The sun was setting on the horizon, and I watched the vibrant colors of the sky turn into deep shadows. Sitting at the edge of the cliff, I felt the breeze caress my face, carrying the scent of damp earth after the rain. Despite the beauty around me, a sense of unease was growing inside.
Suddenly, everything went dark. I was seized by a vision: a battlefield ablaze, shadowy figures emerging from the darkness, red eyes filled with malevolence. Screams of agony echoed in my ears as the sky tore apart, revealing a bottomless abyss.
"No... not again," I murmured, pressing my hands against my temples, trying to push the disturbing images away.
A hand touched my shoulder.
"Alaric, are you okay?" Lyria’s voice cut through the darkness.
I opened my eyes and found hers, green and full of concern.
"It's the visions," I replied, my voice trembling. "They're getting stronger."
She sat beside me, the comforting weight of her presence easing my tension.
"Do you want to talk about them?"
I sighed, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on me.
"I see destruction, fire, creatures I've never heard of. It feels so real. I can smell the smoke, feel the heat of the flames, hear the screams..."
Lyria frowned.
"This isn’t normal, Alaric. We need to seek out the Elders."
I looked away, toward the horizon.
"What if they can't help? What if I'm just losing my mind?"
She held my hand, her fingers intertwining with mine.
"You’re not alone in this. I'll be with you, no matter what happens."
A wave of gratitude washed over me.
"Thank you, Lyria. It means a lot to me."
Before we could say more, a crack came from the trees behind us. My heart raced.
"Did you hear that?"
She stood up swiftly, hand on her sword.
"Yes. Stay behind me."
I got up too, but before I could react, shadowy figures emerged from the darkness. Their red eyes glowed like embers.
"We've finally found you, Lightbearer," a guttural voice growled.
"Lightbearer? What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.
Lyria drew her sword.
"Alaric, run!"
But my feet felt rooted to the ground. The creatures advanced, and fear paralyzed me. One of them lunged at me. Instinctively, I raised my hands in defense, and a bright light exploded from my palms, throwing the enemy back.
I stared at my hands, astonished.
"What was that?"
The creatures retreated.
"He’s not ready yet," one of them snarled.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the shadows. Lyria approached, eyes wide.
"You... you used magic, Alaric."
"I don’t know how I did that."
She nodded, resolute.
"We need to go. Now. The Elders must hear about this."
Running through the forest at night was risky, but we had no choice. The cold wind whipped against my face, and the sound of our footsteps drowned out the noises of the night. My heart was still racing.
"What were those things?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.
"Demons. Fallen angels that want to destroy our world."
I swallowed hard.
"And why did they call me Lightbearer?"
She hesitated before answering.
"There's a lot I need to tell you, but not here."
We reached the clearing where the ancestral tree stood majestically. Its roots formed a portal, glowing with a soft light.
"Go in," Lyria gestured.
As I passed through the portal, we were enveloped by a feeling of calm. Inside was a vast hall. The smell of herbs and incense was comforting.
One of the Elders approached.
"We’ve been expecting you, Alaric."
"You know who I am?" I asked, surprised.
He nodded slowly.
"We’ve known your fate since you were born."
I felt a mix of anger and confusion.
"Why didn’t anyone tell me?"
"The right time had to come," he answered. "And it seems it has."
Lyria placed her hand on my shoulder.
"I know it’s a lot to take in, but we need you."
"I didn’t ask for this!" my voice echoed through the hall. "I don’t want to be some kind of chosen one."
The Elder remained calm.
"Often, we do not choose our paths, but we can choose how we walk them."
I closed my eyes, trying to control my emotions.
"What if I can’t do it? What if I fail?"
"Then we all fall," Lyria said softly. "But I believe in you."
I opened my eyes and met hers. There was sincerity, and something else I couldn’t quite identify.
I took a deep breath.
"What do I need to do?"
The weeks that followed were intense. Every day felt like a battle against my own limits. Lyria was always by my side, encouraging me.
"Focus on the light within you," she would say as I tried to channel my energy.
"Easier said than done," I replied, breathless.
She smiled.
"Why are you helping me so much?" I asked.
She looked at the fire.
"Because I believe you're the hope this world needs. And because... you mean a lot to me."
I felt my face grow warm.
"Lyria, I..."
Before I could finish, a distant sound caught our attention. Screams. We stood up immediately.
"It's the village!" she exclaimed.
We ran toward the cries, fear tightening in my chest. When we arrived, the scene was pure chaos. Houses ablaze, people running, demons spreading destruction.
