The Artifact’s Power
Lyra screamed as the artifact’s energy erupted, a wave of raw power exploding from her trembling hands. The clearing was bathed in a blinding crimson light as the shockwave blasted through the soldiers, sending them sprawling. The ground shook violently, cracks forming in the earth as the energy spiraled outward.
Eryon shielded Lyra from the force, his wolf form taking the brunt of the blast. He snarled, his claws digging into the ground as he fought to stay upright. “Lyra!” he roared, his voice filled with desperation.
Adrian, thrown back by the force, groaned as he pushed himself to his feet. His crimson eyes locked on Lyra, who knelt in the center of the destruction, clutching the artifact as its glow intensified. “Lyra, stop!” he shouted, forcing his way toward her.
Misery staggered to her feet, her blade still clutched tightly in her hand. She swore under her breath, her gaze flicking between the artifact and the advancing soldiers. “That thing’s going to kill us all,” she muttered, her tone sharp. She darted forward, slashing through another soldier before they could reach Lyra.
Eryon turned toward Lyra, his amber eyes wide with a mixture of fear and anger. “That thing is killing you,” he growled, his voice distorted by his half-shifted form. “You need to let it go.”
Lyra shook her head, her voice trembling. “I can’t… It’s too strong.”
Adrian reached her, crouching beside her as he gently grasped her arm. “Listen to me, Lyra,” he said, his voice raw with urgency. “You’re stronger than this. You don’t need it to be who you are.”
The artifact’s whispers grew louder, drowning out his words. “Obey,” it commanded, its tone relentless. “Destroy them all.”
Tears streamed down Lyra’s face as she clutched the artifact tighter. “I don’t know how to stop it,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Eryon stepped closer, his body trembling with barely contained rage. “You don’t have to stop it alone,” he said, his tone firm. “But you need to let us help you.”
Misery planted herself between the group and the remaining soldiers, her blade cutting through the air as she defended their position. “We don’t have time for this,” she snapped. “Make a choice, Lyra—before they make it for you!”
The soldiers began to regroup, their leader barking orders as they prepared for another assault. The artifact pulsed violently, its energy sparking dangerously around Lyra.
Adrian squeezed her arm gently, his crimson eyes searching hers. “You’re not alone, Lyra. You never were.”
Her heart pounded as she looked between Adrian, Eryon, and Misery, her mind racing. The artifact’s whispers grew louder, a deafening chorus that threatened to consume her. She felt its power coursing through her veins, urging her to surrender.
But somewhere deep within, another voice surfaced—a quiet, steady whisper that reminded her of who she was before the artifact, before Seraphine’s lies. Her grip on the artifact faltered as she struggled to find herself amidst the chaos.
