The noise coming from below increased in volume, as though the ground itself was sighing. Dust trickled down from the ceiling, while fissures started to break through the stone walls. “Get going!” Rowan shouted. Lucian pulled me back right as a piece of rock fell where I had been moments before. My heart raced within my chest. The whole room shook, an eerie, deep noise streaming up from the fissures in the ground. It felt as if an ancient force had stirred. “What is going on?” I yelled. Lucian's expression was serious as he assisted Seraphine in standing up. "It has started." The solar eclipse.” Rowan muttered a curse quietly. "And if Dahlia receives what she desires" "She will not!" I interrupted abruptly. I didn't allow myself to waver. "We must leave this place and prevent her." At this moment. The four of us rushed out of the room and into the hallway. The torches flickered, their flames dancing erratically as the rumbling intensified. "We can't escape the whole mountain a
The atmosphere was laden with ash and unease as the shadows contorted oddly, ascending like vapor from the broken altar. It originated from me. My breath caught as I gazed at my hands. A golden light continued to pulse softly in my hands, yet it flickered, akin to a candle battling an unyielding breeze. "What is occurring to me?" I murmured. Seraphine clutched my arm, her eyes filled with terror. "Daisy, halt." “You need to cease!” "I won’t be doing this!" I retorted, my voice breaking. The shadows surged forward, creating sharp towers around us, blocking the way back to the battlefield. Rowan's voice sliced through the turmoil. Concentrate! “No matter what this is, you are able to control it!” Manage it? I wasn't even aware of what it was. The shadows throbbed, their motions reflecting my rapid heartbeat. For a brief moment, it seemed as if they were alive, attentive, anticipating my order. Lucian's voice echoed from the foot of the mountain. "Daisy!" “We require your presence
The earth under my knees felt chillier than ever, the frost piercing my skin. The battlefield around me was quiet. Wolves from each side halted, their eyes fixed on the swirling shadows where the Rogue King disappeared. However, he had not vanished. He was transforming. The shadows contorted and squirmed, creating something horrific. They became taller, darker, and increasingly threatening. The form was hardly human anymore, featuring sharp claws and bright red eyes that cut through the darkness. I managed to get up, my heart racing in my ears. “Daisy!” Seraphine’s voice pierced the quiet. She was running towards me, her expression ashen with terror. "We must retreat!" I shook my head, my gaze fixed on the horrifying shape before us. "Negative." "If we flee, he will ruin everything." Lucian moaned from his position on the snow, his form still ensnared by weak strands of darkness. I hurried to his side, putting my hand on his shoulder. "Lucian, please don’t leave me," I begged.
The shadow engulfed me entirely. It wasn't merely in my surroundings; it infiltrated my skin, winding through my veins, murmuring both promises and threats simultaneously. The golden glow that had served as my protection dimmed feebly, its heat diminishing. However, I couldn't yield. “Daisy!” Lucian’s voice shattered the dark emptiness. I could hardly make him out, yet his presence was sufficient to ground me. I tripped ahead, my arms extended. "I'm present!" “Time is slipping away from you,” echoed the Rogue King’s low, sneering voice. His laughter resounded like a thunderclap. “Decide, small Omega. "Will you accept the darkness or allow it to devour all that you cherish?" I clenched my jaw. “I will select… neither.” “Naive girl,” he growled, his scarlet eyes blazing in the darkness. "Do you believe you can withstand this force?" You’ve previously sampled it. It exists within you. “It’s you.” The shadows struck, entangling my wrists and dragging me to the ground. They weren't
As Dahlia rushed towards the Rogue King, it seemed as if the world paused in suspense. Her actions were precise and intentional, as if she had anticipated this battle for her whole existence. I remained paralyzed, conflicted between hurrying to help her and allowing her to manage this herself. My golden light flickered softly in my chest, compelling me onward. Yet Dahlia didn't so much as look at me. Her attention was laser-focused on the Rogue King. "You’ve erred, girl," the Rogue King growled, his red eyes squinting. "Do you believe you can oppose me?" Dahlia grinned, her self-assurance icy. "I do not believe." I understand. Her voice gave me a chill down my spine. The Rogue King attacked first, with shadows swirling around him like a sentient tempest. Dahlia smoothly dodged, her claws gleaming as they sliced through the shadowy tendrils. “Is that everything you've got?” she teased, her voice casual, nearly fun. The shadows struck at her, yet she twirled and rotated, her acti
The battlefield was quiet, the heavy kind of quiet that follows a disastrous event. I inhaled in quick, shallow breaths while I fixed my gaze on the place where Dahlia stood just moments earlier. The enormous shadow stretched above us, its shape contorting and squirming like a waking terror. It bellowed, trembling the earth under my feet. “Dahlia!” I yelled, my voice breaking. There was no response. Lucian seized my arm, yanking me away as the shadowy being approached. "Daisy, we need to hurry!" Currently! I pulled my arm loose. "Absolutely not!" "She's still inside there!" "She has left!" Lucian shouted, his tone edged with urgency. "If we remain, we'll perish as well!" "I couldn't care less!" I shouted in response, the golden light within me igniting. “I won't abandon her!” Seraphine stood beside me, her complexion light but resolute. “If Dahlia is alive, we will locate her.” However, at this moment, we must come together again. "That object is excessively strong." The shad
