Chapter 9: The Sleeping Darkness
444 Words
Inside the Sanctuary of the Wraith Guardians, unease spread through the city.
Whispers followed Lyra wherever she went.
Some Guardians looked curious.
Others looked afraid.
And some openly avoided her.
The news of the Mirror Chamber's reaction had already spread.
It had never responded to an outsider before.
Lyra lowered her head.
"Maybe I shouldn't be here."
Beside her, Orion remained silent.
Then—
"You are here because I brought you here."
His voice was calm.
"But everyone is staring at me."
"Let them."
Lyra looked at him.
Orion's silver eyes remained fixed ahead.
"I said you are under my protection."
And with those simple words—
Every nearby Guardian immediately fell silent.
Even Lyra could feel the weight behind them.
Just who exactly was Orion?
Before she could ask, the elderly Guardian from earlier hurried toward them.
"Commander Orion."
"The Council has gathered."
"They are waiting inside the Mirror Chamber."
---
The chamber itself was ancient.
Large mirrors surrounded the room.
But several of them were cracked.
Ancient symbols glowed faintly across the floor.
As Lyra entered, she felt something strange.
Almost as though the room itself was alive.
The gathered Guardians watched nervously.
One woman stepped forward.
"Commander Orion, this is dangerous."
"The chamber reacted because of her."
Another Guardian nodded.
"We still don't know what she is."
Silence.
Then Orion spoke.
"What she is does not matter."
"She is under my protection."
No one argued further.
The elderly Guardian sighed.
"Very well."
"Let us see what the Mirror wishes to reveal."
Slowly, Lyra stepped forward.
The symbols beneath her feet suddenly lit up.
The mirrors began to glow.
One by one—
Images appeared.
A field of flowers.
A city consumed by flames.
A broken clock.
And then—
Lyra froze.
Cassian.
He was standing inside the Moon Temple ruins.
Sword in hand.
Facing darkness.
The image lasted only a second before the mirror shattered.
Everyone jumped.
Silence filled the chamber.
Orion's eyes widened.
"Impossible..."
The elderly Guardian staggered backward.
"The Mirror showed the present..."
"It has never done that before."
Lyra's face turned pale.
"Cassian..."
---
Meanwhile—
Inside the Moon Temple ruins—
The Messenger stared into the darkness beneath the floor.
Fear filled his blue eyes.
"No..."
"It should still be asleep."
Cassian looked at him in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
The Messenger didn't answer.
The laughter echoed again.
Long.
Cold.
Ancient.
Even the red-eyed creature trembled.
For the first time, Cassian saw genuine fear in both of them.
The Messenger slowly whispered:
"The Sleeping Darkness..."
The wind around the ruins suddenly stopped.
And somewhere far below—
Something opened its eyes.
---
To Be Continued...
- Writer
