Episode 10: The first eclipse knight
1228 Words
The valley fell silent.
Even the clash between the Flame Dragon and the corrupted Guardian seemed distant as the man in black armor stepped forward.
Kael’s grip tightened around his sword.
“…Lucien.”
The knight smiled faintly.
“I wondered if you’d still remember me.”
Aurelia looked between the two men.
“You know each other?”
Neither answered.
Instead, they stared at one another like ghosts from a forgotten past.
Master Rowan broke the silence.
“Princess… you’re looking at the first commander Kael ever trained.”
Aurelia blinked.
“His mentor?”
Kael nodded slowly.
“He taught me everything I know.”
Lucien chuckled.
“And you surpassed me.”
His smile faded.
“That was your greatest mistake.”
⸻
The wind carried ashes across the battlefield.
Lucien drew his black crystal sword.
Unlike Kael’s broad silver blade, Lucien’s weapon was long, elegant, and unnaturally dark. Tiny crimson veins pulsed beneath its surface as though it were alive.
“The king gave me one order.”
He pointed his blade at Aurelia.
“Bring back the heir.”
“Alive.”
Aurelia stepped forward.
“I’m not going with you.”
“I know.”
Lucien replied calmly.
“That’s why I’m here.”
⸻
Without warning—
He vanished.
CLANG!
Kael barely blocked the strike.
The impact echoed like thunder.
Aurelia had not even seen Lucien move.
Kael was pushed several meters backward.
Lucien smiled.
“You’re slower.”
Kael steadied himself.
“I’m injured.”
“No.”
Lucien answered.
“You’re distracted.”
Their swords collided again and again.
Each strike sent sparks flying through the air.
Neither gained an advantage.
Neither gave ground.
Watching them was like watching two masters speak a language only they understood.
⸻
Meanwhile, Rowan hurried toward Aurelia.
“You must reach the Guardian.”
“What about Kael?”
“He’ll hold Lucien off.”
“But not forever.”
Aurelia looked back.
She wanted to help.
Every instinct told her not to leave Kael behind.
Then she remembered something her father had once told her.
“A queen must sometimes trust others to fight battles she cannot.”
She nodded.
“Let’s go.”
⸻
The corrupted Guardian stumbled as the Flame Dragon tore away another black chain.
Only three remained.
The giant’s golden eyes flickered weakly.
“Aurelia…”
It reached toward her.
Its enormous hand trembled violently.
Darkness fought against light inside its body.
Aurelia ran faster.
“I’m coming!”
⸻
Suddenly, the ground beneath her exploded.
Black spikes burst from the earth.
Rowan shoved her aside just in time.
One spike pierced straight through his shoulder.
“Rowan!”
He fell to one knee, gritting his teeth.
Blood soaked his green cloak.
From the smoke emerged another figure.
A woman dressed in the same black armor as Lucien.
Twin daggers spun effortlessly between her fingers.
She smiled playfully.
“You almost reached him.”
“How unfortunate.”
Rowan’s expression hardened.
“The Eclipse Knights…”
She bowed dramatically.
“Commander Nyra.”
“The Second Eclipse Knight.”
She looked toward Aurelia.
“You’ve caused our king quite a bit of trouble.”
⸻
Without hesitation, Nyra attacked.
Her movements were impossible to predict.
She seemed to disappear into shadows before striking from another direction.
Rowan blocked one dagger with his staff.
A second sliced across his arm.
A third narrowly missed Aurelia.
“Run!” Rowan shouted.
“I’ll handle her!”
“No!”
Aurelia refused.
“I won’t leave you!”
Nyra laughed.
“How touching.”
⸻
At that moment…
A brilliant pillar of fire erupted beside them.
The Flame Dragon landed with earth-shaking force.
Its enormous tail swept toward Nyra.
She leaped away just in time.
The dragon lowered its head toward Aurelia.
Its golden eyes met hers.
Then…
Something incredible happened.
The three Heart Marks on Aurelia’s wrist floated into the air.
Golden…
Blue…
Crimson…
The lights circled around the dragon before forming an ancient symbol.
Rowan stared in disbelief.
“The Crest of the First Queen…”
The dragon gently nudged Aurelia forward.
Almost as though it were encouraging her.
“You want me…”
“…to free the Guardian.”
The dragon let out a low rumble.
⸻
Aurelia sprinted toward the giant.
Behind her, Rowan and the Flame Dragon held Nyra back.
Kael continued dueling Lucien.
Every second mattered.
She reached the Guardian’s enormous foot.
The final chains pulsed with dark magic.
She placed both hands against the nearest one.
It was freezing cold.
Not hot.
Cold enough to burn.
The Heart Marks began glowing.
Nothing happened.
“Come on…”
The chain tightened.
The Guardian screamed.
“I know you’re still in there!”
“Fight it!”
Golden tears rolled down the Guardian’s stone face.
“I… cannot…”
“You can!”
Aurelia shouted.
“I believe you can!”
⸻
For the first time…
The Guardian raised its own hand.
It grasped the chain wrapped around its chest.
With all its remaining strength…
It pulled.
The chain cracked.
Aurelia’s Heart Marks exploded with light.
Together…
They shattered the first chain.
The entire mountain trembled.
The corruption weakened.
The Guardian’s golden eyes burned brighter.
⸻
Across the battlefield, Malachar watched everything through a pool of black water inside the palace.
His smile disappeared.
“So…”
“The Hearts can purify corruption.”
He turned toward the enormous black crystal beneath his throne.
“Then I suppose…”
“…it’s time to awaken you.”
The crystal pulsed once.
A deep voice echoed from within.
“The Heir…”
“Must not reach the Seventh Heart.”
Malachar smiled.
“She won’t.”
⸻
Back in the Ember Peaks, Lucien suddenly forced Kael backward with an overwhelming strike.
Kael dropped to one knee.
His injured shoulder finally gave out.
Lucien placed his blade against Kael’s throat.
“It’s over.”
Kael looked up calmly.
“I taught you one thing.”
Lucien frowned.
“What?”
Kael smiled.
“Never focus on just one opponent.”
Lucien sensed it too late.
Aurelia had shattered a second chain.
The Guardian’s roar shook the valley.
Its enormous hand swept toward Lucien.
He barely escaped before being struck.
For the first time…
The First Eclipse Knight looked surprised.
⸻
Only one chain remained.
The corruption was almost gone.
Hope spread across the battlefield.
The villagers cheered.
Even Kael smiled.
Then…
A black arrow shot from the cliffs.
It pierced straight through the final chain.
Instead of breaking…
The chain absorbed the arrow.
Dark energy surged into the Guardian’s body.
The giant screamed louder than ever before.
The remaining chain transformed into a massive black serpent that wrapped itself around the Guardian’s heart.
Rowan’s face turned pale.
“No…”
“Someone strengthened the curse.”
A cold laugh echoed from above.
Standing on a cliff overlooking the battlefield was a cloaked figure carrying a long obsidian bow.
No face could be seen beneath the hood.
Only glowing silver eyes.
The stranger slowly nocked another arrow.
A voice as cold as winter drifted across the mountains.
“You’ve done well, Princess.”
“But this journey ends here.”
The second arrow glowed with a darkness unlike anything Aurelia had ever felt.
It was aimed directly at her heart.
- Writer
