Petals in the Dark

Into the Ruins

Chapter 27: Into the Ruins

The night sky was painted with deep shades of violet and black as Riku, Lionel, Candy, and the rest of the magical boys made their way toward the ancient city ruins. The path was rough, littered with debris from buildings long forgotten, and the air was thick with the scent of rain-soaked earth. Yet, despite the ominous surroundings, the group moved with a singular purpose—to find the key to saving Jed from the Shadow Empress.

Candy hovered above them, her small wings fluttering nervously as her eyes darted around. "This place is... really creepy. I hope the library isn't as scary as everything else."

Luca glanced at her with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Candy. We've got this. We've faced worse, and we'll get through this together."

Mateo, walking beside Kaito, spoke up. "According to what I've read, the library should be just ahead. It's hidden deep within the ruins, untouched for centuries."

Riku tightened his grip on the hilt of his weapon. "Then let's not waste any time. The faster we find what we need, the sooner we can help Jed."

They pressed forward, navigating the rubble until they reached a large stone structure that resembled a temple. Its once-grand entrance was now worn and cracked, vines snaking around its pillars. The air inside was musty, filled with the scent of ancient books and forgotten memories.

Lionel, ever composed, led the way into the dimly lit hall. "Stay close. We don't know what kind of traps or protections might still be active."

The others nodded, their senses heightened as they followed him deeper into the library. The room was vast, shelves towering above them, filled with books that seemed to stretch endlessly. Dust particles floated in the faint streams of moonlight that filtered through the cracked ceiling.

Yuki, typically quiet, pointed to a section in the back. "That looks like the magical boy archives. Let's start there."

The team split up, each searching for anything that could provide clues about the Shadow Empress and how she managed to control Jed. As they sifted through ancient tomes and scrolls, a sense of urgency settled over them. Time was running out.

Candy flew up to a high shelf, scanning the spines of the books before pulling one out with her tiny paws. "I think I found something!" she called out excitedly, holding a dusty, leather-bound book with golden runes on the cover.

The group gathered around her as Lionel took the book from her hands, carefully opening it. The pages were old and brittle, but the writing was clear.

"It's a record of the last battle with the Shadow Empress," Lionel said, his voice calm but tense. "It details how she used dark magic to corrupt one of the magical boys in the past, turning him against his own team."

Mateo frowned, his heart sinking. "Just like she did with Jed."

Kaito leaned in, reading over Lionel's shoulder. "There's a spell here. A purification ritual, but it's risky. It requires a deep connection to the one who's been corrupted... and if it fails, it could destroy him completely."

Riku's jaw tightened. "We don't have a choice. We have to try. We owe it to Jed to bring him back, no matter the risk."

Haru, always the voice of hope, placed a hand on Riku's shoulder. "We'll do it. Together. He's still our friend, and we're not giving up on him."

Lionel closed the book, his eyes meeting Riku's. "We'll need to prepare. This ritual won't be easy, and we'll have to find the right place to perform it. But first, we need to make sure the Shadow Empress doesn't get any stronger."

Candy, her usual nervousness replaced with determination, hovered in front of the group. "Let's head back and figure out our next steps. We're going to save Jed... no matter what."

With the book secured, the team made their way out of the ruins, their resolve stronger than ever. The path ahead was filled with uncertainty, but one thing was clear—they would stop at nothing to bring their friend back.

As they walked through the crumbling city, Riku couldn't shake the feeling that the battle to come would be their hardest yet. The Shadow Empress was growing stronger, and with Jed on her side, their odds seemed slim.

But with his friends by his side, Riku knew they had a fighting chance.

And they were going to win.