The Shadows Rise
1269 Words
Chapter Four
The Shadows Rise
For the next three days, fear spread across Lunaria.
The attack on the northern villages became the only topic of conversation.
Farmers abandoned fields before sunset.
Parents kept children indoors.
Travelers refused to journey alone.
Everywhere Elara went, she heard the same whispers.
“Shadow creatures.”
“Ancient darkness.”
“The curse has returned.”
The rumors grew more frightening with every retelling.
Yet none disturbed Elara as much as the feeling growing inside her heart.
She could not stop thinking about Kael.
His smile haunted her thoughts.
His voice lingered in her memory.
And every night, the faint silver glow inside her chest appeared again.
Brighter each time.
She told no one.
Not even her father.
Especially not her father.
Because deep down, she already suspected the truth.
The glow only appeared when she thought about Kael.
⸻
Unable to ignore her feelings any longer, Elara returned to the Forbidden Forest.
The journey felt easier this time.
The forest no longer seemed frightening.
Instead, it felt strangely welcoming.
Silver flowers bloomed along the paths.
Tiny glowing creatures darted between branches.
The magical beauty of the forest left her breathless.
As she approached the crystal lake, she heard voices.
One belonged to Kael.
The other belonged to an elderly woman.
Elara stopped behind a tree.
She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop.
But then she heard her own name.
“…the princess is in danger,” the old woman said.
Kael’s expression darkened.
“I know.”
“You must stay away from her.”
Elara’s heart sank.
Stay away from her?
Why?
Kael shook his head.
“No.”
The old woman’s eyes widened.
“Kael—”
“I won’t abandon her.”
A strange warmth spread through Elara’s chest.
The old woman sighed heavily.
“You sound exactly like your mother.”
At the mention of his mother, pain flashed across Kael’s face.
Elara noticed immediately.
The old woman softened.
“Forgive me.”
Kael looked away.
For several moments, silence filled the clearing.
Finally, he spoke.
“I still miss her.”
The old woman’s eyes glistened.
“So do I.”
A wave of sadness washed over Elara.
She had never heard Kael speak about his family before.
His grief sounded familiar.
She knew that pain.
She had lost her mother too.
Perhaps that was why his words touched her so deeply.
The old woman suddenly turned.
Her gaze landed directly on Elara’s hiding place.
“Princess.”
Elara froze.
Caught.
The old woman smiled faintly.
“You can come out now.”
Embarrassed, Elara stepped forward.
Kael looked surprised.
Then amused.
“How long were you standing there?”
“Long enough.”
Kael laughed.
The sound made her heart flutter.
The old woman studied her carefully.
There was something unusual about her eyes.
Something ancient.
Wise.
Powerful.
“Princess Elara,” she said softly.
“You know who I am?”
The woman nodded.
“I’ve known about you since the day you were born.”
A chill ran through Elara.
“What do you mean?”
The woman exchanged a glance with Kael.
Then she sighed.
“My name is Lyra.”
She paused.
“And I am the last Moon Seer.”
Elara stared.
Moon Seers were legendary.
Ancient mystics blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.
Most people believed they had disappeared centuries ago.
Yet one stood before her.
“That’s impossible.”
Lyra smiled.
“So is a princess whose crystal never awakened.”
Elara had no response.
The old woman gestured toward a nearby stone bench.
“Sit.”
Elara obeyed.
Kael remained beside her.
Close enough that she could feel his presence.
Close enough that her heart beat faster.
Lyra noticed.
And smiled knowingly.
⸻
The old woman began her story.
“For centuries, the royal family believed the curse was punishment.”
Elara nodded.
“That’s what history says.”
“History is wrong.”
The words hit like thunder.
Elara blinked.
“What?”
Lyra leaned forward.
“The Moon Goddess never cursed your bloodline.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Elara’s heart pounded.
“What are you talking about?”
“The truth was hidden.”
Lyra’s voice grew serious.
“Prince Orion did choose love over destiny.”
“Yes.”
“But Selene admired him.”
Elara frowned.
“Admired him?”
“He became the first person brave enough to choose love freely.”
Nothing made sense anymore.
“If there was no curse, why don’t the royal crystals work?”
Lyra’s eyes darkened.
“Because someone wanted the kingdom to believe they were cursed.”
A cold sensation crawled down Elara’s spine.
“Who?”
The answer came in a whisper.
“The Shadow King.”
At that exact moment, thunder echoed across the sky.
Dark clouds rolled over the forest.
Birds scattered in panic.
Kael stood instantly.
His expression became alert.
Dangerously alert.
Then came a scream.
A distant scream.
Human.
Terrified.
Everyone froze.
The scream came again.
Closer this time.
Kael drew a silver dagger from his belt.
Elara’s eyes widened.
“You carry weapons?”
“Only when necessary.”
Another scream echoed.
Without hesitation, Kael ran toward the sound.
Elara followed.
Lyra hurried behind them.
They raced through the forest.
Branches whipped past.
The air felt colder with every step.
Then they reached a clearing.
And Elara’s blood turned to ice.
A family stood trapped against a fallen tree.
Two parents.
A little girl.
And surrounding them—
Shadows.
Living shadows.
Their forms twisted unnaturally.
Glowing red eyes burned within dark bodies.
The creatures hissed.
The sound resembled metal scraping against stone.
The little girl cried.
Her mother held her tightly.
The father stood in front of them, trembling.
Kael stepped forward immediately.
“Get behind me.”
The family obeyed.
The largest shadow creature growled.
Its eyes fixed on Kael.
For a heartbeat, nobody moved.
Then the monster attacked.
It lunged forward with terrifying speed.
Elara screamed.
But Kael was faster.
Silver light exploded from his hands.
The forest illuminated like daylight.
The creature crashed into the magic barrier and shrieked in agony.
The remaining shadows attacked simultaneously.
Kael fought with astonishing skill.
Light flashed.
Darkness collided with silver energy.
The battle raged across the clearing.
Elara could barely believe what she was seeing.
Kael wasn’t merely a healer.
He was a warrior.
A powerful one.
One shadow slipped past him.
It raced directly toward the little girl.
The child screamed.
Without thinking, Elara ran forward.
“NO!”
The shadow struck her.
Pain exploded through her chest.
The world froze.
Everything became silent.
Then something extraordinary happened.
The silver glow inside her heart burst outward.
A wave of brilliant moonlight erupted from her body.
The forest shook.
The shadows screamed.
And every creature instantly disintegrated into dust.
Gone.
Just gone.
Silence followed.
Everyone stared.
The rescued family.
Lyra.
Kael.
Even Elara.
No one spoke.
Because what had happened should have been impossible.
The glow faded slowly.
Elara’s knees buckled.
Before she hit the ground, Kael caught her.
His arms wrapped around her.
Strong.
Protective.
Safe.
Their eyes met.
Neither looked away.
And for one brief moment, the entire world seemed to disappear.
Then Lyra’s trembling voice broke the silence.
“The prophecy…”
Kael looked up.
The old woman appeared terrified.
“What is it?” he asked.
Lyra stared at Elara.
“The Moon Heart has awakened.”
A terrible fear entered her eyes.
“And now the Shadow King knows she’s alive.”
- Writer
