veil of shadows

chapter 13 : the battle begins

The tension in the air was electric as Lucien stood, his dark form a menacing presence against the backdrop of the ancient archive. The soft glow of Ethan's locket barely cut through the oppressive shadows swirling around Lucien like a storm, his cold, predatory eyes locking onto Ethan with deadly intent."You've made a grave mistake, boy," Lucien sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "That locket does not belong to you. It never did."Ethan's heart pounded, but he refused to back down. He wasn't sure where the sudden surge of bravery had come from—perhaps it was Selena's unwavering presence beside him, or the newfound power coursing through his veins. Whatever it was, he knew that running wasn't an option anymore."It chose me," Ethan said, his voice more confident than he felt. "You can't have it."Lucien's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Oh, I'll take it, one way or another."Without another word, Lucien's hands shot forward, sending tendrils of dark energy racing across the chamber floor. The magic slithered like serpents, aiming directly for Ethan. Selena reacted in an instant, leaping in front of Ethan and summoning a shimmering shield of energy. The dark tendrils slammed into the barrier, sending sparks of black and gold flying."Stay close to me," Selena growled, her eyes blazing with determination.Ethan nodded, his mind racing. He could feel the power of the locket humming against his chest, but he didn't know how to wield it properly. He had barely tapped into its potential during the battle with the guardian, and now, with Lucien standing before him, he felt the crushing weight of his inexperience.Lucien chuckled darkly, his fingers twitching as he manipulated the dark energy with ease. "You think that little shield will protect you? You underestimate me, Selena."Before Ethan could process what was happening, Lucien flicked his wrist, and the tendrils of energy split into dozens of smaller, faster streams, slipping through cracks in Selena's barrier. She gasped, quickly adjusting her stance to block as many as she could, but Lucien was too fast. One of the tendrils snaked around her defenses, heading straight for Ethan.In a flash, Selena dove toward him, tackling him to the ground just as the dark magic whizzed past, narrowly missing him. They tumbled across the stone floor, the impact knocking the wind out of Ethan."Ethan!" Selena shouted, scrambling to her feet. "You need to tap into the locket—now!""I don't know how!" Ethan's voice was filled with panic as he struggled to stand."Focus!" she urged, her eyes darting between Ethan and Lucien, who was already preparing another attack. "The locket responds to your emotions—use it! Remember what you felt when you saved me before."Ethan swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising tide of fear. He closed his eyes, grasping the locket tightly. He could feel the warmth, the pulse of energy within it, but it was wild, chaotic. He didn't know how to control it.Lucien raised his hand again, and this time, a wave of dark energy blasted toward them, the force of it shaking the entire chamber. Selena braced herself, ready to throw up another shield, but Ethan felt something stir inside him. The same surge of power he'd felt before—the same instinct.With a cry, he threw his hands up, and a massive beam of golden light erupted from his body. The light collided with Lucien's dark magic, creating a blinding explosion that rattled the walls. Ethan stumbled back, the force of the energy nearly overwhelming him.Lucien growled, his eyes narrowing as he struggled to maintain control. "You're stronger than I thought," he hissed. "But you're still no match for me."Ethan was panting, his body trembling from the effort. The locket's power was overwhelming, and he still didn't understand how to direct it. He glanced at Selena, who was watching him with a mixture of awe and concern."You're doing it," she whispered, stepping closer to him. "You're controlling it."But Ethan shook his head. "I'm barely holding on. I don't know how much longer I can—"Before he could finish, Lucien unleashed a roar of frustration, sending a wave of shadow crashing toward them. Selena grabbed Ethan's arm and pulled him aside, the two of them barely dodging the attack as the ground where they had stood moments ago exploded into shards of stone."We can't keep running," Selena said, her voice grim. "We need a plan."Ethan's mind raced. He knew they couldn't defeat Lucien in a straight fight, especially with him still struggling to control the locket's power. But maybe... maybe they didn't have to."I have an idea," Ethan said, his voice low but steady. "I just need a distraction."Selena frowned but nodded. "I'll handle Lucien. Do what you need to do."Without another word, Selena launched herself toward Lucien, her form a blur of speed and strength. She attacked relentlessly, forcing Lucien to focus on her as they clashed in a storm of dark energy and raw power.Ethan, meanwhile, scrambled toward the back of the chamber, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached the pedestal where the ancient book had been, now lying open and abandoned after their battle with the guardian. The words glowed faintly, and as Ethan hovered his hand over the pages, he felt a strange pull.The book.It wasn't just a guide—it was a key.As the battle raged behind him, Ethan placed his hands on the pages, feeling the magic within them resonate with the locket. The words began to shift and swirl, forming a pattern that glowed brighter and brighter. Ethan's eyes widened as he realized what he was seeing.This was the true power of the locket.It wasn't just a weapon—it was a seal, a force capable of binding or unbinding ancient magic. And Lucien wanted it not to harness its power, but to destroy the balance it maintained.Ethan glanced back at Selena, who was holding her own against Lucien but clearly growing tired. He had to act fast.With a deep breath, Ethan focused all his energy on the locket, channeling it through the ancient symbols in the book. The air around him crackled with magic, and the locket glowed brighter than ever before.Lucien, sensing the shift in energy, turned toward Ethan, his eyes widening in alarm. "No!" he shouted, abandoning his fight with Selena and charging toward Ethan.But it was too late.With a final burst of power, Ethan activated the seal. The room exploded with light, the force of the magic knocking Lucien back as tendrils of golden energy wrapped around him, binding him in place. Lucien screamed, thrashing against the magic, but it was too strong.Ethan collapsed to the ground, exhausted but victorious. The locket's power faded, and the chamber slowly returned to silence.Selena rushed to Ethan's side, kneeling beside him. "You did it," she whispered, her voice filled with relief.Ethan looked up at her, breathing heavily. "Is it over?"Selena's gaze flickered to Lucien, now bound and powerless in the center of the chamber. "For now," she said softly.But both of them knew—this was only the beginning.