Chapter 58: Unleashing the Light

The crystal's glow intensified, radiating with a pulsating energy that seemed to resonate with the very air around them. Lysandra's heart pounded as she felt a sudden surge of power coursing through her veins, guiding her hand as she held the crystal aloft.

The nightstalker hesitated, its eyes narrowing with a hint of uncertainty, as though sensing the magic was not something it could easily overcome. Its growls faltered, replaced by a wary silence as it crouched low, preparing for another strike.

"Lysandra, be careful!" Zephyrion warned, his sword held at the ready.

Lysandra didn't hesitate. She stepped forward, letting the light from the crystal flow outward like a wave. The whispers within it grew louder, forming words in her mind that she couldn't quite understand, yet they guided her movements. The crystal's light washed over the nightstalker, making its fur shimmer with an ethereal glow.

Althara's voice trembled with awe. "The crystal is reacting to you… it's as if it knows you."

The beast let out a fierce snarl, but its attack was less forceful this time, more tentative, as though the light had sapped its strength. Lysandra felt a strange connection with the creature, a bond that was hard to define but very real. She reached out, not with her hand, but with the energy of the crystal.

"Calm," she whispered, her voice soft yet carrying an underlying command. "We mean no harm."

The crystal's light seemed to obey her will, shifting from an intense blaze to a soft, soothing glow that illuminated the nightstalker's features. The creature's eyes lost their aggression, replaced by a wary curiosity. It took a step back, its growls fading into a low rumble.

Zephyrion kept his blade steady, his gaze shifting between Lysandra and the creature. "What are you doing?" he asked, his tone a mix of caution and disbelief.

"I… I don't know," Lysandra admitted, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "But it feels like the crystal is connected to this place… and to the nightstalker."

Althara stepped closer, her expression one of wonder. "It's ancient magic," she said. "The kind that binds all living things together. If the crystal is reacting to you, it's because you share its power."

The realization hit Lysandra like a sudden gust of wind. She wasn't just wielding the crystal's power; she was a part of it. The magic flowed through her, just as it flowed through the forest, the beast, and everything around them.

The nightstalker's eyes softened, and it lowered its head in a gesture that almost seemed like submission. Lysandra took a cautious step closer, extending the crystal toward it. The creature didn't move, its gaze fixed on the shimmering light.

Zephyrion slowly sheathed his sword, though his muscles remained tense. "If you're going to do something, Lysandra, now is the time."

She nodded, feeling the connection between her and the beast strengthen. "I think… I think it's letting us pass," she said, her voice a mixture of relief and amazement. "The crystal's magic calmed it."

Althara's eyes widened in surprise. "You've gained the favor of a guardian," she said softly. "That's no small feat."

With the path ahead now clear, Lysandra took a deep breath and stepped forward. The nightstalker moved aside, its eyes never leaving the crystal. As they passed, she could feel the beast's gaze following them, a silent reminder that they were still in the heart of a magical forest.

As they continued down the path, the crystal's light dimmed slightly, returning to its gentle glow. Lysandra kept it close, feeling its warmth as they journeyed deeper into the unknown.

To be continued…