The clouds of dust and smoke were slowly clearing. Where once the imposing walls of the 'Palace of Nothingness' had stood, there was now only a pile of rubble and a distant silence. But it was not the silence that had previously inspired fear, but rather the peace that comes after a long storm has subsided.
Elena sat on the green grass by the lake, her head resting on Seraph's shoulder, which was still bruised from deep wounds. The first golden rays of the sun touched Elena's face, and the magical glow in her hair increased even more. She felt the souls of her parents, now free, flying towards the sky in the form of stars. They placed a final blessing hand on their daughter's head as they went.
"We did it, Seraph..." Elena said softly. There was no longer that cold magic in his eyes, but a deep tenderness and love. "I found you again."
Seraph groaned and gave a faint smile, and held Elena's hand. His fingers were still shaking, but there was a determination in his grip. "I told you, Elena... Even if you forget me, I will never let you forget me. Our fate is written in each other's blood and soul."
Elena stood up and looked at the water of the lake. The lake, which had once been like molten gold, had now turned transparent blue again, but golden streaks still shone at its bottom—a sign that the magic within Elena had now awakened forever.
Suddenly, a lotus flower appeared from the middle of the lake, with a golden ring shining in its centre. It was the final gift from the 'Star Guard', given in recognition of their loyalty and sacrifice.
Elena picked up the ring and turned to Seraph. "This journey is not over, Seraph. The Black Serpent is gone, but there is still much darkness in this world that needs light. Will you join me?"
Seraph stood up, sheathed his broken sword, the Light of the Dragon, and bowed before Elena. "As long as the last star in the universe remains, I will be your protector, your companion, and your shadow."
A strange scent filled the air, and the sounds of birds chirping began to fill the valley, which had been silent for centuries. Elena and Seraph held hands and took a step out of the valley. They were no longer the Elena and Seraph of old; they were now the founders of a new kingdom, where magic and love would reign. The seraph stood up, sheathed his broken sword, the Light of the Dragon, and bowed before Elena. "As long as the last star in the universe remains, I will be your protector, your companion, and your shadow."
A strange scent filled the air, and the sounds of birds chirping began to fill the valley, silent for centuries. Elena and the seraph held hands and took a step out of the valley. They were no longer the old Elena and the seraph; they were now the founders of a new kingdom, where magic and love would reign. As Elena took her first step out of the valley, it felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. The magic that had once seethed in her veins like boiling lava was now as calm as a sweet spring. She turned and looked one last time at the lake where the Star Guard still existed as a dim light.
"Elena, look!" The seraph pointed to the distant horizon.
Beyond the valley's borders, where only black mist had once covered it, green fields were now sprouting. The villages and settlements that had been deserted by the fear of the Black Serpent were now smoking from their chimneys—a sign of the return of life.
Elena opened the golden map in her hand. As she ran her fingers over the map, a faint music began to play within it. "Seraph, this map is not just pointing the way... it is beating. It is the cry of those who are still waiting for the return of 'Arya'."
The Seraph put his arm around Elena's waist, supporting her as they moved forward. "Then we must not delay. These people have had a long night; now they need their queen."
Along the way, they found an old spring. Elena stopped, filled her waterpot with water, and washed her face. As the water splashed, the golden mark (Mark of the Star) on her forehead became more prominent, the seal of her royal status. She felt her physical exhaustion now turn into a strange spiritual excitement.
"Your sword..." Elena pointed to the Seraph's broken 'Light of the Dragon'. "We must reforge it. A king's sword must be as unwavering as his resolve."
Seraph smiled and touched the hilt of her sword. "This sword still has its soul, Elena. Its breaking is proof that it fulfilled its duty, but now it will reconnect with your light."
As they moved away from the silence of the valley towards the human settlements, a flock of birds began to hover above their heads, as if they were sending a message to the whole world that the 'Heir of Light' had returned. Elena's heart was now filled with a new hope. She held Seraph's hand so tightly that Seraph could clearly feel the warmth of his love.
This was not just the end of a journey, but the beginning of a new story—a story that would be written not in blood, but in golden ink and true love.
As the sun set and the horizon began to turn orange and purple, Elena and Seraf decided to camp under an old banyan tree. The tree was located at the edge of the valley, where the soil was still damp and there was a strange coolness in the air.
Seraf gathered wood and lit a fire with a spark from his sword. The light from the bonfire fell on Elena's face, who was still looking at the golden ring that shone like a star on her finger.
"You are so quiet, Elena," Seraf said softly, sitting by the fire. He had applied herbal poultices to his wounds, but his eyes were fixed only on Elena.
