The Shattered Bond
Lyra’s scream cut through the chaos, halting both Eryon and Seraphine mid-clash. The artifact’s energy erupted in a blinding light, forcing everyone back. Eryon skidded across the ground, his wolf form reverting partially as he gasped for air. Seraphine stumbled, her expression a mixture of shock and fury as she looked at Lyra.
“No!” Seraphine shouted, her silver eyes blazing with desperation. “You’ll ruin everything!”
Lyra stood at the center of the clearing, her body trembling as the artifact’s energy enveloped her. Cracks began to spiderweb across its surface, the once-impenetrable crystal now fragile under the strain of its own power.
“I’m done being your pawn!” Lyra’s voice rang out, strong and defiant despite the tears streaming down her face. She raised the artifact high, her hands shaking. “I won’t let you control me anymore!”
Seraphine’s outstretched hand faltered, her lips parting in a rare moment of vulnerability. “Lyra, no,” she said, her voice softening. “You don’t understand what you’re doing. That power is the only thing keeping us safe.”
Lyra’s grip tightened. “No, it’s the thing destroying us.”
With a guttural cry, she slammed the artifact into the ground with all her strength. The impact unleashed a shockwave that shook the forest, the artifact shattering into a million shards of glowing light. The energy it held erupted in a violent explosion, sending everyone flying as the ground split beneath them.
Eryon landed hard, his body crumpling as he struggled to push himself up. Adrian shielded himself with his blade, the force of the blast nearly knocking it from his hands. Misery dove behind a fallen tree, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Seraphine was thrown back, her body colliding with a jagged rock. She let out a sharp gasp as her connection to the artifact severed, the loss leaving her visibly weakened. “You foolish girl,” she hissed, her voice trembling. “You’ve destroyed everything.”
Lyra collapsed to her knees, her body drained of strength. The clearing was eerily silent, the shattered remains of the artifact glowing faintly around her.
Adrian rushed to her side, his voice breaking as he cradled her. “Lyra, stay with me,” he pleaded. “Don’t leave me.”
Eryon dragged himself toward her, his amber eyes wide with guilt and fear. “Lyra… I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Seraphine, clutching her side, summoned the last of her magic to open a swirling portal. Her silver eyes locked onto Lyra, her expression a mix of rage and desperation. “This isn’t over,” she said, her tone venomous. “You’re mine, Lyra. You’ll always be mine.”
Before anyone could stop her, Seraphine and Eira vanished into the portal, the darkness swallowing them whole.
