Bound By The Stars

A Rift Between Worlds

As Xander unleashes the full force of his power, a massive wave of blue ice and lightning cascades toward Auron. The sheer intensity of the energy is unlike anything the knight has ever witnessed. It envelops the space around them, crackling with an otherworldly brilliance.

Auron’s eyes widen in shock. He can feel the pull of Xander's energy, a chaotic storm brewing with the potential to consume everything in its path. In that moment, he understands that he cannot let this attack unfold without taking drastic measures.

“Lydia!” he shouts, a sense of urgency threading through his voice. “Get to safety!”

Before he can second-guess himself, Auron snaps his fingers, channeling his remaining energy to shield Lydia from the impending chaos. A brilliant golden light erupts around her, and in an instant, she feels herself being pulled away, the fabric of reality bending to his will.

With a jarring sensation, Lydia is thrown through the portal, falling onto the cold, hard ground of her academy. She gasps, blinking away the disorientation, only to be met with a sight that fills her with dread.

The academy stands before her, but it’s not the vibrant, bustling place she once knew. Instead, it looms in desolation, its walls cracked and stained, the once-gleaming spires now dimmed and weathered. The gardens that once flourished with life are overgrown with weeds, and an eerie silence hangs in the air, suffocating her.

“No… no, not again!” Lydia’s heart races as panic grips her. Tears well up in her eyes, blurring her vision of the place she had hoped never to return to. Memories flood her mind—moments of laughter, friendship, and learning now twisted into haunting reminders of her past.

“I’m alone,” she whispers, the words heavy on her lips. “Not here… not again…”

She glances around, hoping for some sign of life, some familiar face to anchor her in this nightmare. But the courtyard remains deserted, echoing only the sound of her own heartbeat.

Back aboard the ship, Auron stands resolute against Xander’s power, but the knight’s mind is racing. He knows Lydia is now separated from them, but he also understands that she’s safer away from the impending storm.

“Xander!” Auron calls out, forcing his voice to steady despite the chaos. “This isn’t the way! You’re losing control!”

But Xander, fueled by his awakening power, doesn’t hear him. Instead, he feels an overwhelming surge of energy coursing through him, a heady mix of adrenaline and fury. The prospect of true strength—of being invincible with Lydia by his side—drives him forward.

“Lydia!” he calls out, his voice echoing through the air, but it’s too late. She’s gone, and in her absence, a pang of something unfamiliar tugs at his heart.

As he hovers, enveloped in ice and lightning, the realization strikes him: She was his anchor. Without her presence, the storm within him rages out of control. The battle was no longer just about power; it was about connection—about understanding what it means to truly fight for someone.

“Where is she?” he mutters, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone. The world around him begins to blur, the stars twinkling mockingly at his plight.

Auron, sensing Xander's shift in energy, decides to press on. “Your power is incredible, Xander, but it can’t replace the bond you share with her. You can’t fight alone!”

With that, Auron readies himself for the inevitable clash, determined to show Xander that true strength lies not in isolation but in unity. As they prepare for the next confrontation, Xander’s heart is heavy, and a new realization dawns upon him: the deeper his power grows, the more he risks losing the very person he thought he wanted to control.