Chapter 25: The Flame Rekindled

  The battlefield was silent.

  The Riftspawn were gone, their forms vanishing into wisps of violet mist the moment their master faltered. The ground was cracked, burned, and broken, the very air shimmering with residual power from the clash that had shaken the heavens.

  And at the base of the ruined Shattered Throne, Kael lay motionless.

  Blood pooled beneath him, his breathing shallow, his body still. The wound in his chest, where Varyn’s void spear had struck, pulsed with darkness, Rift energy coiling through his veins like poison.

  Lirien dropped to her knees beside him, her heart pounding so loudly that it drowned out everything else.

  “Kael,” she whispered, her hands shaking as she pressed them against his chest. His eyes were open—but there was no light in them.

  No. No, this couldn’t be it.

  Not after everything. She shook him, her voice rising. “Kael! Wake up! Don’t you dare—don’t you dare!” But he didn’t move.

  Tears burned in her eyes. Her heart was breaking.

  She had fought beside him. She had seen him rise after every battle, after every wound, after every impossible fight. But now? Now he was just—lying there. Like he was truly gone. No. She wouldn’t allow it.

  Lirien bent forward, pressing her forehead against his. “You promised me,” she whispered. “You promised you wouldn’t leave me.” Then, without hesitation—she kissed him.

  The moment her lips touched his, the moons answered.

  A pulse of silver and gold light erupted outward, blinding, radiant, divine. The Rift energy inside Kael shuddered, recoiling, fighting against the celestial power—

  But the moons would not be denied. Lirien felt it.

  The warmth. The fire. The sheer, unshakable force of Kael’s soul reigniting.

  Her hands tingled where they touched him, her very breath merging with his, and in that moment—they were one.

  Kael’s body jerked.

  His wound sealed shut. His breath rushed back into his lungs.

  His Flame Unseen burned brighter than ever. And then—his eyes snapped open.

  Silver fire ignited around him, consuming his form in a blinding inferno.

  Lirien gasped, stumbling back, but Kael caught her wrist. His grip was firm, alive, burning. For the first time, he truly saw her.

  And for the first time, he truly understood. She was his anchor.

  His light.

  His reason to fight. Kael exhaled sharply—and rose.

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Varyn had nearly reached the throne. His steps were slow, deliberate, the Rift energy around him crackling like a storm.

  But then—he felt it. The shift. The change in the air.

  The power that surged through the battlefield like a second sunrise.

  He turned—just in time to see Kael standing once more.

  The moons blazed above, their glow pouring into Kael like he was a conduit of celestial fire. His hammer was gone—he didn’t need it anymore. Varyn’s eyes narrowed. "Impossible."

  Kael stepped forward, his body surrounded by silver flames. “You should have killed me when you had the chance.”

  Varyn scowled. Then, he lifted his hand.

  Dark fire gathered in his palm, Rift energy swirling into a single, devastating point. The air around him distorted, space bending under the weight of his power. Kael mirrored him, lifting his own hand.

  The moons above burned brighter, their glow focusing, converging—until it became a single, brilliant beam of celestial energy. Two forces—light and void, creation and destruction—stood on the brink of collision.

  Varyn’s smirk returned, though it was tighter this time. "Let’s see which one of us the gods favor, Kael."

  Then—they both unleashed their power. Void Beam met Moonbeam.

  The moment the beams clashed, the entire battlefield shook.

  The sky split apart, silver fire and Rift energy spiraling together in a violent explosion. The ground fractured beneath them, stone rising into the air from the sheer force of their power.

  Kael gritted his teeth, pouring everything he had into his attack.

  The Moonbeam burned with celestial fire, fueled by Lirien’s touch, by his resolve, by the moons themselves.

  Varyn pushed back, his Void Beam devouring everything in its path, consuming all light, all matter, all existence.

  For a moment, they were equal. Then—Kael stepped forward.

  Varyn’s eyes widened. Kael roared, the Moonbeam surging forward, overwhelming the darkness.

  Varyn’s Void Beam cracked, faltered—And then it shattered.

  The silver fire pierced through him, a radiant spear of celestial might driving straight through Varyn’s chest.

  For the first time, Varyn’s smirk disappeared.

  He gasped, his golden eyes wide with shock, with disbelief. His body trembled, Rift energy failing, breaking apart.

  He staggered backward, clutching at the wound—a wound that would not heal.

  He lifted his gaze to Kael, and for the first time… He looked afraid.

  "You…" he rasped, his voice barely a whisper. "This… wasn’t supposed to happen." Kael exhaled, stepping forward. "I choose my own fate."

  Varyn tried to speak, but his words failed. The Rift energy inside him collapsed, unraveling like smoke.

  His body faded, dissolving into the very darkness he had wielded for so long. And then—he was gone. The Shattered Throne stood empty. The battle was over.

  The Rift energy in the sky faded, the unnatural storm finally dying. The world stabilized.

  Lirien ran toward Kael, her heart still racing, her mind barely processing what had just happened.

  She reached him, grabbing his arm. "Kael?"

  He turned to her, his silver fire slowly fading.

  For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

  Then, Kael smiled. And Lirien, without thinking—threw her arms around him.

  He caught her, holding her tightly, burying his face in her hair as she clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded.

  "You scared me," she whispered.

  Kael closed his eyes, his voice soft. "I know."

  Mira, Sylas, and Rhea approached, all of them bloodied, exhausted—but victorious.

  Sylas let out a slow breath. "Well. That bastard’s finally gone."

  Mira smirked. "And Kael just blasted a dude through the stomach with moonfire, so I’d call this a win."

  Rhea crossed her arms. "Next time, let’s not almost die doing it."

  Kael chuckled, pulling away from Lirien, though he still held onto her hand.

  The battle was over. But the future?

  That was just the beginning.