CHAPTER 11 THE CELESTIAL RECKONING

The Celestial Reckoning

A Dangerous Choice

Silence gripped the Forgotten Court as Varion's words lingered in the air like a curse. The Shadow born commander stood tall, his crimson gaze locked onto Lyra, waiting for her response. His army of darkness loomed in the distance, an ominous presence pressing against the edges of the city's celestial glow.

Alden shifted beside her, hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. "Don't listen to him, Lyra. He's trying to break you."

Kael's expression was grim. "We fight, or we fall."

Lyra's heart pounded. The weight of her ancestors, the fate of the celestial bloodline, the lives of everyone in the city—all rested on this moment.

She took a deep breath, meeting Varion's gaze. "I choose neither."

Varion tilted his head, amusement flickering in his crimson eyes. "Neither?"

Lyra lifted her chin. "You want me to surrender or watch this city burn? I refuse both. I will fight—but not on your terms."

Varion's smirk widened. "Ah. So, the little heir wishes to play hero." He gestured behind him, were dark tendrils of misty writhed unnaturally. "Very well. Let's see how long your courage lasts."

With a snap of his fingers, the Shadow born army surged forward.

The Battle Begins

A deafening war cry erupted as celestial warriors of the Forgotten Court rushed to meet the oncoming darkness. The clash of steel and magic sent shockwaves through the air. The once-silent city was now a battlefield, echoes of battle ringing through the streets.

Selene pulled Lyra back just as a Shadow born soldier lunged at her. "You need to stay alive, princess," she hissed.

"I won't stand by and watch others fight my battle," Lyra shot back, drawing her blade.

Alden fought beside her, striking down an enemy with a single, powerful blow. "Then fight smart."

Kael raised his staff, summoning a pulse of celestial magic that sent a cluster of Shadow born warriors flying backward. "We need to hold the inner walls. If they breach the palace, it's over."

Lyra turned to Eryx, who had yet to unsheathe his weapon. "What are you waiting for?"

His silver eyes flickered as he surveyed the battlefield. "I am waiting for him."

Lyra barely had time to question him before a familiar voice rang out, dark and taunting.

"I must admit, I didn't think you'd last this long, little star."

A shiver ran down her spine as she turned. Standing atop the temple steps was the true orchestrator of the attack—Malakar, the Shadow born King.

A Deadly Revelation

Malakar was taller than Lyra remembered, his presence suffocating. His obsidian armor was lined with veins of pulsing dark energy, and his blackened crown gleamed under the celestial light. But what made her blood run cold was his face.

Because it was hauntingly familiar.

A twisted mirror of her own features.

The air around them crackled with tension. The battle continued in the background, but in this moment, all Lyra could hear was the rapid pounding of her heart.

"Who… who are you?" she whispered, her fingers trembling.

Malakar stepped forward, his smirk sending a chill through her bones. "You already know the answer, don't you?"

Her throat tightened.

Kael's voice was barely a whisper. "It can't be…"

Ellynor, the High Seer, stepped between them. "You should not exist," he spat, fury burning in his ancient eyes. "The celestial line was not meant to be split."

Malakar chuckled darkly. "And yet, here I stand." His gaze returned to Lyra, filled with a dangerous, twisted affection. "You and I, dear sister… we were never meant to rule apart."

Brother and Sister—Divided by Fate

Lyra's vision blurred. "No," she said, shaking her head. "That's not possible."

But the truth settled in her chest like a stone. The whispers of the celestial magic, the visions, the unbearable weight she had always felt—she was not alone.

She had a twin.

A brother who had been cast into the shadows while she had been raised in the light.

Malakar's smirk deepened. "Tell me, Lyra—what do you think happens to a celestial child who is abandoned? Who is left to fester in the dark?" He spread his arms. "I became what you see now."

Ellynor's voice was sharp. "You were not abandoned. You were hidden to protect the balance."

Malakar's expression twisted into rage. "Protect the balance? You mean to keep me in the dark while she was prepared for the throne?" He pointed at Lyra. "I was cast away so she could shine."

Lyra struggled to breathe. "That's not true."

"Oh, but it is." Malakar took a slow step toward her. "And now, you have a choice, sister. Rule beside me, and together, we will remake this world. Or…" His smile vanished. "I will tear it apart, piece by piece."

Lyra's grip on her sword tightened. Her brother. The brother she never knew existed. And now, he was her greatest enemy.

She forced herself to meet his gaze, voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

"I will never stand beside you."

Malakar's expression darkened. "Then you will fall."

With a flick of his wrist, the sky above them split open.

A tidal wave of pure darkness poured down, consuming everything in its path.

The celestial war had truly begun.