The garden shimmered with late morning light, petals dusted in dew as little Elara danced among the blossoms. Her silver curls bounced with every giggle, her feet bare, touching the earth like a spirit of the forest. Her laughter carried through the soft wind, lifting into the trees.
She paused, her lavender eyes catching something beautiful—a butterfly. But not just any butterfly. Its wings glowed with unnatural light, shifting colors like opals. It hovered, almost teasing, flitting just beyond her reach.
"Pretty!" she squealed, taking a few playful steps after it. The butterfly shimmered and flew further, passing beyond the protective garden wards into the woods.
She followed.
Inside Ravenshade Manor, Kylan froze mid-step. A strange pull yanked at his chest, an ache he couldn't explain.
"Elara," he whispered, panic rising. He turned sharply from the hallway and sprinted toward the garden.
Lysandra glanced up from the veranda where she spoke with Carlos and Alaric, smiling faintly. But her expression fell the instant she saw Kylan's face.
"She's gone," he said, breathless. "She followed something… into the woods. I can feel it."
Alaric stood, voice like ice. "Activate the outer sigils. Now."
Carlos was already moving.
---
Elara skipped through the underbrush, eyes still on the glowing butterfly. She didn't notice the air shift, how the forest seemed to darken. Shadows stirred among the trees.
A voice whispered, faint as mist: "Now."
Figures materialized from the shadows. Hooded. Pale. Their auras oozed with the magic of the Council—corrupted and cold.
The lead shadow raised a hand. "Take her. The spell's working. Her wards are severed."
A pair of skeletal hands reached for her.
But then—
"ELARA!"
Kylan burst through the foliage, heart hammering. His eyes locked on her tiny form, on the dark shapes around her.
He ran, faster than his body could bear.
Elara turned. "Papa!"
He scooped her up just as the shadows lunged.
Black magic whipped through the trees. Kylan roared and twisted midair, his body protecting hers. He hit the ground hard, rolling into a crouch with her in his arms.
"I've got you," he gasped, holding her tight. "Don't look. Close your eyes."
She whimpered and buried her face in his neck.
The shadows howled.
Kylan stood, blood already dripping from slashes across his back. He summoned light magic, spears of energy blasting the nearest figures. He stepped back, shielding Elara with his body, never letting her go.
"You won't touch her," he growled.
But the Council agents weren't ordinary shadows—they were crafted from curses and dark pacts.
Then—
Thunk.
A black arrow pierced his chest.
Kylan choked, stumbling.
Elara looked up, eyes wide with horror.
"P-Papa?"
He staggered to his knees, shielding her even now, blood soaking into her pale dress.
"I'm okay," he whispered, smiling through the pain. "I've got you, little one. I won't let them take you."
She sobbed, hands clinging to his shoulders.
The shadows moved again—to finish the job.
Then everything broke.
A blinding aura surged from Elara's body. The wind screamed. The earth cracked beneath her.
A wave of light erupted, brighter than the sun.
From afar, Alaric and Lysandra stumbled to a halt, shielding their eyes.
"That's her," Alaric breathed. "Her power—unsealed."
Carlos cursed. "The spell must be breaking."
The three of them pushed forward, crashing through the forest, drawn by the blinding light.
When they reached the clearing, the shadows were gone.
Burned to ash.
At the center, Elara sat in a glowing circle of scorched earth, holding Kylan in her lap.
"Papa, please wake up!" she cried, face streaked with dirt and tears.
Lysandra screamed and ran to them, falling to her knees.
"Kylan!"
She pressed her hands over his wound. Blood soaked through her fingers. His breathing was shallow.
Elara wept beside him. "He saved me. They hurt him..."
Kylan opened his eyes slowly. He smiled, weak and warm.
"Don't cry," he murmured. "You're safe. That's all that matters."
Lysandra sobbed. "You foolish, brave man..."
He reached up with shaking fingers and touched Elara's cheek.
"Always protect your mama, okay? You're stronger than you know..."
Elara clutched his hand. "I will, Papa. I promise."
He looked at Lysandra.
"Thank you," he whispered. "For giving me this life. This love. I never thought I deserved it, but she... she made me believe I did."
Lysandra leaned down, pressing her forehead to his. "You were more than enough. You were her father."
His breath hitched. "That means everything."
Then, slowly, his hand went still.
His chest rose no more.
Lysandra screamed. Elara clung to him, shaking.
Carlos placed a hand over his chest, his head bowed. "He died protecting what he loved."
Alaric stepped forward, kneeling beside Lysandra. His voice was solemn.
"We bury him with honor. He was more than a guardian. He was a father in every way that mattered."
Elara leaned into Lysandra, her sobs quieter now, but deeper.
The forest fell silent.
The black arrow lay beside Kylan's body, still pulsing with dark enchantments.
Alaric picked it up, eyes burning.
"They crossed a line."
Carlos met his gaze. "This was a declaration."
Lysandra looked up, her face streaked with tears. "Then we answer it."
Alaric nodded. "With fire."