Chapter 10: The Princess Choice
828 Words
Chapter 10: The Princess's Choice
The eastern wall shook again.
A web of silver cracks spread across the magical barrier, each fracture glowing brighter than the last. Outside, the Shadow King's army roared in triumph as their sorcerers continued chanting in an ancient language.
Lyra stared in horror.
"If the barrier breaks..."
"The temple falls," Orion finished grimly.
Guardian Elias remained on one knee, blue light leaking from the cracks in his stone body.
"I... can no longer sustain my portion of the shield," he said weakly.
For the first time, Lyra saw fear in Orion's glowing eyes.
The Guardians were not invincible.
Seraphine stepped forward, her spirit shimmering brighter than before.
"There is another way."
Everyone turned toward her.
"What way?" Lyra asked.
"The barrier was never meant to rely solely on the Guardians."
She looked directly at Lyra.
"It was created to be strengthened by the blood of the Moonborn royal family."
Lyra frowned.
"My blood?"
Seraphine nodded.
"The royal bloodline carries the Moon Goddess's blessing. Only the rightful heir can awaken the temple's true defenses."
Orion hesitated.
"But the ritual has never been performed by someone whose powers are only beginning to awaken."
"There is always risk," Seraphine admitted.
"What kind of risk?" Lyra asked quietly.
The priestess lowered her gaze.
"The ritual could consume all of your strength."
"It could even stop your heart."
Silence fell over the wall.
Outside, another blast of dark magic struck the barrier.
A section of the shield flickered dangerously.
The enemy soldiers cheered louder.
Lyra looked at the frightened faces around her.
The Guardians had protected the temple for centuries.
Now they were weakening because they were protecting her.
She made her decision.
"What do I have to do?"
Orion stepped forward.
"No."
Lyra looked at him.
"You cannot forbid me."
"I can advise you."
"You are not ready."
She smiled sadly.
"I wasn't ready to lose my mother."
"I wasn't ready to be rejected."
"I wasn't ready to learn that an entire kingdom is depending on me."
She drew a deep breath.
"But none of those things waited until I felt ready."
Orion remained silent.
Finally, he bowed.
"As you command... Princess."
---
Deep beneath the Moon Temple lay a hidden chamber.
Its walls were carved from pure crystal.
At the center stood a circular altar beneath a shaft of moonlight.
Even though it was midnight, the moonlight reached the chamber as though nothing could block it.
Seraphine motioned for Lyra to step onto the altar.
"This is the Heart of the Temple."
Lyra walked to its center.
The stone beneath her feet felt warm.
"What now?"
Seraphine handed her a small silver dagger.
"Prick your finger."
Lyra did.
A single drop of blood fell onto the altar.
The instant it touched the stone, the entire chamber erupted with silver light.
Ancient runes appeared across the floor.
A powerful wind circled the room.
The altar began humming.
Then a voice echoed from everywhere at once.
"Royal blood confirmed."
"Welcome... Princess Lyra Moonborn."
The temple shook.
Outside, beams of silver light burst from every tower.
The fading barrier suddenly blazed with renewed brilliance.
The cracks began healing.
The Shadow King's smile disappeared.
"What?" one of his generals gasped.
The enemy sorcerers stumbled backward as their dark magic was pushed away.
The barrier had become stronger.
Inside the chamber, Lyra cried out.
Pain raced through her veins.
Her pendant floated into the air, shining brighter than the moon itself.
Silver markings slowly appeared on both of her wrists, curling upward like delicate vines.
Her wolf let out a joyful howl.
Our power is waking!
The chamber fell silent.
The light faded.
Lyra collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
Seraphine hurried to her side.
"You did it."
Lyra looked at the glowing markings on her arms.
"What are these?"
"The Mark of the Moonborn."
"It means the temple now recognizes you as its true queen."
Before Lyra could respond, Orion rushed into the chamber.
"Princess!"
"What happened?"
"The barrier is restored."
Relief washed over Lyra.
"But..."
Orion's expression darkened.
"The Shadow King has retreated."
"Isn't that good?"
"No."
Orion looked toward the tunnel leading outside.
"He has never retreated from a battle."
"Then why leave?"
Before Orion could answer, a frightened scout raced into the chamber.
"Commander!"
Orion turned.
"What is it?"
"The enemy camp is empty."
"They vanished less than an hour ago."
Lyra frowned.
"They just... disappeared?"
The scout nodded.
"Yes."
Seraphine's face turned pale.
"Oh no..."
Lyra looked at her.
"What?"
"The Shadow King never fights the battle everyone expects."
She closed her eyes as if realizing something terrible.
"If he abandoned the temple..."
She opened them again.
"...then Blackwood Pack is his true target."
Lyra's heart stopped.
Kael.
Despite everything he had done, she couldn't ignore the fear rising inside her.
The Shadow King wasn't retreating.
He was hunting.
And the man who had rejected her was walking straight into the greatest danger of his life.
- Writer