Elena took a deep breath and looked at Seraf. "Seraph, I am afraid of this power. The Star Guard said that this magic gives birth to stars, but I saw how it scattered the palace like sand. Am I really capable of taking on the responsibility of an entire empire? What if I lose my memories again?"
Seraph stood up quietly and sat down next to Elena. He took Elena's hand in his. "You are not alone, Elena. Memories may fade, but the marks on the soul never fade. Just as you recognised me this time, your heart will always choose the right path. And if you ever stray, I will be your guiding star and bring you back."
Elena rested her head on Seraph's strong shoulder. At that moment, she felt that being Seraph's Elena was more important than being the queen of 'Arya'.
At the same time, a slight rustling sounded in the bushes. Seraph's senses were immediately awakened. He placed his hand on the hilt of his broken sword and motioned for Elena to be quiet. Beyond the firelight, two red eyes flashed in the darkness and then disappeared.
"What was that?" Elena whispered. Golden sparks began to shoot from her hand automatically.
"The disciples of the Black Serpent are not so easily destroyed," the seraph said solemnly. "Perhaps they have come to see if the Heir of Light is alive. But they will not attack tonight. They know that you are now more powerful than ever."
Elena looked up at the sky, where the galaxies were now clearer than ever. She realised that her enemy was no longer just one person, but the entire darkness that had occupied this world for centuries.
"We must leave early tomorrow morning," Elena said resolutely. "We must reach those who are hiding on the borders of 'Arya'. We must prepare not an army, but a hope."
The Seraph wrapped him in a blanket and sat down to guard him. The night was passing, and in the warmth of that fire, a new era was being born. The two of them were no longer just travellers, they had become the beginning of a revolution. The red light of the bonfire had now faded to mere embers, but those 'red eyes' still hovered in the darkness like a hungry predator. The seraph's fingers were fixed on the hilt of his sword, and his ears felt every sound like a delicate instrument.
"Seraph... he's coming closer," Elena whispered. There was no fear in her voice anymore, but a cold tone that was a sign of her awakening magic. She felt the golden blood that had been running through her veins now quiver like an electric current.
Suddenly, a black shadow emerged from the bushes with lightning speed. It was not a human, but a 'spiritual hunter' of the black serpent (Wraith)—a being made of nothing but fear and darkness. Its long, pointed nails dripped black venom, burning the grass as it fell to the ground.
The seraph leapt from its spot like a leopard. "Elena, step back!"
She slashed with her broken sword, but the shadow dispersed like smoke and reappeared behind the seraph. The seraph defended herself skillfully, but the brute force of the hunter pushed her back.
Elena could no longer remain silent. She closed her eyes and called out from the depths of her heart to the golden light she had received from the valley lake. When she opened her eyes, two golden rays emerged from them that illuminated the entire forest like day.
"Stay away from my protector!" Elena's voice had a roar that shook the leaves of the trees.
She spread both her hands, and chains of golden fire emerged from her fingers and wrapped around the shadow. The shadow began to scream in pain—a scream that was unbearable to human ears. Elena clenched her fists, and the chains tightened so tightly that the black shadow shattered into thin air with a blast of golden light.
Silence returned again, but this time it was a winning silence. Elena's breathing was rapid, and her hands were still glowing with golden light. Seraph looked at her in surprise; she was no longer the fragile girl who needed protection at every step. She had become a shield in herself.
"You see, Seraph?" Elena said, looking down at her hands. "The darkness is still searching for us. This hunter is only beginning. The black serpent is dead, but his fall is yet to come."
Seraph came closer to her and kissed her hands. "Your magic is now connected to your emotions, Elena. It is more powerful than ever because it is now receiving the warmth of love."
They both stayed awake for the rest of the night, sheltered in each other's arms, under the stars that were now witnessing the return of 'Arya.' The journey beyond the borders of the valley was now about to turn into a real battle, but now they had each other's company and that golden light that would never be extinguished.
After the destruction of this 'spirit hunter' (Wraith), a silence had fallen in the forest that was ringing in the ears. Elena's breathing had still not recovered, and the golden magic in her eyes was slowly fading away and turning into her original human glow.
Seraph placed his injured hand on his chest and took a deep breath. "Your power is no longer just a weapon, Elena. It is like the rage of an ancient god. But remember, the more power you have, the deeper the enemies will strike from the shadows."
Elena sat down on the grass next to Seraph and rested her head on his shoulder. "Seraph, do you think we will ever be able to live a normal life? Will it ever be possible for us to not be afraid of a shadow attack at night and to just look at the stars and talk about our love?"
Seraph stroked Elena's hair lovingly. "As long as there is a single dark shadow left on the land of 'Arya', our lives will be a constant battle. But Elena, I would prefer this battle to any peaceful life, as long as you are with me. Our love is like this fire; it both dispels the darkness and warms us."
