Chapter 4:
The dawn light spilled across the horizon, staining the clouds in hues of gold and lavender. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the Moonlight Guild tower stood quiet. The battle was over, but its scars remained: shattered stones, scorched walls, and broken runes still sparking faintly on the floor.
Lyria watched the sunrise from the balcony, arms folded as her silver hair swayed in the wind. The crescent-shaped mark on her hand pulsed faintly, a reminder of the Moonlight Pact forged the night before.
She hated how it made her chest feel—restless, unsettled, like her destiny had been tethered to someone else's.
"You're awake early," came a voice behind her.
Kairo strolled onto the balcony, yawning, his hair messy as if he hadn't even tried to tame it. He leaned casually against the railing, grinning. "Or maybe you didn't sleep at all. Let me guess—you were brooding again?"
Lyria shot him a sideways glare. "Not brooding. Thinking."
"Same thing," he teased. Sparks crackled faintly around his fingers, uncontrolled as always, though he didn't seem to notice.
Nyxara padded out next, her luminous paws leaving faint trails of light that faded quickly. The fox spirit leapt onto the railing and stretched, her many tails flickering like ribbons of moonlight. "If you two are done with your banter, I suggest we prepare. The shadows we faced were not isolated. The Obsidian Order does not move without purpose. If they came here, they will strike again—elsewhere."
Kairo tilted his head. "So… where do we start?"
Nyxara's glowing eyes narrowed. "With Lunaria. The floating city. It rests at the heart of Aetheris and is the crossroads of every guild. If the Obsidian Order seeks influence, their hands will be there."
Lyria hesitated. Lunaria. She had not walked its streets in years. Crowded marketplaces, endless guild banners, and the weight of politics she had always despised. But if Nyxara was right, then avoiding it was no longer an option.
She exhaled slowly. "Then we leave today."
The journey to Lunaria was nothing short of breathtaking. Kairo gawked like a wide-eyed child as they rode aether-carriages along glowing tracks suspended between islands. Skyships drifted lazily above them, sails woven with mana, while flocks of crystal-winged birds darted through the clouds.
"This is insane!" Kairo shouted, leaning dangerously close to the edge of the carriage. "A city in the sky, bridges of pure magic, glowing animals—why didn't anyone tell me the world was this amazing?"
Lyria raised a brow. "You grew up in Tempest Guild. You've seen your share of storms and wonders."
"Yeah, but this…" He spread his arms wide, laughing as the wind whipped through his hair. "This feels like flying through a dream."
Nyxara perched gracefully at the front, her tails rippling as she watched the skies. Her tone, as always, was calm. "Do not be fooled by beauty. Even in a dream, shadows can lurk."
The words proved prophetic. As Lunaria came into view—its massive marble platforms suspended above the largest of Aetheris's clouds—the air suddenly shifted. The warm breeze cooled, and a faint tremor rippled through the mana tracks.
The carriage slowed, its driver muttering nervously. Ahead, a section of the glowing bridge cracked, fragments of light shattering into the abyss below.
From the rift, black tendrils slithered upward. They twisted together, forming a shape—first a claw, then a hulking shadow beast with burning red eyes.
The passengers screamed.
Kairo's grin faded, replaced by a spark of excitement. "Finally, some action."
Lyria stood, her hand lifting as moonlight curved around her fingers. "Stay sharp. This isn't random—it's a test."
The beast roared, its voice like thunder, and swung a massive claw at the carriage. The driver cried out, pulling the reins desperately, but the beast's strike was too fast.
Lyria moved first. Moonlight flared, forming a shimmering barrier just as the claw struck. The impact rattled her bones, sparks flying as her shield cracked but held.
"Kairo!" she shouted.
Already in motion, Kairo leapt from the carriage, lightning surging along his arms. He struck the beast's chest with a blazing fist, the impact exploding in a storm of sparks. The shadow reeled back, howling in pain, but its form quickly regenerated, darkness knitting itself together.
Nyxara's voice rang out above the chaos. "It is an Umbra Wraith—a creation of shadow mana. Light and storm may weaken it, but only unity will destroy it!"
Lyria grit her teeth. She hated depending on others. But the pact burned against her hand, reminding her of the bond. Their magic resonated, even now, pulling toward each other like two halves of one whole.
"Kairo! Together!" she called.
He glanced back at her, a wild grin spreading across his face. "About time you said it!"
Moonlight and lightning flared in tandem. Lyria's blades elongated, glowing brighter, while Kairo's fists crackled with storm energy. They charged at the beast as one—light slashing, lightning striking, each blow overlapping and amplifying the other.
The Umbra Wraith shrieked, cracks spreading across its shadowy form. Its tendrils lashed wildly, but Nyxara leapt gracefully from the railing, her body splitting into shimmering illusions that confused the monster and bought her companions precious seconds.
Finally, Lyria vaulted upward, moonlight radiating like wings behind her. Kairo hurled a storm orb that burst against her blades, electrifying them. With a single, precise strike, she plunged the crackling light straight through the creature's chest.
The beast let out one final roar before exploding into fragments of shadow, dissolving into the wind. The bridge's mana stabilized, glowing whole once more.
The carriage rocked but steadied. The passengers, pale and trembling, broke into nervous cheers.
Kairo landed hard on the platform, panting and grinning. "Did you see that? We actually pulled it off!"
Lyria lowered her blade, chest heaving. She wouldn't admit it, but she felt it too—that strange, exhilarating resonance of their magic combined. It was dangerous, intoxicating, and frightening all at once.
Nyxara sat calmly, her tails curling neatly around her paws. "Your bond deepens. The Moonlight Pact has chosen well. But beware—each battle draws the eyes of greater foes. The Obsidian Order will not ignore you now."
Lyria wiped her brow and stared at the looming gates of Lunaria, rising high into the clouds like pillars of eternity. Crowds bustled, banners of every guild fluttered, and the heart of Aetheris pulsed with energy.
The city awaited them. And with it, the first steps into a destiny neither of them yet understood...