veil of shadows

chapter 20 : the final part

Dawn broke over the horizon as Ethan and Selena stood at the edge of the Citadel. The pale light filtered through the crumbling stone walls, casting long shadows on the ground where the final battle had been fought. Lucien, still unconscious but alive, was being restrained by the ancient bindings of Selena's realm. His power had been neutralized, but the echoes of his dark magic lingered, a reminder of the danger that had almost consumed them all.Ethan felt an odd mixture of relief and uncertainty. They had won, but the cost weighed heavily on him. He had seen a side of himself that he wasn't sure how to reconcile—the part that had reached for the locket's power, the part that had considered using it for something more. He had resisted, but the temptation had been real, and it frightened him.Selena, standing beside him, was quieter than usual. Her face, pale and expressionless, hid the internal conflict she must have been feeling. She was immortal, an ancient being tied to a world far beyond his understanding. But in these moments, she seemed almost... human. "Selena," Ethan said softly, turning toward her. "What happens to you after all of this?"She didn't answer right away, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "I return to my realm," she said finally, her voice a whisper. "There are consequences to what has happened here, Ethan. Lucien's betrayal will have far-reaching effects. The Council will need answers, and I'll have to face my own punishment for allowing things to get this far."Ethan frowned, stepping closer to her. "Punishment? But you stopped him. You saved us all."Selena gave a bitter smile, her dark eyes shadowed with a depth of regret. "I let him grow too powerful. I should have stopped him long ago. My inaction caused more harm than you know. The Council will not overlook that."Ethan's heart ached at her words. For all the strength and power she possessed, she seemed so alone in her burden. He couldn't stand the thought of her being punished for something that, in his eyes, wasn't entirely her fault. "What about us?" he asked quietly, his voice breaking through the silence. "After all of this... where does that leave us?"Selena finally looked at him, her expression softening for the briefest moment. "You have your life here, Ethan. Your mother, your future. You don't belong in my world, and I don't belong in yours."His chest tightened at her words, but deep down, he knew they were true. Their worlds were different, and no matter how much they had shared, there was a distance between them that couldn't be bridged. But still, the thought of her leaving—of never seeing her again—was unbearable.Before he could say anything more, a soft wind stirred the air around them, signaling the arrival of Selena's portal. The shimmering veil of light appeared, casting a glowing path that led back to her realm. Lucien's unconscious form began to lift off the ground, drawn toward the portal by the magic that would take him away.Selena stepped forward, ready to follow her brother. But before she entered the portal, she turned back to Ethan one last time."I won't forget you," she said, her voice barely audible over the wind. "No matter how much time passes."Ethan felt a lump form in his throat. "I won't forget you either."And then, without another word, she stepped through the portal, disappearing into the light. The wind died down, and the portal closed behind her, leaving Ethan standing alone in the ruins of the Citadel.For a long time, he stood there, staring at the spot where she had vanished, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He had been through more than he ever thought possible—faced dangers he couldn't have imagined, and found strength within himself he never knew existed. But now, as the reality of Selena's absence settled in, he felt a deep sense of loss.Eventually, he turned and began the long walk home. His mother would be waiting for him, and life would go on. But nothing would ever be the same.---**Epilogue**Months passed, and life in Ethan's small town gradually returned to normal. He continued working at the grocery store, caring for his mother, and doing his best to move forward. But every so often, when the night was quiet and the stars shone just a little brighter, he would think of Selena.The town had no idea what had transpired in the shadows—how close they had come to destruction, or the battles that had been fought to keep them safe. To them, life was simple, predictable. But Ethan knew better. He had glimpsed another world, one filled with magic and danger, and he had crossed paths with someone who had changed his life forever.One evening, as he sat on the steps outside his house, staring up at the night sky, he felt a familiar presence—a soft, tingling sensation in the air, like the whisper of a forgotten memory.He looked around, expecting to see nothing. But then, from the shadows, a faint glow appeared—just for a moment, like a shimmer of light on the edge of his vision. And with it came a feeling, deep in his chest, that Selena was out there somewhere, watching, waiting, and maybe... just maybe... they would meet again.The stars flickered overhead, and Ethan smiled to himself."Until then," he whispered.The night held its secrets, but he was ready for whatever came next.---**The End**

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