Chapter 7: Echoes of the Eclipse

The night stretched endlessly as Light carried Yue through the dense, moonlit forest. Each step felt heavier than the last, not because of fatigue but because of the weight of unanswered questions pressing against his mind. The Eclipse Core had changed something within him—something dangerous, something unknown. And Yue… she was at the center of it all.

His silver eyes flickered down at the girl on his back. Her breathing was steady but weak, her body still warm from whatever energy the Core had drained from her. Light had seen countless warriors fall, but seeing her like this—helpless—was unsettling in a way he couldn't explain.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a secluded cavern hidden behind a waterfall. It was a place Light had discovered in his years of wandering, a sanctuary untouched by the chaos of the world. He laid Yue down on a bed of soft moss, watching as she stirred slightly, her violet eyes fluttering open.

"Where… are we?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Safe," Light replied simply, sitting beside her. "For now."

Yue exhaled softly, closing her eyes for a moment before shifting to sit up. "You shouldn't have taken the Eclipse Core."

Light scoffed. "Did I have a choice? The moment I touched it, it felt like it was meant for me. And now, I want answers."

She hesitated, her gaze lowering. "I can't tell you everything."

"Then tell me what you can."

Silence stretched between them. The sound of the waterfall outside filled the space as Yue finally spoke. "The Eclipse Core is not just an artifact. It's a remnant of something ancient, something that should have never been found." She looked up at him, her violet eyes unreadable. "And you, Light… you weren't supposed to be the one to awaken it."

His fists clenched. "Then who was?"

She didn't answer.

Light inhaled sharply, suppressing the frustration boiling inside him. "And what about you? How are you connected to it?" He leaned in slightly, his voice softer than before. "Who are you, Yue?"

Her breath hitched, but before she could answer, a chilling presence slithered through the air. Light was on his feet in an instant, his body moving before his mind could catch up.

The Light Clan had found them.

The air grew heavy as several figures emerged from the shadows, their golden robes gleaming under the moonlight. At the forefront stood Light Tian, his smirk as infuriating as ever.

"You never learn, do you, Yin?" Tian's voice dripped with arrogance. "You keep taking things that don't belong to you."

Light stepped in front of Yue, his silver eyes flashing with cold determination. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing about you."

Tian chuckled, twirling his golden spear. "Hand over the Eclipse Core, and I might let you die quickly."

Light smirked, his fingers curling as void energy crackled around him. "Come and take it."

With a roar, the battle began.

Tian lunged, his spear striking like a bolt of lightning. Light sidestepped, his body moving with effortless precision as he countered with a pulse of void energy. The force sent Tian skidding back, but his grin only widened.

"Stronger than before," Tian mused, rolling his shoulders. "Good. It'll make killing you more satisfying."

Light wasted no words. He moved, a blur of darkness and silver as he clashed against Tian, their strikes shaking the very earth beneath them. The other Light Clan warriors hesitated, unwilling to interfere in their leader's duel.

But Yue saw an opening.

Muttering a silent incantation, she lifted her trembling hands, drawing upon the last remnants of her strength. A barrier of shimmering energy formed between them and the Light Clan soldiers, momentarily trapping them in place.

"Light!" she called, her voice laced with urgency. "We have to go!"

Light growled under his breath. He wanted to end this—wanted to wipe that smug look off Tian's face for good. But Yue's hand grasped his wrist, grounding him.

"Please," she whispered, her violet eyes pleading.

Something in him wavered. Just for a second.

Tch. Damn it.

With a sharp inhale, he grabbed Yue and activated Void Step. The world blurred around them as they vanished into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but echoes of the battle.

As they reappeared deep in the forest, Light released Yue, exhaling sharply. "That was reckless."

She smiled faintly, leaning against a tree for support. "So was fighting Tian alone."

Light scoffed but said nothing. He turned his gaze to the distant city lights of Blackveil, his thoughts a tangled mess.

Yue was hiding something.

The Eclipse Core was changing him.

And the Light Clan would never stop hunting him.

Whatever fate had in store, there was no turning back now.

The cold night wind howled as Light carried Yue through the dense forest, his steps silent against the damp earth. The weight of her body against his back was unfamiliar, yet strangely natural. Her breathing was soft, steady, but her warmth—too warm—was a quiet reminder of the Eclipse Core's lingering effects.

He finally stopped in a small clearing beside a slow-moving river. The moonlight reflected off its surface, casting a dim silver glow over the quiet sanctuary. Gently, he lowered Yue onto the grass, his silver eyes scanning her face. Her violet eyes were half-lidded, filled with exhaustion and something unreadable.

"You're still burning up," Light murmured, brushing damp strands of silver hair from her forehead. "How bad is it?"

Yue inhaled shakily. "It's… tolerable."

He wasn't convinced. The way her body trembled told him otherwise.

"The Eclipse Core is affecting you," he said. "Why?"

Yue hesitated, her fingers curling into the fabric of her robes. "Because… my soul is connected to it."

Light's eyes narrowed. "Explain."

She turned her head slightly, gazing at the river as if the answer lay within its depths. "The Eclipse Core is not just a relic—it's a fragment of something greater. Something ancient. It holds memories, power, and… a will of its own. The moment you touched it, it resonated with you, but it also awakened something in me."

Light remained silent, his mind racing. He had seen a vision—a battlefield drenched in blood, a woman wielding a blade of starlight. That woman… had Yue's face. Was it truly a memory, or something else?

