Echoes of fallen stars

The Storm at the Summit

The mountain air grew thinner and colder as Ezra, Rowan, and Finn ascended toward the summit. The Starforge's faint pulse of light had become a beacon, its glow more vivid with each step, yet it seemed impossibly distant.

The climb was treacherous. Loose rocks crumbled underfoot, and the wind howled fiercely, tugging at their cloaks and threatening to toss them off the narrow path.

"We're not even halfway," Finn groaned, gripping the edge of a jagged rock. "Are we sure this isn't just a cruel cosmic joke?"

Rowan extended a hand to steady him. "It's testing us. The Starforge was never meant to be reached easily."

Ezra, who led the way, glanced back at them. "We're close. I can feel it."

The light in her staff pulsed in sync with the Starforge's distant glow. She felt its energy calling to her, filling her with both strength and unease.

As they neared a sharp bend in the trail, a loud crack split the air, followed by a rumble that shook the mountain. Rocks tumbled down, forcing them to scatter.

"Rockslide!" Rowan shouted, pulling Ezra to safety just as a boulder crashed where she had stood.

The dust settled, revealing a blockade of rubble ahead. Finn groaned, brushing dirt from his cloak. "Great. Now what?"

Before anyone could answer, a voice echoed through the air, cold and mocking.

"You've come far, but the summit is not for the faint of heart."

Ezra spun around, her staff glowing defensively. "Show yourself!"

From the swirling mist emerged three figures, their forms clad in shadowy armor. Unlike the stranger they had encountered earlier, these figures radiated raw hostility, their weapons gleaming with dark energy.

The tallest of them stepped forward, a wicked, curved blade in hand. "The Sovereign sends his regards. He will not allow the Starforge to fall into the hands of the light."

Rowan drew his sword, his expression grim. "Then you'll have to go through us."

Finn unsheathed his daggers, his usual humor replaced by focus. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."

The battle erupted.

Rowan charged the leader, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks. Finn darted between the two other shadowed warriors, his daggers glinting as he deflected their strikes with agile precision.

Ezra held back, her heart racing as she tried to focus on her magic. The Starforge's light within her burned hotter now, as if urging her to act.

One of the shadowed warriors broke away from Finn and lunged at Ezra, their blade slicing through the air. Ezra reacted instinctively, raising her staff and unleashing a burst of light. The force of the blast sent the warrior staggering, their form flickering like a disrupted signal.

"Ezra!" Rowan called, his voice strained as he parried the leader's relentless strikes. "We need that light—now!"

Ezra's gaze flickered between her friends. The Starforge's glow pulsed stronger, almost demanding her attention.

Trust it, a voice whispered in her mind.

Taking a deep breath, Ezra raised her staff high, channeling the light within her. The crystal flared, casting an intense glow that cut through the mist. The shadowed warriors recoiled, their forms flickering and distorting.

The leader snarled, shielding their eyes. "You can't win this, girl. The Starforge will consume you!"

Ezra stepped forward, her light pushing them back further. "Then let it try."

With a final surge of energy, she unleashed a wave of light that enveloped the battlefield. The shadowed warriors dissolved into smoke, their cries echoing as they vanished into the wind.

The light dimmed, leaving the trio standing amidst the rubble and silence. Finn let out a shaky breath, leaning against a rock. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, Ezra."

Rowan sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "They'll be back. The Sovereign doesn't give up easily."

Ezra lowered her staff, the crystal's glow steady once more. "Then we'll keep fighting. We don't have a choice."

Rowan nodded, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "The summit isn't far now. But if the Starforge is guarded like this, we need to be ready for whatever's next."

As they resumed their climb, Ezra felt a mix of triumph and unease. The light had saved them this time, but the shadowed leader's words lingered in her mind.

What if the Starforge truly did demand more than she could give?

Ahead, the beacon of light pulsed brighter, its rhythm like a heartbeat, calling her closer. Whatever lay at the summit, it was waiting for her—and it wasn't just the light.

The battle for the Starforge was only beginning.