Chapter 15: The Beast's Heart
818 Words
Chapter 15: The Beast's Heart
The battlefield fell into complete silence.
Fenrir stood only a few feet from Lyra, his enormous body trembling. His crimson eyes remained fixed on her, but the hatred that had burned within them moments ago was fading.
A single silver tear slipped down the beast's scarred muzzle.
The soldiers on both sides stared in disbelief.
"No one move," Orion ordered quietly.
Even the Shadow King's army hesitated.
No one had ever seen Fenrir stop in the middle of an attack.
---
Lyra slowly lowered her hands.
She could feel the beast's pain as though it were her own.
Images flashed through her mind.
A young silver wolf racing joyfully through endless fields beneath a full moon.
Moonborn children laughing as they climbed onto his broad back.
The wolf standing proudly before Queen Elara, swearing an oath to protect the royal family.
Then...
Darkness.
Chains.
Screams.
The Shadow King's cruel laughter.
Lyra gasped.
"They tortured you..."
Fenrir let out a low whimper.
Her wolf spoke softly.
He's been alone for so long.
Tears filled Lyra's eyes.
"I'm so sorry."
---
Behind Fenrir, the Shadow King's expression twisted with fury.
"Enough!"
He slammed the tip of his black sword into the ground.
The cursed chains wrapped around Fenrir's neck glowed an angry crimson.
The giant beast cried out in agony.
"Obey me!" the Shadow King commanded.
Fenrir's body shook violently.
He tried to resist.
Every muscle strained against the invisible force controlling him.
Lyra took a careful step forward.
"Fenrir..."
Orion's voice rang out behind her.
"My Queen, don't!"
She ignored him.
Another step.
Then another.
Until she stood close enough to touch the enormous wolf.
The battlefield held its breath.
Fenrir lowered his head.
His breathing was uneven.
His eyes flickered between crimson and silver.
The darkness and the light were battling inside him.
Lyra slowly raised her hand.
"If you can hear me..."
Her fingertips rested gently against his forehead.
"...you're not alone anymore."
The moment she touched him, silver light exploded across the battlefield.
The cursed chains glowed brighter, clashing with the radiant moonlight pouring from Lyra's hands.
Fenrir howled—not in rage, but in pain.
The vision returned.
Lyra saw the Shadow King standing over a wounded Fenrir centuries ago.
She heard his cruel voice.
"Serve me... or watch every Moonborn child die."
Fenrir had chosen to bear the curse himself to save the children.
He had never betrayed the Moonborn.
He had sacrificed himself for them.
The vision ended.
Lyra's tears fell freely.
"You were protecting us all this time."
Fenrir gently pressed his massive head against hers.
---
The Shadow King roared with anger.
"Impossible!"
He raised both hands.
Dark lightning surged into the chains.
Fenrir screamed.
Cracks of black energy spread across his body.
Lyra held on despite the pain.
"I won't let you suffer anymore!"
The silver markings on her arms spread across her shoulders, glowing brighter than ever before.
Seraphine's spirit appeared beside her.
"Princess!"
"The Second Seal has broken!"
Power unlike anything Lyra had ever felt rushed through her body.
She wasn't drawing strength from the moon anymore.
The moon was answering her.
The clouds parted.
A brilliant moonbeam descended from the heavens, surrounding Lyra and Fenrir.
The cursed chains began to crack.
One...
Two...
Three links shattered.
The Shadow King staggered backward.
"No!"
He poured more dark magic into the curse.
The chains tightened again.
Fenrir cried out in agony.
Lyra realized the terrible truth.
"I can't break it alone."
Orion stepped forward.
"Then you won't."
The four Guardian Golems planted their spears into the earth.
Silver energy flowed from them toward Lyra.
Seraphine raised her hands.
The Moon Temple's magic answered from miles away.
Even Kael stepped beside Lyra.
"What can I do?"
She looked at him, surprised.
He lowered his head.
"I know I can't erase what I did."
"But if there's even one thing I can do to help..."
"Tell me."
Lyra studied him for a long moment.
Then she nodded toward Fenrir.
"Protect us."
Without hesitation, Kael shifted into his wolf form and stood between Lyra and the Shadow King's army.
Damon and the Blackwood warriors joined him.
The Guardian Golems formed a circle.
No one would reach Lyra.
Not today.
Not while they still breathed.
The Shadow King's face darkened with rage.
"So..."
He slowly drew a second sword from his back.
Its blade was completely black, absorbing the light around it.
"I had hoped to save this."
He pointed the weapon toward Lyra.
"But if you insist on freeing my greatest weapon..."
A sinister smile spread across his face.
"...I'll simply destroy the last Moonborn Queen instead."
The black sword pulsed with terrifying power.
Seraphine's eyes widened in horror.
"The Blade of Eclipse..."
Even Orion tightened his grip on his spear.
For the first time since the battle began...
The Shadow King was no longer holding back.
- Writer