"We need to help them!" I shouted.
Lyria drew her sword.
"I’ll distract the creatures. Use your powers to protect the people!"
I closed my eyes, trying to find that inner light. I felt a warmth growing in my chest. When I opened my eyes, a luminous aura surrounded me.
"It worked!" I exclaimed.
With a gesture, I projected barriers of light around the villagers, shielding them from the attacks. Lyria fought with skill, but the number of enemies was overwhelming.
Then, a sinister presence made itself known. An imposing figure emerged from the flames. His black armor reflected the fire, and his eyes were deep, dark abysses.
"So, you are the Lightbearer," his voice was like scraping metal.
"Who are you?" I challenged, though my heart was racing.
He removed his helmet, revealing a face that left me speechless.
"It can't be..." I whispered. "Brother?"
His words still echoed in my mind. My brother. Lost to the darkness. The revelation had left me stunned, but there was no time to process it. The village was in danger, and I had to act.
Lyria stood beside me, her face smeared with soot, but her eyes shone with determination.
"Alaric, we need to coordinate the defense!" she shouted.
"Right. Let’s protect the villagers and drive out these demons."
The chaos was overwhelming. Houses burned, and the smell of charred wood and fear was suffocating. The cries of children mixed with the roar of the demons, creating a desperate cacophony.
We ran through the narrow streets, helping whoever we could. I used my light to raise barriers, blocking the advance of the shadowy creatures.
"This way!" Lyria pointed to a group of villagers cornered near the central square.
As we approached, one of the creatures lunged at us. Its skin was black as tar, and sharp claws glistened in the firelight.
"Get out of my way!" I shouted, channeling light into a beam that struck it squarely.
The creature let out a piercing scream before disintegrating into shadows.
The villagers looked at us with a mix of fear and hope.
"Follow us! We'll lead you to safety!" Lyria guided them toward the temple, an ancient structure that still stood intact.
As we moved forward, more demons appeared. Exhaustion began to weigh on my limbs, but I couldn’t stop. Every life mattered.
Suddenly, I felt a familiar presence.
"You can't save them all, Alaric," his voice sounded behind me.
I turned slowly. There was my brother, or what was left of him. His eyes, once full of life, were now bottomless pits.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked, the pain evident in my voice.
He smiled cruelly.
"Because it's our destiny. Join me, brother. Together, we can rule this world."
I felt anger and sorrow blend inside me.
"This isn't the way. Come back to us. There's still time."
He took a step forward.
"Time? Time is over. The light is fading, and you can't stop it."
Before I could respond, he charged. Our blades clashed, sparks flying with each impact.
"I don’t want to fight you!" I cried, dodging an attack.
"Then die!" he retorted, striking with more fury.
The clash of metal echoed in my ears. With every move, I tried to find an opening to reach him, not with my sword, but with words.
"Remember who you were!" I shouted. "Remember us, our family!"
For a moment, I saw something change in his eyes. A flicker of recognition.
"Family...?" he murmured, hesitating.
I seized the moment.
"Yes! We can overcome this together!"
But the opportunity slipped away as quickly as it had appeared. He shook his head, his gaze hardening once more.
"Weak. Sentimentality has no place here."
He attacked again, but this time, Lyria stepped between us, blocking his blade with hers.
"Enough!" she declared, pushing him back.
He looked at her with disdain.
"The Guardian. Always interfering."
Before we could react, an explosion shook the ground. I looked around and saw the demons concentrating their forces on a single point.
"They're trying to open a portal!" Lyria exclaimed.
"We have to stop them!" I responded.
My brother retreated, a dark smile on his lips.
"You're too late. The end is near."
He vanished into a cloud of shadows, leaving us to deal with the new threat.
We ran toward the epicenter of the dark energy. The air was thick, charged with electricity. A dark vortex was beginning to form, pulling everything around it.
"How can we stop this?" I asked, feeling the despair rising.
Lyria placed her hand on my shoulder.
"By combining our powers. Light and Guardian, together."
I nodded, determined.
"Let’s do it."
We stood side by side, focusing our energies. I felt the light inside me intensify, responding to her presence. Our auras merged, creating a blinding glow.
"Now!" she shouted.
We unleashed the energy toward the portal. The impact was immediate. The vortex trembled, cracks forming along its surface.
The demons around us screamed in agony, disintegrating in the light.
"We’re doing it!" I exclaimed.
