Chapter 10: ELDORIA [Echoes Of What Was]

Third Person's POV

In the realm of Eldoria, vibrant colors had once danced through the skies, where golden sunlight spread warmth over lush fields and cerulean rivers.

Towering trees whispered secrets in the gentle winds, and the air was filled with the scents of blooming flowers. That was long ago.

Now, Eldoria lay in ruins, consumed by an all-encompassing darkness. Twisted remnants of the once-thriving realm stood as a testament to the cataclysmic battle between the Guardians and the Dark Matters: a never-ending void swallowed the light, leaving only shadows.

Selene, known as the Balance Keeper, stood amidst the ashes of her world, heart heavy with the loss of her friends—the Guardians who had once stood valiantly beside her.

Her long black hair, now dull and unkempt, stirred in the cold, lifeless wind. Her striking white-grayish-blue eyes, once radiant with power, now reflected the desolation around her, their secrets hidden beneath a veil of desperation.

Beside her was Axel, his silver hair now tinged with darkness, his spirit still fierce despite their grim surroundings.

"We have to contain them, Selene!" he shouted over the guttural sounds of chaos erupting from the shadows.

"We can still save what's left!" Selene looked at him, heart pounding.

"But we've lost so much already. Liora is gone, Kael burned in flames he couldn't control, and Tyra fought bravely but fell to despair. We are

outnumbered!" Axel clenched his fists.

"I refuse to accept that! If we can just hold on!" Around them, the Dark Matters swirled like a tempest, twisting and writhing, seeking to consume every trace of light that lingered in the air. Their laughter echoed, sinister and unsettling, as they closed in.

"Your struggle is futile, Guardians!" Zephriel, leader of the Dark Matters, taunted, his voice a chilling whisper.

"Eldoria is ours now! Your light belongs to darkness!" The remnants of their magical realm crumbled under the weight of Zephriel's power, and the very ground shook beneath Selene's feet.

"We can't let him succeed!" she shouted to Axel, desperate.

"Together! One last effort!"

"I'll fight," Axel replied, determination shining through; but shadows began to wrap around him, trying to pull him into despair.

"But Selene, you must promise me—if it comes to it, don't let the darkness consume you!" Selene shook her head.

"I won't leave you. We'll face it together!"

In that moment, as Zephriel and his minions advanced, Axel reached deep within himself, tapping into the holy power granted to him by an ancient oracle.

"This is our only chance!" he cried, and energy surged around him, illuminating the suffocating gloom, but he could feel the heaviness of the sacrifice it demanded.

"Axel, no!" Selene reached out, her heart racing.

"Don't!"

"I have to!" he yelled, feeling the pull of darkness as it threatened to tear him apart.

"You mean everything... to me. I won't let them take you!" With that, he unleashed a blinding wave of light, pushing back the darkness surrounding them, but he could feel himself crumbling under the strain.

"Selene! Channel your remaining power into the light!" he shouted.

"We can push them back!" Selene closed her eyes, tears stinging her cheeks.

"I'll try!" she cried, pouring every last bit of her essence into the radiance that Axel created. Together, they sent a beam of light spiraling toward Zephriel and his minions, dispersing the shadows momentarily.

But darkness was relentless. The shadowy tendrils lashed out, engulfing the light even as Axel and Selene fought to expand it, consuming everything in their path.

"Don't let go!" Axel cried, voice tightening with anguish as he felt part of his spirit fading.

"Remember... our promise!"

In one final, desperate surge, Selene called out,

"I will fight for you! I will protect our world!"

But the power surged too quickly, and with a blinding flash, darkness erupted violently, swallowing everything in its wake.

When the light faded, all that was left was an endless expanse of shadow, a bleak void where only silence reigned.

Selene's POV

In my dream, I am back in a place I can't quite see but can feel deep in my soul. The air is warm and filled with the scent of flowers, the kind that blooms in fields under bright blue skies. I hear laughter, familiar yet distant, like a melody just beyond my reach.

I wander through a vibrant forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves. The colors around me are more vivid than anything I've ever seen—lush greens, radiant yellows, and soft pinks. I come across a small clearing, and in the center, there's a shimmering pond reflecting the clouds above.

Suddenly, images flash before my eyes: a woman with kind eyes and flowing hair, a man laughing with a group of friends, and a child running toward me with arms wide open. Each face feels like a piece of a puzzle I am meant to fit together, but their names elude me, like smoke that slips through my fingers.

As I step closer to the pond, I see my reflection. My eyes shine with a light that feels powerful yet foreign. I touch the water, and the surface ripples, revealing glimpses of my past—a home filled with warmth, adventures in distant lands, and moments of joy I can't fully recall. A sense of belonging washes over me, and for a moment, I feel complete.

But just as quickly, the dream begins to fade. The colors blur, and the faces become shadows, whispering secrets I can't understand. I reach out to hold onto them, but they slip away, leaving me standing alone in the clearing.

I wake up with a start, heart racing and the warmth of the dream still lingering. Though I can't remember the details, I feel a spark of hope. Maybe the pieces of my past are still out there, waiting for me to find them. All I need to do is keep searching, keep dreaming, and one day, everything will come together.

To be continued.