The Dragon King’s Bride

Chapter 4 - Ancient Secrets

"This sanctum was meant to last an eternity," Elara remarked, her voice firm despite her shaking. She stood in the Sanctum Heart, the fragments of the Celestial Prism barely discernible in the darkness. "And right now, it's disintegrating. Like the rest of the nation.

Elena, her closest confidante and childhood friend placed a hand on her shoulder. "Elara, it is not your fault." You're doing your best.

Elara twirled, the faint glitter of fractured runes reflecting in her silver hair. " Am I? The council expects me to cure everything with magic I don't understand; the sanctum is collapsing, and the wards are fading.

Elara grew up inside the Lunar Sanctum. Once bursting with vitality, its massive halls, cut from shining moonstones and etched with subtle magic-pulsating symbols, had now been ripped apart like veins, the light of the runes flickering as if on the verge of annihilation.

Elena remained silent for a minute, her hand falling to her side. You're not alone in this predicament. Elara, despite the council's expectations for miracles, you remain human.

"Am I?" Elara questioned, her tone harsher than she wished. She pointed to the runes' bright running lines. Elena, the Moon Weaver, was not alone. We were guardians of Wolf's Crest's equilibrium and conduits for the temple's power. But, for the time being, I am the only one who remains. Do you know how that feels?

Elena started to soften her expression. I can't profess to understand what it's like to carry that weight. But, Elara, you are more than just a Moon Weaver. You're my pal. And you're stronger than you realize.

Elara's shoulders slumped, her rage fading as fast as it had appeared. Elena, I don't feel firm. I am feeling Lost.

Before Elena could react, a faint, repeating murmur, comparable to a pulse, echoed throughout the cloister. Elara's head snapped up, her sharp eyes scouring the room. The softly pulsing stones on the walls became brighter with each pulse.

Have you noticed that? Elara whispered gently and moved forward.

Elena nodded, reflexively reaching for the dagger on her belt. "What is it?"

Elara shook her head and ran her fingers across the largest Celestial Prism shard. The shard felt frigid to the touch, but it vibrated in response to her strength, which flowed softly through her. The hum got more intense, so she turned to face the far side of the Sanctum Heart, where a jagged fissure punctured the wall.

"I don't know," Elara replied, her voice strained. But it's coming from somewhere.

She went subconsciously toward the c***k, her silvery power visible only in her palms. Elena followed closely, her motions deliberate as the hum increased.

Elara approached, and the c***k opened slightly, flashing in response to her presence. Her power flowed effortlessly as she pressed her palm against the rough surface. The wall collapsed, exposing a black tunnel beneath the ground.

Elena paused, her hand grasping her dagger more tightly. "Are you positive about this?"

"No," Elara replied calmly, despite the fact that her chest squirmed with pain. I still want to know what's underneath.

She plunged down the spiral staircase, guided by the faint glimmer of her strength. The air became colder with each stride, and the faint hum became louder as if it echoed through her very bones. At the bottom, she discovered a chamber unlike any she had ever seen.

Shelves of ancient antiques lined the walls, their surfaces glistening in the faint light from the run-through letters. A pedestal stood in the centre of the room, its surface free of time markings. On top was a scroll with clearly tattered edges but obvious charm.

Elena's eyes widened as she saw the spectacle. "What is this place?"

Elara did not say anything. Her gaze was fixated on the scroll, its magic simply throbbing to summon her. She moved slowly, her fingers twitching, reaching out to unravel it.

The runes on the scroll shifted beneath her sight, rearranging themselves into words she could understand. Her breath caught as the prophecy came true.

The Bearer of Flame and the Weaver of Light will join forces, and their union will decide whether balance or calamity prevails. Either survival or sacrifice must be decided.

Elara's pulse pounded as she reread the sentences, the message sinking like a stone. She was the Weaver of Light. , and Kael was the Flamebearer. The prophecy concerned the cost of their union, not just their union. Images of violence and ruin flashed before her eyes, threatening to consume everything.

"Elara?" Elena asks, breaking through the cloud of her thoughts with a kind but strong voice. "What is it?"

Elara moved back away from the scroll, her hands quivering slightly. It's... nothing. Only bits. This is old magic.

Elena wrinkled, clearly suspicious, but she didn't press. "if you say so."

Elara stepped away from the pedestal, her mind racing. She couldn't afford to focus on the prophecy right now. The monastery required her complete concentration, not cryptic warnings about an unpredictable future.

As Elara and Elena ascended the stairs, the chamber behind them fell silent, and its faint brightness disappeared. As they approached the Sanctum Heart, the air got heavier and charged with a terrifying force.

Elara hesitated, and her magic flared up naturally. The shadows around the chamber's boundaries appeared to move, forming a distinctive shape. The harbinger emerged from the shadows, his eyes glowing like molten gold.

"You can't run from the truth, Moon Weaver," its low, resonant voice stated. "The prophecy is already starting."

Elena drew her sword, her posture guarded, but Elara stepped forward, her eyes unwavering even as dread gnawed at her. My primary focus is on the sanctum. Whatever the prophecy requires will have to wait.

The harbinger turned to examine the Celestial Prism's fractured shards. "The destruction of the sanctuary was just the beginning. Making sacrifices is important to restore balance.

Those final words sliced through the darkness, leaving the chamber in an oppressive silence. Elara's fingers clenched into fists, her resolve increasing. She would do whatever it took to defend the sanctum—and the kingdom.