With the powerful sword in their possession, Calian and his companions were ready to take on the king and his army. They knew that it would not be an easy battle, but they were determined to see it through to the end.
As they made their final preparations, they were approached by a mysterious figure. The figure was an old man, dressed in a cloak of shimmering gold. He told them that the sword was not a gift from the gods, but a curse. It had been created by a powerful sorcerer, and it demanded a heavy price for its power.
The old man revealed that the sword would only reveal its full power if it was wielded by someone willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Calian was horrified to realize that the sword would only work if someone was willing to die for the cause.
Calian and his companions were torn. They knew that the sword was their only hope of defeating the king, but the thought of sacrificing one of their own was unbearable. They discussed the matter and decided that they would all volunteer to be the one to wield the sword, but they would leave the final decision to fate.
As they approached the castle, they drew lots and it was Lirien who was chosen to wield the sword. Calian was devastated, but Lirien was determined. She knew that the sword was their only hope of defeating the king and freeing the kingdom.
With the sword in her hand, Lirien led the charge against the king's army. The battle was fierce, but with the sword's power, they were able to defeat the king's army and storm the castle.
As the king lay dying, Lirien used the sword to strike the final blow, but as she did, the sword consumed her. The sword's power was too much for a mortal to handle and Lirien sacrificed herself for the cause.
As the chapter ends, Calian and his companions are victorious, but at a heavy cost. They had freed the kingdom from the king's tyranny, but they had lost one of their own. They mourned Lirien's death, but they knew that her sacrifice had not been in vain. The Shadowed Kingdom of Eldrida was finally free.