Eclipsed heart

Chapter 7: Threads of Fate

The Frostbane Gorge seemed to stretch endlessly, its icy winds howling like whispers from an unseen world. Kael moved with unerring confidence, each step purposeful as if he could read the secrets of the land itself. Lira trailed close behind, her eyes darting to every shadow, her mind still buzzing with the raw power she'd unleashed.

The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. Kael occasionally glanced over his shoulder, his crimson eyes sharp and calculating.

"You're holding up well," he said after a while, his voice breaking the stillness.

Lira nodded, though her body ached with fatigue. "I think I'm getting used to this… whatever this is."

Kael smirked faintly. "You're adapting quickly. That's good. You'll need to be strong for what's ahead."

"What is ahead?" Lira asked, her tone tinged with both curiosity and apprehension.

Kael's expression darkened. "The shadows will only grow stronger the closer we get to the northern temple. And they're not the only threat. This region is rife with remnants of the old war—beasts, traps, and worse."

"The old war?" Lira tilted her head.

Kael hesitated, his gaze scanning the horizon as though weighing how much to reveal. "The war between Althea and the Sovereign of Shadows. It was more than just a clash of power—it tore the balance of this realm apart. The scars of that conflict linger even now."

Lira's steps faltered as fragments of memory flickered in her mind—visions of battlefields bathed in golden light, the Sovereign's dark presence looming like a storm.

"Althea…" she murmured, her voice distant. "She fought for balance. She believed in it."

Kael turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you remember her?"

"Pieces," Lira admitted, clutching her chest where the faint warmth of her power still lingered. "It's like… echoes. I see glimpses of her, of her battles, but I don't know if they're real or just fragments of something I've imagined."

"They're real," Kael said firmly. "You're her reincarnation, Lira. That power inside you—her essence—is proof of it."

Lira bit her lip, unsure how to respond. The weight of that truth pressed heavily on her, but so did her doubt. Could she really be the Keeper of Balance reborn? And if so, why did she feel so incomplete?

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The terrain grew more treacherous as they ventured deeper into the gorge. The air crackled with an unnatural energy, and the shadows seemed to shift and writhe, as though alive.

Kael suddenly halted, his hand snapping up to signal silence. Lira froze, her heart pounding.

"What is it?" she whispered.

Kael's gaze was locked on a jagged stone arch ahead, its surface etched with faintly glowing runes. "A ward," he said quietly. "A powerful one."

Lira stepped closer, her eyes widening as she took in the ancient markings. "Is it dangerous?"

"It depends," Kael said, his tone grim. "Wards like this were created during the old war. Some were meant to protect, others to destroy. This one…" He trailed off, his expression tightening.

Lira felt a strange pull as she stared at the runes. They seemed to pulse faintly, resonating with the power within her.

"It feels familiar," she said, her voice barely audible.

Kael shot her a sharp look. "Familiar how?"

"I don't know," Lira admitted, stepping closer to the arch. The pull grew stronger, a faint hum vibrating in her chest. "It's like it's calling to me."

Kael cursed under his breath. "Be careful. Wards like this can be traps—designed to lure you in and drain your energy."

But Lira couldn't stop herself. The runes seemed to glow brighter as she approached, and the hum in her chest grew into a steady thrum. She reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing the cold surface of the stone.

The moment she touched it, a burst of light erupted from the runes. Lira stumbled back, shielding her eyes as the archway began to shimmer.

Kael was at her side in an instant, his blade drawn. "Lira, what did you—"

Before he could finish, the shimmering light coalesced into a shape—a figure cloaked in golden energy.

Lira's breath caught as the figure solidified, revealing a woman with strikingly familiar features. Her hair flowed like molten gold, and her eyes glowed with the same radiant light that flickered within Lira.

"Althea," Kael said, his voice laced with both reverence and wariness.

The figure turned to them, her expression serene but piercing. "No," she said, her voice echoing like a melody. "I am but a fragment—a remnant of Althea's will."

Lira stared, her heart pounding. "A fragment?"

The woman nodded, her gaze settling on Lira. "When Althea faced the Sovereign of Shadows, she knew that her full power would be needed again one day. She scattered pieces of her essence across the realm, hidden in wards like this. You, Lira, have awakened one of those fragments."

"What does that mean?" Lira asked, her voice trembling.

"It means your journey is only beginning," the fragment said gently. "You must seek out the other fragments. Only by reclaiming them will you unlock the full extent of your power—and the truth of who you are."

Lira's mind swirled with questions, but before she could ask, the fragment began to fade.

"Wait!" she called out. "Where do I find the other fragments?"

The fragment's voice echoed as it dissolved into light. "Follow the threads of fate. They will guide you."

As the light faded, the runes on the arch dimmed, leaving only silence behind.

Kael exhaled slowly, sheathing his sword. "Well," he said, his tone dry, "that complicates things."

Lira turned to him, her eyes wide. "What do we do now?"

Kael smirked faintly, though his expression was serious. "We keep going. The northern temple is still our best chance of figuring this out. But it looks like we have a bigger mission ahead of us."

Lira nodded, her resolve hardening. The shadows were growing stronger, but so was she. And now, she had a purpose—a path to follow.

As they resumed their journey, the jagged peaks of the northern mountains rising before them, Lira couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.

The threads of fate were pulling her forward, and she was determined to see where they led.

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