Luna Aurora novel (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 320

Elyra's heart was racing as she stood there, her hand trembling over the shard. The vision of Dain, consumed by darkness, still burned in her mind. She could feel the weight of the choice pressing down on her, crushing her from all sides. She couldn't lose him. Not like this.

With a deep, steadying breath, Elyra made her decision. She couldn't sit idly by while Dain spiraled further into the abyss. She had to find him, confront him-show him that there was still a chance, that they could still fight this darkness together. "I'm going to find him," she said, her voice low but resolute. She didn't look at Althea, though she could feel the older woman's eyes on her, watching, waiting.

"You're making a mistake," Althea warned, her tone sharp. "Dain has already made his choice. There is nothing you can do to stop him now."

But Elyra didn't listen. She couldn't. Her heart was telling her to move, to run after him, to pull him from the shadows before it was too late.

Turning away from Althea, Elyra didn't wait for another word. She ran from the temple, the cool night air hitting her face like a slap as she made her way through the dense forest. She could feel the pull of Dain's presence, the darkness surrounding him, drawing her toward the shadow lands where he had fled. The air was thick with power, and every step she took seemed to draw her closer to him.

The journey felt endless, the path winding and treacherous, but Elyra pushed forward, her mind set on one goal: Dain.

Her breath quickened as she neared the edge of the shadow lands. The trees grew sparse, their leaves dark and twisted, as though the very forest had been warped by the darkness that now seeped into the land. The shadows seemed to stretch and writhe around her, as though they had a mind of their own, whispering secrets in her ear, trying to lead her astray.

But Elyra couldn't afford to listen to them. She had to find Dain before it was too late.

As she stepped deeper into the shadow lands, the temperature dropped, and the darkness grew heavier. The moon barely pierced through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Elyra's senses heightened as she moved forward, her heart pounding with anticipation and fear. Every footstep seemed to echo in the stillness of the land, amplifying her uncertainty.

She called out his name, her voice breaking the silence. "Dain! Please, come back! We can fight this together!"

But there was no response. Only the eerie silence of the shadow lands, as if the very earth had swallowed him whole.

Elyra's frustration grew, and she quickened her pace, her eyes scanning the shadows. "Dain!" she cried again, louder this time. Her voice carried, but still, no answer.

And then, through the stillness, she heard something-a faint rustle, a whisper on the wind. Her heart leaped in her chest as she turned, expecting to see Dain standing there, but the shadows held nothing but darkness.

Except, she could feel it. His presence. It was close. She could feel the pull, the intensity of the darkness surrounding him, almost as if it were calling to her.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet seemed to shift. The air grew thick with energy, and Elyra felt the familiar, dangerous pull of the shard. She reached for it, but as her fingers brushed against it, the sensation intensified, a surge of power flooding through her body. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, her breath catching in her throat. The shadows around her seemed to pulse with energy, and in the distance, she saw a figure emerge. Dain.

But he wasn't the Dain she remembered. His eyes glowed with an unnatural light, the shadows swirling around him like a storm. His presence was overwhelming, and Elyra could feel the power emanating from him, as though he had become one with the darkness itself. "Dain!" Elyra gasped, her voice filled with desperation. She tried to push herself to her feet, but the energy of the shard had drained her, and she could barely stand.

Dain looked at her, his gaze cold and unrecognizable. He stepped forward, his movements slow, deliberate, as if the darkness had taken full control of him.

"You shouldn't have come, Elyra," he said, his voice low and strained. It was almost as if someone else were speaking through him. The darkness, the power he had embraced, had completely overtaken him.

"No," Elyra said, her voice trembling. "You're not lost, Dain. Please, we can still fix this. I'll help you. We can fight this together."

Dain's lips curled into a faint, cruel smile. "It's too late for that. I've already made my choice."

Before Elyra could respond, the shadows seemed to close in around her, and she heard a voice. A low whisper, as though the very land itself was speaking to her.

"You can't save him," the voice murmured, the sound coming from every direction at once.

Elyra's heart sank, and she reached out for Dain, but he stepped back, his eyes glowing brighter, the shadows around him swirling like a storm.

"You don't understand," Dain said, his voice cold, almost distant. "I'm beyond saving."

Elyra's chest tightened, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She couldn't bear to see him like this. But before she could say anything more, a sudden chill swept through the air, and she saw a figure emerging from the shadows behind Dain. It was the Warden.

His presence was suffocating, dark and foreboding, his eyes glowing with the same light as Dain's. He stepped forward, his gaze settling on Dain, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"You are ready to ascend," the Warden whispered, his voice like a serpent's hiss, sending a wave of dread through Elyra's body.

Elyra's breath hitched as she looked from Dain to the Warden. The weight of their words crashed down on her, and she knew-deep down-that it was too late to turn back now.

-: The Warden whispers to Dain, "You are ready to ascend."