But the victory was short-lived. A crushing force slammed into us, throwing us backward. I hit the ground hard, the taste of blood in my mouth. Lyria was beside me, struggling to get up.
"What was that?" I groaned.
A deep voice reverberated through the air.
"You’re more persistent than I expected."
A colossal figure emerged from the shadows of the portal, its presence overshadowing everything around it. Its eyes were flames, and black wings stretched out behind it.
"Who are you?" Lyria asked, her voice strained.
He laughed, a sound that made the ground tremble.
"I am the Herald of Darkness. And this world is mine."
I felt fear take root in my heart, but I couldn’t give in.
"Not while I’m here," I declared, standing up.
He regarded me with curiosity.
"The little Lightbearer thinks he can stop me?"
I looked at Lyria, and she nodded. We both knew what had to be done.
"Together," I whispered.
We joined hands, channeling everything we had left. The light radiated with an intensity I had never felt before, a pure and overwhelming force.
The Herald hesitated for a moment, but then advanced.
"You cannot win!"
The collision of energies created a shockwave that swept through the village. For a moment, everything was silence and light.
The blinding light began to fade, and I felt my body heavy, as if all my energy had been drained. I opened my eyes slowly, realizing I was lying on the cold ground. The sight around me was desolate; ruins and rubble where the village once stood.
Lyria was beside me, struggling to stand.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
She nodded weakly.
"Did we... stop him?"
I looked around, searching for any sign of the Herald of Darkness. The colossal figure had disappeared.
"I’m not sure. We need to check."
With effort, we got to our feet. The silence was eerie. We walked through the devastated streets, looking for survivors.
"Alaric..." Lyria began, hesitating.
"What is it?"
She pointed to the center of the square. There, kneeling, was my brother, his head bowed. We approached cautiously.
"Brother?" I called.
He lifted his face, and I saw that his eyes had returned to their original color, filled with confusion and sorrow.
"What have I done...?" he whispered, tears streaming down his face.
I felt a mixture of relief and compassion.
"It wasn’t you. The darkness consumed you."
He shook his head.
"No, I... I remember everything. The pain I caused."
I knelt beside him.
"There’s still time. We can fix this together."
He looked me in the eyes.
"No, Alaric. The evil inside me is still there. I can feel it, trying to take control again."
Lyria placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We can help. The Elders will know what to do."
He stood abruptly, stepping back.
"No! It’s too late for me."
Before we could stop him, a shadow began to envelop him.
"I have to do this before it’s too late," he said, his voice echoing with an eerie duality.
"What are you going to do?" I asked.
He looked at us one last time.
"I’m going to seal the darkness inside me. But that means I can’t stay in this world."
"No! There has to be another way!"
"Take care of him, Lyria," he said, ignoring my protest.
She nodded, tears in her eyes.
"I promise."
A dark light radiated from him, and the ground beneath his feet began to glow with ancient symbols. A barrier rose around him.
"Goodbye, brother."
And then, in a flash of light, he was gone. The silence that followed was heavy. I fell to my knees.
Lyria knelt beside me, wrapping me in an embrace.
"I’m so sorry."
We stayed there for an unknown amount of time, sharing the pain of loss.
The following days were spent helping the village rebuild. The Elders arrived, offering their wisdom and guidance. I told them everything that had happened, including my brother's sacrifice.
"He showed great courage in the end," one of the Elders said. "His act has given us a chance to restore balance."
"But at what cost?" I asked bitterly.
"Sacrifices are always painful," he replied. "But necessary for the greater good."
Lyria and I worked side by side, rebuilding homes and comforting the grieving. The closeness between us grew even stronger.
One starry night, we sat on the same hill where everything had begun.
"What will you do now?" she asked.
I looked up at the sky, the stars shining brightly.
"I don’t know. Part of me wants to find a way to bring my brother back."
She sighed.
"I understand how you feel, but we can’t change the past. We can only move forward."
I turned to her.
"What about you? What are your plans?"
She smiled.
"Wherever the light needs me, that’s where I’ll be."
We sat in silence for a moment.
"Lyria, I couldn’t have done any of this without you."
She touched my hand.
"And you don’t have to do the rest alone."
I felt warmth spread through my chest.
"Thank you."
She tilted her head.
"For what?"
"For everything. For believing in me, for supporting me, and... for being my friend."
She laughed softly.
"I think we’re more than friends by now."
My heart raced.
"Yeah... I think so too."
We leaned closer, and for a moment, all the worries disappeared.
Raquel Gloria
