Arcane Dominion: The Rise of Shadows

"The Dream"

Third Person POV-

The Obsidian Tower was silent, its ancient halls bathed in moonlight. Lyriana lay in her chambers, though sleep did not come easily. Her mind, restless and burdened by the day's events, finally succumbed to exhaustion. But the peace of slumber was fleeting.

The dream began innocently enough. Lyriana stood in the grand library, the flickering light of magical orbs illuminating endless shelves of ancient tomes. She was teaching, her voice firm yet patient as she guided Nerina through a complex spell. Nerina's expression was one of wonder, her gaze fixed on Lyriana as if no one else in the world existed.

But the scene shifted. The warmth in Nerina's eyes dulled, her smile faltering as another presence entered the room. Solaria. The golden-eyed mage stepped forward, her every movement effortless and commanding. Lyriana's heart clenched as Nerina's attention shifted entirely, drawn to Solaria's luminous presence.

They spoke in hushed tones, too low for Lyriana to hear. Nerina laughed-a sound so pure, so carefree, that it felt like a dagger twisting in Lyriana's chest. Solaria reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Nerina's face. The gesture was intimate, possessive.

"No," Lyriana whispered, her voice lost to the oppressive silence of the dream. She tried to step forward, to reclaim Nerina's attention, but her feet refused to move.

The scene twisted again, darkening. Nerina and Solaria were no longer speaking but entwined, their bodies tangled in silken sheets. Nerina's soft gasps and Solaria's murmured reassurances filled the air, each sound a hammer blow to Lyriana's composure.

"Do you trust me?" Solaria's voice was a low, velvety whisper as she held Nerina close.

"Completely," Nerina replied, her voice trembling with certainty.

Lyriana wanted to scream, to tear the two apart, but her limbs were frozen. Solaria turned then, her glowing golden eyes locking onto Lyriana as if she had known all along she was watching. A slow, knowing smile curved her lips, and she tightened her grip on Nerina, who turned in Solaria's arms to look at Lyriana.

"You're too late," Nerina whispered, her voice filled with both regret and triumph. "She understands me."

The room shattered into darkness, and Lyriana found herself falling, an endless void swallowing her whole. Voices echoed around her, fragments of her own fears and failures. "You're losing her... You're not enough... She'll choose another..."

Lyriana woke with a gasp, her chest heaving and her palms slick with sweat. The chill of the room seeped into her skin as she stared at the ceiling, the image of Nerina and Solaria burned into her mind. For the first time in centuries, she felt powerless, the weight of envy and dread pressing down on her.

And as she sat in the oppressive silence, one thought rang clear: I won't let this happen.

Nerina's POV-

I was woken up by a soft knock on my door and soon the door opened revealing solaria with some fruits in her hands her eyes travelling on my body and wherever it landed it left goosebumps in its wake and suddenly I was hyper aware of everything.

I quickly sat on my bed and asked her "hey um good morning" i was making a fool out of myself her gaze making me feel all kind of things then she said "Good Morning Nerina" her voice velvety sweet making me feel butterflies but I somehow controlled them "I brought you breakfast since I thought you might not be at your best right now" she said and that simple gesture opened up the whole cage of butterflies my cheeks getting red.

"You didn't have to do that" i said and she looked at me and smiled as dimples started forming on her cheeks which made my stomach fluster "i know but i wanted to" and before she could finish her sentence my door opened again revealing Lyriana her expressions unreadable as always but there was something in her eyes that i couldn't decipher she looked at me before shifting her focus to solaria.

"you're supposed to be training not here" her voice cold as Solaria lowered her head and said "Master she was tired so i thought i could at least bring some food to her" but lyriana cut her off "you should focus on yourself and your training and she is not your responsibility so get back to your training right now" she said in commanding voice which made me flinch and solaria just nodded and put the food at my table and left leaving me alone with her.

"I want you for your next lesson in 20 mins" with this she went for the door before she stopped and looked back and said "you better not be late this time because i hate tardiness" and with that she was gone and i was alone in my room but i wasted no time and ate the food solaria brought me thinking about her brought a smile to my face soon i was finished with my breakfast and quickly changed and went for my next lesson.

Lyriana's POV-

I left Nerina's room with measured steps, my expression carefully neutral, though my mind was anything but calm. The sight of Solaria standing there, so casual yet so deliberate, stirred an unease in me that I couldn't dismiss. Her tone, her gaze-it was calculated, every gesture finely tuned to slip past Nerina's defenses.

She's clever, I thought grimly. Too clever for her own good.

As I ascended the spiral staircase leading to the upper chambers, my hands curled into fists at my sides. The growing connection between Solaria and Nerina was a distraction I hadn't anticipated. Worse still, it was dangerous. Nerina was malleable, her strength still raw and unshaped, but Solaria's influence was a disruption-a risk.

When I had taken Solaria into my fold, I saw her as an extension of my will, a vessel for my teachings. But lately, her loyalty seemed... divided. Her glances at Nerina, her subtle defiance-it was unacceptable.

The worst part was the small, insidious seed of doubt within me. Solaria's gaze on Nerina mirrored something I hadn't realized I craved for myself. The way she looked at her, the way Nerina's blush deepened under her attention-it was infuriating. Not because it was inappropriate, but because I had never elicited such a response from Nerina.

Why does that bother me so much?

The answer clawed at the edges of my mind, but I shoved it down, unwilling to face it.

Once I reached the tower's study, I let out a sharp breath, the tension in my chest refusing to abate. The ancient sigils on the walls flickered dimly in response to my agitation. I sat at the desk, fingers drumming against the polished obsidian, my thoughts racing.

I would need to rectify this imbalance. Solaria's actions were undermining my authority, and Nerina's vulnerability made her susceptible to manipulation. Neither of them seemed to grasp the stakes of what we were doing here. This wasn't a game of affection or rebellion. This was about power-about mastery.

I couldn't allow Nerina to stray. She had a role to fulfill, one I had painstakingly prepared her for. Her bond to the ley lines was unique, and she was key to unlocking the secrets I'd pursued for centuries. Letting her be swayed by Solaria's charm would be disastrous.

No, this wouldn't do.

When Nerina arrived for her lesson, she would find no trace of the gentleness I had shown her before. I would remind her of what she was capable of-not through coddling or indulgence, but through unrelenting discipline.

If Solaria wanted to interfere, she would learn the consequences of stepping out of line.

And Nerina... she would learn who she truly belonged to.