Chapter 16:

The sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting its golden light on the ruins of the Forgotten Spire. Aria and Lucian stood together, their breaths mingling in the crisp morning air, but the peace was short-lived. A faint, haunting whisper echoed in Aria’s mind.

Kael.

She turned to Lucian, her expression shifting from relief to worry. "Kael… I felt him. He’s alive, but he’s in pain."

Lucian’s jaw tightened. "Evangeline must have done something before her end. We need to find him."

Aria nodded, determination burning in her chest. "He helped us when we needed him most. We can’t leave him to suffer."

The bond between Aria and Kael had always been different—unique and inexplicably strong. Though Lucian was her anchor, Kael had been her guiding light during her moments of doubt, his quiet strength and unwavering loyalty a constant reminder of her purpose.

As they made their way through the dense forest surrounding the Spire, the air grew colder, and an unnatural silence enveloped them. The trees seemed to bend and twist, their gnarled branches reaching toward an unseen force.

Lucian stopped abruptly, his senses heightened. "Something’s wrong. Do you feel it?"

Aria nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. The air was heavy with magic—dark and ancient, like the remnants of Evangeline’s influence lingering in the world.

They followed the faint pull of Aria’s connection to Kael, each step bringing them closer to the source of the disturbance. Eventually, they reached a secluded clearing where the earth was scorched and blackened, as if touched by fire.

In the center of the clearing lay Kael, his body bound by thick, dark tendrils of shadow that pulsed with malevolent energy. His face was pale, his breaths shallow, and his normally vibrant amber eyes were dull and lifeless.

"Kael!" Aria cried, rushing to his side.

The moment she touched him, a jolt of energy shot through her, and a vision overwhelmed her senses. She saw Kael standing in a dark chamber, surrounded by Evangeline’s minions. He had fought valiantly, his twin blades flashing like lightning, but he had been overpowered. Evangeline had cursed him, binding his soul to the remnants of the Crimson Heart’s corruption as a final act of vengeance.

Aria gasped, pulling back as tears filled her eyes. "She used him as a vessel… to channel the Heart’s remaining darkness."

Lucian knelt beside her, his expression grim. "Then we need to free him. But this magic… it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen."

Aria placed a trembling hand on Kael’s chest, feeling the faint flicker of life within him. "He’s still in there, Lucian. I can feel him. We have to save him."

Lucian nodded. "We’ll do it together."

They worked in unison, combining their strengths to unravel the web of dark magic binding Kael. Lucian’s centuries of experience with curses and forbidden spells proved invaluable, while Aria drew upon the fragments of the Heart still within her, using its residual light to counter the darkness.

Kael’s body convulsed as the shadows resisted their efforts, writhing and lashing out like living creatures. Aria gritted her teeth, pouring every ounce of her will into the task.

"Stay with me, Kael," she whispered, her voice breaking. "You’re not alone."

The tendrils of shadow began to weaken, their hold on Kael loosening with each passing moment. Finally, with a blinding flash of light, the curse shattered, and the dark energy dissipated into the air.

Kael let out a shuddering breath, his body going limp. Aria caught him, cradling him in her arms as tears streamed down her face.

"Kael," she murmured, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

His eyes fluttered open, their amber depths regaining their warmth. He looked up at her, his voice weak but steady. "Aria… you came for me."

"Of course I did," she replied, a smile breaking through her tears. "I’ll always come for you."

Lucian stood silently, watching the exchange with a complicated expression. Though he trusted Aria completely, he couldn’t ignore the bond she shared with Kael—a bond that went beyond mere friendship.

Kael tried to sit up, wincing as pain shot through his body. "Evangeline… she wanted me to destroy you, Aria. She said it was the only way to break the prophecy. I resisted, but…"

Aria shook her head, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You did everything you could, Kael. She’s gone now. The prophecy has been fulfilled."

Kael’s gaze shifted to Lucian, his eyes filled with both gratitude and unease. "Thank you… for saving me."

Lucian nodded, his voice calm but firm. "We’re stronger together. You’re part of this fight, Kael, whether you like it or not."

Kael managed a faint smile, though his eyes lingered on Aria for a moment longer than necessary.

As they prepared to leave the clearing, a sense of unease settled over them. The world was far from healed, and the remnants of the Crimson Heart’s corruption still lingered in the shadows.