THE HALF OF A YELLOW SUN

Chapter Seven: The Battle of Thalor

The battle raged on, shadows swirling like smoke in the wind. Arielle felt the weight of her allies beside her, their determination pushing back against the darkness. But even as they fought, she could see that the shadows were relentless, their forms growing stronger.

“Keep pushing!” Kaelan shouted, his sword slicing through the air as he took down another shadow. “We can’t let them regroup!”

Arielle gripped the amulet tightly, its warm glow guiding her. She focused on the light, willing it to grow brighter. “Together!” she called, her voice rising above the chaos. “We can drive them back!”

As they advanced, the shadows seemed to shift, a darker figure emerging from the fray. It was massive, cloaked in darkness, with glowing red eyes that pierced through the night. The Shadow Wraith had arrived.

Arielle’s heart raced. “We have to stand together!” she yelled, rallying her allies. “This is our moment!”

The Wraith let out a chilling laugh that echoed through the battlefield. “You think your light can extinguish me? I thrive in fear and despair!”

Arielle felt the shadows press in closer, doubt creeping into her mind. But then she remembered the Oracle’s words—embracing both light and dark. With a deep breath, she centered herself, calling on her fears and her strengths.

“Fight for each other!” she urged, raising the amulet high. “We are not alone!”

With a surge of power, the amulet glowed fiercely. A wave of light shot out, pushing back the shadows momentarily. The crowd of villagers and warriors roared, their spirits lifted.

But the Shadow Wraith wasn’t deterred. “Foolish girl! You think you can win with hope alone?”

Arielle felt the ground tremble as the Wraith summoned more shadows. They surged forward, crashing into her line. The warriors fought valiantly, but the numbers were overwhelming.

Kaelan fought at her side, his focus unyielding. “Arielle, we need a plan!” he shouted, dodging a shadow’s attack.

“Distract him! I’ll focus on the light!” Arielle replied, her mind racing. She needed to draw the Wraith’s attention away from her allies.

“On my signal!” Kaelan called to the group. “We need to give Arielle a chance!”

As shadows swarmed, Kaelan and a few warriors charged at the Wraith, drawing its gaze. The Wraith howled in rage, swinging its dark limbs at them. In that moment, Arielle saw her opening.

“Now!” she shouted, raising the amulet high again. “For Elaris!”

She concentrated all her energy into the amulet, feeling its warmth surge through her. Light exploded from her, engulfing the battlefield. The shadows writhed and shrieked as the light consumed them.

The Wraith staggered back, its form flickering. “No! This cannot be!” it screamed, desperation creeping into its voice.

Arielle pushed forward, her heart racing. “You will not take our light!” With every ounce of strength, she directed the light toward the Wraith, illuminating the darkness that surrounded it.

The shadows began to dissolve, retreating from the brilliance of the amulet. But the Wraith held its ground, eyes blazing with fury. “I will return! This is not over!”

With a final burst of energy, Arielle unleashed a wave of light that struck the Wraith directly. It howled in anguish, its form breaking apart as it was consumed by the radiance. In an instant, the shadows dissipated, leaving only silence in their wake.

Breathless, Arielle lowered the amulet, the light dimming but still warm in her hands. The warriors and villagers around her erupted in cheers, their relief palpable.

But Arielle felt a lingering unease. The battle was won, but the Wraith’s words haunted her. She could sense that this was only a temporary victory.

Kaelan approached her, a mix of pride and concern in his eyes. “You did it, Arielle. We pushed them back.”

“We did,” she replied, but doubt lingered in her heart. “But we need to prepare. The Wraith will come again. We must be ready.”

As they gathered their forces, Arielle felt the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders. They had defeated the shadows today, but the fight for Elaris was far from over. The half yellow sun still shone within her, but the darkness loomed ever closer.