Eryon’s Choice
Eryon stood between Seraphine and Lyra, his towering wolf form radiating raw power. His amber eyes locked onto Seraphine with a mixture of rage and betrayal. The ground beneath him cracked under the pressure of his claws as he growled deeply, his voice reverberating like a storm.
“You’re not touching her,” he snarled, his fangs glinting in the dim light.
Seraphine’s silver eyes narrowed, her expression hardening into one of cold resolve. “Eryon,” she began, her voice laced with an almost maternal edge, “you don’t understand. Everything I’ve done, every sacrifice I’ve made, has been for you and Lyra. This isn’t betrayal—it’s protection.”
“Protection?” Eryon’s voice was filled with venom. “You lied to us. Manipulated us. That’s not protection—it’s control.”
Seraphine’s expression flickered, just for a moment, before hardening again. “You were lost, Eryon. Weak. I gave you purpose. I showed you who you were meant to be.”
“I didn’t ask for your help,” Eryon shot back, his muscles coiled and ready to strike. “And I’m done listening to you.”
From the side, Adrian watched with caution, his blade poised but lowered. He kept a close eye on the artifact in Lyra’s hands, its erratic glow signaling imminent danger. Misery stood a short distance away, her blade steady and her gaze unreadable, calculating her next move.
The tension in the clearing thickened as Seraphine raised her hand, her magic swirling like a storm. “You’re making a mistake, Eryon,” she said, her tone sharp. “Without me, you’ll never survive. They will never understand the power you carry—the power I gave you.”
Eryon didn’t wait for her to strike. He lunged at her, his wolf form a blur of speed and fury. Seraphine met him head-on, her magic forming a barrier that crackled against his claws. The force of their collision sent shockwaves rippling through the clearing, uprooting trees and sending debris flying.
“Eryon, stop!” Lyra cried, her voice breaking as she clutched the artifact. The energy in her hands surged, responding to her distress. “This isn’t the way!”
Seraphine’s gaze flicked toward Lyra, her silver eyes glinting. “You see, Lyra?” she called out, her voice smooth even as she fought off Eryon’s relentless attacks. “He’s ungrateful. He doesn’t understand what we could be together. But you—”
“Don’t talk to her!” Eryon roared, his claws slashing through the barrier with brute force. He closed the distance between them, his strength shaking the ground as he forced Seraphine to retreat.
Lyra’s hands trembled as the artifact’s energy reached a fever pitch, its whispers now screaming in her mind. “Eryon…” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Misery stepped closer to Lyra, her voice low but firm. “You have to stop this, Lyra. That thing’s eating you alive. Drop it before it takes you with it.”
Adrian nodded, his voice softer than Misery’s but just as urgent. “Lyra, we’re here. You don’t have to do this alone.”
Lyra’s chest tightened, the weight of the artifact crushing her resolve. She looked at Eryon and Seraphine locked in combat, their powers shaking the very earth beneath them. Her heart ached with the realization that this wasn’t just a battle of strength—it was a battle for her family, for their future.
The artifact pulsed again, its whispers taking on Seraphine’s voice. “You’ll never be strong without me,” it hissed. “You’ll never survive without me.”
