Theoden ran like something was chasing him. Selene was right behind him, their feet pounding against the earth as branches whipped past, hearts racing faster than they could think. Luka’s broken voice still echoing in Theoden’s mind. “—can’t… move… Darius—close—too close—“ No directions. No context. Just panic. The clearing came into view seconds later. Luka and Darius lay on the ground, sprawled out and still. Too still. Selene skidded to her knees beside Luka. His skin was pale. His chest barely moved. Theoden dropped beside Darius, pressed two fingers to his neck, then his chest. “No pulse,” he said through gritted teeth. “Barely a breath.” Selene reached for Luka’s wrist. Nothing. “Oh no—no no no.” They didn’t think. They moved. Selene positioned her hands over Luka’s sternum and began chest compressions. “Come on, come on,” she whispered, counting under her breath. Across from her, Theoden tilted Darius’s head back and started CPR, alternating between breaths and co
Theoden ran like something was chasing him. Selene was right behind him, their feet pounding against the earth as branches whipped past, hearts racing faster than they could think. Luka’s broken voice still echoing in Theoden’s mind. “—can’t… move… Darius—close—too close—“ No directions. No context. Just panic. The clearing came into view seconds later. Luka and Darius lay on the ground, sprawled out and still. Too still. Selene skidded to her knees beside Luka. His skin was pale. His chest barely moved. Theoden dropped beside Darius, pressed two fingers to his neck, then his chest. “No pulse,” he said through gritted teeth. “Barely a breath.” Selene reached for Luka’s wrist. Nothing. “Oh no—no no no.” They didn’t think. They moved. Selene positioned her hands over Luka’s sternum and began chest compressions. “Come on, come on,” she whispered, counting under her breath. Across from her, Theoden tilted Darius’s head back and started CPR, alternating between breaths and co
The morning was cold. Selene stood at the front line, the edge of the forest dark and quiet before her. Beside her, Theoden exhaled slowly, his blue eyes locked on the horizon. Luka and Darius flanked them, armed and ready, though neither spoke. They had insisted on taking the lead. Many argued they should wait behind the lines, be the last defense if everything else failed. But Selene and Theoden knew better. If their power was what the Elders feared—then it had to be the first thing those Elders saw. The silence didn’t last long. He arrived without warning. The Elder stepped from the woods like he’d always belonged there. He was tall, cloaked in dark gray, his face youthful but hollow, as though something inside had long since rotted. His magic came first—a pulse that shifted the wind, bending tree limbs, stirring the ground. Then it struck. Selene braced herself, but the force was staggering. She stumbled back three steps, eyes wide as the Elder raised a hand aga
The smoke had cleared. The trees were still. The sky above was gray, muted by drifting clouds, the aftermath of a storm not made of rain but magic. Selene stood with her hands on her knees, catching her breath. Theoden was still on the ground, propped against a tree, his chest heaving, blood drying along the side of his jaw. Luka and Darius knelt nearby, both pale and silent, their bodies bruised and burned, but alive. None of them spoke for a while. There was nothing to say. They had survived. But barely. Selene straightened slowly, her eyes scanning Theoden’s face. He didn’t look at her, just focused on breathing. His shoulders trembled slightly from the strain. Something in her chest tugged. Without a word, she moved to him. He didn’t flinch when she knelt beside him. He didn’t stop her when her hand pressed to his chest—soft, careful, her fingers spreading gently over the worst of the burns. Golden light spilled from her skin. He inhaled sharply. “Selene…” “Shhh,” she
The clearing buzzed with energy. Not the kind that came from fear or tension—but something more focused, more alive. Selene stood at the center, her palms lifted, golden light flickering between her fingers. Across from her, Theoden stood still, arms crossed, watching the glow build between them. “You ready?” she asked. He raised a brow. “You’re the one who said we needed to test this shield thing again. I’m just here for the sparks.” Selene smirked. “Alright then. Let’s make it shine.” She extended her magic outward. The golden light pulsed, growing outward in a shimmering dome that wrapped gently around them. It hovered in place, firm and steady. Theoden stepped forward, adding his fire. It curled around the edges of the shield, reinforcing it—solidifying it. Selene held her breath. The shield didn’t flicker. It held. For the first time… it didn’t vanish after a few seconds. “Well,” Luka said from where he leaned against a nearby tree. “That’s a good start. Looks less li
Selene stood at the edge of the central clearing, fingers threaded together, eyes closed. Theoden stood beside her, arms folded, watching the slow rise of the sun as it kissed the tops of the trees. Today was not for battle. It was for building. They had already tested the shields. They knew it worked—knew that together, they could forge something more powerful than either could do alone. Now, it was time to give that protection to everyone. Selene stepped forward first, her hands glowing with quiet gold. She approached one warrior at a time, speaking softly, letting her light wrap around their frame. Each shield she cast was specific, intentional—her thoughts focused on that wolf’s safety, their strength, their life. She whispered words only they could hear. Sometimes a name. Sometimes a wish. Sometimes a memory. And then Theoden would step up beside her. He’d raise his hand, let his fire slide across the gold, not to burn—but to seal. The flame curled around the light, hummin
