The trio began to gather their thoughts, preparing to leave the archives. The weight of Selene's revelation lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken fears and growing determination.
"We need to get out of here," Seris said, her voice steady but urgent. "The Ember Shadows will be searching for us, and the longer we stay, the more vulnerable we are."
Kael tightened the strap of his sword, his usual humor absent. "Agreed. Let's move before something else tries to kill us."
Amara pocketed the crystal, its faint warmth a reminder of the truth she had uncovered. She glanced at the pendant, its glow dim but persistent. "Where do we go next?"
Seris paused, considering. "We need allies. The Lunar Clan may be gone, but there are others who would stand against the Ember Shadows. The Crescent Order—if they still exist—could help us."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about a group that vanished decades ago. Do you even know where to find them?"
Seris's expression hardened. "No. But the archives might."
---
They returned to the central chamber, where Seris began searching through the remaining artifacts and scrolls. Amara and Kael kept watch, the oppressive silence of the archives setting their nerves on edge.
As Seris unrolled a faded map, a sudden chill filled the room. The runes on the walls flickered, their light dimming until the chamber was bathed in shadows.
"Something's wrong," Amara said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael drew his sword, his eyes scanning the room. "You think?"
Before anyone could react, a figure emerged from the shadows. Clad in dark armor that seemed to absorb the light, the figure's presence radiated menace. A hood obscured their face, but their voice was unmistakable.
"Hello, sister."
Seris froze, her hand tightening around her blade. "No... it can't be."
The figure stepped closer, revealing a face that was eerily similar to Seris's, but twisted with malice.
"It's been a long time, Seris," the woman said, her tone mocking. "I almost didn't recognize you. You've changed."
Amara's heart sank. "Who is she?"
Seris's voice was cold as ice. "This is Raven. My twin sister... and a traitor to the Crescent Light."
---
Raven chuckled, her green eyes glinting with malice. "Traitor? That's rich coming from you. You abandoned your duty, Seris. You left when the Light needed you most."
Seris's jaw tightened. "I left because I saw what the Ember Shadows were becoming. I refused to follow them into darkness."
"And look where it got you," Raven sneered, gesturing to the pendant. "Clinging to a broken legacy, dragging these fools into a fight they can't win."
Kael stepped forward, his sword at the ready. "Watch your mouth, lady. We've taken down bigger threats than you."
Raven smirked. "Oh, I'm not the threat, little warrior. Not yet."
With a flick of her wrist, the shadows in the room came alive, coiling around her like serpents. The pendant pulsed in response, its light struggling against the encroaching darkness.
"You've meddled enough, Seris," Raven said, her voice dripping with disdain. "The Light belongs to the Ember Shadows now. Hand over the pendant, or I'll take it from your corpse."
Amara stepped forward, her pendant glowing brighter. "You'll have to go through me first."
Raven's eyes narrowed. "Ah, the new Bearer. I was wondering when you'd show some spine."
---
Before anyone could react, Raven lunged, her shadowy tendrils striking with deadly precision. Seris blocked the attack, her blade clashing against the darkness.
"Go!" she shouted to Amara and Kael. "Find the Crescent Order—I'll hold her off!"
"We're not leaving you!" Kael yelled, slashing at a tendril that came too close.
Amara raised the pendant, its light flaring and forcing Raven back. "We fight together."
Raven laughed, the sound cold and cruel. "Admirable, but foolish. You can't defeat me."
As the battle raged, the chamber trembled, cracks forming in the walls and ceiling. The archives were beginning to collapse.
"This place won't hold much longer!" Kael shouted.
Seris gritted her teeth, her movements precise and deadly as she kept Raven at bay. "Amara, use the pendant. Its light is the only thing that can counter her darkness."
Amara focused, channeling her energy into the pendant. Its light grew brighter, pushing back the shadows and illuminating the entire chamber. Raven hissed, her form flickering as the light overwhelmed her.
"This isn't over," she snarled, retreating into the shadows. "The Ember Shadows will rise, and the Light will fall."
With that, she vanished, leaving the chamber eerily quiet.
---
As the tremors subsided, the trio stood in the ruins of the archives, the weight of the encounter pressing down on them.
"Raven," Seris said, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's stronger than I remember."
Amara placed a hand on Seris's shoulder. "We'll face her together. The Light isn't hers to take."
Kael sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "If that's what we're up against, we're going to need a lot more than just the three of us."
Seris nodded, her resolve hardening. "Then we find the Crescent Order. They're our only hope."
-
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