might’ve been crying—it was hard to tell with
the natural gleam to her skin.
Elwin cleared his throat several times before he managed to ask,
“Did that help?”
“I’m not sure,” Sophie admitted, stretching her weak fingers.
Now that the song had ended, the tingly warmth had faded.
But she did feel . . . energized.
And maybe slightly less achy.
“I think it made a difference,” she decided.
“With the echoes?” Edaline asked, hope clinging to every word.
That was much harder to tell—but Sophie needed to know. So even
though it was a risk, she closed her eyes and let her mind replay some
of the voices that had been haunting her.