Lyra froze.
Something stirred behind her.
When she turned, everything was burning—
the houses, the trees, the sky itself breaking apart.
Flames clawed at the air, swallowing the streets whole.
Soldiers tore through the crowds, their swords covered with blood.
Azel was there, fighting—his movements sharp but heavy, exhaustion pulling him down. Still, he held his ground.
Illythra's wings were shattered, feathers dark with blood. Her sword dragged against the ground, leaving a long, broken line behind her.
Even the deities were there… but they looked drained, hollow-eyed, flickers of what they once were.
Then came the screams.
Louder.
Everywhere.
Faces appeared in the smoke—people she once knew. Their eyes burned with something colder than hate.
"You didn't save us."
"Because of you, we died."
"You're weak!"
Lyra's breath hitched.
She stumbled back, her hand clutching her chest, trembling.
"No… I didn't…"
Her voice cracked. Her eyes were wide, staring at the flames and the accusing faces closing in.
Then—
a hand caught her wrist and pulled her back.
Lyra turned, breath shallow.
Kael stood behind her, his expression quiet, the fire's reflection dancing in his eyes.
"illusions ," he said simply, his voice low, steady. "that uses another person's fears."
Lyra looked down, her gaze dimming. Slowly, she nodded and walked beside him, silent.
"I won't tell anyone," Kael murmured as they headed back. "Everyone carries their own scars."
The words hung between them.
When they reached the ruined house, the fire at the hearth had already died.
Lyra knelt and sparked it back to life with a soft flick of flame.
Kael watched her quietly, then turned and stepped outside into the dark.
Did all that… happen because of me or was it a illusion?
The thought sat heavy in her chest. She stared into the flickering fire, unsure how long she stayed there.
The flames dimmed again, and dawn began to bleed through the cracks in the wall.
Kairis woke up first. She stretched, blinking at the pale light. Her gaze landed on Lyra—dark circles under her eyes, still sitting where she'd been hours ago.
Kairis sighed. "You didn't sleep, did you?"
Lyra didn't reply, only turned her head away.
Kairis exhaled again and stood. "Fine. I'll make something to eat."
Lyra stayed silent.
Why am I burning…? she thought.
Azel woke next. He said nothing, just went outside for air.
By the time Kairis finished cooking, the smell of food filled the air.
They ate in silence.
When they were done, Azel finally spoke.
"Let's keep moving."
Lyra stood, brushing off her cloak. "Yeah. The next seal isn't far."
Kael nodded quietly. Kairis crossed her arms, muttering, "You both look like death, but fine."
They packed their things and stepped back into the misted morning, the sky still blanketed by low, heavy clouds.
Hours passed. The path stretched through dead trees and quiet fields, the wind carrying only fragments of ash and silence.
Then—
"Maybe if you didn't keep wandering ahead," Kairis said suddenly, her tone sharp but teasing, "we wouldn't keep walking in circles."
Kael didn't even look back. "Maybe if you could read a map, we wouldn't have to walk at all."
Kairis scoffed. "Read a map? You can't even read people, Kael."
"That's because most people aren't worth reading," he shot back.
"Then stop pretending to be mysterious and admit you're lost half the time."
Azel sighed from behind them. "It's too early for this."
"Exactly," Kairis said. "And he started it."
Kael looked over his shoulder. "I started it? You tripped on a root and blamed me for existing."
"That root was in your way!"
Lyra finally let out a quiet laugh, a sound that felt foreign after the long silence.
"Both of you," she said, her voice soft but firm. "If the world ends, I'm blaming you two first."
Kairis crossed her arms. "At least we'll go down with entertainment."
Kael muttered, "You mean noise."
Azel rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Can we just reach the seal before you two kill each other?"
Their voices faded into the distance, swallowed by the wind.
By midday, the dark clouds above had thickened, smothering the sky in gray.
The air grew heavier as they descended into a narrow valley, the land fractured by old battle scars—half-buried weapons, shattered stones, scorched earth.
At its heart stood a tree—massive and ancient. Its trunk was split open down the middle, golden light seeping out like a wound.
Lyra halted. "Wait."
They stopped behind her.
"There's no barrier," Lyra murmured, narrowing her eyes. "That means there's a guardian."
She raised her hand, forming a small black flame into a faint dummy figure, then tossed it near the glowing tree.
The ground shook.
A massive rock golem rose, dust and shards flying. Its chest pulsed with black aura — old, ancient, heavy with layered essence.
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "It's an old one. A merged essence — maybe two, maybe three."
Kairis glanced at her. "You sure?"
Before Lyra could answer, the golem hurled a chunk of rock toward them. They scattered, dust clouding the air.
Lyra raised her voice through the chaos, "Can you hold it?"
They all looked her way, nodding.
Kairis shouted, "Go! We'll handle it!"
Lyra gave a faint smile, then sprinted forward. Her steps burned faintly against the ground as she jumped, vaulting over the golem's arm as s
Kael's jaw tightened.
She reached the seal but the golem slowly turned back before the golem could attack her
Azel struck — ice snaking up the golem's leg, freezing it in place.
"Go!" he shouted.
Lyra nodded once and darted toward the seal. She slipped through the glowing split just as the golem broke free, shattering the ice with a roar.
Azel and Kairis exchanged a look and nodded to eachother.
Kairis then spoke "can you buy us some time kael?"
Kael nodded and stepped forward, amber flames flickering along his hands. Seems I don't need to Hide it anymore
He slammed his palm down, flames bursting out in a ring, forming a barrier of burning light.
Kairis smirked despite the tension. "You've been hiding skills, huh?"
Kael gritted his teeth. "Won't last long,do it fast!!"
Azel and Kairis combined their powers — ice spiraling with light, for a while they kept pouring their powers into the attack
The golem kept attacking at the barrier trying to break the barrier
Then azel and kairis let their attack forward crashing into the golem.
Kael dropped the barrier, and the combined strike hit clean.
The golem froze mid-roar, ice crawling across its body until it stood still — silent, unmoving.
Kairis lifted her hand, grinning. "We actually did it—"
"Not yet," Azel muttered.
The ice cracked.
Kairis' smile faded. "How—"
The sound grew louder. The golem began to move again.
And the air trembled.