The success of activating the third ward brought a fleeting sense of relief to our team. But as we trekked back to the cabin, the lingering unease in the air reminded us all that Malric's threat was far from over.
The darkness wasn't just in the form of him—it was in the cracks he left behind, in the doubts he planted within each of us.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I stared at the ceiling of my small room, my thoughts spiraling. The wards were holding—for now. But Malric's power seemed limitless, and his connection to the darkness was stronger than anything I'd ever felt. What if we weren't enough?
A soft knock on my door broke me out of my thoughts.
"Amber? It's me," Van's voice came from the other side.
I got up and opened the door to find him standing there, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He looked tired, but there was something softer in his expression tonight, something vulnerable.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
"Of course," I said, stepping aside to let him in.
He hesitated, as if gathering his thoughts, before sitting on the edge of my bed.
"I've been thinking about what happened in the cave," he began.
"You mean how you helped save my life? Again?" I said, trying to lighten the mood.
He gave a small smile but quickly grew serious again.
"No. I mean how close Malric came to breaking us. He feeds off fear, Amber. And I saw how he tried to use yours against you."
I crossed my arms, suddenly feeling exposed.
"Let's talk outside." He said.
It was a full moon night.
"About Malric - I handled it, didn't I?" I said.
"You did," Van said quickly.
"But I saw the way he looked at you. He's targeting you for a reason. He knows how powerful you are. And it terrifies him."
"Terrifies him?" I let out a humorless laugh.
"I'm the one who's terrified, Van. Malric is stronger than anything we've faced, and we're running out of time. What if—"
"Don't," he interrupted, standing and closing the distance between us. His hands found mine, holding them tightly.
"Don't doubt yourself. You've come so far, Amber. You're stronger than you think, and you're not alone in this."
His words settled over me like a warm blanket, soothing the icy fear in my chest.
"I just don't want to lose anyone," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You won't," he said firmly. "Not as long as I'm here."
The intensity in his gaze made my heart ache, and for a moment, I forgot about Malric, the wards, and the looming darkness. All I could think about was Van and how much he meant to me.
"Thank you," I whispered, leaning into him.
He pulled me into a gentle embrace, his warmth grounding me.
"Always," he murmured.
Then he stood up.
"Now..you should go to sleep and rest well." He continued.
"Later. You go first, I'll stay here for a while." I said.
"You sure?" He asked.
I nodded. Then he walked away.
Sat down, staring at the calm beautiful moonlight alone, I let the serenity soothe my thoughts.
"Couldn't sleep?"
Kyle's voice cut through the quiet, startling me.
I turned to see him walking toward me, his hands shoved into his coat pockets, his dark hair falling into his eyes. His smirk was there, but it was softer tonight, less teasing and more genuine.
"I guess not," I said with a small smile. "What about you?"
He shrugged, sitting down on the stool next to me.
"Too much on my mind. Figured a walk might help."
We sat in silence for a while, the sound of the water lapping against the shore filling the space between us. I stole a glance at him, noticing the way his usual carefree demeanor seemed to have faded.
"Kyle, are you okay?" I asked gently.
He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
"That's the question, isn't it? You know me, Amber—I'm always 'okay.'"
I frowned, "That's not an answer."
Kyle sighed, running a hand through his hair. For a moment, he looked vulnerable in a way I'd never seen before.
"You're right," he admitted.
"I'm not okay. Because there's something I need to say, and I've been too much of a coward to say it."
I tilted my head.
"What is it?"
He turned to look at me, his dark eyes searching for mine.
"Amber, I… I have a feeling for you since... I don't know when."
"Maybe...since the day we met." He continued.
My breath caught, and I stared at him, unable to speak.
"I know it's crazy," he continued, his voice low but steady.
"You've got Van, and he's a good guy. A hero, even. But I can't keep pretending like I don't feel this way. You're strong, and smart, and you make me want to be better—better than the guy who jokes his way through life."
"Kyle…" I began, but he held up a hand, stopping me.
"I'm not saying this to make things harder for you," he said quickly.
"I just… I needed you to know. Because if I didn't say it, I'd regret it forever."
I looked at him, my heart breaking a little at the raw emotion in his voice.
"I don't know what to say," I whispered.
"You don't have to say anything," he said with a small smile, though his eyes were filled with sadness.
"I know where your heart is, Amber. I see the way you look at Van. But if there's ever a day when you need someone else—someone who'll put you first and never let you down—I'll be here. Always."
I have never seen this side of Kyle. His words touched my heart.
"Kyle, you're an incredible person. And I'm so lucky to get to know you. I like you, you know that.. but -"
He nodded and said, "It's okay."
His smile grew a little stronger.
"Take all the time you need. You can still change your mind, Amber..anytime. I'm not going anywhere."
We sat in silence again, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Despite the heaviness, there was a strange sense of peace, too—a feeling that, no matter what happened, Kyle would always be there.
---
The next morning, Claire gathered us all around the table with a stack of ancient books and maps.
"The final ward is the most important," she explained.
"It's the anchor that connects all the others, and if Malric gets to it before we do..."
"He won't," Van said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Claire gave him a small nod before continuing.
"The ward is located beneath the ruins of an old cathedral just outside of town. It's protected by a labyrinth of traps and illusions, designed to keep out anyone unworthy of its power."
"Sounds fun," Kyle said with a smirk, twirling his shadow blade.
"Fun isn't the word I'd use," Claire replied dryly.
"We'll need to move quickly," Van said.
"Malric knows we're after the wards. He won't let us reach the last one without a fight."
As we finalized our plan, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Malric had been quiet since the cave, and it wasn't like him to retreat without a plan.
Later that day, as we made our way to the cathedral ruins, the unease only grew. The air felt heavier, the shadows longer, as if the darkness itself was watching us.
"This place gives me the creeps," Kyle muttered as we reached the crumbling remains of the cathedral.
"Stay alert," Van said, his golden energy crackling faintly around him.
The entrance to the labyrinth was hidden beneath the cathedral's altar, a set of winding stairs leading deep into the earth. The walls were lined with carvings depicting battles between light and darkness, their stories ancient and haunting.
As we descended, the air grew colder, and the faint sound of whispers began to echo through the narrow halls.
"Illusions," Claire warned.
"They'll try to trick us, to separate us. Stay close."
Despite her warning, the labyrinth was relentless. Walls shifted, paths disappeared, and at times, it felt like we were walking in circles. But no matter how disorienting it became, Van stayed by my side, like an constant anchor.
At one point, the whispers grew louder, forming words that cut deep.
"You're not strong enough," they hissed.
"You'll fail. They'll all die because of you."
I froze, the weight of the words crushing. But Van's hand found mine, pulling me back.
"Amber, look at me," he said, his voice steady and grounding.
"They're lies. Don't let them in."
His golden eyes burned with determination, and I clung to that light, pushing the darkness away.
Finally, after what felt like hours, we reached the heart of the labyrinth—a massive chamber where the final ward rested on a pedestal of stone. Its light was faint, flickering as if it was struggling to stay alive.
"We made it," Claire said, her voice filled with relief.
But our victory was short-lived. The shadows in the room began to swirl, and Malric emerged, his crimson eyes glowing with triumph.
"You think you've won?" he sneered.
"The final ward is mine."
"Not if we have anything to say about it,"
Van growled, stepping forward as his energy flared. As the battle began, I knew this was it—the moment everything had been leading to. Together, we would face Malric, and together, we would end the darkness once and for all.