Chào các bạn! Vì nhiều lý do từ nay Truyen2U chính thức đổi tên là Truyen247.Pro. Mong các bạn tiếp tục ủng hộ truy cập tên miền mới này nhé! Mãi yêu... ♥

Chapter 10: Echoes of the Veil

Amara couldn't shake the feeling that something was still watching her. Though the Shadow Realm was gone, its residue seemed to cling to the edges of reality. She began noticing small anomalies—a flickering shadow in her periphery, whispers in empty hallways, and her reflection lingering a moment too long in mirrors.

A New Mystery

Late one night, her phone buzzed with an unknown number. The message was cryptic:

Unknown: "The veil isn't fully gone. You've only torn it. Meet me in the place where it all began."

Her heart raced. She recognized the phrasing—it was something Kael had once said to her during their earlier encounters. Could he still be alive?

Return to the Beginning

The next day, Amara found herself back at the abandoned house where the Shadow King's influence had first touched her. The air was colder than she remembered, the house darker despite the midday sun. As she stepped inside, the atmosphere felt alive, as if the house itself was breathing.

In the center of the main room, a single mirror stood intact—a hauntingly familiar one. Its surface shimmered like liquid, and in its depths, a faint figure began to form.

Kael (emerging faintly): "You shouldn't have come back."

Amara (stunned): "Kael? You're alive?"

Kael (somber): "Alive is... relative. When the veil shattered, I was pulled into the space between. I've been... trying to hold it together, but it's breaking apart again."

The Warning

Kael explained that the Shadow King's essence had not been destroyed, only dispersed. The fragments were seeking new hosts, and the tear in the veil was growing unstable.

Kael: "You were the one who shattered it, Amara. Only you can fix it. But the cost..."

Amara (firmly): "I don't care about the cost. Tell me what I need to do."

Kael (hesitant): "You'll need to return to the in-between. But this time, you'll have to face it alone."

The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Facing the Shadow King was one thing, but returning to the void without the Mirrorblade or Kael's guidance was unthinkable. Still, Amara knew she had no choice.

Preparation

Over the next few days, Amara sought out Rowan, now studying mystical artifacts at the university library. Together, they uncovered ancient texts about realms beyond and rituals to strengthen one's soul against corruption.

Rowan: "If this thing is coming back, you need something to replace the Mirrorblade."

Amara: "What do you have in mind?"

Rowan (grinning): "Oh, you'll love this."

Rowan revealed a shard of the shattered Mirrorblade, pulsating faintly with light. Using the shard as a focus, they crafted a new weapon: the Veilpiercer, a small but deadly dagger imbued with both light and shadow.

Amara (holding it): "Not as impressive as the sword."

Rowan: "It's not the size of the blade, it's how you use it."

The In-Between

Amara returned to the abandoned house, the dagger strapped to her side. The mirror now glowed ominously, the faint whispers of the Shadow King calling her name.

Amara (to herself): "Here we go again."

As she stepped through the mirror, the world shifted around her. The in-between was darker than before, pulsating with raw energy. Shattered fragments of the veil floated aimlessly, each piece displaying distorted reflections of her past.

The whispers grew louder, forming words:

Shadow King: "You've come to finish what you started. How noble. How futile."

Amara ignored the voice, focusing on the path ahead. The fragments began to merge, creating twisted forms of shadow beasts. She fought her way through, the Veilpiercer glowing brighter with each strike.

The Core of the Shadow King

At the heart of the in-between, Amara found Kael, his body surrounded by tendrils of shadow. He was struggling to contain the essence of the Shadow King, his face pale and pained.

Kael: "I told you not to come. It's too late."Amara: "Not for you. Not for this world."

The Shadow King's voice boomed, shaking the void.

Shadow King: "You think you can stop me? You are nothing without your blade, without your friends."

Amara (smirking): "Watch me."

Amara plunged the Veilpiercer into the core of the shadows, channeling every ounce of her will into the strike. The in-between began to collapse, the fragments of the veil merging into a blinding light.

The Sacrifice

Kael's form started to fade, his eyes meeting Amara's one last time.

Kael (softly): "Thank you... for believing in me."

As the light consumed them, Amara felt a surge of warmth, followed by an overwhelming stillness.

Epilogue: "A New Dawn"

Amara woke up in her dorm room, the morning sun streaming through the window. On her desk lay the Veilpiercer, now dull and lifeless. A note rested beside it, written in Kael's handwriting:

"The veil is whole again. Live your life, Amara. You've earned it."

Tears filled her eyes as she folded the note, a bittersweet smile on her lips. She stepped outside, feeling the warmth of the world she had saved. Though Kael was gone, his presence lingered, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, light could prevail.

To be continued...

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro