In the previous chapter, the battle between Solomon and the leader of the Shadow Order reached its climax, the tension in the castle so thick it seemed to hang in the air like a suffocating fog. Amidst the swirling dust and clashing light and shadow, their fateful duel teetered on the edge of resolution.
Solomon, clutching the Celestial Starblade, held his ground. His sharp, hawk-like gaze stayed locked onto every movement of the Shadow Order's leader. Amidst the chaos of their clash, Solomon's keen insight allowed him to pinpoint a critical weakness in his foe.
"I've found it! Now's the moment!" Solomon's heart leapt with determination. Gritting his teeth, he summoned every ounce of Holy Aura from within, channelling the torrent of energy into the Starblade. With a ferocious battle cry, he unleashed a final, decisive strike. The blade cut through the darkness with a thunderous roar, streaking towards its target like a bolt of divine lightning.
"Arrrgh!" A chilling scream erupted from the Shadow Order's leader as the strike hit its mark, piercing his very core. His body trembled violently, disintegrating like a withered leaf swept away by a tempest. As the leader's form dissolved into the ether, the remaining forces of the Shadow Order faltered, scattering like frightened birds before the dawn.
"We've won! Glory is ours!" Cheers erupted from the allied soldiers, their jubilant cries echoing through the ruined halls. They raised their weapons high, their faces alight with the joy of victory. At long last, after a harrowing struggle, peace was restored to the lands of Aegis.
Yet, victory often comes at a bitter cost. To deliver the final blow, Solomon had endured a brutal backlash of dark magic. The corruption seeped deep into his body, ravaging his strength and draining his life force like a river breached by a flood.
"Solomon!" Princess Liana's voice pierced through the chaos. Ignoring the wreckage around her, she dashed towards Solomon. When she reached him, he had already collapsed onto the cold, bloodstained ground, his consciousness fading.
"No… Solomon, you must hold on!" Tears streamed down Liana's cheeks as she dropped to her knees beside him, clasping his hand tightly. Her voice trembled with desperation. "You can't leave me. We still have so much ahead of us… so much we've yet to share!"
With shaking hands, Liana began casting her healing magic. A soft, golden glow enveloped Solomon's broken body, her magic attempting to purge the remnants of the dark power that threatened to consume him. But the damage was severe—far beyond what her abilities could mend.
"Why… Why is my power so feeble?" Liana's anguished cry echoed through the hall, her tears falling freely. Her eyes brimmed with despair as she struggled to save the man she loved.
Around them, the soldiers gathered solemnly. They looked down at Solomon with reverence and gratitude, their hearts heavy with the weight of what they had just witnessed.
"Lord Solomon, you are our hero," one soldier declared, kneeling with solemn respect. His voice rang with emotion. "Without you, this victory would have been impossible. Without you, the lands of Aegis would have been swallowed by eternal darkness."
"Yes," another chimed in, his eyes glistening. "Lord Solomon has given so much for us all."
Carefully, the soldiers lifted Solomon's limp body and carried him back to the stronghold of House Victoria.
Inside the grand halls of Victoria Castle, an air of solemnity hung over the gathered crowd. Duke Arthur, head of the Victoria family, stood at the centre of the room, his brow furrowed with deep concern as he gazed at Solomon's unconscious form.
"Send for the finest healers immediately!" the Duke commanded, his voice firm. "No matter the cost, ensure Solomon's recovery!"
"At once, Your Grace!" Alfred, the family steward, bowed and hurried off, his steps brisk with urgency.
Within moments, the castle's most skilled healers—aged masters with snow-white hair—arrived. They worked tirelessly through the night, their hands moving with precision as they tended to Solomon's grievous wounds. After what seemed an eternity, the dark magic within him was subdued, and his condition stabilised.
Days turned into weeks as Solomon remained unconscious, his body fighting to recover from the toll of battle. Finally, one quiet morning, his eyes fluttered open. Though weak and pale, he was alive.
"Solomon, you're awake!" Liana exclaimed, joy flooding her voice as she sat by his bedside. She had been keeping vigil by his side all this time. Grasping his hand with trembling relief, she smiled through tears. "I was so afraid I'd lose you…"
"I… I'm alright now. Don't worry…" Solomon's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, but his words carried a faint smile.
Elder Claude, a venerable figure of the Victoria family, entered the room. He gazed at Solomon with pride and admiration. "Young man, your bravery and selflessness have secured peace for Aegis. You have earned a place in the annals of history. But your battle came at great cost. Take this time to heal. The road ahead is long."
"I will, Elder…" Solomon nodded weakly, his resolve undiminished even in his frail state.
Though Solomon had awoken, his recovery would be a slow and arduous process. The scars left by the dark magic ran deep, and his strength would take time to return. As he lay in quiet contemplation, questions swirled in his mind.
What new challenges would arise in the fragile peace they had won? What other sacrifices would be demanded of him to protect the lands and people he held dear? The answers lay shrouded in the uncertain future, a mist of mystery and danger.
And yet, even as the path ahead remained clouded, the hero of Aegis resolved to walk it—no matter the cost. The battle was over, but the echoes of its aftermath would shape what was yet to come.
4o