Chapter 12:The light within
I didn't respond to Lysandra's taunts. Instead, I reached deep within myself, searching for the strength I had found in the Veil. The phoenix's warmth still lingered in my chest, a flicker of golden light amidst the suffocating darkness. I focused on it, letting it grow, letting it fill me until it felt like my very veins were alight with fire.
Lysandra's hand shot forward, a bolt of dark energy surging toward me. I raised my own hand instinctively, and to my surprise, a shield of golden light erupted from my palm, deflecting her attack. The force of the collision sent a shockwave through the room, knocking both of us back a step.
Her eyes widened in shock, but only for a moment. Then her expression twisted into one of rage. "You dare wield light against me?" she hissed. "You, who have wallowed in doubt and fear? You are nothing!"
I didn't let her words shake me. I stepped forward, the light around me growing brighter. "You're wrong," I said, my voice steady. "I've faced my doubts. I've faced my fears. And I'm not afraid of you."
Lysandra snarled, her hands moving in a complex pattern as she summoned more dark energy. The shadows in the room seemed to converge around her, forming a swirling vortex of darkness. The air grew heavier, and I could feel the weight of her power pressing down on me.
But I didn't back down. I focused on the light within me, letting it guide me. The phoenix's voice echoed in my mind: *The light is not just a weapon. It is a part of you. Let it flow through you, let it become you.*
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the light fill me completely. When I opened them again, the world seemed sharper, clearer. I could see the threads of darkness that Lysandra was weaving, the intricate patterns of her spell. And I could see the flaws in them.
I moved without thinking, my body guided by instinct. I stepped into the vortex of shadows, the light around me pushing back the darkness. Lysandra's eyes widened as I approached, her hands faltering for the first time.
"Impossible!" she screamed, her voice tinged with desperation. "You cannot defy me!"
"Watch me," I said, my voice calm.
I reached out, my hand glowing with golden light, and grasped the threads of her spell. The darkness recoiled at my touch, unraveling as the light consumed it. Lysandra stumbled back, her power flickering as her connection to the Veil was severed.
The shadow beast let out a deafening roar, its form beginning to dissolve as Lysandra's control over it weakened. Arl and Sey took advantage of the distraction, striking at the creature with renewed vigor. Arl's sword cut through its shadowy form, while Sey's magic burned away the remnants of its essence.
Lysandra's eyes darted around the room, panic setting in. "No!" she shrieked. "This cannot be! I am the mistress of the Veil! I am—"
"You're finished," I said, cutting her off. I stepped forward, the light around me blazing brighter than ever. "Your reign of terror ends here."
She lunged at me, her hands clawed and her eyes wild. But I was ready. I raised my hand, and a burst of golden light erupted from my palm, striking her square in the chest. She was thrown back, her body slamming into the wall with a sickening crunch.
For a moment, there was silence. Then Lysandra let out a weak, gurgling laugh. "You think… this is over?" she gasped, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "The Veil… will never release you. You are bound to it… as I am."
I frowned, a chill running down my spine. "What do you mean?"
But she didn't answer. Her body went limp, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. The shadows in the room began to dissipate, the oppressive darkness lifting as the last remnants of her power faded.
"Aurora!" Arl's voice broke through the silence. I turned to see him and Sey running toward me, their faces filled with relief.
"Are you okay?" Sey asked, his golden eyes scanning me for injuries.
I nodded, though my mind was still reeling from Lysandra's final words. "I'm fine. But… I don't think this is over."
Arl frowned. "What do you mean?"
Before I could answer, the ground beneath us began to tremble. The walls of the stronghold groaned, cracks spreading across the stone. The air grew thick with a familiar, oppressive energy.
"The Veil," Sey said, his voice grim. "She wasn't lying. It's not done with us."
I clenched my fists, the light around me flickering. "Then we'll face it. Together."
The three of us stood side by side as the room began to collapse around us. The shadows returned, thicker and more menacing than before. But this time, I wasn't afraid. I had faced the darkness within myself, and I had emerged stronger.
The Veil might not be done with me, but I wasn't done with it either.