The ruined library reeked of scorched parchment and smoke. Ash drifted through the air, glowing faintly as it settled over broken shelves and shattered glass. Selene clutched Rory's arm, trembling, her heart hammering against her ribs.
The tall mage stepped closer, shadows twisting around his cloak like living things. His voice was measured, but beneath it pulsed restrained fury.
"Do not resist. You do not yet understand what you are," he said calmly. "But we do."
Lyra raised her broken blade, her stance coiled and ready. Her boots crunched over fallen books as she moved, eyes never leaving him.
"She's not going anywhere with you."
"Then you condemn yourself," the leader replied simply—and lifted his hand.
A wave of force rippled outward.
Lyra staggered, bracing herself as the pressure cracked the stone floor beneath her boots. Her shattered sword arm trembled as the remaining mages fanned out, their gloved hands glowing with stolen magic, weaving threads of fire and ice around her.
There was no mistaking it now.
These were not like the two before.
"Rory—keep Selene safe!" Lyra barked through clenched teeth.
Rory nodded sharply and dragged Selene behind a fallen beam, though his gaze never left her face. She looked weaker now—too pale, her breathing uneven.
"Selene… what's wrong?" he asked, panic creeping into his voice.
He noticed too late.
A shard of shattered glass had sliced across her forearm.
"Selene—you're hurt!"
She pressed her hand to the wound, but blood slipped through her fingers and fell to the floor. One crimson drop struck a dead vine that had spilled from a shattered pot.
And then—
The vine shuddered.
Color rushed back into its brittle stems as though spring itself had been poured into them. A bud swelled, trembling, then burst open into a single white flower, glowing faintly amid the ruin.
Selene froze.
Rory's mouth fell open.
"Y-you…" he stammered, staring at her hand—then the bloom. "Your blood—"
The tall mage's head snapped toward them. His eyes narrowed sharply.
And before Selene could speak—before Lyra could even process what she had seen—the leader's voice thundered with sudden fury.
"IDIOT!" he roared at the mage who had struck Selene earlier. "I told you not to harm her. Her blood is important!"
The accused mage recoiled, bowing his head.
Lyra's heart lurched.
Important?
Her gaze darted to the glowing flower—then to Selene, swaying on her feet.
Selene staggered, dizziness overtaking her. Lyra reached her just in time, catching her with one arm while keeping her broken blade raised with the other. Then she left her again to divert the mages.
The mages closed in as one.
"Take her,Finish her first" the leader commanded. It will be in their favor if they ended her now. "Now."
Chaos erupted.
Blades of frost tore across the floor. Fire roared upward, devouring shelves in showers of sparks. Lyra shoved a collapsing bookcase into two advancing mages, forcing them back.
She fought with everything she had—but for every spell she struck down, two more surged forward. The leader barely moved, watching patiently, as though certain time itself would break her.
Selene tried to rise.
She couldn't.
Her vision blurred as she watched Lyra dodge fire and shards of ice, blood streaking her armor.
"Lyra…" Selene whispered weakly.
Lyra heard her anyway.
"Hold on," Lyra growled glancing at Selene pale face.
A thunderous crash shook the library.
The doors exploded inward, splinters flying as armed figures surged in.
"General!" Lieutenant Shawn shouted, blade already drawn.
Captain Rita's spear struck like lightning. Elises dagger flew towards the caught off guard mage. Ava and the soldiers crashed into the fray, steel and magic colliding in a storm of embers and screams.
The tide turned.
The mages fell beneath coordinated strikes, their stones shattering as they died.
For the first time, the leader frowned.
His gaze swept over the reinforcements—then settled back on Selene.
"This is not over," he hissed.
His cloak dissolved into shadow. The flames guttered out, leaving only wreckage, ash—and silence.
Lyra didn't release Selene. Even as she lowered her broken sword, her body stayed between Selene and the world.
Her eyes fixed on the flower still blooming amid the rubble.
"Selene…" she whispered, awe and fear braided tightly together. "Are you all right?"
Captain Rita stepped forward slowly, eyes narrowing.
"…What are you?"
Lyra moved instantly, pulling Selene behind her, shielding her without hesitation.
Selene's lips trembled.
She didn't know the answer.
She only knew this: whatever the mages sought—it inside her.
And now everyone had seen it.