The grove was quiet again, but Amara's mind raced with questions about their masked assailant. Whoever they were, they had moved with a deadly precision that far surpassed anything she had seen.
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow. "We can't just ignore that, Amara. That wasn't some random thief. They knew exactly what they were after—and they knew how to fight."
Amara nodded, her grip tightening on the pendant. "They called it the Crescent Light. How could they know about it?"
Kael leaned against a tree, catching his breath. "You said this pendant is tied to your Lunar Clan's power, right? Maybe this isn't just about your people anymore. This thing could be bigger than we thought."
Amara stared at the pendant, its glow now faint but steady. She thought back to Elder Lyra's words: The world will depend on you.
"Whoever they are, they're working with the Ember Shadows—or at least after the same thing," she said.
Kael tilted his head. "Or they're someone worse."
---
As the two rested, a soft breeze carried faint whispers through the grove. Amara's pendant flickered, and she felt a sudden chill.
"We're not alone," she whispered.
Kael tensed, his hand on his blade. "More company? Great."
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. This time, they made no effort to hide their presence. The same dark armor glinted faintly in the moonlight, and their mask reflected the pendant's glow.
"Persistent, aren't you?" Kael growled, unsheathing his sword.
The figure held up a hand, signaling for peace. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have. I came to talk."
Amara stepped forward cautiously. "Who are you? What do you want with the pendant?"
The figure removed their mask, revealing a young woman with striking silver hair and pale, almost luminous skin. Her eyes, a sharp metallic silver, locked onto Amara's.
"My name is Seris," she said. "I am a Shadow Sentinel, sworn to protect the balance between light and darkness."
"Protect?" Kael said with a scoff. "You didn't seem very protective when you were swinging that blade at us."
Seris's expression didn't waver. "I had to test you. The Crescent Light is not a toy, nor is it a weapon to be wielded carelessly. It is a responsibility, and one that has been lost for centuries."
Amara's voice was firm. "Then why did you attack me? If you wanted to protect it, you could have helped."
Seris's gaze softened slightly. "Because I needed to see if you were worthy. The Crescent Light chose you, but that doesn't mean you understand its purpose. There are forces far more dangerous than the Ember Shadows, and they will stop at nothing to take it from you."
Kael crossed his arms. "So what's your deal? You work alone, or are you part of some secret club of assassins?"
Seris ignored his sarcasm. "I was once part of an order sworn to guard the Crescent Light. We called ourselves the Shadow Sentinels, keepers of balance. But the order fell long ago, betrayed by those who sought to use the Light for their own gain."
Amara's brow furrowed. "And now? Are you the only one left?"
Seris nodded solemnly. "The last. And now that the Light has resurfaced, the balance is at risk once more. The Ember Shadows are only the beginning."
---
Amara's mind spun with the weight of Seris's words. The Crescent Light wasn't just a relic of her clan—it was part of something much larger, something that had been hidden for centuries.
"What do you want from me?" Amara asked.
Seris stepped closer, her expression unreadable. "To train you. To prepare you for what's to come. The Crescent Light is powerful, but without control, it will destroy you."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Train her? And what about me? Do I get a shiny pendant too?"
Seris's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile. "You can keep swinging your sword. That will suffice."
Amara ignored Kael's muttered grumbling. "If I agree, will you stop testing me with ambushes?"
Seris inclined her head. "If you agree, I will teach you everything I know. But be warned—this path is not easy, and it may cost you more than you realize."
Amara hesitated, the pendant warm in her hand. She thought of her clan, Elder Lyra, and the responsibility she now carried.
"I'll do it," she said finally. "Teach me."
Seris's silver eyes gleamed. "Then let us begin."
---
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