Volume 3 — Chapter 8: Assassin of Shadows
The camp was unusually quiet as Lyriana and Aryn poured over the relic's inscriptions. The air was thick with tension, each whisper of wind sounding like an approaching threat.
Elion approached, his expression grave. "The council has dispatched an assassin. Not just any agent—a master of stealth and dark magic. Their target: the relics and those who wield them."
Lyriana's eyes narrowed. "We expected retaliation, but direct assassination? They are desperate."
Aryn's hands glowed with Moonstone energy. "Then we prepare. The Moonstone will protect us—but we cannot rely on it alone. Strategy, vigilance, and trust must guide us."
By nightfall, the shadows within the camp stirred. Silhouettes moved silently, avoiding patrols, blending with darkness. Lyriana's senses, heightened by the Moonstone, detected the first strike: a sharp, silent movement near the relics' chamber.
The assassin emerged—a figure clad in black, wreathed in shadows, eyes glowing faintly with cursed sigils. Every motion was precise, every strike calculated to incapacitate before retaliation.
Lyriana and Aryn moved as one, Moonstone energy flaring, creating a protective barrier around the relic. The assassin's strikes split and shifted, testing their coordination.
"You cannot protect it forever!" the assassin hissed, shadow magic lashing out.
Aryn countered with a sweeping pulse of energy, forcing the figure to retreat momentarily. Lyriana followed with a precise strike, disrupting the assassin's concentration.
The battle became a deadly dance of light and shadow, the Moonstone amplifying their unity, revealing openings in the assassin's attacks. Finally, Lyriana feigned a retreat, drawing the assassin forward, and Aryn channeled a surge of Moonstone power that disarmed and bound their opponent.
Breathing heavily, Lyriana lowered her energy shield. "You underestimated the power of trust—and love."
Aryn's hand found hers. "Always together," he said, as the bound assassin glared, realizing the couple's bond and combined strength were far beyond ordinary magic.
Elion appeared, nodding grimly. "This was only the beginning. The council will not stop sending threats. You must uncover all the relics quickly, before their next move—because each trial grows deadlier."
Lyriana looked at the relic, then to Aryn. "We face it all together. No matter what comes."
The Moonstone pulsed, affirming their bond, while the assassin's captured form hinted at the council's relentless ambition—and the perilous path ahead.