veil of shadows

chapter 18 : the citadel of eldara

The Citadel of Eldara loomed before them, its massive towers dark against the twilight sky. The closer they got, the more foreboding the fortress became. The air around it seemed to hum with power, ancient and untamed, sending a chill down Ethan's spine.He glanced at Selena, who was walking a few steps ahead of him. Her expression was unreadable, her body tense as they approached the enormous gate. Ethan couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind. This place, the Citadel, seemed to stir something in her—something more than just determination."Is this where you lived?" Ethan asked, his voice cutting through the silence.Selena's gaze flickered to him, her eyes distant for a moment before she answered. "Not exactly. The Citadel was where the most powerful beings of my realm gathered—those who sought to control the magic of this world. I... avoided it whenever I could.""Why?" Ethan pressed gently."Power," Selena replied, her voice tight. "It corrupts even the strongest. And the Citadel was built for those who craved it."Ethan nodded, sensing there was more to her story, but knowing this wasn't the time to press. They had a mission to focus on, and they were running out of time. Lucien was somewhere inside, and with each passing minute, he was getting closer to unlocking the full potential of the locket.As they neared the gate, Ethan's hand instinctively reached for the locket around his neck. It had grown colder since they left the Veil, its strange pulse becoming erratic. He could feel the pull, the connection between the locket and the Citadel, like two magnets drawn to each other.Selena stopped just before the gate, her eyes narrowing as she examined the towering stone structure. "There will be wards—barriers meant to keep intruders out. We'll have to be careful."Ethan nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on him, but he knew they couldn't stop now. Too much was at stake.Selena raised her hand, closing her eyes as she murmured an incantation under her breath. A faint shimmer appeared around the gate, and Ethan watched as the air in front of them rippled like water. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the shimmer vanished, and the gate creaked open."Stay close," Selena said, stepping inside.Ethan followed, his breath catching in his throat as they entered the Citadel. The inside was as imposing as the outside—vast hallways lined with ancient, weathered stone, and eerie silence that made every step echo. Faint traces of magic lingered in the air, heavy and unsettling."Where do you think he'll be?" Ethan whispered, his eyes scanning the dark corridor ahead."The heart of the Citadel," Selena replied quietly. "That's where the magic is strongest. It's where Lucien will try to harness the locket's power."They moved quickly and silently through the labyrinthine corridors, Selena leading the way with sure, confident steps. As they descended deeper into the Citadel, the air grew colder, the walls slick with moisture, and Ethan could feel the magic thickening around them. It was oppressive, almost suffocating, and Ethan had to fight to keep his focus.After what felt like hours of navigating the maze of hallways and chambers, they reached a large, ornate door at the end of a long corridor. The door was carved with intricate symbols, glowing faintly with magical energy. Ethan could feel the locket growing colder, the pulse now erratic and frantic."This is it," Selena said, her voice tense. "He's inside."Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. This was the moment they had been working toward—the final confrontation. He could feel the weight of the locket pressing against his chest, its power humming with urgency.Selena reached for the door, but before she could push it open, a voice echoed through the chamber."I was wondering when you would arrive."Ethan froze, his blood turning to ice. The voice was smooth, calm, and coldly familiar. From the shadows at the far end of the room, Lucien stepped forward, a cruel smile playing on his lips."Selena," he said, his eyes gleaming with malevolent delight. "And the boy with the locket. How convenient."Ethan's hand tightened around the locket, his pulse racing. Lucien's presence filled the room, a dark and suffocating energy that made it hard to breathe. His eyes flicked to Ethan, lingering on the locket for a moment before shifting back to Selena."You're too late," Lucien said, his voice dripping with mockery. "The power of the locket is already mine."Selena stepped forward, her eyes burning with fury. "You don't know what you're dealing with, Lucien. The locket will destroy you."Lucien's smile widened. "On the contrary, dear sister. I know exactly what I'm dealing with. And soon, I will wield the power of both realms."Ethan's mind raced. He had known there was something dark and twisted about Lucien from the moment they encountered him, but this was beyond anything he had imagined. Lucien's obsession with power had consumed him, driving him to the brink of madness.Selena's jaw clenched, her body tensing as she prepared to strike. "I won't let you do this."Lucien raised his hand, and a wave of dark energy shot toward them, but Selena was faster. She raised her arm, deflecting the attack with a flick of her wrist. The two forces collided in midair, the impact shaking the walls of the Citadel.Ethan stumbled back, barely keeping his balance as the ground beneath him trembled. Selena and Lucien faced off, their powers clashing in a deadly dance of light and shadow. Sparks of magic crackled through the air, the room growing darker as Lucien's power intensified.Ethan knew he had to do something, but his mind was blank, his body frozen with fear. The locket burned cold against his skin, its pulse erratic and frantic. He had to help, but how?As the battle raged on, Ethan's eyes fell on the locket, its pale blue glow flickering like a heartbeat. A sudden thought occurred to him—a connection, a thread of understanding he hadn't seen before.The locket wasn't just a key. It was the answer.With trembling hands, Ethan reached for the locket, his fingers closing around it. He could feel the energy within, wild and untamed, but also... waiting. Waiting for him.Ethan closed his eyes, focusing on the locket's pulse, its rhythm syncing with his heartbeat. He could feel the power building, growing stronger with every second. It was dangerous, overwhelming, but he knew it was the only way."I trust you," he whispered to the locket.Then, with a deep breath, he released its power.A brilliant flash of light erupted from the locket, filling the room with blinding radiance. The force of it knocked Lucien back, his dark magic evaporating into nothingness. Selena shielded her eyes, stepping back in awe as the light spread, purging the darkness from the Citadel.When the light finally dimmed, Ethan stood at the center of the room, the locket glowing softly in his hand. The energy around them had shifted—lighter, freer, no longer bound by Lucien's twisted magic.Lucien lay on the ground, weakened and defeated, his power stripped away.Selena approached Ethan, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You... you did it."Ethan looked at the locket, its glow fading to a soft, gentle pulse. He had done it, but the weight of the moment was still sinking in."It's over," he said quietly.But Selena's eyes darkened as she glanced at her brother. "For now."