Alyssia clenched her fists, her knuckles white under the pressure. The assassins who had burned Eryon's village still roamed free, their dark presence a looming threat not only to her but to the growing rebellion she had begun to nurture. She knew she had to find them — these shadows in the night who answered to the Empire. But she also knew she wouldn't be alone. Eryon's spirit lingered nearby, always just beyond her sight, guiding her.
She closed her eyes, trying to focus on the sensation of his presence. "Help me," she whispered into the stillness, hoping to feel him.
The cold breeze swept over her skin, carrying with it a whisper. They are near… in the valley beyond the river.
Alyssia opened her eyes, heart pounding as she felt Eryon's spirit stir around her, the sensation like a shadow that moved with her, directing her thoughts. The assassins wouldn't escape her this time.
By nightfall, Alyssia had gathered her allies. Kira, the fierce leader of the Wildbloods, stood beside her, face grim but resolute. Kira's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the path ahead. "We've heard whispers of these assassins before," she said. "They're ghosts, Alyssia. No one ever sees them until it's too late."
Alyssia nodded, her gaze fixed on the dark horizon. "I don't need to see them. Eryon's spirit is guiding me. He'll show us the way."
Kira raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.Now, they would seek justice — or vengeance — and Alyssia would make sure that those responsible paid the price.
As they moved toward the valley, the landscape grew colder, shadows lengthening under the pale moon. Alyssia could feel the assassins' presence growing stronger, a dark magic pulsing through the air. Eryon's spirit was leading them, but it was more than that. Something sinister waited ahead, something that twisted the natural flow of magic. It was as though the very land was rejecting their presence.
Suddenly, Alyssia halted, her instincts screaming danger. She signaled for her group to stop. "They're close," she whispered.
A faint rustling from the bushes nearby made everyone freeze. Alyssia unsheathed her sword, her senses attuned to the darkness around them. She could feel the pulse of life, but there was something else — a presence that was not entirely human.
Kira crouched beside her, eyes scanning the treeline. "Something's not right. It's too quiet."
Before Alyssia could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows, moving with an eerie fluidity. Dressed in black, the figure seemed to blend with the night itself. Her face was hidden beneath a hood, but the moment she stepped into the moonlight, Alyssia felt the overwhelming surge of dark magic radiating from her.
"Lyra," Alyssia muttered under her breath, recognition dawning on her. The Empire's most feared assassin — a woman known not only for her deadly skill but for the dark magic she wielded. It was said that she had her own agenda, one that even the Emperor could barely control.
Lyra's lips curled into a cold smile. "So, the candidate champion comes to play." Her voice was smooth, but it carried a lethal edge.
Alyssia gripped her sword tighter. "You burned Eryon's village. You killed innocent people."
Lyra's smile didn't waver. "I did what I was ordered to do. The village was a threat to the Empire. But I don't expect you to understand. You've always been so… idealistic. Pathetic, really."
Kira growled beside her, hands ready on her blades, but Alyssia stepped forward, eyes locked on Lyra. She could feel the dark magic swirling around the assassin, the power that seeped from her like a venomous fog. This was no ordinary foe.
Lyra raised a hand, and shadows rippled from her fingertips. "You're too late to stop what's coming, Alyssia. You think you're helping them, but you're only delaying the inevitable. The Abyss will rise, and you've already paved the way for it. I'm just here to ensure that nothing interferes with the Emperor's plans."
Alyssia's heart skipped a beat. How much did Lyra know about the Abyss? The assassin's words sent a chill down her spine. But she pushed the fear aside, focusing on the task at hand. "I'm not here to stop the Abyss," she said, voice steady. "I'm here to stop you."
With a flick of her wrist, Lyra sent a wave of dark energy toward them. Alyssia reacted quickly, her sword glowing with the power of Nyx as she deflected the attack. The two forces collided with a thunderous boom, sending shockwaves through the valley.
The battle erupted in a blur of motion. Kira leapt into the fray, her wild agility matching Lyra's speed, while Alyssia called on the strength of Gaia, her body solidifying as she held back Lyra's relentless assaults. Lyra's magic twisted the very air, warping reality around them. But Alyssia had faced worse.
As the fight wore on, Alyssia could feel Eryon's presence strengthening. His spirit was guiding her, showing her the cracks in Lyra's magic. She focused, her sword humming with power as she unleashed a devastating strike, cutting through the assassin's defenses.
Lyra staggered back, blood seeping from a wound on her side. But instead of fear, her smile widened. "You think you've won? This is only the beginning."
Before Alyssia could react, Lyra vanished into the shadows, her body dissolving into the darkness. The threat had not ended, but they had driven her away, at least for now.
Alyssia sheathed her sword, her chest heaving from the exertion. Kira approached her, eyes hard. "She'll be back."
Alyssia nodded, her mind already racing. Lyra was a formidable enemy, but there was something deeper at play. The assassin had hinted at a larger plan, one that involved the Abyss — and Alyssia couldn't shake the feeling that Lyra's agenda might be even more dangerous than the Emperor's.
"We'll be ready," she said, though her heart was heavy with uncertainty.
For now, the shadows had retreated, but Alyssia knew they would come again.