Volume 1 — Chapter 7: The Awakening Sigil
The chamber was cloaked in shadows, but Lyriana's heart burned like wildfire. The voice in the dark belonged to no ordinary guard—it was deliberate, controlled, and laced with malice.
Aryn stepped in front of her, placing a protective hand on her shoulder. "Stay behind me," he whispered, eyes scanning the darkness. The sigil on his wrist glowed faintly, illuminating the outlines of the intruder.
From the corner, a tall figure emerged, cloaked in black, face hidden beneath a hood. "The princess meddles in matters far beyond her station," the figure said. "Do you truly think you can unravel the prophecy without consequences?"
Lyriana's blood ran cold, yet something in her stirred—a courage she hadn't known she possessed. "The empire's fate is not a secret for the council alone," she said, her voice clear, trembling only slightly. "And neither is it yours to manipulate."
Aryn's sigil flared brighter, reacting to the intruder. A hush fell over the chamber as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. The symbols on the ancient scroll they had just unrolled began to glow, resonating with Aryn's power.
The cloaked figure hissed, stepping closer. "The Shadowmarked carries a power that should have remained buried," the figure warned. "Do you understand what you've unleashed?"
Lyriana felt the chill of magic brush against her skin. "I don't care what's buried or forbidden," she said, stepping beside Aryn. "I will not let fear control us anymore. We decide our path."
Suddenly, the sigil on Aryn's wrist burst into blinding light, casting shadows across the chamber. The figure recoiled, clutching their hood, and the scroll lifted slightly as though drawn by the magic itself.
The light dimmed, leaving Lyriana and Aryn panting, their hands entwined. The intruder had vanished, leaving only a faint echo:
"Then prepare yourselves… for destiny will not wait."
Aryn sank to the floor, exhausted. "It's begun," he murmured. "The prophecy… it's real. And we've triggered it."
Lyriana knelt beside him, her fingers brushing his cheek. "Then we face it together. Whatever comes, whatever dangers, I will not let you fight alone."
Their eyes locked, hearts entwined not only by forbidden love but now by a fate neither could escape. Outside, the moon hung high over Arvandor, a silent witness to the awakening of power, rebellion, and passion that would soon engulf the empire.