Even the clash of steel and the screams of dying creatures seemed to fade as every eye turned toward Adrian.He stood in the center of the tent, his body glowing with an otherworldly golden light, shadows and ash swirling around his feet like living smoke.The creatures knelt, trembling before him as though he were their sovereign.Selene’s heart hammered against her ribs.This wasn’t Adrian — at least, not entirely.The man she loved was buried beneath that radiance, suffocated by the power that had been unleashed when the relic shattered.“Adrian,” she whispered, stepping closer.“Look at me. Please… it’s me, Selene.”His head turned slowly, molten-gold eyes locking on hers.For a heartbeat, there was recognition—then it vanished beneath a cold, regal detachment.“You stood by me,” he said, his voice deep, echoing, wrong.“When others fled. That loyalty will be rewarded.”The words sent a chill through her.They weren’t his. They couldn’t be.“You don’t need to reward me,” she said

The storm had passed.Golden embers drifted through the air like dying stars, settling over a battlefield of ruin.Shattered weapons lay half-buried in the scorched earth, and the bodies of both soldiers and shadow creatures littered the ground.Silence reigned — not peace, but the heavy quiet of exhaustion and grief.Adrian knelt in the center of it all, cradling Selene in his arms.Her head rested against his chest, her skin pale, her breathing so shallow it was almost imperceptible.“No, no, no…” His voice broke as he pressed his forehead to hers.“You can’t leave me. Not now. Not after everything.”Her earlier words echoed through his mind — I love you.They had been both a gift and a wound, given in the same breath she’d used to save him.Adrian’s chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself.He had defeated the Master, but what victory was there in a world without her?Kael stumbled through the wreckage, his golden hair matted with blood, his sword dragging at his side.When h

The council tent was suffocatingly tense.Maps were spread across the table, marked with hastily drawn lines indicating troop movements. Outside, the camp stirred uneasily as rumors of the approaching enemy spread like wildfire. Inside, only the sound of Selene’s steady breathing broke the silence.Kael’s arms were crossed, his sharp golden eyes fixed on the reports.Darion stood rigid, his hand resting near the hilt of his sword.Selene sat at the head of the table, though her body still trembled from her recent awakening.Adrian stood apart, near the entrance, his expression unreadable.Finally, Selene spoke, her voice hoarse but resolute.“How many?”Darion’s jaw tightened. “Too many to count. At least ten thousand, maybe more.”Selene’s fingers curled on the table. “And you’re certain they’re not remnants of the Master’s army?”Darion shook his head. “They don’t move like shadows. These are… organized. Disciplined. Whoever commands them knows strategy.”Kael’s eyes flickered towar

The forest was silent.Too silent.Selene reined in her horse, the damp mist curling around her like ghostly fingers.Every breath felt heavy, as though the air itself had weight.Kael rode slightly ahead, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword.Darion brought up the rear, his sharp eyes scanning the trees.The group of riders behind them — a mix of elite scouts and loyal soldiers — moved carefully, the crunch of their horses’ hooves muffled by the soft earth.Selene’s pulse quickened. “Something’s wrong,” she murmured.Kael nodded grimly. “I can feel it too.”Darion’s voice was low and tense. “We’re being watched.”The mist shifted then, swirling unnaturally as a cold wind cut through the trees.The horses whinnied nervously.“Form a circle!” Kael barked.The riders snapped into formation, shields raised, weapons ready.From the fog, faint silhouettes began to appear — tall, armored figures moving with unnerving precision.Selene’s breath caught as the first soldier stepped int

The moon was a thin silver sliver in the sky, barely enough to light the mist-choked valley.Selene crouched low on the riverbank, cold water lapping at her boots, her breath clouding the air in soft puffs.Behind her, the army waited in perfect silence — a thousand shadows blended into the night.The only sound was the soft rush of the current and the quiet creak of leather armor.Kael knelt beside her, scanning the mist with sharp, calculating eyes.“They can’t see us from here,” he whispered.“But once we cross, there’s no going back.”Selene’s jaw tightened.“I know.”Darion grinned from the other side of her, his blade already drawn.“Good. I was getting tired of waiting.”Kael shot him a glare. “And I’m tired of your recklessness.”“Reckless is what’s going to get Adrian back,” Darion shot back, low and fierce.Selene silenced them both with a sharp gesture.“Enough. We cross now.”The soldiers slipped into the icy water in small groups, moving with practiced stealth.The river