A Prism of Borrowed Time
By @john1208
When Sefara miraculously escapes the Sunless Wastes and fights her way back to the protectorate of Yashor, she expects a joyful reunion. Instead, a courier hands her a bizarre delivery at the border: a wedding invitation. Her fiancé, Kyprien, is marrying Lirita, a fragile girl who shares Sefara's face. Confronted, Kyprien's excuse is simple: Lirita is pitiful and needs him, whereas Sefara is strong enough to survive anything. True to her endlessly kind nature, Sefara simply smiles, congratulates them, and sends a petty but stunning wedding gift - a mirage-mirror that reflects true intentions - before walking away. What nobody knows is that Sefara's escape cost her dearly; she has exactly twelve months left to live. Throwing herself into her dream of building the legendary Sky-Spire, she is forced to collaborate with her oldest, most infuriating academic rival, Zareh. As Zareh slowly unravels the secret of her ticking clock, their fierce rivalry melts into a desperate, protective love. Meanwhile, the mirage-mirror does its job, and Lirita systematically drains Kyprien's wealth before vanishing. As her masterpiece nears completion and her time runs out, will Zareh find a way to anchor Sefara's fading soul?
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