The first light of dawn gently filtered through the trees, illuminating the depths of the forest with a delicate grace. Silver mists danced slowly, as if accompanying nature's awakening. Eldrin, leaning on his wooden staff with both hands, silently observed Elara's magical exercises, a wise smile playing on his lips.
The blue *nun* energy flowing from Elara's palms rippled gracefully, like gentle waves on the surface of water. This energy could take infinite forms in Elara's hands—whether as a wall of searing fire, a storm of ice, or a mighty wind. Elara skillfully channeled this intense energy, influencing both the living and inanimate elements of nature around her.
Breaking the silence of the morning, Eldrin spoke in his warm voice, "Elara, your training is nearing its end. You are ready for the Mystics' Council's test."
Elara listened intently to her mentor's words, though her gaze briefly wandered to the dark depths of the forest. With a hint of concern, she asked, "And what about Lyra? Is she ready too?"
Eldrin followed her gaze and replied, "To be honest, I didn't have much hope for her at first. But with her determination and resolve, she's caught up to you. She will become a far better mage than I anticipated. Truly, where is she? She should be here by now."
At that moment, the young wolf Shadow quietly approached Elara. His bright grey fur reflected the golden morning light, and his eyes sparkled with joy. Smiling, Elara bent down and lovingly petted his head. "Go on, girl, wake Lyra," she said softly. Shadow, wagging her tail excitedly, sprinted off into the forest.
Reaching Lyra's cabin, Shadow rushed inside with great enthusiasm. She nudged Lyra's face gently, trying to rouse her from sleep. Her soft licks and warm breath slowly pulled Lyra out of her slumber. With a chuckle, Lyra said, "Alright, alright, I'm getting up."
She was exhausted from working on a new spell throughout the night, but Shadow's energy filled her with life. She quickly got up, embraced Shadow, and then made her way to the training field with the wolf at her side.
When Lyra arrived, Eldrin turned to her with a faint smile. "Our young mage finally graces us with her presence. Elara tells me you've made great progress on the spell you call *Chainbreaker*. Let's see what you've accomplished."
The training field fell into a tense silence. Elara watched her sister with curiosity and interest, while Shadow wagged her tail excitedly at Lyra's feet. Eldrin gently raised his staff and directed it towards Elara.
"Are you ready?" he asked, opening his palm to summon *nun* energy. Thin blue tendrils of light rose from the earth and quickly formed delicate chains, wrapping around Elara's arms and legs, anchoring her firmly to the ground. Elara remained calm; this was part of her training and nothing unusual.
However, Shadow's fur bristled as she prepared to leap forward and free Elara. Her sharp teeth were about to clamp down on the chains when Lyra's voice stopped her. "Wait, Shadow," she said in a soft but firm tone. "Let me handle this."
Shadow paused for a moment, glanced at her owner with trust, and retreated. Lyra took a deep breath, raising her hands. She calmed her mind and summoned the *nun* energy within her. She felt a subtle force vibrating around her fingers. Suddenly, small, glowing butterflies appeared around her hands. These delicate creatures fluttered over the chains, and wherever they landed, waves of yellow light began to envelop and bind the chains.
The butterflies' glow intensified, and the chains began to tremble. With a sudden burst of light, the chains shattered into pieces. As the butterflies disappeared along with the chains, a confident smile formed on Elara's face.
Raising his eyebrows, Eldrin looked at Lyra with pride. In a voice filled with admiration, he said, "That's it! You've mastered the *Chainbreaker* spell you developed on your own. I didn't expect you to progress this far, this fast."
Elara smiled at her sister. "You were incredible," she said. "Looks like I'll have to work even harder next time to beat you."
Lyra chuckled lightly at her sister's words. "I'm not so sure you can," she replied.
With a thoughtful expression, Eldrin approached Lyra and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "This success is just a glimpse of your true power. Your potential is far greater. But you must know, every victory opens new paths. The real test is choosing which path to follow. You're just at the beginning of your journey."
Feeling the weight of her master's words, Lyra took a deep breath. As Shadow playfully circled around her, the morning light reflecting off her fur made the wolf appear even more strong and protective.
