Chapter 95: Reckoning

Chapter 95: Reckoning

Silvia's POV

The moment stretched between them, tense and suffocating. The shadowed figure stood motionless, its hollow eyes gleaming with an unnatural hunger. Behind it, the darkness shifted, breathing like a living thing.

Dragon tensed beside her, his claws flexing as he prepared for the inevitable fight. "Silvia, we need to move. This thing isn't here to negotiate."

She held her ground, flames curling at her fingertips. "I know. But I want answers."

The creature's head tilted, its movements slow and deliberate. You are different from the others, it mused, its voice a whisper against the wind. But not different enough to matter.

Silvia narrowed her eyes. "And you are the first of your kind I've seen that speaks. What are you? Why are you hunting us?"

The figure let out something between a laugh and a sigh. You assume you are the hunters? No, child. You are the hunted. We have waited long for the surface to break. Now, the time has come to reclaim what is ours.

Dragon growled, stepping forward. "Then you'll have to take it over our dead bodies."

The creature's gaze flicked to him. That can be arranged.

Silvia barely had time to react before the creature surged forward.

A Fight Against the Void

The force of its attack sent her skidding backward. She twisted, barely avoiding its elongated claws as it slashed at her. Flames erupted from her hands, but the fire barely singed its shifting form.

Dragon met the creature head-on, claws tearing into its torso, but it was like slicing through mist. The form rippled, and the creature struck back, sending Dragon crashing into the rock wall.

Tarren loosed arrows, each glowing with enchantment, but only a few found purchase. The rest disappeared into the entity's twisting shadows. "Magic isn't holding!" she shouted.

Garrik charged next, swinging his axe in a heavy arc. This time, the weapon struck solid flesh, and the creature recoiled, a guttural sound escaping it.

Silvia's eyes widened. "It has a core! Aim for the center!"

The realization changed everything. Silvia's fire shifted from wide arcs to focused streams, concentrating the heat toward the shifting core within the creature's body. Dragon roared, recovering, and charged again, his claws glowing with raw power.

The battle became a whirlwind of steel, fire, and magic. The creature's form flickered, struggling to maintain its cohesion under their concentrated attacks.

Then, finally, Silvia's flaming blade found the core.

With a cry, she drove her sword into the center of its chest. The creature screeched, its form convulsing as the fire consumed it from within. The darkness around them pulsed violently, then collapsed inward, dragging the remnants of the creature into itself before vanishing completely.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Silvia staggered back, panting. "That was different. That was stronger."

Dragon wiped blood from his jaw, his eyes still burning with fury. "They're evolving."

Tarren picked up one of her arrows, inspecting the residue left behind. "And they're watching us fight. Learning how to counter us."

Garrik cursed under his breath. "If that's true, then we're in bigger trouble than we thought."

Silvia clenched her fists. "Then we need to reach Skyreach Citadel before they do."

A Kingdom in the Clouds

By dawn, their journey continued. The battle had drained them, but they couldn't afford to slow down. The creatures had tested them again, and next time, Silvia wasn't sure they would survive.

After two more days of hard travel, the mountains finally parted to reveal their destination.

Skyreach Citadel.

The fortress stood atop jagged cliffs, its white stone towers piercing the sky. Unlike the ruins they had passed, this place was untouched by war, its spires gleaming against the morning sun. Magic pulsed in the air, thick and undeniable.

Tarren let out a low whistle. "I hope they're in a welcoming mood."

Silvia squared her shoulders. "We're about to find out."

As they approached the towering gates, the air shimmered before them, and suddenly, they were no longer alone.

A group of armored figures stood at the entrance, their robes embroidered with ancient runes. Their leader, a man with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward, assessing them with a calculating gaze.

"You have come far," he said, his voice smooth yet commanding. "But tell me, Queen of Fire, what makes you believe you are worthy of our aid?"

Silvia met his gaze without hesitation. "Because if you don't help us, there won't be anything left to save."

The mage studied her for a long moment. Then, he nodded. "Then welcome to Skyreach. Your reckoning begins now."

Hidden Trials and Tests

Skyreach Citadel was unlike anything Silvia had ever seen. The halls were lined with ancient spellbooks, floating orbs of light illuminating passageways that twisted into staircases leading nowhere. The sheer presence of magic in the air was overwhelming, buzzing against her skin like an unseen current.

Dragon remained close, his eyes shifting warily at the enchanted surroundings. "Feels like walking inside a beehive."

Tarren exhaled sharply. "Or a trap."

The silver-haired mage, who had introduced himself as High Mage Kael, led them into a grand chamber, where robed figures sat in a semicircle, watching them with unreadable expressions.

Kael turned to Silvia. "The knowledge you seek is not freely given. Power must be earned. The Citadel does not lend its strength to those who are unproven."

Silvia straightened. "Then tell me what I need to do."

Kael's lips curved into something between amusement and challenge. "A test. You must enter the Chamber of Echoes and face what lies within. Alone."

Dragon stiffened beside her. "That's not happening."

Silvia placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. "It's fine. If this is what it takes, I'll do it."

Kael inclined his head. "Very well. The chamber awaits."

As the doors to the trial chamber creaked open, revealing an endless expanse of swirling mist, Silvia took a steadying breath. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it.

Alone.