Chapter 5
The market square still buzzed with lingering relief after the Purge Knights' intervention. Merchants whispered thanks, families embraced, and children clutched their parents tightly, their faith in Ethille's protectors renewed. The golden fruits of solvaris, salvaged from the wreckage, gleamed faintly under the dying sun, symbols of hope that life might yet endure. Yet beneath the surface of gratitude, a tremor of fear lingered.
Azre and Nilda remained at the edge of the square, watching as the boy and his father departed with their meager salvaged wares. The child waved one last time, his small hand bright against the backdrop of smoke stained skies. Azre felt a pang of sadness, knowing that their lives would never be the same.
Azre lifted her hand in return, her expression warm and genuine. Nilda only adjusted her glasses, though her faint smile betrayed the composure she struggled to keep. She glanced at Azre, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and admiration.
Captain Eldhar's voice carried across the square, strong as ever. "This city owes you much. But remember, the Black Fang will not rest. Tonight we celebrate survival, not victory. The true battle lies ahead." His words were a somber reminder of the dangers that still lurked.
The crowd quieted as his words sank deep. For all the relief of the moment, there was truth in his warning shadows still lingered beyond Ethille's walls. Azre felt a chill run down her spine, a premonition of the darkness to come.
Back in the castle, Eldhar stood over a prisoner, his eyes sharp. The prisoner was bound to a chair, his face bruised and bloodied. Aven, his frustration still simmering, slammed a gauntleted fist on the table. "This is pointless. He will speak nothing under terror." His voice was laced with impatience and anger.
Eldhar's gaze hardened. "Enough, Aven. Anger clouds judgment. We need clarity, not rage. Your actions risk everything here." He turned to Aven, his voice firm but controlled. "We are knights, not torturers."
Aven's shoulders sank. "Forgive me, Captain." He lowered his head, shame washing over him. He knew Eldhar was right, but his desire for justice often clouded his judgment.
Suddenly, the chamber shifted. Shadows pooled and condensed in the corners, forming a hollow, unnatural figure. The air grew heavy, every breath tasting of ice and ash. A sense of dread filled the room, a chilling premonition of what was to come.
The phantom moved deliberately, raising its hand. From the floor, a jagged pinnacle of darkness erupted, sparks of lightning leaping between its edges. Within its core, a ball of compressed dark energy throbbed violently, pulsating with lethal intensity. Azre felt a surge of adrenaline, her senses heightened, her mind racing.
Before anyone could react, the phantom seized the prisoner. Its voice carried familiarity and malice. It was Darkan. The voice echoed through the chamber, sending shivers down their spines.
"You cannot touch me," the voice hissed. "Through this ritual, my essence travels far beyond your reach. My soul inhabits these shadows, and your fate is mine to toy with." The words were a taunt, a challenge, a promise of pain and suffering.
The dark sphere swelled violently, radiating heat and sparks in all directions. Azre's eyes widened in shock as the imminent threat registered. She shouted across the distance to Nilda, who was already several meters away with Rowan and Thalia crouched behind her small shield. Her voice was laced with urgency and fear. "Nilda, barrier, now!"
Nilda reacted instantly, extending her arm and speaking the chant in a rush. "Shield of the faithful, hold fast to life." Her voice was clear and strong, a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness.
Azre simultaneously spoke her chant. "Light of protection, shield us from darkness." Her voice was filled with power and determination, a desperate attempt to protect her comrades.
They were too far apart. Nilda's barrier began to form around herself and the knights behind her, Rowan and Thalia, but the ball of darkness detonated the moment Darkan tightened his grip on the prisoner. The explosion was deafening, blinding, and all consuming.
The chamber shook violently. Rocks and splinters of wood flew through the air. Sparks of black energy and lightning crackled outward, slamming into walls and floors. Dust filled every corner, blurring vision and catching in the soldiers' hair and armor. The air crackled with residual energy, the smell of ozone stinging their nostrils.
Azre's larger golden barrier expanded, enveloping Eldhar, Aven, and the other soldiers nearby. The light reflected off polished armor, casting warm glows on faces tense with fear and determination. Nilda's smaller shield flickered but held, forming a spinning pinnacle of radiant energy around her, Rowan, and Thalia. Debris bounced harmlessly off the barriers as the concussive force passed through the chamber.
Rowan gritted his teeth, gripping his sword tightly behind Nilda's barrier. Thalia's hands tensed on her bow, eyes wide but focused. Eldhar pressed against the inside of Azre's dome, feeling the vibrations of the blast shake through his body. Aven's jaw tightened as he watched the dark energy swirl and dissipate, grateful for the barrier's protection. He closed his eyes for a moment, offering a silent prayer of thanks.
