Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Echoes of the Seventh Blade

The Whispering Woods thinned behind them, giving way to crisp, mountain air that bit at Ethan's cheeks. He walked beside Lila, the twin Blades—Cursed and Broken—thrumming in harmony at his hips, their runes glowing a soft, steady gold. Ella trailed a step behind, her red hair tied back with a leather cord, a satchel of herbs and vials bouncing against her hip. The amulet in Ethan's palm pulsed rhythmically, a silent compass pointing north toward the Frostspine Mountains."We should reach the valley by dawn," Lila said, flipping through her mother's journal. Her silver hair caught the last of the sunset, turning it to spun moonlight. "My mother's notes say the temple is hidden in a cleft between two peaks—warded so strongly, even academy mages never found it." She paused, glancing at Ethan. "You're quiet. What are you thinking?"Ethan's gaze drifted to the Cursed Blade. Since freeing his grandfather's spirit, the sword's malice had faded, replaced by a warm, guiding hum. "Kael," he said. "Do you think the council will believe him? About Woss, about the Fallen Knights?"Lila's lips pressed into a thin line. "The council's been suspicious of Woss for years—my mother's warnings weren't entirely ignored. With Woss in custody and Kael's testimony… it's possible. But even if they do, his loyalists won't vanish. They'll come for the Blades. For us."Ella piped up, holding out a small vial of glowing green salve. "That's why I made more cloaking paste. It masks magical auras—should keep us off their radar until we find the Frost Blade." She grinned, tapping her satchel. "Also packed fireweed and frostwort. Fireweed counteracts ice magic backlash, frostwort boosts resistance to cold. The temple's gonna be freezing, trust me."Ethan took the vial, nodding his thanks. He'd grown to rely on Ella's practicality—her herbs had saved him from the Cursed Blade's burn more than once. "You never cease to impress," he said.Ella's cheeks pinkened. "Just paying back the favor. You did save me from Kael's goons, y'know."They traveled through the night, the terrain growing steeper as they climbed. The forest gave way to scrubby pines and jagged rock, and by midnight, the first flurries of snow began to fall. The amulet's glow brightened, pulsing faster as they neared their destination."We're close," Lila said, stopping at the edge of a cliff. Below them, a valley stretched out, its floor covered in a blanket of snow. At its center stood a temple of white stone, encased in a thick shell of ice, its spires piercing the dark sky like frozen daggers. "There it is—the Temple of the Frosted Spear."Ethan's breath caught. The temple exuded ancient magic, a faint hum that resonated with the twin Blades. The amulet in his palm blazed, heat searing his skin for a split second before settling into a gentle warmth.As they descended into the valley, the ice around the temple began to crack. A deep, rumbling voice boomed through the air, shaking the ground beneath their feet. "Who dares trespass on hallowed ground?" it thundered. "Only those who bear the truth of the Fallen may pass."Ella stumbled back, eyes wide. Lila stepped forward, her hand resting on the rune at her chest, but Ethan held out a hand to stop her. This was his test—his grandfather's legacy, his responsibility.He stepped toward the temple, the twin Blades glowing brighter. "I am Ethan Cross," he said, his voice steady despite the chill. "Grandson of Marcus Cross, Fallen Knight. I seek the Frost Blade not for power, but to protect. The Fallen Knights' mission was never conquest—it was to shield those without magic from those who would abuse it. I intend to finish what he started."The ice cracked louder, spiderwebbing across the temple's surface. A figure emerged from the shards—tall, clad in armor forged from ice, its helmet carved with the faces of wolves. Its eyes glowed like shards of blue crystal, piercing and wise. It was the spirit of the Frost Blade's original wielder, a Fallen Knight from a century past."The truth is not in blood alone," the spirit said, its voice softening. "It is in choices. You faced your fear of weakness. You chose mercy over vengeance with Kael. You united strangers as allies." It raised a hand, and the ice covering the temple's entrance melted away, revealing a dark corridor lit by faint blue light. "But be warned—each Blade you claim will deepen the target on your back. Woss's allies are many, and they hunger for the Blades' power. Worse—one among you carries a secret that could shatter your bond. A secret tied to the Fallen's greatest mistake."The spirit dissolved into mist, leaving a trail of frost in its wake. Ella and Lila exchanged a tense look. A secret? Which of them? Ethan's mind raced—Lila's family's connection to the Knights? Ella's mother's research? Or something darker?But there was no time to dwell. The corridor called, its depths promising the Frost Blade—and more questions. Lila pulled her robe tighter against the cold, her hand resting on her staff. "We stick together," she said, her voice firm. "Whatever's in there, whatever that secret is—we face it as a team."Ella nodded, gripping her satchel. "I've got your backs. Fireweed for backlash, frostwort for cold, and if we run into monsters? I've got smoke bombs and sleep herbs. Trust me, they work on ice spirits too."Ethan smiled, drawing the twin