Chapter 3 — The Shadow Behind Fate
902 Words
Several days had passed since Lyra began her training in the palace's magic tower.
Every morning, before the sun was fully risen, the Archmage was already waiting for her in the training room. The magic circle on the floor always glowed with a soft blue light, as if welcoming her each day.
But the training was far from easy.
"Focus, Lyra," the Archmage said firmly.
Lyra stood in the center of the magic circle, her hands raised slightly. Sweat dripped down her forehead, even though the air in the room was cold.
"I… I'm trying," she replied, gasping.
Blue light appeared at her fingertips, but only briefly before vanishing, like a candle blown out by the wind.
The Archmage shook his head slowly.
"Your power is too great to be restrained by doubt."
Lyra lowered her gaze.
Since discovering that she was the heir of the Order of the Keepers of the Core of Magic, her thoughts had grown heavier. She didn't fully understand what it all meant. All she knew was one thing—many people expected something from her.
And that was terrifying.
"Close your eyes," the Archmage instructed.
Lyra obeyed.
"Now imagine your magic source. Not as a wild flame… but as a river flowing."
Lyra drew a deep breath. She tried to visualize the warm current she always felt in her chest. This time, she didn't resist it.
She let it move.
Slowly.
The blue light reappeared in her hands.
But this time it didn't vanish.
The small flame hovered in her palms like a tiny living star.
The Archmage smiled faintly.
"Good. You're beginning to understand."
Lyra opened her eyes and gazed at the light in wonder.
"I… did it?"
"Yes," the Archmage replied. "And this is only the beginning."
Before they could continue, the training room door swung open.
A palace guard rushed in.
"Archmage, Prince Alaric requests your presence in the strategy room immediately."
The Archmage frowned.
"What's the matter?"
The guard hesitated before replying.
"The northern border… is under attack."
Lyra turned immediately.
"Under attack?"
The guard nodded.
"Several villages have reported the appearance of the same stone creatures that attacked Brindlewood."
Silence fell over the room.
The Archmage looked at Lyra.
"It seems this problem is not as simple as we thought."
In the palace strategy room, large maps were spread across a long wooden table.
Generals surrounded it with serious expressions.
Prince Alaric stood at the head of the table.
When the Archmage entered with Lyra, everyone turned to look.
"Archmage," Alaric said, "we have a problem."
He pointed to the kingdom map. Several red dots marked the northern region.
"Four villages attacked in the last two nights."
"Just like in Brindlewood?" the Archmage asked.
Alaric nodded.
"Stone monsters."
Several generals looked uneasy.
"I've never seen creatures like these before," one of them said. "Swords barely harm them."
Lyra felt her chest tighten.
She remembered the monster she had destroyed unintentionally.
Alaric looked at her.
"Lyra."
All eyes turned to her.
"You're the only one who has ever destroyed such a creature."
Lyra was taken aback.
"Me?"
"Yes," Alaric continued. "That's why I wanted you to see this."
The Archmage looked sharply at Alaric.
"Prince, she hasn't even mastered her power yet."
"Precisely," Alaric replied. "If these creatures appear because of ancient magic… then we need someone with the same magic."
Lyra's heart raced.
"Do… do I have to go?"
The room fell silent.
The Archmage studied her carefully before speaking softly.
"It will be dangerous."
Lyra clenched her hands. She remembered Brindlewood.
If the monster attacked other villages…
"I will go," she said finally.
Some generals looked surprised.
But Alaric smiled faintly.
"I suspected you would say that."
The Archmage exhaled slowly.
"Very well. But I will accompany you as well."
That night, preparations for the journey were made swiftly.
A small royal contingent gathered in the palace courtyard.
Horses were saddled, and knights checked their weapons.
Lyra stood by the palace stairs in a simple blue cloak.
It was the first time she would leave the palace since arriving in Aetheloria.
Alaric approached her.
"Nervous?"
"A little," Lyra admitted honestly.
Alaric chuckled softly.
"That's natural."
He paused for a moment, then spoke more quietly.
"Thank you for agreeing to help."
Lyra looked at him.
"If I have this power… I don't want to just hide in the tower."
Alaric smiled.
For a moment, they stood in silence under the torchlight of the courtyard.
Meanwhile, from the top of the tower, the Archmage watched them with a serious expression.
He knew something that no one else did.
The stone creatures were not ordinary monsters.
They were ancient guardians.
And if they began to awaken…
it meant something far greater was at play.
Far to the north of the kingdom, in the midst of a dark, untouched forest…
A mysterious figure stood before a circle of black magic.
Several giant stone statues stood around, like soldiers waiting for orders.
The figure raised a hand.
Dark light swirled in the air.
"So… the heir of the Core of Magic has finally appeared," the figure murmured.
A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.
"Good."
One of the stone statues began to move slowly.
Cracks appeared along its body, and its eyes glowed red.
"The real game… has just begun."
And in the distance…
the night wind carried whispers of destiny, still unnoticed by Lyra.
- Writer