The prisoner vanished in the chaos, carried into the darkness, while the air filled with the hiss of dissipating magic. The scent of ozone and scorched stone hung heavy, and the chamber quaked under the force of the blast. Every pulse of the dark energy made the room shudder, but the knights and soldiers remained unharmed behind their shields. They had survived, but at a cost.
As the golden light of the barriers began to fade, the aftermath revealed the true extent of the destruction. Chunks of stone littered the floor, splintered beams lay across shattered tiles, and blackened scorch marks streaked the walls. Dust hung in the air, settling slowly over the knights and soldiers who remained on their knees, shaken but alive. The room was a scene of chaos and devastation.
Azre pressed her palms to the surface of her dome, reinforcing the golden light. Her heart pounded, her chest tight as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She closed her eyes, focusing her energy, trying to maintain the barrier. Nilda kept her focus on the smaller pinnacle of light, rapier in hand, ensuring the knights behind her remained protected. Sparks from the fading explosion reflected in their eyes, glimmering like molten gold against the lingering darkness. They were exhausted, but they remained vigilant.
Eldhar stood slowly, brushing dust from his armor, his gaze sweeping the room. "Everyone, check your positions. Make sure no one is injured," he ordered. His voice was calm and commanding, a beacon of leadership in the chaos. The soldiers moved, checking one another, some wincing as they brushed soot from their faces.
Aven exhaled, rubbing his forehead as he surveyed the debris. "That was too close," he muttered, voice heavy with relief and lingering tension. He knew they had been lucky to survive.
Rowan and Thalia lowered themselves carefully from behind Nilda's shield, exchanging brief, tense glances. "Is everyone alright?" Rowan asked quietly, voice tight. Nilda nodded, her fingers still gripping the spinning pinnacle of light, though she was visibly drained from maintaining the barrier. She swayed slightly, her face pale with exhaustion.
The chamber was quiet now, but the oppressive weight of the darkness remained. The prisoner was gone. Darkan's shadow had vanished along with him, leaving only the faintest residue of malevolent energy curling across the scorched floor. The walls themselves seemed to shiver with the echo of the explosion. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the crackling of the dying torches.
Azre's eyes narrowed as she scanned the corners of the room, lingering on the space where the shadows had condensed. Her fists clenched as she realized that the threat was far from neutralized. Every instinct told her that Darkan was watching, calculating, and preparing his next move. She felt a surge of determination, a vow to stop him no matter the cost.
Nilda lowered her arm slowly, letting the pinnacle of light dissolve. Her chest heaved, and her shoulders sagged slightly as exhaustion overtook her momentarily. "He won," she said quietly, the words heavy with frustration. "The prisoner… gone, and he used the shadows to escape." She shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment.
Azre remained silent, absorbing the weight of the loss. The golden light around Eldhar and the soldiers dimmed, leaving the chamber in the muted glow of flickering torches. Dust drifted down in slow motes, and the smell of scorched stone lingered like a ghost. The weight of their failure pressed down on them, a reminder of the stakes involved.
Eldhar's gaze met Azre's. "We cannot dwell on it," he said, voice calm but edged with steel. "The mission remains. We know now that Holon and Darkan's plans are already in motion. We must be ready." He turned to the others, his expression resolute. "We will regroup, reassess, and prepare for what comes next."
Rowan and Thalia exchanged glances, a shared understanding passing between them. The enemy had slipped through their grasp this time, but it would not be the last confrontation. They knew they had a duty to fulfill, a promise to keep.
Eldhar paused, remembering the promise made to Lady Seraphine after the battle in the clearing. Despite the tension and the looming threat, knights must honor their word. "Rowan, Thalia," he said, his voice firm, "you will depart immediately. Brightnox Manor awaits. Go under the cover of night and represent us as promised." He nodded to them, a silent acknowledgment of the importance of their mission.
Rowan bowed. "As you command, Captain. We will see Lady Seraphine tonight." He glanced at Thalia, a silent promise to return quickly.
Thalia gave a short nod, checking her bow. "We will arrive and maintain our honor." She adjusted her quiver, her eyes focused and determined.
Even as they prepared to leave, the chamber seemed to exhale with silence, the tension thick and lingering like smoke. The darkness had pierced the heart of Ethille, but duty and honor still drove the knights forward. They knew they had a long and dangerous road ahead.
Azre pressed her palms to her barrier one last time, reinforcing the fading glow. She whispered to herself, a vow carried in the silence of the aftermath: "We will not fail again." Her eyes burned with determination, a promise to avenge their failure.
But as the light dimmed completely, and the room settled into an uneasy quiet, the truth remained undeniable.
The prisoner was gone.
Darkan's shadow had vanished.
And the darkness was still watching.
And it would not rest. The battle was far from over.