The Twins’ Divergence
Seraphine stood at the edge of the clearing, her silver eyes glowing faintly as she addressed Lyra and Eryon. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the ancient trees looming like silent witnesses to what was unfolding. The artifact hovered between the twins, pulsing steadily with a power that felt both alive and hungry.
“It’s time for the next phase,” Seraphine said, her tone commanding but laced with warmth. “You’ve both grown stronger, but now you must act separately. Your missions are critical.”
Eryon nodded immediately, his confidence bolstered by the weeks of training under Eira. “What do you need me to do?” he asked, his voice steady.
Seraphine gestured toward a map laid out on a makeshift table, its surface marked with red symbols denoting werewolf settlements. “There’s a pack aligned with Isla and Draven to the west. Their loyalty makes them a threat to everything we’re building. You will lead an assault on their territory and show them the price of defiance.”
Eryon’s amber eyes gleamed with determination, his wolf instincts stirring at the thought of battle. “Consider it done.”
Lyra’s stomach twisted as she watched her brother accept the mission without hesitation. “And me?” she asked, her voice quieter, tinged with unease.
Seraphine’s gaze softened as she turned to Lyra. “The artifact requires more energy to reach its full potential. You’ll continue working with it, channeling its power until it’s ready to reshape this world.”
Lyra’s hands tightened into fists at her sides. “And if it takes over? If it destroys me?”
Seraphine stepped closer, her expression unreadable. “You’re stronger than that, my love. You’ve always been stronger than you think.”
Eira smirked from her perch on a nearby boulder. “Your brother doesn’t seem to have this problem. Perhaps you should take notes.”
Eryon shot Lyra a glance, his confidence starkly contrasting her hesitation. “This is what we’re meant for,” he said. “We have to trust her.”
Lyra’s chest tightened. She wanted to believe him, to believe that Seraphine’s plan would lead them to freedom. But the artifact’s whispers gnawed at her mind, each word a poison that eroded her trust. “This isn’t who we are,” she said softly.
Eryon’s gaze hardened. “This is exactly who we’re meant to be.”
Without another word, Eryon turned and followed Seraphine’s instructions, his figure disappearing into the dense forest. Lyra watched him go, her heart sinking as the distance between them felt both literal and emotional.
Eira approached Lyra, her smirk sharp and cold. “You’re wasting your potential. Why won’t you embrace your power?”
Lyra’s voice trembled, her frustration spilling over. “Because it’s not mine. It’s taking over.”
The artifact pulsed in her hands, its glow intensifying as if feeding on her fear. Eira’s eyes flicked to the crystal, her amusement evident. “Then perhaps you’re not as strong as I thought.”
Seraphine intervened, placing a gentle hand on Lyra’s shoulder. “Ignore her,” she said softly. “You’re stronger than anyone realizes. But strength means nothing if you don’t use it.”
Lyra turned away, unable to meet Seraphine’s gaze. The artifact hummed with energy, its whispers now deafening in her mind. She wanted to throw it away, to rid herself of the burden it represented, but its pull was too strong.
As the day wore on, Lyra found herself alone in the forest, the artifact still clutched tightly in her hands. The whispers grew louder, coalescing into a single, commanding voice. “Submit,” it said, its tone both soothing and menacing.
Tears welled in her eyes as she fought against the compulsion. “I won’t,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I won’t let you win.”
The artifact’s glow brightened, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor. For a moment, it felt as though the world itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what Lyra would do.
