The darkness clawed at Aelric's feet like living smoke, cold and suffocating. The air around him thickened, pressing heavy against his lungs as the Voidweaver's tendrils slithered upward, seeking to ensnare more than just flesh — to bind will and soul alike.
Aelric's sword, forged from star-metal and pulsing faintly with celestial light, gleamed defiantly in his grasp. He planted his feet firmly on the ancient stone floor of the Celestial Spire's summit, eyes scanning the swirling shadows for the source of the voice — the unseen enemy who dared challenge the awakening of the Starborn.
"Show yourself!" Aelric shouted, voice echoing into the void.
For a moment, silence answered.
Then, from the darkness emerged a figure — tall and slender, cloaked in shifting shadows that seemed to absorb the very light around them. Two eyes, like cold embers, pierced through the gloom.
"I am Morvath," the being said softly, voice like ice scraping stone. "Once a guardian of balance... now the harbinger of oblivion."
Aelric's heart skipped. He had heard whispers of Morvath's fall — a sorcerer consumed by his own hunger for power, twisted by the very void he sought to command. If Morvath was here, it meant the Voidweaver's threat was no longer distant but at Eldoria's doorstep.
Behind Aelric, Liora and Thalin arrived breathless. Liora's dragon-forged blade ignited with fiery runes; Thalin extended his hands, weaving shimmering threads of star magic that crackled with energy.
"We stand with you," Liora declared, her voice steady despite the dark presence looming before them.
Morvath smiled — a cruel twisting of lips that made the shadows deepen.
"So be it," he whispered. "Let us see if your light can withstand true darkness."
The Battle Begins
The first strike came swift and merciless. Morvath's shadowy limbs lashed out like whips of night, aiming for Aelric's throat. The young adventurer barely parried in time, sparks flying as star-metal met void shadow.
Liora charged forward, flames roaring to life around her blade. She slashed through tendrils of darkness with fierce precision, each strike sending embers swirling in the cold air. Her eyes flashed with determination born from years of struggle — a fire that refused to be snuffed out.
Thalin chanted under his breath, drawing upon ancient star magic. Brilliant beams of silver light shot forth from his palms, slicing through the shadows and momentarily pushing Morvath back.
But Morvath was no ordinary foe.
With a roar like a dying star collapsing inward, he summoned a vortex of void energy that swallowed light whole. The battlefield darkened further; Aelric could feel his strength waning as cold seeped into his bones.
fast!" Thalin cried, creating a shimmering barrier around them — a fragile shield against oblivion.
The Song of Awakening
Despiteelric felt: a. It.
L harmony.
The Starborn were awakening.
Aftermath and Resolve
As dawn crept over the horizon, Morvath retreated into shadowy wisps, leaving behind silence broken only by labored breaths and crackling embers.
Aelric sank to his knees, exhaustion weighing on him like a mountain. Liora knelt beside him, her fiery hair catching first light.
"We did it," she said softly, awe mingling with relief.
Thalin nodded but looked toward the east where dark clouds gathered ominously.
"This battle is but a prelude," he warned. "The Voidweaver will return with greater fury."
Aelric gazed at the rising sun, its warmth seeping into his skin. He felt changed — no longer just a boy chasing adventure but a guardian of light caught in an eternal struggle.
"We must prepare," he said quietly. "For Eldoria... and for every realm touched by this darkness."
Nyara appeared silently at his side, tail flicking thoughtfully.
"The stars sing of more trials ahead," she murmured. "But also of hope born in even the darkest night."
Aelric stood slowly, eyes sharp with determination.
"Then we will face them all."
~To be continued…