Chapter 10

The Final Light

The ruins stood before them, ancient and foreboding. Carved from black stone, the towering structure pulsed with a dark energy that made the air heavy. Faint whispers swirled around Talyra, Kael, and Lira, voices from another time, warning them of what lay ahead.

"The heart of the Isles," Talyra murmured. The Starfire Pendant was warm against her chest, its glow intensifying. It was guiding her—to the end.

Kael stepped beside her. "Something feels… wrong."

Lira unsheathed her daggers, her sharp green eyes scanning their surroundings. "This place isn't abandoned. We're being watched."

Talyra already knew that. The island itself had been testing them, weighing their worth. And now, it would decide if they could finish what they started.

She tightened her grip on the pendant. "Stay close."

---

They entered the temple, shadows stretching along the walls. At the center of the chamber stood an altar, its surface cracked and weathered by time. Above it, an orb of pure darkness hovered, pulsing with an unnatural presence. The source of the corruption.

Kael swallowed hard. "That's it, isn't it?"

Talyra nodded.

Lira's fingers twitched near her weapons. "So, what's the plan?"

Talyra stepped forward, the Starfire flaring. "I break the cycle."

The moment she approached the altar, the chamber reacted. The walls trembled, and from the shadows, figures emerged—guardians twisted by corruption. Their hollow eyes locked onto her, recognizing the pendant, recognizing her.

Kael drew his dagger. "Talyra—"

"No!" Her voice was firm. "You two—get back!"

She lifted the pendant, pouring everything into it. Light exploded outward, forcing the creatures back. The altar trembled, the orb of darkness thrashing against her magic.

But the pain hit immediately.

A sharp, burning sensation spread through her veins. Her breath hitched. She felt herself breaking, the Starfire consuming her lifeforce to fuel its power.

Kael's voice cut through the chaos. "Talyra! Stop!"

She turned to him, her vision blurring at the edges. "This is the only way."

Lira shook her head. "We'll find another—"

"There is no other way!" Talyra's voice cracked, but her resolve didn't waver. She turned back to the altar, stepping closer. "I was always meant to do this."

The darkness writhed, fighting back, but the Starfire surged, countering it. The two forces clashed violently, shaking the temple.

She felt her body weakening. The more she pushed, the more it took. But she didn't stop.

She couldn't.

The whispers grew louder, as if the island itself was mourning her choice.

Kael grabbed her arm. "Please! You don't have to do this alone!"

Talyra smiled—soft, bittersweet. "Yes, I do."

With one final breath, she poured everything into the Starfire.

Light erupted, blinding and pure. The corruption let out an ear-piercing wail as the energy consumed it, burning away centuries of darkness. The temple crumbled. The sky above the Isles split open, the mist dispersing, revealing a long-lost sun.

The balance was restored.

But Talyra was gone.

---

Kael and Lira stumbled out of the ruins as the temple collapsed behind them. The air was clear. The whispers had faded.

But so had Talyra.

Kael fell to his knees, gripping the ground. "She's really gone…" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Lira stood beside him, her usual sharpness dulled by grief. "She knew the cost."

The Starfire Pendant—dim, lifeless—lay in the dirt where Talyra had stood.

Kael picked it up, holding it tightly. "She deserved more."

Lira exhaled slowly. "She wouldn't have wanted more. She wanted balance."

Kael closed his eyes. The ache in his chest was unbearable. But she had done it.

The beeping of an alarm clock jolted her awake.

Talyra—or rather, the woman she was now—blinked blearily at the ceiling of a small apartment. Sunlight streamed through the window, painting the walls in soft gold.

She sat up slowly, her body heavy with exhaustion she couldn't explain. A faint headache throbbed at the back of her skull.

Why did she feel like she had just lost something?

She pushed the thought away, running a hand through her hair. Today was just another ordinary day. A work-from-home cartoonist with no friends, no family—just her and the quiet hum of a tablet pen against the screen.

As she got out of bed, she passed by a small desk cluttered with sketches. One drawing in particular caught her eye.

It was of a woman. Strong. Determined. A pendant glowing at her chest.

She frowned, staring at the image.

Who was she?

A chill ran down her spine, but the memory refused to surface.

With a sigh, she turned away, shaking off the strange feeling. It didn't matter.

After all, it was just a drawing.

Right?