Arcane Dominion: The Rise of Shadows

"Shadows of Doubt"

Nerina's POV-

As Lyriana's calming presence started to steady my racing heart, a fragment of the nightmare surged back to the forefront of my mind. Solaria. Her golden eyes, once so warm, had been cold in the vision. The way she stood over me, the cruel smile on her face—it felt like a betrayal carved into my soul.

I swallowed hard, my voice hesitant as I broke the heavy silence. "Lyriana..." I began, the name catching in my throat. "What about Solaria?"

Lyriana froze mid-way and slowly turned her head towards me.before coming and sitting on the chair near my bedside.Her expression didn’t change, but I could see the flicker of something unreadable in her eyes—concern, hesitation, or maybe something deeper.

"What about her?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral, though there was an edge to it that made me wary.

I looked down, fidgeting with the corner of the blanket, unsure if I wanted to voice what I had seen. “In the vision... she wasn’t herself. She... she hurt me. Her eyes, her smile—it was like she didn’t care. Like she wanted to see me suffer.” My voice cracked as the words tumbled out, and I glanced up at Lyriana. “That’s not her, right? It can’t be.”

Lyriana was silent for a moment, her sharp gaze studying me. Her fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the bed before she spoke. “The Veilglass shows many things, Nerina. Fragments of possibilities, fears, and distortions. What you saw may not have been real.”

“But what if it was?” I pressed, my voice trembling. “What if... what if she’s not who I think she is?”

Lyriana’s jaw tightened, her hand falling away as she straightened. “Solaria is ambitious,” she admitted, her tone carefully measured. “She’s talented, powerful, and focused. But her loyalty has always been to me and the Tower.” Her eyes softened slightly, though her voice remained firm. “Whatever you think you saw, do not let the mirror’s illusions cloud your judgment. Solaria would not harm you.”

I wanted to believe her, but the memory of those glowing eyes and that cold smile was too vivid. “You’re sure?” I whispered, almost afraid of the answer.

Lyriana leaned closer, her voice dropping to a softer tone. “I am. But I’ll watch her, just as I watch you. Trust that I won’t let harm come to you.”

Her reassurance should have eased my fears, but it didn’t. Not completely. The vision had felt too real, and the unease it left in its wake wouldn’t be so easily dismissed. Still, I nodded, swallowing my doubts for the moment, and let Lyriana’s presence anchor me again.

But in the back of my mind, the image of Solaria’s cruel smile lingered, like a shadow that refused to fade.

Solaria's POV-

The Tower halls were eerily silent, the kind of silence that settled after a storm. I moved with purpose, but my mind churned with unease. Three days. Nerina had been unconscious for three days, and the weight of my own inaction pressed heavily against my chest.

I stood there, watching as Nerina screamed, consumed by the mirror’s power, and it had been Lyriana who acted first. The image of Nerina writhing in agony was burned into her mind, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the helplessness she’d felt in that moment. The thought of Nerina suffering like that again was unbearable.

Her footsteps faltered outside Lyriana’s chamber. I hesitated, my hand hovering near the door. I had checked on Nerina every day, standing in the shadows, never entering. I wasn't’t sure if it was guilt, fear, or both that kept her at bay. But tonight, something felt different—an urgency that pushed me forward.

When I finally entered, i found Lyriana sitting beside Nerina’s bed. The younger woman was pale, her face etched with lines of pain even in unconsciousness. Lyriana glanced up, her expression unreadable, but i caught the flicker of tension in her eyes.

“She hasn’t woken yet?” i asked, her voice quiet, almost reverent.

“She did but she fell asleep again because of the exhaustion” Lyriana replied, her tone clipped. “The ley lines left their mark. It’s not something one recovers from easily.”

I stepped closer, my gaze lingering on Nerina’s bandaged arms, where faint traces of glowing runes still pulsed beneath the fabric. “You pushed her too far,” i said, unable to keep the accusation from my voice.

Lyriana’s sharp gaze snapped to mine's “And you would’ve done better?” she countered, her tone icy. “You, who don't even have the guts to check up on her?”

The words hit like a slap, but i refused to back down. “I wouldn’t have thrown her into the Veilglass without preparation. She wasn’t ready.”

Lyriana stood, her commanding presence filling the room. “This isn’t about readiness, Solaria. It’s about necessity. Nerina has power unlike any I’ve seen, and she must learn to wield it before it consumes her—or all of us.”

“And what happens if she breaks?” i challenged, stepping closer. “What if she can’t handle the weight you’re forcing onto her?”

“She will handle it,” Lyriana said, her voice firm. “Because she has to.”

The two of us stared at each other, the tension between us crackling like an unspoken spell. I finally broke the silence, my voice low and strained. “You may not see it, but she trusts you. She looks to you for guidance. Don’t make her regret that.”

Lyriana didn’t respond, her gaze returning to Nerina. For the first time, i thought that i saw a flicker of doubt in the older woman’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

My shoulders sagged as i looked down at Nerina again, my chest tightening at the sight of her so fragile. Without another word, i turned and left the room, my mind racing.

I couldn’t let this happen again. Next time, i wouldn’t hesitate. Next time, i would protect Nerina—even if it meant standing against Lyriana herself.