The Blood Moon Refused To Set
As If The Sky Itself Knew That Darkness Had Claimed Its Throne Again
The World Had Shifted But Most Hadn't Noticed Yet
In The Capital Of Eldoria A City Untouched By Fire But Drenched In Secrets
The High Spires Pierced The Clouds And The Streets Below Buzzed With A False Sense Of Peace
Merchants Shouted Nobles Laughed And Priests Preached In Temples That No Longer Heard Prayers
But Deep Beneath The Surface Where Light Never Touched And Truths Were Carved In Stone
A Chamber Opened With No Door And A Table Stood Without Legs
There Sat The Thirteen Cloaked Figures The Ones Who Had Ruled In The Shadows For Centuries
They Were Known Only As The Council Of Silence
They Spoke Rarely And When They Did The World Trembled
Tonight They Gathered For A Reason That Had Not Occurred In Over Five Hundred Years
The Return Of The Forbidden Name Had Been Whispered In The Flames And Screamed In The Bones
Basid Had Awakened
The One Called The Ash Seer Spoke First Her Voice A Crackle Of Dead Leaves
He Walks Again Through Smoke And Fire His Chains Are Dust His Hunger Returned
The One Known As The Iron Monk Lifted His Hood But No Face Was Beneath It Only Mist
Then We Are Out Of Time He Said And The Others Nodded In Silence
They Had Been There When Basid Was Sealed
They Had Watched As Blood Was Spilled To Bury A Creature Too Powerful For Any Realm
And They Had Promised That If He Returned They Would Not Hide They Would Act
Now That Oath Came Due
Send The Watchers Said The Blade Lord His Hands Wrapped In Cursed Bandages
And Call The Last Flame Keeper If She Lives She Will Know What To Do
No She Has Already Been Found Said The Ash Seer She Stands Beside Him Not Against Him
Then We Are Doomed Said The Pale One His Voice Barely Human
No Not Doomed Said The Shadow Binder Simply Reminded That We Are Mortal
Meanwhile In The Ruins Of Raventhorne Where Basid Had Taken Shelter
He Sat Upon A Throne Of Broken Stone His Eyes Closed But His Senses Wide
Elira Stood Beside Him Watching The Flames That Never Touched Her
She Had Not Slept Since She Found The Book But She Did Not Feel Tired
Something Inside Her Kept Her Awake A Fire Lit By Blood And Bound By Prophecy
She Had Asked Him What She Was Again And Again
And He Had Given Her Many Answers But Never The One She Needed Most
You Are What The World Needs He Had Said
You Are What They Tried To Kill Before You Were Even Born
Now She Watched As Creatures Came Crawling From The Corners Of Forgotten Earth
Beings With Hollow Eyes And Bone Wings Swearing Loyalty In Tongues She Couldn't Understand
And Basid Accepted Their Oaths With A Nod His Presence Enough To Command Even The Dead
You Do Not Understand What You Are In The Middle Of He Told Her At Last
This Is Not Just A War This Is A Correction
The World Was Tipped Into Light Too Long And Now Darkness Must Reclaim Its Share
You Will Help Me Do That
What If I Refuse She Asked
Then You Will Burn With The Rest He Said Simply No Anger No Threat Just Fate
But Elira Knew She Could Not Refuse Not Because Of Fear
Because Of Something Else Something That Pulled Her Toward Him
A Memory That Was Not Hers A Dream That Was Older Than Her Blood
She Closed Her Eyes And Saw It Clearly
A Woman In Armor Made Of Flame Holding A Sword Of Bone Standing Before A Throne Of Skulls
Beside Her Stood A Man With Eyes Like Suns And Behind Them The World Burned And Bloomed At Once
When She Opened Her Eyes Again Basid Was Watching Her And He Smiled
You Remember He Said Softly Not Asking Stating
Then It's Time You Took Your Place
He Stood And Walked Toward Her Slowly The Flames Parting Around Him
He Lifted His Hand And Pressed Two Fingers Against Her Forehead
In That Moment Pain Ripped Through Her Skull And Light Flooded Her Vision
She Screamed And Fell But He Caught Her Before She Hit The Ground
You Are No Mortal Now He Whispered You Never Were
From The Edge Of The Ruins A Figure Watched Hidden In Mist
A Man Dressed In The Robes Of A Priest But Eyes Like Black Mirrors
He Turned And Whispered Into A Stone That Glowed Faint Blue
She's With Him We're Too Late
And In The Depths Of The Forest Something Answered That Whisper With A Roar
A Beast With Silver Fur And Eyes That Reflected Stars Awoke
It Had Been Sleeping Since The Day Basid Was Sealed But Now It Raced Toward The City
Not To Save Elira But To Kill Her Before She Took Her True Form
Because Some Legends Should Never Rise
And Some Flames Were Meant To Stay Extinguished
But This Flame Was Already Lit And The World Would Learn To Burn Again
The Earth Trembled With A Pulse That Did Not Belong To Mortals
Far Beyond The Ruins Of Raventhorne A Forest Once Cursed Now Breathed With Rage
The Beast Had Awakened Not To Hunt But To Destroy
It Moved With Silence That Defied Its Size
Each Step Crushed Roots Older Than Cities But Made No Sound
Its Fur Was Silver Like Moonlight Distilled Into Flesh
And Its Eyes Burned With Stars That Had Not Shone Since The Time Of The First Flame
It Had A Name But No One Dared Speak It
To Name The Beast Was To Invite It
And It Was Never Invited Only Summoned By Sin