---
The cold wind whispered through the mists, swirling around the stone altar like a soft murmur. Elara's unconscious body lay still before the mighty and menacing statue of the Lady of Night, Mina. The altar was surrounded by a pool of blood etched into the stone walls, under the grim gaze of the statue. The blood of years' worth of sacrifices had soaked into the altar; while the pool lay empty for now, the echoes of past blood rituals still hung in the air. This was the place where Mina's followers had offered their sacrifices, spilled their blood, and strengthened their bond with the darkness.
Suddenly, a shimmer appeared in the air. A bright light enveloped Elara's still body, and from within emerged Elowen's astral form. Her long white hair flowed in the wind, and her eyes gleamed with both wisdom and sorrow. Elowen leaned down gently and touched Elara's shoulder.
"Elara… Wake up, time is running out," she whispered, her voice fading into the night's darkness with a soft echo.
Elara's eyes fluttered open. "Elowen…" she murmured in a faint voice. "This place… it's seeping into my soul. The echoes of the past are circling in my mind, spinning endlessly."
Elowen took a deep breath. "What you saw were not your memories, but Lyra's," she said.
Elara's face twisted in sudden horror. Memories of her last moments with Lyra flashed through her mind. Everything was starting to make sense. "Lyra… She was here. I felt her. This coldness belongs to her soul," she stammered.
Elowen nodded slowly. "Lyra lost the integrity of her soul after what happened to her. A part of her has merged with this cursed land. The curse isn't just bound to this place—it's embedded in her soul as well."
Elara's heart raced, and Elowen's words echoed in her mind, causing deep pain in her soul. "But… if we break the curse, we can bring her back, right?" she asked, a spark of hope flickering inside her.
Elowen lowered her gaze and took a deep breath. "Elara, breaking the curse means ending Lyra as well. Her soul is bound to this curse. If it's broken, Lyra will cease to exist."
Fear flashed across Elara's eyes. "No! She's my sister, I can't let her die!" she cried, her voice trembling with anguish.
Elowen placed her hands on Elara's shoulders and leaned in closer. "I understand, Elara. But sometimes salvation comes with a cost. Lyra has already been pulled into the darkness. This is her inevitable fate."
Tears streamed down Elara's face as she turned to Elowen in despair. "There must be another way… I have to save her. There has to be another chance."
Elowen's voice took on a colder, darker tone as it echoed. "Dark magic fractures and corrupts souls. This curse has completely consumed Lyra. No matter what you do, in the end, it will destroy her."
Rage surged within Elara. "You lied to us, Elowen! You said that as long as Ceyhun was with us, the curse wouldn't affect us. But your real aim was to lure me here! If I had known your true intentions, I would've never accepted this task. I'm sick of your schemes, your lies! I hate everything you've kept from me!" she shouted, her voice cracking and reverberating through the air.
These words weighed heavily on Elara's spirit, and the darkness surrounding her seemed to grow thicker. A cracking sound echoed from Mina's statue. When Elara looked at the statue's face, it appeared to be smiling at her treacherously. For a moment, she couldn't tell if it was Mina or Lyra looking back at her.
Suddenly, a strange bubbling sound came from the blood pool in front of the altar. Dark ichor began to fill the pool. Soon, black claws emerged from within, stretching toward Elara. The claws dug into her arms, pulling her toward the pool. Her body trembled in pain as the claws left deep wounds, and the terror that sank beneath her skin dragged her soul into a dark abyss.
Elowen placed her hands over Elara and spoke with a resonant voice. "The darkness is trying to claim you, but there is a light within you, Elara. You must find it."
As the claws tightened their grip, the smile on Mina's statue deepened. The voices rising from the altar filled Elara's mind, suffocating her thoughts. Dark whispers gnawed at her mind like a nightmare.
Feeling Elowen's fading touch, Elara's inner scream merged with the darkness. The whispers grew stronger, but Elowen's last words lingered in her ears. "You must find your own path, Elara… It's the only way out of the darkness."
Her final words vanished into the shadows, and Elara found herself alone once more.