The day was warm and still. For once, there was no danger pressing at their borders, no threat looming in the tree line. The valley held its breath, cocooned in the quiet hum of the shields Selene and Theoden had laid in place. Selene stretched out on the moss-soft grass just beyond the cabin, her head resting on Theoden’s chest. His hand moved lazily through her hair, the rhythm unhurried and grounding. Birds chirped in the distance. The wind rustled through the leaves. Everything was still. For the first time in days—no, in weeks—she wasn’t moving, fighting, healing, planning. She was just… breathing. Theoden’s voice broke the silence. “You know what I like about this?” She tilted her head, green eyes curious. “What?” He smiled faintly. “You’re always glowing.” She laughed softly, a low, musical sound. They lay like that a little longer, tangled together in the grass, soaking in the fragile calm they’d carved out for themselves. They didn’t need words. Everything they felt,
It started as a tremor. Not in the earth—but in the air, in the space between heartbeats. Selene jolted upright from the small hill where she’d been resting with Theoden. She felt it ripple across her skin, down her spine. The hair on her arms stood up. Theoden stood without needing to ask. “You felt it too.” All across the valley, wolves stirred. Patrols halted. Warriors turned their heads as if drawn by an invisible pull. The shield pulsed—a silent warning vibrating across the magical boundary. Something was trying to get in. Selene and Theoden ran. By the time they reached the northern ridge, Luka and Darius were already there, flanked by several warriors. No one spoke. They just stared through the barrier. On the other side stood five figures. The Elders. Each one different in form and appearance, but all cloaked in the same cold power. Magic coiled around them like smoke, heavy and ancient, pressing against the invisible barrier as though testing its strength. The one
Theoden’s breath burned. His chest rose and fell in hard, fast bursts, his body slick with sweat and blood. Around him, the battlefield seethed with chaos—twisted roots, scorched earth, broken stone. He didn’t hear the screams anymore. Only the hum of power behind his ribs. Only the fire that refused to burn out. He was a warrior. Created for war. His every breath a weapon. His every movement a calculated strike. Atlas pulsed in his chest like a second heartbeat. Their minds were fused, indistinguishable. The beast inside him didn’t just want blood—it demanded justice. Demanded vengeance. And Selene— Selene was light incarnate. Golden light streamed from her, her hair swirling in the storm of her own power. Her eyes no longer green, but glowing gold, so bright they blurred the edges of her face. She wasn’t just wielding her power. She had become it. Together, they were incandescent. Theoden’s fire twisted upward, coiling around her glow like a crown. His skin flared with go
It started as a tremor. Not in the earth—but in the air, in the space between heartbeats. Selene jolted upright from the small hill where she’d been resting with Theoden. She felt it ripple across her skin, down her spine. The hair on her arms stood up. Theoden stood without needing to ask. “You felt it too.” All across the valley, wolves stirred. Patrols halted. Warriors turned their heads as if drawn by an invisible pull. The shield pulsed—a silent warning vibrating across the magical boundary. Something was trying to get in. Selene and Theoden ran. By the time they reached the northern ridge, Luka and Darius were already there, flanked by several warriors. No one spoke. They just stared through the barrier. On the other side stood five figures. The Elders. Each one different in form and appearance, but all cloaked in the same cold power. Magic coiled around them like smoke, heavy and ancient, pressing against the invisible barrier as though testing its strength. The one
The day was warm and still. For once, there was no danger pressing at their borders, no threat looming in the tree line. The valley held its breath, cocooned in the quiet hum of the shields Selene and Theoden had laid in place. Selene stretched out on the moss-soft grass just beyond the cabin, her head resting on Theoden’s chest. His hand moved lazily through her hair, the rhythm unhurried and grounding. Birds chirped in the distance. The wind rustled through the leaves. Everything was still. For the first time in days—no, in weeks—she wasn’t moving, fighting, healing, planning. She was just… breathing. Theoden’s voice broke the silence. “You know what I like about this?” She tilted her head, green eyes curious. “What?” He smiled faintly. “You’re always glowing.” She laughed softly, a low, musical sound. They lay like that a little longer, tangled together in the grass, soaking in the fragile calm they’d carved out for themselves. They didn’t need words. Everything they felt,
