The glowing corridors of the celestial halls faded behind them, giving way to the quiet expanse of the starlit courtyard. The soft hum of energy from Lex's staff punctuated the silence, as he walked alongside Lyra, his thoughts heavy.
"What happens now?" Lex asked, breaking the stillness.
Lyra didn't respond immediately, her silver hair catching the ambient light as she walked ahead of him. "What happens now," she echoed, her voice almost distracted. Then, stopping abruptly, she turned to him. "How am I supposed to know?"
Lex furrowed his brow, caught off guard by her candid retort. "What do you mean, how are you supposed to know? Aren't you supposed to be my guide or something?"
Lyra rolled her eyes, her celestial composure cracking slightly under her exasperation. "Guide, yes. Omniscient oracle of all your problems? No."
Lex smirked faintly, despite himself. "That's... reassuring."
Lyra crossed her arms, her expression softening just enough to show a hint of amusement. "Look, guiding doesn't mean I have all the answers. It means I help you find them. There's a difference."
"Right," Lex said dryly. "So what's your suggestion, oh wise one?"
She tilted her head, pretending to think. "First, we get you to your soldiers. They'll need to be briefed on your return and the—"
"Wait." Lex interrupted, his tone suddenly serious.
Lyra turned, raising an eyebrow. "What now?"
Lex hesitated, gripping the staff tightly. The memory of Vyrax's fiery wrath still lingered, vivid and raw. "There's something you need to know before we go any further."
Lyra's playful demeanor evaporated as she caught the shift in his tone. "What is it?"
"In the valley," Lex began, choosing his words carefully, "I wasn't alone. Someone else was there."
Lyra's eyes narrowed, a mixture of curiosity and unease flashing across her face. "That's impossible. No one else was meant to be there."
"Yeah, well, tell that to Vyrax," Lex said, his voice edged with both bitterness and disbelief.
Lyra stiffened, the name striking her like a physical blow. "Vyrax?" she whispered, as though saying it too loudly would summon him. "The Vyrax?"
"The very same," Lex confirmed. "Or at least, what's left of him. He's... not exactly in peak condition these days, but trust me, he's just as dangerous."
Lyra's hand instinctively went to her chest, where a faint celestial symbol glowed against her skin. "Vyrax hasn't walked this plane since the Era of Flame. He was—he was supposed to be gone. Sealed away."
"Well, someone didn't get the memo," Lex replied. "He's alive, or... something close to it. And he's furious."
Lyra's voice was a strained whisper. "What did he say to you?"
Lex took a deep breath, recalling the fiery intensity of Vyrax's gaze. "He... he talked about Kael. About the supreme deity's fall. He knows things, Lyra—things I don't think anyone else is supposed to know."
Her expression darkened, shadows playing across her features. "I've only heard fragments about Vyrax's life. He was the first of the supreme deities, a being of unrivaled power. But his methods... they were too cruel, too destructive. He was overthrown, his essence scattered across the realms. Even as a child, I was told his name as a warning. A shadow of what could go wrong."
Lex frowned. "If you knew how dangerous he was, why didn't you tell me there was even a chance he'd be in the valley?"
"Because he wasn't supposed to be!" Lyra snapped, her voice cracking with rare frustration. "No one was supposed to be there! The valley is a sealed domain, accessible only through the trial's rite. If Vyrax is there, it means—"
"—the seals are breaking," Lex finished for her, the weight of the revelation sinking in.
Lyra nodded slowly, her face pale. "If Vyrax is active again, it's more than just a personal threat to you. It's a sign that the Void's corruption is spreading faster than we thought. The balance is crumbling."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the gravity of the situation pressing down on them. Then Lyra spoke again, her voice softer now. "Lex... how did you survive him?"
Lex hesitated, memories of their brutal clash flashing before him. "Barely," he admitted. "The staff helped. And, I think... I think he was testing me. Trying to see if I was worthy of something. What, I don't know. But clearly, I failed his test."
Lyra's eyes searched his, her celestial glow dimmed by concern. "This changes everything. Vyrax was one of the original forces behind the Song's creation. If he's involved... his agenda could reshape everything we've been fighting for. Once he gets out of there...he is coming for the staff..."
Lex gripped the staff tighter, his determination rekindling despite the fear gnawing at him. "Then we find out what he wants. And we stop him."
Lyra smiled faintly, though the gesture was tinged with sadness. "You're braver than most mortals I've met. Foolish, but brave."
"Thanks, I guess?" Lex replied with a wry grin.
She shook her head, motioning for him to follow. "Come on. Your soldiers are waiting for you, we need a commander for the war. And we need to prepare them for whatever's coming next."
As they began walking, the stars above seemed dimmer, the celestial halls less comforting. For the first time, Lex felt the weight of his task not as an abstract burden, but as a tangible, looming threat.
Vyrax's shadow stretched far, and the war had only gotten even more dangerous than it already was.
If Vyrax gets out of the valley and joins forces with Tharros and Abaddon...