Their journey led them to the heart of the Obsidian Reach, the city of shadow, hidden within the mountains, its black stone walls tumbling down with centuries upon centuries to dust. The great kingdom of the Eclipsed Ones was reduced to a tomb of broken temples and darkened towers, its air heavy with the leftovers of their magic.
As they drew nearer to the city, the blade of the Guardian pulsed wildly: its brightness like the flickering of an extinguishing star. The closer they came to the heart of it all, the greater the pull of the darkness was. Shadowy figures from centuries past and twisted faces-that once reached the heights of court-thrashed his mind. The city was alive, stuffed with sinister energy, and it seemed to reach out and touch the skin of those who ran through it with cold, unseen fingers.
They entered the main temple, black stone and obsidian in the walls, doors inscribed with old runes. Within that temple, The Eclipsed Ones had entombed themselves, dark magic having held their spirits fast to earth. They were going to do the same to Aiden, Lyra, and Caelum.
"Are you ready?" Lyra asked, hand on her knife.
Aiden nodded. His hand tightened around the Guardian's Blade. "We do this together."
As they stepped inside, the temperature dropped and the ground beneath their feet seemed to pulse with dark magic. The air was thick almost suffocating. At the center of the temple stood an altar—all made of the same black stone, its surface glowing with ominous light.
Suddenly, a figure stepped forward, wrapped in shadow. As he stepped forward, it was clear this figure was the leader of the Eclipsed Ones: a tall, imposing figure whose face remained hidden by a cloak of darkness. His two red embers of eyes seemed ablaze with some inner fire, and his voice threw through the temple as if it had come from some vast temple of forgotten gods.
"Well, you fools," he sneered. "You think you can stop us? You are nothing compared to the might of the Eclipsed Ones.
Aiden stepped forward, hand raised; the Blade of the Guardian flared softly. "We may not be half as strong as your order, but we have something you'll never understand: Hope, Light, and the strength to stand against darkness.".
The leader of the Eclipsed One bellowed as he raised his hands. And behind him, the darkness swirled into a storm of shadows. Lyra and Caelum moved, their blades ready. Battle was near.