The shadows closed in on me, thick and stifling. My ears buzzed, and every inch of me felt hurt and damaged. I blinked, attempting to understand the indistinct forms moving in the dim light. “Daisy!” a voice shouted. It sounded muted and far away, as if listening to someone yell underwater. I sighed, lifting myself up. My fingers grazed the chilly, rough surface, rock instead of frost. Where am I? "Can you hear me, Daisy?" It was Lucian, and his voice was now more distinct. "I'm present," I said, even though my throat was sore. A hand took hold of mine, providing stability. I glanced up to find Lucian’s face, marked by dirt and concern. “It's all right,” he exhaled, a sense of relief washing over his face. "I believed we had lost you." “What occurred?” I inquired, grimacing as I rose. “The blast.” Seraphine appeared next to us, her complexion wan yet resolute. “The shadow being… it has vanished." “At the very least, I believe it is.” Departed? That didn’t appear to be correct
The clearing seemed vibrant, thumping with a heavy, oppressive force. Dahlia was tied to the altar, her golden eyes flashing with fear and agony. The Rogue King hovered next to her, his red eyes piercing through me, challenging me to act. "Release her," I insisted, my voice shaky yet resolute. He laughed softly, a quiet, derisive noise. "And spoil my grand finale?" “I believe not.” “Daisy,” Dahlia whispered, her voice faint yet piercing. "You must go." Currently. "I’m not going anywhere," I retorted. My hands tightened, and I sensed the golden light awakening inside me, eager to be set free. “Moving,” the Rogue King remarked, moving nearer. “However, you don’t grasp it, young Luna.” This is not solely about you or your sibling. “This concerns fate.” “I have had enough of destiny,” I retorted. “I choose for myself.” “Then make a choice,” he stated, extending his arms broadly. "Attempt to rescue her." However, you will not succeed. “And when that happens, the eclipse will claim e
The world had contracted to the area between my arms and Dahlia’s motionless form. The turmoil of the battleground was a faint buzz, the shattered howls of wolves a subdued resonance. The only noise I could perceiving was my uneven breath while I held her, the blood on my hands had begun to dry yet still felt warm. “Dahlia,” I murmured, nudging her softly as if that would revive her. Her head tilted to one side, her formerly sharp eyes half-shut, the spark in them lost. No, no, no. My chest rose and fell as I held her tighter, pressing my face into her stained hair. "You must not abandon me." "Not in this way." A soft rasp emerged from her lips, and I paused. Gently, I withdrew, my heart racing. Her eyes partially opened, just a crack, and for an instant, she gazed at me not as an opponent, not as a competitor, but as my sister. “I’m here,” I stated, tears flowing down my cheeks. "I am here." Her lips were in motion, yet no sound emerged. I moved in nearer, eager to catch what s
The atmosphere was charged with crackling energy, a heavy weight that bore down on my chest with each breath. With each step I made toward the ritual chamber, the weight felt greater than before, as if the ground itself was plotting against me. On the battlefield, I observed Dahlia stumble, her body suffering from the same magic that consumed me. Our gazes locked for just a fleeting instant, and I noticed a spark of fear, a silent request, and something indefinable. “Dahlia!” I yelled, my voice consumed by the wailing gusts of the eclipse’s force. Before she had the chance to respond, Castor's voice boomed across the battlefield, intensified by the ominous magic enveloping him. “Wolves of Silvermoon, behold the beginning of a new age!” he declared, positioned at the heart of the whirlwind. His body started to change, the contours of his shape fading as the ritual took over him. “What is he up to?” Rowan yelled, tripping over to join me. I could hardly reply, my attention fixed o
The battlefield was filled with confusion. Wolves collided, fangs exposed and claws tearing in the strange glow of the eclipse. Shadows contorted strangely over the terrain, with the sun’s dim corona being the sole source of light on the bloodied ground. My heart raced in my chest as I battled through The Forgotten’s ranks, with Rowan alongside me. “Daisy, right behind you!” Rowan yelled, rushing ahead to block a rogue who had approached too near. I whirled, cutting through yet another foe before facing Rowan again. "We must continue to advance!" "Castor isn’t going to wait for us to discover him!" Rowan cleaned the blood from his face, his eyes filled with resolve. "We'll reach him." “However, if we don’t halt their armament, none of this will be important.” I nodded, looking at Soren, who was guiding a few people toward The Forgotten’s supply cache. His expression was determined, his actions exact as he and his group disappeared into the turmoil. "Best of luck, Soren," I whispe
