Chapter 75: A New Plan Forms

The cavern's oppressive darkness had begun to disperse, revealing more of its hidden depths. Lysandra's thoughts raced as she surveyed the scene. The sense of urgency lingered in the air, and she could feel the unsettling chill of the Abyss still nearby.

Zephyrion turned to Lysandra, his voice low but commanding. "We need a new plan," he said, his brow furrowing with contemplation. "If we're going to strike at the heart of the Abyss, we can't wait for it to regroup. We must be proactive."

Lysandra nodded, her gaze drifting back to the woman they had rescued. The young woman trembled, her frail form seeming out of place in the cavern. Althara was attending to her, whispering calming words, while Lysandra's mind worked through their options. "We don't know the true extent of the Abyss's reach," Lysandra said. "If we strike too hastily, we could be overwhelmed."

Zephyrion clenched his fists, frustration simmering just beneath his calm exterior. "We don't have time to wait. Every moment we hesitate is another opportunity for it to reclaim its power."

Althara's voice broke through the tension. "We may need to call upon the light that Lysandra wielded," she suggested. "The power may be the only force that can keep the darkness at bay long enough for us to mount a real offensive."

Lysandra hesitated. The light had surged through her with a ferocity that she couldn't entirely control. It had felt wild and primal, something she could barely harness even at her strongest. "I don't know if I can wield it again," she admitted. "It felt… like it was fighting me as much as the darkness."

Althara's eyes softened, and she laid a reassuring hand on Lysandra's shoulder. "Power of that magnitude is never easy to control. But it chose you, Lysandra, not the other way around. There must be a reason."

The idea sent a shiver down Lysandra's spine. Why would such a force choose her, of all people? She had lived a life defined by struggle, hardship, and now the weight of responsibility bore down on her shoulders like never before.

Zephyrion's gaze remained locked on Lysandra. "If you're willing, we can train you," he said. "We'll help you master that power, so when the time comes, you won't be fighting the light. You'll be commanding it."

There was a fire in his voice that Lysandra hadn't heard in some time, a passion that reassured her more than any words could. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I'll try," she agreed. "But we need to be prepared for anything."

The rescued woman, still shaking, looked up at them with eyes full of gratitude and fear. "What if… what if it comes back for us?" she whispered.

Lysandra knelt beside the woman, her tone gentle but firm. "It won't," she promised. "We'll be ready for it, and this time, we'll end it for good."

Zephyrion glanced over at Althara, who gave a subtle nod of agreement. "Then it's decided," he declared. "We start Lysandra's training immediately. The Abyss won't get another chance to take us by surprise."

As the three of them made their way out of the cavern, Lysandra couldn't shake the feeling that the light within her held more secrets than any of them realized. With every step, the weight of her destiny pressed harder on her, but she wouldn't back down. Not now. Not ever.

To be continued…