Bound By Oath To The Ancient Order It Had Slept While The World Forgot
But When The Seal Broke When Basid Rose When Elira Took Her Place At His Side
The Beast Opened Its Eyes And Knew That Its Purpose Had Returned
It Did Not Serve Light Nor Darkness It Served Balance
And The World Was Tilting Toward Oblivion
In The Depths Of Its Mind Echoed The Old Command
If The Flame Joins The Shadow
Kill Them Both
Back In Raventhorne Elira Stood In The Center Of The Broken Temple
The Ashes Beneath Her Feet Whispered Of Those Who Had Fallen Long Ago
She Could Hear Their Cries Now Their Regret Their Rage Their Reminders
She Had Awakened Something In Herself And It Would Not Sleep Again
Basid Watched Her With Eyes That Glowed Like Fire Held Behind Glass
He Spoke No Words Yet She Felt Them Press Against Her Thoughts
You Are Changing Faster Than Expected
She Looked At Her Hands Saw Flames Flicker Across Her Fingers Without Burning
What Is Happening To Me She Asked But Her Voice Was Distant Even To Herself
You Are Becoming What They Tried To Kill Before You Could Be Born
The Last Flame Keeper The One Who Could Either Ignite The World Or Turn It To Dust
And You Want Me To Choose The Latter She Said
He Smiled A Smile That Could Shatter Hearts Or Build Empires
I Want You To Choose Nothing Let The Fire Decide
Suddenly The Wind Shifted Not Natural Not Mortal But Primal
Basid Stiffened His Eyes Narrowed
It's Coming He Said And His Voice Was Not Calm It Was Cold
What Is She Asked
The Beast He Answered
She Frowned The Beast Of What
Of Ending He Said Of Correction Of Death
Before She Could Respond The Sky Screamed
A Sound Like Thunder Yet Higher Sharper Like Metal Tearing Through Soul
The Walls Of The Temple Cracked And The Ground Shook Violently
Then It Appeared
Towering Even While Crouched Its Eyes Like Stars Locked On Elira
Basid Stepped Forward Instinctively Placing Himself Between Her And The Beast
Its Gaze Shifted To Him And A Growl Rolled Through The Earth
It Knows You He Said It Remembers Your Fire
The Beast Took A Step Forward And The Flames That Surrounded The Temple Died Instantly
Even The Ash Curled Away From Its Feet As If In Worship Or Fear
It Lowered Its Head And Spoke Though Its Mouth Did Not Move
Two Cannot Become One Without The World Paying The Price
You Burn Too Bright And He Bleeds Too Deep Together You Unravel The Thread
I Must End You Both Before The Thread Snaps
Elira Raised Her Hands Fire Gathering Around Her Like Wings
You'll Have To Kill Me First Then
The Beast's Eyes Flickered And Its Voice Echoed Again
That Is The Plan Child
Basid Laughed Then A Low Cruel Sound That Carried The Weight Of Centuries
You're Welcome To Try Monster He Said And His Cloak Exploded Into Shadow
The Battle Began With No Signal Only Impact
The Beast Leapt Forward Faster Than Thought Its Claws A Blur Of Silver
Basid Met It Head On Their Collision Shattering What Remained Of The Temple
Elira Was Thrown Back But Her Fire Caught Her Before She Fell
She Landed In The Rubble Her Eyes Wide As She Watched Two Legends Collide
Basid Moved Like Smoke Wrapping Around The Beast Striking With Blades Formed Of Shadow
But The Beast Was Faster Its Movements Brutal Precise Designed Only For Killing
It Bit Into The Air And Basid Cried Out As A Piece Of His Essence Was Torn Away
He Reformed Instantly But Slower This Time Breathing Heavily His Eyes Burning
Elira Rose Flames Swirling Around Her She Knew She Could Not Watch She Had To Act
She Stepped Forward And Raised Her Hands
The Fire Responded Not Like A Weapon But Like A Memory Remembering Its True Shape
It Twisted Into Spears And Shields Into Wings And Chains
She Threw Them At The Beast But It Dodged Each One Effortlessly
You Are Not Ready It Said You Do Not Know What You Are
She Screamed And The Fire Turned Blue
It Struck The Beast's Side And For The First Time It Roared In Pain
Basid Seized The Moment Driving A Spike Of Shadow Through Its Shoulder
It Staggered But Did Not Fall And With A Growl It Slammed Its Paw Into The Ground
The Earth Split And From The Cracks Rose Chains Of Silver
They Wrapped Around Elira And Basid Pulling Them Apart
You Are Not Gods The Beast Said You Are Not Meant To Be Joined
But Elira Reached Out Her Hand Despite The Pain Despite The Chains
And Basid Took It
The Fire Met The Shadow And For A Moment There Was Only Light
A Pulse Erupted From Them Both A Shockwave That Tore Through The Ruins And Flattened The Forest For Miles
The Beast Was Thrown Back Screaming As Its Body Was Consumed By The Light
It Did Not Die But It Fled Its Form Flickering Into Mist
And As It Vanished Its Final Words Echoed
You May Have Won This Moment But You Cannot Escape What You Are
You Will Destroy Everything You Touch
Silence Returned But It Was Not Peaceful
The City Burned Around Them The Skies Were Torn And The Ground Wept Blood
Elira Fell To Her Knees Her Energy Spent Her Heart Beating With Fire
Basid Stood Beside Her Silent Watching The Stars Above Shift Again
He Looked At Her Then And Spoke Softly
Now The World Will Know That We Are Not Just Legends
We Are The End Of Legends
And The Beginning Of Something Far Worse