The clash of steel rang through the Darkwood as Aria and Caden, bound by the enchanted chains, fought side by side against the encroaching soldiers. Lyra and Jaxon fought valiantly alongside them, their blades a blur of motion.
"Keep them off me!" Aria shouted, parrying a thrust. "I have an idea!"
Caden nodded, swinging his sword with precision. "Make it quick!"
Aria chanted an ancient spell, the words passed down through generations of Lyrion's warriors. The ground trembled, and vines erupted from the earth, entangling the soldiers and halting their advance.
Breathing heavily, Aria and Caden took a moment to assess their situation. "We can't keep running," Caden said. "We need to face the heart of this curse."
Aria agreed. "The stone that bound us—it's the key. We must return to the altar."
They made their way back to the altar, the site of their cursed meeting. The stone still pulsed with a malevolent energy, the chains reacting to its presence.
"We need to destroy it," Aria said, determination in her voice.
Caden hesitated. "It's not that simple. The magic within this stone is ancient and powerful. We could unleash something far worse."
As they debated, a shadow fell over them. Turning, they saw a figure cloaked in darkness, their face hidden by a hood. "You seek to break the chains," the figure spoke, their voice a whisper of malice. "But the chains are not the prison. Your hatred for each other, for your kingdoms—that is the true curse."
Aria and Caden exchanged a glance, realizing the truth in the stranger's words. Their enmity had fueled the curse, binding them tighter than any chain could.