Daywalker Part 1: Lucian Moonshade and the Sunlit Prophecy

Chapter 10: The Shadow of Morvath

The silence of the Moonshade archives felt heavier after Lucian's discovery. His father's unfinished words had deepened the mystery but offered no clear solution. Morvath's shadow loomed larger than ever in Lucian's mind, and the realization that the legendary sorcerer's followers were once again seeking the Daystone weighed heavily on him.

"We're not just fighting Kieran," Lucian murmured, his voice breaking the oppressive silence. "We're fighting something far older, far more dangerous than any of us thought."

Lyra, who had been pacing restlessly, stopped and crossed her arms. "Morvath's been dead for centuries, right? How are his followers still around, pulling the strings?"

Elowen, her eyes fixed on the old book Lucian had handed her, shook her head. "Powerful magic doesn't die easily. Morvath's magic is ancient, and if his followers have found a way to preserve his teachings, they could still be out there—waiting for the right moment."

Lucian glanced at the entry written by his father, the words cut off as if he had been interrupted mid-thought. "He knew they were coming. He tried to warn us, but he disappeared before he could finish."

Elowen bit her lip, deep in thought. "The Order of Eternal Night must have known that your father was onto them. They might have been the reason he disappeared."

The thought sent a cold chill through Lucian. His father had spent his life trying to protect their family, their legacy, and now it seemed that whatever had happened to him was tied to the same dark force that was now threatening to destroy both realms.

"We have to find the other Night Gates," Lucian said, his voice firmer now. "We can't let Kieran open them. If Morvath's power is still out there, it's only a matter of time before the Order unleashes something we can't stop."

Lyra nodded, cracking her knuckles. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hunt them down before Kieran can pull another stunt like he did at the ball."

Elowen stood, her face set with determination. "We'll need more information if we're going to stay ahead of Kieran. There are more archives scattered across Eldergrove—some of the oldest libraries contain records even more ancient than what we've found here."

"Where do we start?" Lucian asked, scanning the room filled with dust-covered tomes. There was so much history, so many secrets hidden in the shelves of the archives, but they didn't have the luxury of time to search through it all.

Elowen glanced at the door, her expression thoughtful. "There's a place I've read about in some of the older texts—Morvath's Tomb. It's said to be one of the most dangerous places in all of Eldergrove, where Morvath's followers once conducted their dark rituals. It's been sealed off for centuries, but if there's anything that can give us a clue about the Order's plans, it's there."

Lucian tensed at the mention of the tomb. He had heard whispers about the place, legends passed down through vampire circles about the horrors that had taken place there. It was said to be cursed, and those who ventured too close often didn't return.

"Are you sure?" Lucian asked, his voice cautious. "Morvath's Tomb is one of the most dangerous places in Eldergrove. If it's sealed off, it's for a good reason."

Elowen nodded. "I know it's risky, but it could hold the answers we need. If the Order is connected to Morvath, we might find something there—something that can help us stop them."

Lyra grinned, though her expression was more wild than excited. "Dangerous or not, it sounds like the kind of place we need to go if we're going to get ahead of Kieran. Besides, I've never been one to back down from a good fight."

Lucian hesitated for a moment, weighing the risks in his mind. The tomb was dangerous, yes, but so was doing nothing while the Order continued to plot in the shadows. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that they didn't have a choice. If Morvath's tomb held any answers about the Night Gates, they needed to find them.