Selene stood at the edge of the central clearing, fingers threaded together, eyes closed. Theoden stood beside her, arms folded, watching the slow rise of the sun as it kissed the tops of the trees. Today was not for battle. It was for building. They had already tested the shields. They knew it worked—knew that together, they could forge something more powerful than either could do alone. Now, it was time to give that protection to everyone. Selene stepped forward first, her hands glowing with quiet gold. She approached one warrior at a time, speaking softly, letting her light wrap around their frame. Each shield she cast was specific, intentional—her thoughts focused on that wolf’s safety, their strength, their life. She whispered words only they could hear. Sometimes a name. Sometimes a wish. Sometimes a memory. And then Theoden would step up beside her. He’d raise his hand, let his fire slide across the gold, not to burn—but to seal. The flame curled around the light, hummin
The clearing buzzed with energy. Not the kind that came from fear or tension—but something more focused, more alive. Selene stood at the center, her palms lifted, golden light flickering between her fingers. Across from her, Theoden stood still, arms crossed, watching the glow build between them. “You ready?” she asked. He raised a brow. “You’re the one who said we needed to test this shield thing again. I’m just here for the sparks.” Selene smirked. “Alright then. Let’s make it shine.” She extended her magic outward. The golden light pulsed, growing outward in a shimmering dome that wrapped gently around them. It hovered in place, firm and steady. Theoden stepped forward, adding his fire. It curled around the edges of the shield, reinforcing it—solidifying it. Selene held her breath. The shield didn’t flicker. It held. For the first time… it didn’t vanish after a few seconds. “Well,” Luka said from where he leaned against a nearby tree. “That’s a good start. Looks less li
The smoke had cleared. The trees were still. The sky above was gray, muted by drifting clouds, the aftermath of a storm not made of rain but magic. Selene stood with her hands on her knees, catching her breath. Theoden was still on the ground, propped against a tree, his chest heaving, blood drying along the side of his jaw. Luka and Darius knelt nearby, both pale and silent, their bodies bruised and burned, but alive. None of them spoke for a while. There was nothing to say. They had survived. But barely. Selene straightened slowly, her eyes scanning Theoden’s face. He didn’t look at her, just focused on breathing. His shoulders trembled slightly from the strain. Something in her chest tugged. Without a word, she moved to him. He didn’t flinch when she knelt beside him. He didn’t stop her when her hand pressed to his chest—soft, careful, her fingers spreading gently over the worst of the burns. Golden light spilled from her skin. He inhaled sharply. “Selene…” “Shhh,” she
The morning was cold. Selene stood at the front line, the edge of the forest dark and quiet before her. Beside her, Theoden exhaled slowly, his blue eyes locked on the horizon. Luka and Darius flanked them, armed and ready, though neither spoke. They had insisted on taking the lead. Many argued they should wait behind the lines, be the last defense if everything else failed. But Selene and Theoden knew better. If their power was what the Elders feared—then it had to be the first thing those Elders saw. The silence didn’t last long. He arrived without warning. The Elder stepped from the woods like he’d always belonged there. He was tall, cloaked in dark gray, his face youthful but hollow, as though something inside had long since rotted. His magic came first—a pulse that shifted the wind, bending tree limbs, stirring the ground. Then it struck. Selene braced herself, but the force was staggering. She stumbled back three steps, eyes wide as the Elder raised a hand aga
Theoden ran like something was chasing him. Selene was right behind him, their feet pounding against the earth as branches whipped past, hearts racing faster than they could think. Luka’s broken voice still echoing in Theoden’s mind. “—can’t… move… Darius—close—too close—“ No directions. No context. Just panic. The clearing came into view seconds later. Luka and Darius lay on the ground, sprawled out and still. Too still. Selene skidded to her knees beside Luka. His skin was pale. His chest barely moved. Theoden dropped beside Darius, pressed two fingers to his neck, then his chest. “No pulse,” he said through gritted teeth. “Barely a breath.” Selene reached for Luka’s wrist. Nothing. “Oh no—no no no.” They didn’t think. They moved. Selene positioned her hands over Luka’s sternum and began chest compressions. “Come on, come on,” she whispered, counting under her breath. Across from her, Theoden tilted Darius’s head back and started CPR, alternating between breaths and co
Theoden ran like something was chasing him. Selene was right behind him, their feet pounding against the earth as branches whipped past, hearts racing faster than they could think. Luka’s broken voice still echoing in Theoden’s mind. “—can’t… move… Darius—close—too close—“ No directions. No context. Just panic. The clearing came into view seconds later. Luka and Darius lay on the ground, sprawled out and still. Too still. Selene skidded to her knees beside Luka. His skin was pale. His chest barely moved. Theoden dropped beside Darius, pressed two fingers to his neck, then his chest. “No pulse,” he said through gritted teeth. “Barely a breath.” Selene reached for Luka’s wrist. Nothing. “Oh no—no no no.” They didn’t think. They moved. Selene positioned her hands over Luka’s sternum and began chest compressions. “Come on, come on,” she whispered, counting under her breath. Across from her, Theoden tilted Darius’s head back and started CPR, alternating between breaths and co