Chapter 13: The Queen's Awakening
763 Words
Chapter 13: The Queen's Awakening
A thick cloud of dust rolled across the village.
For several heartbeats, no one moved.
Then a gust of wind swept through the battlefield, clearing the smoke.
Lyra still stood where she had been.
A dome of shimmering silver light surrounded her, untouched by the Shadow King's attack. Tiny sparks of moonlight drifted through the air like glowing snowflakes.
The villagers stared in stunned silence.
"She... she stopped it."
"With her bare hands."
Kael couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The shy servant who used to avoid everyone's eyes now stood in the center of the battlefield like a warrior born to command.
His wolf, silent for days, suddenly stirred.
Mate...
Kael froze.
"You've come back."
I never left, the wolf replied, its voice weak but growing stronger. I was waiting for you to see the truth.
---
The Shadow King laughed, the sound echoing across the ruined village.
"Wonderful."
He dismounted from his horse with slow, deliberate steps.
"I was beginning to think the Moonborn bloodline had lost its strength."
Lyra held her ground.
"I don't want to fight you."
"No?"
He tilted his head.
"I destroyed your kingdom."
"I murdered your family."
"I hunted your people to extinction."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"Surely you hate me."
Lyra's hands trembled.
She did hate him.
But she also remembered what Orion had taught her.
The Moonborn do not fight with anger.
She steadied her breathing.
"I won't let hatred control me."
For the first time, the Shadow King's smile faltered.
"Interesting."
---
Orion and the three remaining Guardian Golems arrived moments later, charging through the shattered western gate.
Their silver armor gleamed beneath the afternoon sun.
The sight of them sent murmurs through both armies.
"What are those?"
"They're made of stone!"
"They're protecting the princess!"
Orion stopped beside Lyra and knelt.
"My Queen."
The single title echoed across the battlefield.
Queen.
The villagers looked at Lyra in disbelief.
Even Kael stared at her.
She wasn't merely the last Moonborn.
She was their queen.
---
The Shadow King's expression hardened.
"So they've already crowned you."
"I didn't ask for a crown," Lyra replied.
"No."
"You were born wearing one."
With impossible speed, he lunged.
His black sword cut through the air.
Lyra barely managed to raise a barrier.
The impact threw her backward several feet.
She landed hard but quickly regained her footing.
"Again!" Orion shouted.
"Trust your instincts!"
The Shadow King attacked relentlessly.
Every strike was faster than the last.
Lyra blocked one.
Dodged another.
A third grazed her shoulder, slicing through her silver armor.
Pain burned across her skin.
The Shadow King smiled.
"Better."
"But not enough."
He swung again.
This time Lyra didn't block.
She closed her eyes.
She listened.
The wind.
Her heartbeat.
Her wolf.
Now!
She moved.
Instead of retreating, she stepped inside his attack.
Her palm struck the center of his chest.
Silver light erupted from her hand.
The Shadow King was blasted backward, skidding across the ground.
Silence fell.
No one had ever seen anyone knock the Shadow King off his feet.
He slowly stood.
A faint burn mark glowed through his armor.
Then...
He laughed.
Not with mockery.
With excitement.
"Excellent."
"It has been centuries since someone made me bleed."
A thin line of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
---
High above the battlefield, dark clouds swallowed the sun.
Thunder rolled across the mountains.
Seraphine appeared beside Orion, her spirit flickering.
"Something is wrong."
Orion looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"The Moon Goddess is trying to warn us."
Before anyone could ask another question, the earth shook violently.
A deafening roar echoed from beneath the village.
The ground split open.
A massive crack raced through the battlefield.
Soldiers on both sides stumbled.
Then...
An enormous black claw burst from the earth.
It was followed by another.
And another.
A gigantic wolf, larger than the Alpha's mansion itself, clawed its way out of the depths.
Its fur was black as midnight.
Its eyes burned crimson.
Chains of dark energy hung from its neck.
The creature threw back its head and howled.
The sound shook the mountains.
Panic spread through both armies.
"What is that?"
The Shadow King smiled without looking away from Lyra.
"My greatest creation."
He spread his arms proudly.
"Meet Fenrir..."
"The Beast that ended the Age of the Moonborn."
Lyra felt every instinct inside her scream.
Even Orion, who had never shown fear, tightened his grip on his spear.
Because they all understood the same terrifying truth.
The real battle...
Had only just begun.
- Writer
