Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 20: A Moment of Truth

Jax

The air in the temple is suffocating. I try to draw a steady breath, but it sticks in my throat. My mind is a storm of emotions: fear, anger, and confusion. The glow of the Cosmic Crown casts an eerie light around us, throwing shadows on the ancient stone walls. Everything feels sharper and more real as if the Crown is amplifying our thoughts, pain, and desires.

I glance over at Lyara. Standing a few feet away, her eyes locked on the Crown with determination and despair. Moments ago, she was forced to confront a vision where she had to choose between her love for me and her duty to Eltor. It shook her and left her like a pillar of conflicted emotions. I want to go to her, hold her, tell her it will be alright. But I can't. I don't have that right. Not anymore.

The Crown has made sure of that. It shows us all that there's no clear path or easy way out. And now it's my turn. The Crown is calling me, tugging at the edges of my mind, forcing me to step forward. I swallow hard and take a step, feeling the eyes of Kian, Lyara, and Lira on me. Each of them is waiting, expecting an answer, a resolution none of us can find alone.

"Jax," Lira says softly. Her voice carries a warning, a plea. I can hear the concern buried beneath her calm tone and see the lines of worry etched into her face. I know she's afraid of what the Crown might demand from me, from all of us.

I nod, acknowledging her, but I keep my eyes on the Crown. Its light intensifies as I approach, a warm, golden hue that belies the harshness of its power. In its glow, I see flickers of possible futures: cities in ruin, kingdoms at war, but also glimpses of peace, of unity. All of them hinge on what we do next.

As I stand before it, a vision overtakes me. I see myself wielding the Crown's power, shaping the fate of both Terra and Eltor. Under my rule, peace spreads across the kingdoms, and prosperity flourishes. But it's a peace built on sacrifice that demands I let go of everything I hold dear, including Lyara.

My heart clenches at the thought. How can I accept that? How can I let go of the one person who has come to mean everything to me? I glance back at Lyara, her eyes now fixed on me. There's a raw fear there, a fear that mirrors my own. She knows what this vision means, and I do, too. It means losing her if I choose power and wield the Crown to its full extent. Forever.

"Jax?" Kian's voice breaks through my thoughts, and I look at him. His face is unreadable, his jaw set in that determined way. He stands a few paces from Lira; his shoulders squared as if bracing for whatever choice I make. I know he wants me to make the right decision that would benefit our kingdoms, not just my desires. But he doesn't know what that choice is. Neither do I.

I glance at Lira next. Her eyes are sharp, piercing me like she's trying to unravel the turmoil within. I know she's wrestling with her doubts and feelings for Kian. She and I have spoken about the Crown, the nature of its power, and the sacrifices it demands. We've speculated and argued, but nothing prepared us for this moment. I see the weight of unspoken truths in her gaze, reflecting our struggle.

I turn back to the Crown, its light bathing me in the warmth that feels both comforting and damning. The Crown isn't just an object; it's a force that reveals the deepest parts of us and forces us to confront our weaknesses and desires. I know now that the prophecy isn't about some grand destiny we have to fulfill. It's about our choices, the ones we're willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

I take a shaky breath, feeling the truth settle heavily within me. The Crown is showing me that to wield its power, I must let go of my love for Lyara. It's not a demand for death or war but a personal sacrifice—a release of what binds me.

"Jax," Lyara's voice trembles as she says my name, pulling me from my thoughts. I meet her gaze, seeing the tears that brim in her eyes. "You don't have to do this," she says, almost pleading. "There has to be another way."