Blades. Their runes blazed in perfect sync, casting gold light over the snow. "Let's go."They stepped into the temple, the door rumbling shut behind them, sealing out the night. The corridor was lined with ice carvings—scenes of Fallen Knights fighting alongside villagers, protecting them from dark mages. Ethan paused at one, his grandfather's face etched in stone, standing beside a woman with silver hair—Lila's grandmother, he realized."They were friends," Lila said, noticing his gaze. "My grandmother helped your grandfather hide the Cursed Blade. That's why my mother continued her research—she wanted to finish what they started."Ethan nodded, a new understanding settling over him. Their families had been bound by this mission for generations. It wasn't just his fight—it was theirs.The corridor opened into a chamber, its ceiling soaring high above, supported by ice pillars. At its center, atop a stone pedestal, rested the Frost Blade. It was slender, its blade made of what looked like frozen starlight, its hilt wrapped in white fur, runes glowing blue along its length.But they weren't alone.A figure stepped out from behind a pillar—tall, clad in a black robe embroidered with silver runes, their face hidden by a hood. "Well done, Ethan Cross," they said, their voice cold and familiar. "You've proven quite skilled at finding what's mine."The hood fell, revealing a woman with silver hair and ice-blue eyes—Lila's aunt, Seraphina. The same woman who'd served as Woss's right hand, who'd led the patrols hunting Ethan in the Whispering Woods.Lila stiffened. "Aunt Sera? What are you doing here?"Seraphina smiled, a sharp, cruel thing. "Your mother was always so naive—thinking the Fallen Knights were heroes. They were fools. The Blades are power, pure and simple. Woss was weak, wanting to rule through fear. I intend to do better." She held out her hand, and dark magic swirled around her palm. "Hand over the Cursed Blade and the Frost Blade, Ethan. Or your little friends die."Ella moved quickly, tossing a handful of smoke bombs at Seraphina. The chamber filled with thick, gray smoke, and Ethan grabbed Lila's hand, pulling her toward the pedestal. "Get the Frost Blade!" he shouted.Lila nodded, darting forward. She reached for the sword, but Seraphina's magic sliced through the smoke, sending a shard of ice toward her chest. Ethan swung the Cursed Blade, a gold arc of light shattering the ice."Ella!" he yelled."On it!" Ella replied, tossing a vial of fireweed extract at Seraphina. The liquid burst into flames, forcing Seraphina back. "Hurry—she's a high-rank ice mage! My fireweed won't hold her long!"Lila's fingers wrapped around the Frost Blade's hilt. The moment she touched it, the sword blazed, blue light flooding the chamber. Seraphina screamed as the light burned her, her dark magic flickering.Ethan felt the Cursed Blade and Broken Blade hum in response, their power surging. He gripped both swords, focusing on the truth—the need to protect, the weight of his grandfather's legacy, the bond with Lila and Ella. Gold and blue light merged, forming a brilliant beam that shot toward Seraphina.She tried to shield herself, but the light tore through her magic, sending her crashing into the wall. She slumped to the ground, her robe smoking, her eyes filled with rage. "This isn't over!" she snarled. "The other Blades are already being hunted—by forces stronger than me! You'll never collect them all!"With a final snarl, she vanished in a cloud of dark smoke, leaving only the smell of burnt magic behind.Ella collapsed onto the floor, gasping. "That was… intense. Note to self: never mess with ice mages who're related to Lila."Lila laughed, breathless, as she held the Frost Blade out to Ethan. The sword's blue runes glowed in harmony with the gold of his twin Blades. "It's yours," she said. "The spirit said only those who bear the truth can wield it. That's you."Ethan took the Frost Blade, feeling its cold power merge with the warmth of the Cursed and Broken Blades. For a moment, he saw flashes—memories of the Fallen Knights, of his grandfather and Lila's grandmother, of the seventh Blade's final resting place. "The last Blade," he said, his voice quiet. "It's in the Abyssal Caves. Beneath the academy."Lila's eyes widened. "Beneath us this whole time?"Ethan nodded. "And Seraphina's right—others are hunting the Blades. We need to get to the Abyssal Caves before they do."He glanced at the Frost Blade, its light softening. The spirit's warning echoed in his mind—one among them carried a secret. Could it be Lila, hiding something about her family? Ella, with her mother's mysterious research? Or was it something darker, something he wasn't ready to face?But for now, there was no time to question. The Blades called, and their enemies drew near.Ethan sheathed the Frost Blade beside the others, feeling their combined power thrumming in his veins. "Let's go," he said, turning toward the corridor. "We've got a Blade to find—and a secret to uncover."Lila and Ella nodded, falling into step beside him. The temple's doors rumbled open as they approached, letting in the first light of dawn. The Frostspine Mountains glowed pink and gold, and somewhere in the distance, a bird sang—a sign of hope, faint but unyielding.Their journey was far from over. But with three Blades at their side, and each other, Ethan knew they could face whatever came next.The Abyssal Caves awaited. And so did the truth.