The initial sliver of shadow moved across the sun, enveloping the battlefield in a strange dusk. The previously overwhelming clamor of readiness and whispers of anxiety turned quiet, supplanted by a silence so profound it seemed to breathe. My breath caught as I looked up at the sky, the universe seemingly pausing for what lay ahead. “We have no time left,” Soren stated next to me, his tone quiet yet determined. I agreed, clutching my weapon more firmly. "We proceed now." "Without any doubt." The initial howl shattered the quiet, a call from our scouts marking the commencement of the assault. The noise was instinctive, unrefined, and it sent a chill through my body. "Let's wrap this up," I snarled, spearheading the attack. Within the stony confines of Silvermoon, Dahlia glided like a shadow, her movements stealthy and precise. She trailed Castor through twisting hallways, her senses amplified as the eclipse's power coursed through her. The murmurs in her head grew louder, nearly
The sky was unsettled, marked with shadows that grew darker with each passing moment. I remained at the perimeter of the battlefield, the heaviness of the air compressing my lungs. The eclipse approached, its energy surging through my veins like a warning I was unable to overlook. I tightened my fists, steadying myself as the ground beneath my feet shook. Surrounding me, the whispers of my companions broke the silence, a soft resonance of anxiety, resolve, and the delicate hope that this wasn’t the conclusion. “Daisy,” Fenris’s voice shattered the quiet. He positioned himself next to me, his expression serious yet composed. "The rest are waiting." I nodded, pulling my eyes away from the dimming skyline. “Let’s complete this.” Within the war tent, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. A temporary table displayed a map of Silvermoon, its landscape outlined with quickly sketched lines and circles. My most reliable companions Fenris, Rowan, Soren, and several others gathered around i
The moon loomed large in the heavens, its borders engulfed by darkness as the eclipse started. Shadows swelled across the battlefield, not merely a physical darkness but an overwhelming, alien presence that weighed on my chest and screamed in my ears. I sensed it deep within me, a chilling vibration of energy that ignited every nerve. By the way the fighters near me tensed up, I realized they sensed it as well. “This feels unnatural,” Fenris growled, exposing his teeth. He stood next to me, his knuckles pale gripping the handle of his sword. “No, it isn’t,” I replied, my voice scarcely heard over the increasing wind. I raised my eyes to Silvermoon, its lofty walls a striking outline against the crimson sky. Somewhere in that space, Castor was orchestrating the movements, and Dahlia... Dahlia was expecting. "Postures!" I yelled, compelling myself to concentrate. “Gather together and maintain your position!” The group quickly arranged themselves, with wolves transforming into their
The breeze cut sharply across my face, bringing the aroma of pine and the faint buzz of unease. We advanced together like a pack of wolves in human and altered shapes, their breaths misting in the frigid air. Each step seemed weightier than the previous, making us feel as though we were being pulled toward the conclusion. “Silvermoon is located just over that hill,” Soren stated, speaking softly. He gestured toward the uneven row of trees in front. "The external defenses will be dispersed, yet they will be aware of our approach." "They consistently do." Fenris walked alongside me, his shoulders rigid and his jaw clenched. His typically serene demeanor had fractured in recent days, exposing something unrefined beneath the exterior. "You're really silent," I remarked, looking at him. He made a grunting sound but didn’t reply. "Fenris," I urged, softening my tone. “What are you thinking about?” He reduced his speed, letting the others move in front of us. When he finally began to s
The evening atmosphere was heavy with unease, the far-off cries of wolves cutting through the stillness. Daisy positioned herself close to the camp's border, gazing at the shadowy horizon. The burden of her decisions weighed down significantly on her heart. Each choice she faced seemed like another risk, and she was losing time to wager judiciously. Footsteps stirred behind her. Fenris drew near, his face faintly illuminated by the flickering flames. “We have an intruder,” he stated, his voice taut yet composed. "An elder hailing from Silvermoon." States he has something to convey to you. Daisy's forehead creased. "A senior?" Here? “From Silvermoon?” Fenris agreed. “He states it’s critical.” Daisy promptly accompanied him to the heart of the camp. The fighters had assembled, whispering to one another while they watched the hooded individual by the flames. The old man's hands shook gently, his face etched with years and fatigue. “Who is it that you are?” Daisy insisted, moving ah
The campsite was still, aside from the muted moans of the wounded. Daisy sat close to the fire, gazing at the dancing flames. The burden of the ambush enveloped her like a dense mantle. Surrounding her, the warriors still present murmured in low voices, their uncertainty slicing through the atmosphere like a knife. “She's powerful, but is that sufficient?” one voice whispered. "Another person mentioned, 'We’ve already lost countless others.'" "Perhaps we ought to minimize our losses and depart." Daisy’s jaw grew tense. She compelled herself to appear composed, yet her heart was racing. Fenris drew near, his expression serious. "You've listened to them," he remarked, taking a seat next to her. "I've listened," Daisy responded, maintaining her tone calm. He moved in closer. "They aren't mistaken, Daisy." We’re outnumbered, outclassed. Perhaps it's time to retreat and gather in a more secure location. "We cannot protect Silvermoon in this manner." She faced him, her eyes burning w