The path ahead was difficult, and the air felt heavier with each step Elionna took. She had never ventured so far from home, but the realization that she had no choice but to follow Azrael made it easier to press on.
They moved through dense forest, the trees towering high and blocking the sunlight, making the atmosphere feel both oppressive and ominous. The only sounds were the distant calls of birds and the crunch of their boots on the undergrowth.
"We're getting closer to the mountains," Azrael said, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "You must remain vigilant, Elionna. The creatures of the Dark Star will be searching for us soon. They are more powerful than anything you've encountered."
Elionna nodded, trying to focus on the journey ahead. "I'm ready," she said, though her voice trembled slightly. The weight of the Starborn's responsibility felt heavier than it ever had before.
The further they traveled, the colder the air became. Elionna felt a strange tingling on the back of her neck, as though unseen eyes were watching them. It was then that she saw something flicker at the edge of her vision—shadowy figures darting between the trees. She quickly turned, but nothing was there.
"Azrael?" she whispered, fear creeping into her voice.
Azrael stopped in his tracks, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "We are not alone," he said quietly, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
A sudden rustling in the bushes broke the silence, and before Elionna could react, a figure leapt from the shadows, landing directly in front of them. It was a creature unlike any Elionna had ever seen—its skin was as dark as night, and its eyes glowed an eerie red.
Azrael stepped in front of Elionna, his sword drawn in an instant. "Stay behind me," he commanded, his voice cold with authority.
The creature snarled, its sharp claws gleaming in the dim light. "You will not reach the temple, Starborn." It spoke in a gravelly voice, its words full of malice.
"We will see about that," Azrael replied, his sword raised, ready for battle.
The creature lunged, but Azrael was faster, blocking its attack with a swift movement of his blade. The clash of metal against claws sent sparks flying, and Elionna could feel the heat of the battle even from a distance. She stood frozen, her heart racing in her chest.
"Now, Elionna!" Azrael shouted.
She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do, but the words filled her with a sudden sense of clarity. Her hand instinctively reached for the hilt of an invisible sword at her side. To her shock, it wasn't just her imagination—the sword appeared in her hand.
It was the Starblade, glowing with an ethereal light. The weight of the blade felt right in her grasp, and she could feel its power surging through her.
With a fierce cry, Elionna swung the Starblade at the creature. It struck true, cutting through the creature's dark form like a beam of light slicing through shadow. The creature let out an ear-splitting scream as it disintegrated into a cloud of smoke and ash.
Azrael turned, his eyes wide with approval. "Well done, Elionna. You are beginning to understand your power."
Elionna stared at the glowing blade in her hands, still in awe. "I… I did that?"
Azrael nodded. "You were born for this. The Starblade responds to you, to your will. It is yours to command."
Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of excitement and fear. "I don't feel like I know what I'm doing."
Azrael placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You will. In time."
The two of them continued their journey, but now Elionna felt the weight of her destiny with a new clarity. The Starblade wasn't just a weapon—it was a part of her. And she was beginning to understand how to wield it.