The morning light filtered through the high windows of the chamber, casting a soft glow over the destruction left in the wake of their battle. The glyphs, now dormant, etched into the stone floor, were a reminder of the price they had paid to seal the Void. The air was still heavy with the residue of dark magic, but it was fading, slowly being replaced by an eerie calm.
Lucien sat up, leaning against a broken pillar, his breaths shallow. Seraphine knelt beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. The darkness that had once marred his skin was fading, but traces of it still lingered, a reminder of how close they had come to being consumed.
"You should rest," Seraphine whispered, her voice thick with concern.
Lucien shook his head, his eyes scanning the room. His men were scattered, some injured, others standing silently in the aftermath, trying to make sense of what had happened. Arin had already begun tending to the wounded, her face pale but resolute.
"There's no time to rest," Lucien replied, his voice low and hoarse. "The rebellion… Cedric's betrayal… there's still too much we don't know."
Seraphine's gaze flickered to Cedric's lifeless body, slumped against the far wall. His face was frozen in a twisted expression of disbelief, as if even in death, he hadn't fully grasped the power he had tried to wield. The orb had shattered, but Seraphine knew the darkness Cedric had unleashed was far from gone.
"We'll have to answer for this," she said softly. "The kingdom will demand an explanation."
Lucien's expression darkened. He knew that once word spread of Cedric's alliance with the Void, the fragile peace in the kingdom would crumble. The people had already begun to lose faith in the crown, and this would only fuel their fear. Lucien wasn't just a king anymore—he was a leader standing on the edge of a precipice, staring into the abyss.
"We'll explain what needs to be explained," Lucien said firmly. "But not everything. The Void, Cedric's power… most of them wouldn't understand."
Seraphine nodded, understanding his dilemma. The truth would cause panic, and in a kingdom already on the verge of collapse, panic could be fatal. The rebellion was still smoldering, and they had no idea how deeply Cedric's influence had spread.
As she turned her gaze back to Lucien, her heart tightened. His face was drawn, his eyes hollowed by exhaustion and grief. He had lost so much—his kingdom was fractured, his trust betrayed, and the weight of an ancient darkness had nearly consumed him. And yet, despite everything, he was still fighting.
"You can't carry this burden alone," Seraphine said gently. "We'll find a way to rebuild—together."
Lucien's hand found hers, his fingers intertwining with hers as he looked at her with a fierce determination. "We've already lost too much," he murmured. "I won't lose you too."
Seraphine's breath caught in her throat. The bond between them had always been there, woven into the fabric of their souls. But now, it was stronger, forged in the fires of battle and sacrifice. She had felt it when they stood against the Void together—how their connection had anchored them, kept them from falling into the darkness.
"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, her eyes locking with his.
For a moment, the weight of the world fell away, and it was just the two of them—two souls bound by fate, standing on the edge of a new beginning. But that moment was fleeting, as the sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber.
Arin approached, her brow furrowed with concern. "Lucien, the men are asking what's next. They're shaken by what happened with Cedric. Some of them… they're afraid."
Lucien pushed himself to his feet, his grip on Seraphine's hand tightening briefly before he let go. "We need to secure the city," he said, his voice regaining its strength. "Cedric's betrayal may have shaken their faith, but we need to restore order before anyone else makes a move."
Seraphine stood as well, her body aching from the toll of the battle. "We should send word to the surrounding regions—prepare them for what's to come."
"Agreed," Lucien nodded, his mind already racing with plans. "And we need to find out who else Cedric was working with. He wasn't acting alone."
Arin stepped forward, her voice tinged with hesitation. "There's something else. When we were fighting… I overheard one of Cedric's men talking about another force—something or someone they called 'the Dark Herald.' They said the Herald was coming to finish what Cedric started."
Lucien's eyes narrowed. "The Dark Herald?"
Arin nodded grimly. "Whoever they are, they've been in the shadows, pulling strings. If Cedric was a puppet, this Herald might be the true threat."
Seraphine's stomach twisted at the mention of the name. The Void may have been sealed, but it wasn't over. Not yet. Whoever this Dark Herald was, they were still out there, waiting.
"Then we need to find them," Lucien said, his voice hard. "Before they find us."
As Arin left to relay the orders, Seraphine and Lucien stood in the fading light of the chamber. The darkness that had haunted them for so long was gone, but new shadows were rising on the horizon.
"Do you think we'll ever be free of this?" Seraphine asked quietly, her eyes searching Lucien's face.
He turned to her, his expression softening. "I don't know. But I do know that whatever comes next, we'll face it together."
Seraphine smiled faintly, her heart swelling with a bittersweet mix of hope and fear. They had survived the Void, but the true battle was only beginning. And though the future was uncertain, one thing was clear:
They would face it as one.