Volume 3 — Chapter 2: The Relic of Shadows
The figure stepped closer, revealing themselves as Elion, a former council mage whose loyalty had shifted in the aftermath of Shadow Pass. His eyes glimmered with a mixture of ambition and caution.
"The Moonstone is only part of what remains hidden," Elion said, his voice low but sharp. "There are relics older than the council itself. Ones that amplify or corrupt its power. I have come to guide you… if you can survive the trials that guard them."
Lyriana's hand tightened around Aryn's. "We don't trust you. Why help us now?"
Elion smiled faintly, shadows flickering across his robes. "Because if the council regains full control, everything dies—the empire, the rebels, and even the Moonstone. You wield it, but its true potential… is locked behind these relics. Only you two, united by bond and purpose, can reach them."
Aryn stepped forward, energy from the Moonstone flickering around his hands. "Then we go, but any betrayal—any false move—and you won't live to explain it."
Elion inclined his head. "Fair enough. The first relic lies beneath the ruins of Veyra Keep. Its guardians are… ancient, and the trial will not only test your power but the strength of your hearts."
As they approached the ruined keep, the air grew thick with magic, and the Moonstone pulsed in warning and excitement. Twisted shadows moved among the debris, remnants of wards set centuries ago.
Inside the crumbling halls, Lyriana felt visions pressing on her mind—memories of failure, fear, and temptation. Each step required absolute trust in Aryn, whose presence anchored her, their combined energy pushing back the illusions.
A glowing pedestal appeared at the center of the keep, atop which rested the Relic of Shadows: a black crystal entwined with silver veins, resonating with Moonstone energy.
Elion's voice echoed through the hall. "This is only the beginning. Claim it together, or be consumed by the darkness it holds."
Lyriana reached for Aryn's hand, their fingers intertwining. "We face it as always—together."
Aryn nodded, his sigil flaring, the Moonstone pulsing in tandem with their heartbeat. "Together."
As their hands touched the relic, light and shadow erupted in a storm around them, signaling the first true trial of Volume 3—and the next test of their forbidden love.