Yue's voice softened. "You weren't supposed to awaken it."

Light let out a slow breath. "Well, I did. And now we're both tangled in this mess."

She let out a soft laugh, though it lacked humor. "You make it sound so simple."

"It is," he said flatly. "We deal with it. No matter what."

Yue turned to look at him then, her expression unreadable. For a moment, there was only silence between them, the distant rustling of leaves filling the space.

Then, she spoke. "Light… when you held the Eclipse Core, did you see something?"

He tensed. "A battlefield. A war."

Her fingers clenched slightly. "And the woman?"

Light met her gaze, silver against violet. "She looked like you."

Yue exhaled, almost as if she had been expecting that answer. "Then it's already begun."

Before he could ask what she meant, the air shifted. A ripple of energy passed through the clearing, sharp and suffocating.

Light's body moved before thought, yanking Yue behind him. His silver eyes gleamed as he extended his senses—shadows flickered between the tree.

The night was thick with silence, broken only by the rhythmic sound of Light's footsteps against the damp earth. Yue's body felt weightless on his back, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold wind that howled through the trees. The ruins were far behind them, but the weight of what had transpired still clung to his thoughts.

He glanced down at her, strands of silver hair cascading over his shoulder. Her breathing was steady but weak, her face pale under the moonlight. Whatever connection she had to the Eclipse Core, it was taking a toll on her. And yet, she had said nothing—offered no real explanation.

He didn't like that.

A flicker of light in the distance caught his attention. A small, abandoned shrine nestled between the cliffs. It would have to do.

With a final push, he stepped inside and carefully lowered Yue onto a tattered mat. She stirred slightly but did not wake. Light studied her, frowning. The way she had looked at him in the ruins, the way she had spoken his name—it was as if she had known him for far longer than a mere few hours.

Tch. Damn it. He had too many questions and not enough answers.

He sighed and sat beside her, his back resting against the crumbling wooden wall. The Eclipse Core pulsed faintly in his palm. Its power coursed through him, wild and unrestrained, threatening to consume him if he let his guard slip. It felt alive—whispering, watching. Testing him.

Before he could fall too deep into his thoughts, Yue stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes, violet irises gleaming softly in the dim light. Her gaze met his, unreadable.

"You're awake," he said simply.

She exhaled, voice barely above a whisper. "You carried me."

"You weren't exactly in a position to walk."

A ghost of a smile flickered across her lips before fading. She sat up slowly, wincing. Light didn't miss the way her fingers trembled as she pressed a hand to her chest.

"The Eclipse Core," he said, watching her closely. "It's affecting you."

She hesitated. "Yes."

He narrowed his eyes. "And?"

Yue sighed, pulling her knees close. "The Eclipse Core is more than just an ancient artifact. It's a fragment of something far older—something that should have remained forgotten."

Light remained silent, letting her continue.

"My soul is tied to it. Not by choice." Her voice was quiet, but the weight of her words pressed against him like an unseen force. "When you touched it, a part of me awakened inside you."

His jaw clenched. "What does that mean?"

She looked at him then, her gaze softer than before. "It means that our fates are no longer separate."

A strange feeling settled in his chest—something foreign, something dangerous. He didn't like the sound of that.

Before he could respond, a sudden shift in the air sent his senses into overdrive. The distant rustling of leaves. The subtle pressure of approaching Qi.

The Light Clan had found them.

Yue's expression hardened. "They're close."

Light stood, void energy coiling around his fingertips. "Let them come."

She reached out, grasping his wrist. "Light."

He glanced down, surprised at the urgency in her touch.

"You can't fight them all," she whispered.

His silver eyes darkened. "Watch me."

The first golden-robed warrior burst into the shrine, spear flashing in the moonlight. Light moved instantly, his Void Step carrying him forward. A single strike—sharp, precise—sent the man crashing into the ground, unconscious before he could even scream.

More followed. Too many.

Tian's voice rang through the night. "Yin Light!"

Light turned, his muscles tensing as Tian emerged from the shadows, golden eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

"You always manage to escape," Tian mused, twirling his spear lazily. "But not tonight."

Light smirked, raising a hand. "Then let's finish this."

Before the battle could erupt, the Eclipse Core pulsed violently in his palm. Light staggered, pain lancing through his veins. His vision swam, shadows twisting at the edges.

And then—he saw it.

A battlefield drenched in blood. A woman with silver hair, standing amidst chaos, wielding a sword of pure starlight.

And she was looking at him.

Light gasped as he was pulled back to reality, Yue's hand gripping his arm. "Light! Stay with me!"

His breath was ragged. The visions… what were they?

Tian lunged.

Light moved on instinct, void energy exploding outward. The ground shattered beneath them as their attacks collided.

The fight had begun. And this time, only one of them would walk away.

Next Chapter: Shadows of Pursuit

Light and Yue reach a hidden refuge, but Yue's condition worsens as the Eclipse Core's influence deepens.

Light Tian mobilizes elite warriors to hunt them down, using forbidden techniques to track the Core's energy.

Light struggles to control the overwhelming power surging within him, sensing an ancient will inside the relic.

A mysterious figure appears, nei

ther friend nor foe, offering a cryptic warning about the Eclipse Core's true nature.

As the Light Clan closes in, Light is forced to make a fateful decision—fight, flee, or embrace the unknown power within him.