Volume 2 — Chapter 18: The Lieutenant's Wrath
The battlefield of Shadow Pass lay strewn with smoke and echoes of clashing steel. Lyriana and Aryn stood shoulder to shoulder, the Moonstone's light weaving around them like a protective aura.
From the shadows, Marovain's lieutenant stepped forward—towering, cloaked in black sigils that shimmered with stolen magic. "You dare defy the council and wield the Moonstone?" he hissed. "I will tear it from your grasp—and destroy the two of you first."
Aryn's jaw tightened. "Together, always together," he whispered, pressing his hand against Lyriana's.
The lieutenant struck, unleashing a torrent of dark energy. Lyriana countered with Moonstone light, their powers colliding in a blinding explosion. The ground shook, trees splintered, and the battlefield became a storm of magic.
"You've grown strong," the lieutenant growled, "but the Moonstone is not yours to command!"
Lyriana stepped forward, heart pounding. "It is ours when we fight as one! Its power responds to trust, courage, and love—not fear or hatred!"
The clash continued, each strike forcing Lyriana and Aryn to synchronize perfectly. The Moonstone pulsed faster, responding to their unity, sending shockwaves through the lieutenant's defenses.
But then, a vision struck Lyriana—fragments of the Moonstone's history, secrets buried by the council for centuries. She realized the lieutenant's sigils were feeding on fear, and that the Moonstone's full potential could only manifest if they embraced both love and sacrifice.
With a nod to Aryn, she whispered, "We end this—together."
They combined their energy fully, the Moonstone exploding in a silver storm that engulfed the lieutenant. Screams of defiance echoed, but the dark mage could not withstand the force of their unity. When the light faded, he was gone, and the battlefield fell silent.
The rebel forces cheered, victory finally tipping in their favor. Lyriana sank to her knees, breathless, and Aryn caught her in his arms.
"We did it," she whispered.
Aryn brushed her hair back, eyes fierce yet tender. "Together, always. But this is only the beginning—the council will not forgive this defeat."
Above them, the Moonstone glimmered, its energy echoing the bond between them: forbidden, powerful, and unstoppable. The empire's war had only begun—but Lyriana and Aryn were ready to face every challenge, side by side.