Sword of Vengeance (Bjorn and Zyro #2)[COMPLETED]

14: The Full Power

The night had grown quiet as Bjorn, Zyro, Spike, Conrad, and Violet found refuge beneath the dim lights of a bridge that stretched across the river. It was an old stone structure, moss-covered and weathered by time, a perfect hiding spot where they could catch their breath after the chaos of the past few hours. The air was thick with tension, but also a strange calm that contrasted with the battles they'd just escaped.

Conrad leaned against one of the stone pillars, his eyes glowing with an ethereal light. "There's something I've been meaning to try," he said softly, almost as if speaking to himself.

The group turned toward him, curious but cautious.

"What do you mean?" Spike asked, still nursing a bruise from the last scuffle.

Conrad exhaled slowly. "I've been feeling this... pull. A connection. I think I can call on spirits—ghosts."

Violet raised an eyebrow. "You're the Ghost Alpha, after all. I guess that's part of the whole package."

Bjorn shot a glance at Conrad, worry etched across his face. "Is it safe?"

Conrad didn't answer immediately, but instead closed his eyes and focused. The air around them seemed to shift, growing colder as an unnatural wind stirred. Bjorn and Zyro exchanged uneasy looks, while Spike's playful smirk faltered. Violet remained quiet, her eyes narrowed with interest.

Suddenly, shadows began to form in the mist that clung to the riverbank, swirling and coalescing into figures. One by one, three ghostly forms emerged, their translucent bodies shimmering in the dim light.

Zyro's breath hitched as the first ghostly figure took shape—a woman with dark hair, her face soft and familiar. His heart sank into his stomach, recognizing her instantly.

"Mom...?" Zyro whispered, barely able to believe his eyes.

The woman smiled, her eyes filled with the warmth of a mother's love. "Zyro," she said softly, her voice carrying across the night air like a gentle breeze. "You've grown so strong."

Zyro took a step forward, his hand trembling. "I thought I'd never see you again."

Before anyone could process the moment, another figure emerged, this one taller, broader—a man with the same eyes as Conrad.

"Dad?" Conrad asked, his voice cracking slightly.

His father's spirit nodded, pride evident in his ghostly gaze. "You've done well, son. You've become everything I hoped you would."

Bjorn watched in awe as the scene unfolded. The air was thick with emotion.

Spike stood frozen, his bravado crumbling as he faced the past version of himself. He chuckled awkwardly, but there was no humor in it. 

Violet, usually reserved, placed a hand on Spike's shoulder. "It's okay to acknowledge who you were," she said gently. "We all have ghosts we carry."

Spike shrugged her off lightly, trying to regain his composure. "Yeah, well... I prefer the living," he joked weakly, though the sadness in his voice was unmistakable.

As the group stood in the presence of the spirits, the air hummed with an unspoken connection between the living and the dead. Memories, love, regret—everything was tangible in that moment, a reminder of how their pasts shaped them into who they had become.

Zyro's mother took a step closer to him, her hand reaching out as though she could touch him one last time. "You're not alone, Zyro. No matter how dark things get, remember that."

Zyro nodded, his eyes stinging with unshed tears. "I miss you," he whispered.

Conrad's father gazed at his son with the pride of a lifetime. "Remember, Conrad, your strength isn't just in your power—it's in your heart. Lead them well."
Conrad clenched his fists, overwhelmed by the moment. He had always carried the weight of the Ghost Alpha on his shoulders, but hearing his father's words brought both comfort and pressure.