As the battle raged on, Lirien felt a strange sensation within her. It was as if her magic was being drawn to something, a presence that lurked just beyond the edge of her perception.
She glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source of the sensation. That was when she saw it: a dark, shadowy figure standing just behind Xarath.
The figure was tall and gaunt, its presence seeming to draw the light out of the room. Lirien's magic reacted instinctively, surging forward to try and dispel the darkness.
But Xarath turned, its eyes flashing with surprise. "Ah, you've found my ally," it said, its voice dripping with malice.
The shadowy figure stepped forward, its presence growing more defined. Lirien could see that it was a woman, her face twisted into a grotesque parody of beauty.
"Meet my mistress," Xarath said, its voice dripping with reverence. "The Shadow Queen."
The Shadow Queen's eyes locked onto Lirien, her gaze like a cold wind that sent shivers down Lirien's spine. "And you are?" she asked, her voice like silk wrapped around a razor blade.
Lirien swallowed hard. "I'm Lirien," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm here to stop Xarath from destroying our kingdom."
The Shadow Queen's gaze flicked to Raven and Kaelara, her eyes lingering on them with a calculating intensity. "Foolish mortals," she said. "You think you can stop us?"
Raven stepped forward, his sword at the ready. "We won't back down," he said.
Kaelara drew her sword as well, her eyes fixed on the Shadow Queen. "We'll fight to protect our kingdom."
The Shadow Queen laughed, her voice like thunder in the darkness. "You're no match for me," she said. "But I'll let you try."
With a wave of her hand, the Shadow Queen sent a wave of darkness crashing down on the trio. Lirien felt her magic falter under the onslaught, her senses reeling from the sheer power of the Shadow Queen's magic.