Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Senara
I steadied my breath, the weight of determination settling on my shoulders like armor. "We have to go," I repeated, my voice firmer this time. I could feel the energy of the Crescent Diadem pulsing against my skin, a reminder of my purpose counteracting whatever corrupted gunk that sword had tried to leave on my soul.
Another deep breath helped push back the lingering shadows of doubt that had crept into my mind. The vision of my corrupted self still flickered in my thoughts like a candle that wasn't quite out yet, but now I would make it serve as a catalyst rather than a chain.
"Let's move," I urged, stepping away from the mirror and its haunting reflections.
Or at least I tried to.
When I wasn't able to move away, we all shared a worried glance.
Van shrugged. "Bring it with you, I guess. It might help guide you through whatever is going on with the Veilshard Pendant."
"What if it gets broken while we're traveling? It's not like we take the easy road, especially these days."
Volker snorted. "I doubt a magical artifact like that would break so easily."
"No need to be so smug about it. We don't know these things," Wyn bit back.
With a sigh, I ignore the two of them and turned back to my prize, picking up the mirror and tucking it under my arm. Its lightness surprised me, considering how awkwardly sized it was to carry.
It was a moment before I felt confident enough to take a step forward and test out whether or not I could move with the mirror now in my possession. There was no small amount of relief that rushed through me when I discovered I could, and the relief I felt was reflected in the face of my companions.
I clutched the Starforged Mirror under my arm, its surface shimmering with echoes of distant worlds, as we set off once more. My heart raced as we hurried back through tunnels and grabbed our things at camp before bidding Niri a quick goodbye and preparing to depart the ancient city of Lumerin.
As we moved, the shadows stretching ominously around us. "Stay close," Thorn whispered, his gaze scanning our surroundings. I nodded, aware that danger lurked just beyond our vision. Every rustle of leaves and shift in the air set my instincts on high alert.
We retraced our steps through the ruins of Lumerin, the ancient stones whispering secrets of long forgotten magic and lost souls as though trying to convince us to stay. I couldn't deny the temptation was strong, but the idea of abandoning fae, elves, and humans alike to the wrath of the Void Dragon Empress wasn't something I could live with on my conscience.
The atmosphere crackled with tension as we navigated deeper into the woods that surrounded the once splendorous city. Each shadow felt alive, shifting with malevolence. I kept glancing over my shoulder, half expecting the guardian to reemerge from its smoky demise or for darker figures to rise from the depths.
We stepped into something akin to a vast amphitheater. Only in the center, instead of their being a clearing or stage there was a giant column, every inch of which was filled with murals depicting battles against dark forces, some ancient and others eerily familiar. The vibrant colors contrasted starkly against the pale white stone of the column and the shadows creeping around us.
"There," Van pointed toward an archway at the far end. "That leads to what remains of the path that will take us out of Lumerin and the Twilight Gardens in the direction we need to go."
Just then, shadows flickered around us again, swirling ominously, as if sensing our resolve and challenging us. A guttural growl echoed all around us, a sound primal and chilling that sent shivers down my spine.
"If we get out of the Twilight Gardens, whatever is chasing us won't be able to follow, right?" Thorn demanded, his gaze jumping between Van and Volker in equal measures.
"Probably not if it's magical in nature," Volker replied calmly while he scoured our surroundings for the source of the sound.
"Run," Thorn growled. "And whatever you do, don't stop until you're clear of the Gardens, no matter what. Do you understand?"
I bristled at his order. "I will not leave you behind. Do you understand?"
Now wasn't the time for us to argue, and we both knew it. Without another word, we just took off. A squeak had me looking over my shoulder to see Volker suddenly carrying Wyn.
I sprinted alongside Thorn, my heart pounding in rhythm with my feet hitting the ground. The shadows danced around us, taunting me as they shifted and flickered. I felt a surge of magic from the Starforged Mirror pressed against my side, urging me onward, but uncertainty gnawed at me.
"Senara!" Thorn's voice broke through the cacophony of fear swirling in my mind. "Keep your focus!"
I glanced back just in time to see Volker vaulting over a fallen log with Wyn clutched securely in his arms. Her wide eyes darted around, scanning for threats while fear laced her features. I pushed myself harder, each step a defiance against the dark whispers that taunted me.
We approached the archway Van had pointed out earlier, the stone threshold looming ahead like an invitation to safety. "There!" I shouted, gesturing toward it.
