×𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑-𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒×

Chapter 26: Unseen Threats

The air in Aeloria was thick with the scent of anticipation, the calm before the inevitable storm. The city had been fortified to the best of their abilities, every corner braced for the coming assault. Lyra felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders, her every decision carrying the lives of thousands.

She stood on the balcony of her chamber, the night sky above dotted with stars that offered little comfort. The distant sounds of soldiers and mages moving through the streets reached her ears, a constant reminder that they were preparing for war. But even as the city readied itself for battle, Lyra’s thoughts were consumed by the man who had unexpectedly taken residence in her heart.

Kael.

It had only been a few days since they had acknowledged the growing connection between them, but it felt as though an eternity had passed. Every moment they spent together was laced with unspoken emotions, a tension that neither of them could fully dispel. And yet, Lyra couldn’t imagine facing what lay ahead without him by her side.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Kael standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the silence between them speaking volumes.

“I thought you might be here,” Kael said, his voice quiet as he stepped out onto the balcony beside her. “I could feel your presence.”

Lyra offered him a small smile, though her heart was heavy. “It’s hard to sleep with everything that’s happening. And with everything that’s yet to come.”

Kael nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. “The night before a battle is always the hardest. The waiting, the uncertainty… it wears on the mind.”

They stood there in silence for a while, side by side, watching as the night slowly crept toward dawn. The city below them was alive with the flicker of torches and the muted sounds of preparations, a city on the brink of war.

As the first light of day began to break, Kael turned to Lyra, his expression serious. “There’s something I need to tell you, Lyra. Something that’s been troubling me.”

Lyra looked up at him, concern etching her features. “What is it?”

Kael hesitated, as if unsure of how to begin. “It’s about Braden. I’ve been thinking about his strategy, the way he’s been positioning his forces… It doesn’t make sense. He’s too cautious, too deliberate. It’s almost as if he’s holding back, waiting for something.”

Lyra frowned, her mind racing as she considered Kael’s words. “But why would he hold back? He’s already made his intentions clear—he wants Aeloria, and he’s willing to destroy anything that stands in his way.”

“I don’t know,” Kael admitted, his brow furrowing. “But it feels like we’re missing something, something important. Braden is a master strategist—he wouldn’t launch an attack unless he was certain of victory. Which means he must have something else planned, something we haven’t seen yet.”

The unease that had been gnawing at Lyra’s mind for days suddenly intensified. She knew Kael’s instincts were rarely wrong, and if he sensed that something was amiss, then there was likely more at play than they had realized.

“We need to figure out what he’s planning,” Lyra said, determination hardening her voice. “If we can anticipate his next move, we might be able to turn the tide in our favor.”

Kael nodded, his expression resolute. “Agreed. I’ll start by questioning the scouts and see if they’ve noticed anything unusual. In the meantime, we should strengthen our defenses and be prepared for anything.”