[ENG] Last Reader Standing

Chapter 8: The Prism of Allegiances

The City of Mirrors was an architectural enigma nestled in the hollow of superimposed realities. Its winding alleys and confusing reflections whispered promises as hard as diamonds and as soft as lies. Jun, Calla, Sora, Marcus, Lila, and now Miranda, the keeper of ancient truths, advanced through the arteries of this city, their path dictated by instinct, the Rose of the Winds, and the resonances of their personal sagas.

The city's cobblestones seemed engraved with the stories of its inhabitants, ephemeral shops emerging from their allegorical books to capture the imagination. Merchants of truth and deceit paraded alongside storytellers with abyssal voices, each revealing or hiding multiple secrets and untranslatable tales.

Jun, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, acutely felt the presence of those past warriors whose existence he shared through the Chronicles of the Immortal. He carried their history within him, a tapestry of bravery and tears, forged in the fires of centuries whispering their epic in every beat of his immortal heart.

Calla emerged from the shadows like a figurehead cutting through the darkness. The secrets of The Queen of the Night had forged in her a sharp determination, shining with a brilliance reflecting both day and night, a feline ally and protector of the promises they were destined to keep.

Sora, whose stature dominated the landscape like an animated statue, remained an enigma covered in black fur like the night. When he growled, millennia-old mysteries spoke; when his eyes shone, it was the light of an ancient royalty piercing through the mist, guiding their path with the authority of a Wolf King.

Miranda, on the other hand, was a walking contradiction, an enigma from Macbeth living and breathing among them. Her steps exuded a deadly harmony, and in the cradle of her pupils projected both promises of salvation and threats of damnation.

The sanctuary that was about to receive them was as invisible as it was necessary. As the agents of the Order, decipherers of the future and the past, scrutinized the group from their elusive promontory, fate was ready to be written in a confrontation. Pages of books, transcended from their dormant sleep, rose to protect their essence.

Jun began the dance, wielding his sword with the strength of the Immortal, carving into space the rhythm of an ancient war. By his side, Calla, Sora, and Miranda joined to reveal a symphony of heroism, a harmony blending courage, mystery, and indomitable will.

The agents of the Güldenstern Order poured from the heights, their black robes billowing like menacing shadows. The air vibrated with chants of incantations and the clash of weapons. The light of the torches danced on the walls, projecting shifting silhouettes that seemed to merge and dissolve in the chaos.

« Stay close! » shouted Jun, cutting down an enemy with a precise strike. « Don't let them separate us! »

Calla leaped with the grace of a panther, her dagger gleaming in the dim light. « They don't know who they're dealing with, » she murmured with a fierce smile.

Sora, enraged by the assault, cleaved through the melee, his fangs shining under the flickering flames. His imposing presence scattered the adversaries, sowing panic in their ranks.

Miranda, mysterious and impassive, moved with surgical precision, her calculated attacks striking where the enemy was most vulnerable. « Every move counts, » she said calmly, « don't waste your energy. »

Minutes stretched into hours as the battle raged. The ground was littered with bodies, the air thick with the stench of blood and sweat. Jun felt fatigue creeping into his muscles, but he refused to give in. « For Kirin! » he roared, plunging back into the fray.

At the heart of this storm of violence, the Rose of the Winds glowed with a supernatural light, pulsing to the rhythm of the fights. It seemed to guide Jun, infusing him with the strength to continue, to fight for those he loved.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the ranks of the Güldenstern began to break. Their attacks grew disorganized, and their resolve crumbled. Jun, covered in sweat and blood, felt the adrenaline subside. « We almost have them, » he said in a hoarse voice. « Don't let up! »

Seeing their inevitable defeat, the agents of the Order began to retreat, disappearing into the shadows from which they came. Silence fell over the sanctuary, heavy and oppressive.

Jun, his muscles aching, turned to his companions. « Is everyone okay? »

« Nothing more than a scratch, » Calla replied with a tired smile, wiping blood from her dagger.

Sora growled softly, signaling that he was unharmed. Miranda nodded, her breathing barely quickened.

The sanctuary, now freed from the presence of the Güldenstern, seemed to breathe again. The stone walls, silent witnesses to the battle, absorbed the newfound calm. In the center of the room stood an ancient altar, bearing not the Master Book, but a crucial clue to finding it.

Jun approached the altar cautiously, the Rose of the Winds vibrating in his hand. « This is what we fought for, » he murmured. « This clue will bring us closer to the Master Book. »

He reached out to the clue, his fingers brushing the surface adorned with ancient symbols. A benevolent warmth spread through him, soothing his wounds and dispelling the fatigue from his mind. He knew their quest was far from over, but in that moment, he felt a profound peace.

« We've taken a big step today, » he said, turning to his companions. « But there is still much to accomplish. »

They remained silent for a moment, contemplating the clue and reflecting on all they had sacrificed to get there. Their minds turned to the future, to the challenges that still awaited, but also to the hopes and dreams that drove them.

« Together, we will succeed, » declared Calla, breaking the silence. « For Kirin, for the future. »

« For Kirin, » echoed Jun, Sora, and Miranda in unison, sealing their promise in the golden light of the sanctuary.