"Don't slow down!" Thorn barked as we neared the entrance. He kept pace beside me, his presence steadying even as we barreled toward potential danger.
A growl erupted behind us, echoing through the trees, a deep and menacing sound that sent chills racing down my spine. My pulse quickened, instinct screaming for us to flee faster.
Just as we reached the archway, I stumbled over a gnarled root hidden in the shadows. Thorn's hand shot out, grabbing my arm and pulling me upright. His grip was firm and unyielding.
As we crossed beneath the archway, I summoned a barrier of shimmering light that enveloped us just as darkness surged behind us. The growl morphed into a howl that reverberated through my bones; it sounded almost triumphant.
The barrier shimmered around us like fragile glass but held firm against the encroaching shadows clawing at our heels. The darkness met my light with furious resistance, an eerie dance between two powerful forces.
"We're almost there!" Thorn urged again as we dashed forward into an open expanse beyond the archway, our escape route lay clear ahead under an endless sky sprinkled with stars.
With renewed energy coursing through me and resolve igniting within my chest, I pushed forward alongside Thorn and Volker until finally we burst through into open air.
I felt the cool night air wrap around me as we burst through the archway, the oppressive shadows and thick magic laced air of Lumerin remaining behind us. The relief was short lived, though; a flicker of unease slithered down my spine. We had made it through one danger, only to step into another unknown.
"Stay sharp," Thorn murmured, scanning the horizon as if he sensed what lurked beyond the trees.
I nodded, but a pit formed in my stomach.
"Look!" Wyn's voice trembled beside me, her eyes wide with fear. She pointed toward the edge of the forest where shapes loomed among the trees, dark figures shifting in the moonlight. They moved with grace though, so they clearly weren't tainted with corruption.
Fae.
There was no other explanation, but how had they found us?
"Ambush! Move!" Thorn shouted, his voice ringing with urgency, just as I opened my mouth to say the same.
But it was too late. A flurry of arrows whistled through the air, slicing past us like angry wasps. I ducked instinctively, my heart racing as one arrow struck a nearby tree with a sickening thud.
"Run!" Volker yelled as he scooped Wyn up again, curling his body around hers protectively. I followed suit, adrenaline propelling me forward as I sprinted after them.
I glanced over my shoulder only to see that the shadows had erupted into movement as fae forces charged from their hiding places, fae cloaked in nothing but black, obscuring which court they were from, their eyes gleaming with fervor. Some of their hoods fell back as they chased after us and I realized I recognized some of them from our previous encounters. They were Fenvalur's guard, and I knew they would be relentless in their pursuit.
Thorn surged ahead of me, drawing his sword with a fierce determination that made my heart swell and sink at once. "Stay behind me!" he barked.
A surge of power ignited within me as I grasped the Starforged Mirror tighter against my side. I had faced darker things before; I could do this again. My magic pulsed to life in response to my rising panic.
Arrows rained down like a storm, and I threw up a barrier of light around us just as an arrow lodged itself into Thorn's shoulder.
"Thorn!" My heart dropped at the sight of blood blooming on his tunic, stark against his tawny skin.
"I'm fine," he grunted through clenched teeth, but there was no mistaking the strain in his voice. "Keep moving!"
Van rushed to support him on one side while I cast another barrier to shield us from incoming arrows. "We can't let them flank us," I urged, glancing back at Wyn and Volker, who kept pace behind us.
"We need to find higher ground!" Van shouted over the chaos, gesturing toward a nearby rise.
My heart hammered in my chest, a frantic drumbeat echoing the chaos around us as we raced toward the area Van had pointed to. Thorn staggered slightly under the weight of his wound, but determination radiated from him like sunlight piercing through storm clouds.
"Keep moving!" he barked again, urging us forward even as another arrow whizzed past his ear.
Van and I flanked him, our steps quickening as we reached the top of the incline. I glanced back, dread pooling in my stomach at the sight of Fenvalur's forces gaining ground. They moved with a feral grace, relentless in their pursuit.
"Senara!" Thorn shouted, breaking me from my thoughts. "Focus! We can't let them trap us!"
As we crested the hill, a sharp gasp escaped my lips. Below lay a sheer drop off, the cliffs plunging into a churning sea of darkness. The only way was forward, or to face Fenvalur and his guards closing in behind us.