Elena looked at her golden ring that was spreading a faint light in the darkness. "This ring... it reminds me not only of my power, but also of the price we paid. My parents' souls are free now, but their emptiness will always be in my heart. Seraph, I want to be a queen during whose reign no child will have to be separated from their parents."
Elena's determination was creating a new maturity in her tone. Seraph felt that the girl who once hid behind him out of fear of shadows was now transforming into a leader whom thousands would be willing to follow.
Suddenly, a cool breeze blew from the valley, scented with sandalwood and jasmine. It was a sign that the valley was now cleansed and nature had begun to heal its wounds. Elena closed her eyes and felt the breeze in her being. She felt as if her mother was whispering in her ear: "Go forward, Elena, your real test has begun."
"Seraph, look!" Elena pointed to the 'First Dawn' rising on the distant horizon. "The night is over."
They stood up and, holding hands, took their first steps beyond the valley's borders into the vast world beyond. Behind them, the magical veil of the valley disappeared forever, and before them was a path that was dangerous but full of hope.
Elena looked away from the golden map and looked at the seraph's face, which looked even more majestic in the fading light of the fire. She felt that their relationship was not just that of a warrior and a queen, but that their souls had become one.
"Seraph," Elena said solemnly. "The world outside the valley can be even more ruthless than this palace. There, people fight not with magic, but with politics, deceit, and greed. I don't want you to just follow me. I want you to stand with me and lay the foundation for this new empire."
The seraph placed Elena's hand on his wounded chest, where his heart was beating rapidly. "Elena, I have only learned to wield a sword my whole life. I do not know the manners of the palaces, but I do know what loyalty is. If I have to shed my last drop of blood to crown you, I will not back down."
Elena placed her other hand on Seraph's cheek. The faint golden light that emanated from her fingers touched Seraph's wounds, and the pain that had been tormenting him turned into a cold wave.
"We are not alone anymore," Elena whispered. "The blessings of my parents and the ancient magic of 'Aria' are with us. But Seraph, remember my promise... if the time ever comes that you must choose between your life and my kingdom, you will choose your life. For without the crown, Elena can live, but without Seraph, Elena will be just a living corpse."
Tears welled up in Seraph's eyes. He gathered Elena into his arms and held her tightly as if he would never let her go. The last watch ofthe night was ending and the sky was changing from black to deep blue. Somewhere in the distance, a cuckoo sang a song, the first song of freedom.
The two of them were now ready to cross the valley's border, away from the old banyan tree. Elena turned back one last time, looking at the rubble where the black serpent had once lived. She made a golden gesture with her hand, and wildflowers began to sprout on the rubble, as if she were burying the bitterness of the past forever.
"Come on, Seraph," Elena said resolutely. "Our throne awaits us." As Elena and Seraph crossed the valley's final magical boundary, a sudden heaviness filled the air. There stood an ancient 'Wall of Mist' that had separated the valley from the outside world for centuries. This was no ordinary fog; it tested the intentions of those who wanted to pass through.
"Elena, stop!" Seraph warned, his eyes on the shadows moving through the mist. "This fog confuses memories. We just got your memories back. I don't want us to get caught in a magical trap again."
Elena smiled and took Seraph's hand. A faint golden light emerged from her ring and began to make its way through the fog. "Seraph, this fog is dangerous for those with thieves in their hearts. We are only carrying light. Look..."
Elena waved her hand in the air. The magic within her was now as soft as a lullaby. As her hand touched the fog, the black and poisonous fog began to turn into white and luminous vapour. This was Elena's first major magical work, 'purifying' an entire section of nature.
As the fog cleared, an old stone road appeared in front of them, leading down the slope towards a small settlement. In the distance, the sound of a temple bell could be heard, ringing for the first time in years.
A strange tremor ran through Elena's heart. "Saraf, do you hear that bell? This is the first village on the border of 'Arya', 'Nurpur'. My father used to say that the people here worshipped the stars."
Saraf straightened his broken sword and took a deep breath. "Then the Queen must be welcomed. But remember, Elena, we will not reveal our identities yet. We must first see how many sympathisers of the Black Snake are still hiding in these streets."
Elena nodded and pulled a scarf over her head to hide the golden Royal Mark that was now permanently etched on her forehead. The two of them now began to move silently towards the settlement, where a new and perhaps the most difficult test of their lives was about to begin.
Can Elena protect her identity in the lands ahead? Please vote with Power Stones and comment your favourite line from their oath! Your support is helping me reach the Premium Contract goals. Keep this in your Library for the exciting Chapter 40!"