With no choice but to confront our pursuers, I turned to face them, adrenaline surging through me. Thorn drew his sword, its blade gleaming fiercely even in this dim light.
"We hold them here," he said with grim resolve.
"Right!" I raised my hands, feeling the magic course through me like wildfire, tendrils of light spiraled from my fingertips as I prepared to unleash it on Fenvalur's forces.
The first wave crashed upon us like a tidal surge; arrows rained down and creatures that I hadn't even noticed before lunged forward with savage growls. I hurled a barrier around us just in time to absorb an onslaught of projectiles that shattered against its shimmering surface.
"Now!" Thorn shouted as he engaged two of Fenvalur's guards head on. He swung his sword with precision, each strike forcing back our attackers while I focused on weaving spells to bolster our defenses.
Just as we pushed back against their numbers, Fenvalur emerged from behind his men, a dark specter with eyes burning like embers in the night. He spotted me instantly and grinned with malevolence.
"I see you've managed to retrieve one artifact," he taunted, extending his hand toward the Starforged Mirror strapped securely under my arm.
Before I could react, he lunged forward and snatched it from me with a swift motion that left me momentarily stunned.
"No!" My voice rang out as panic surged through me.
Wyn stepped beside me just then, her eyes filled with fury and desperation, and unleashed a torrent of magic aimed at Fenvalur. But something went wrong; her energy crackled wildly around her as if she were wrestling an untamed beast within herself.
"Wyn! Control it!" I shouted, but her power spiraled out of control before she could rein it in completely.
The force exploded outward in a blinding flash that engulfed everything around us, a desperate last stand amidst our looming defeat against Fenvalur's cunning smirk and his grasp on the artifact that could tilt fate itself.
The blinding light faded, leaving behind an eerie silence that settled heavily over us. I staggered back, disoriented, my heart racing. Fenvalur stood at the center of it all, his smug grin cutting through the haze of shock. The Starforged Mirror glinted in his grasp, a cruel trophy in the hands of our enemy.
"No…" I breathed, feeling an icy dread seep into my bones. The loss hit me like a physical blow.
"Did I kill them? Did I destroy the mirror?" Wyn murmured, horror at her actions was etched on her face and hung heavy in her barely audible voice.
To my surprise, it was Van who answered, "No. Or at least not Fenvalur. I felt his traveling magic activate before the spell finished. I have no idea how many he could transport like that though."
Thorn's face twisted with fury as he turned to me, eyes aflame with guilt and anger. "This is my fault! If I had been faster,"
"Thorn," I interrupted, stepping closer despite the tumult around us. "You can't blame yourself for this."
His hands balled into fists at his sides, tension radiating off him like heat from a forge. "I should've protected you! I should've kept that mirror safe!"
I reached out and placed a hand on his arm, grounding him in the moment. "You did everything you could. We all did." My voice wavered slightly as I fought against the tide of despair threatening to swallow me whole. I didn't mean my words. I couldn't, not when I didn't have a weapon to call my own and couldn't summon the Moon Blades.
"But it wasn't enough!" Thorn shot back, his frustration palpable. He looked away, gaze hardening as he surveyed our surroundings, a battlefield littered with chaos and uncertainty.
"It's not over," I insisted gently. "We still have the Veilshard Pendant to find. That's our next step."
He met my gaze then, pain flickering across his features before it hardened into determination once more. "You're right."
I could feel the weight of our shared loss pressing down on us both, but we couldn't afford to wallow in it now. Thorn was strong; I needed to be too. I needed to show him it was okay, even if I felt the complete opposite. Which also meant I had to hide it from our bond, which was more difficult than I expected.
"Fenvalur may have taken one artifact," I said firmly, taking a step back and drawing myself up straight. "But we have something he doesn't, each other and our resolve, not to mention the crown." I gave my soul bonded a small smile, trying to show him how far we had come in spite of everything trying to stop us.
His expression softened slightly at my words, but still bore that shadow of anger and regret.
"Let's salvage this mission," he finally replied, his voice steadier now but laced with urgency.
Nodding firmly, we set off together again, a united front determined to retrieve the Veilshard Pendant and reclaim our stolen power against the darkness looming ever closer around us. And we needed to figure out what was going on with Wyn's magic. If she was going to lose control then, as much as I hated the thought, I didn't think we could count on her in a fight.