Light of the Dawn

13. Hybern

Anyone who wasn't actively fighting on the battlefield stood frozen in stunned horror, watching as the young Princess of Dawn obliterated hundreds of Hybern's soldiers with her overwhelming power. The light that radiated from Isarella was blinding, brighter than any star, engulfing her enemies in an almost ethereal glow. She moved with an unstoppable force, her every strike bringing death in its wake.
Lightbringer was an extension of her, and with each swing, the blade cut through the enemy with precision and grace. Each blow was followed by the sound of soldiers crumpling to the earth, their lifeblood spilling onto the ground. Her power surged within her, a force of nature that seemed to erase all weakness. Every injury she sustained healed instantly, her strength never faltering.
She was a living storm of light and fury.
With the fluidity of a celestial being, Isarella dashed across the battlefield like a shooting star, her every movement leaving her enemies in shock. The speed and precision of her attacks were unparalleled-one moment she was in front of a soldier, the next, their body lay in a pool of blood, severed cleanly. Her blade sliced through the necks of four Hybern soldiers in a single sweeping arc, leaving them to fall in a grotesque heap before the light she wielded.
The battlefield began to quiet as one by one, Hybern's forces fell. And in a matter of moments, Isarella stood alone, her glowing form the only one visible amidst the sea of fallen soldiers. The air around her shimmered with the aftereffects of her immense power, the battlefield stilled as if it couldn't process the destruction that had just taken place.
Helion stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief. The High Lord of Day had witnessed countless battles in his time, but never had he seen such an overwhelming display of power, not since his sister Emelia. He couldn't fathom what he had just seen. It was as if she had become the sun itself, scorching everything in her path. He glanced at Thesan, who watched the scene with an unreadable expression, his gaze fixed on his daughter. "Thesan, is she.. is she Emelia's? Is she my sister's? How?" Helion couldn't make sense of any of it.
Thesan stared at Helion in fear, "Yes, Emilia and I were lovers. Emilia died giving birth to her. She...she doesn't know."
Helion watched as Thesan shook his head as he turned his attention back to his daughter. Perseus stood beside him, his jaw clenched, his gaze hard and unblinking. Yet there was a flicker of fear in his eyes, one that Helion, with his years of experience, could easily read.
On the opposite side of the battlefield, Rhysand, Cassian, and Azriel had stopped fighting, their attention entirely consumed by Isarella's display. Rhysand's violet eyes were fixed on her, his expression a mixture of awe and confusion. He had known she possessed light magic-he had seen it, witnessed it in moments of danger-but this? This was beyond anything he had ever anticipated.
Rhysand's mind raced, trying to process what he had just witnessed. He had spent years with her, fought by her side Under the Mountain, but how had he not sensed the full extent of her power? How had he not felt the pull of her light as it now shone brighter than the very sun itself? Was there more to her than he had ever known?
Azriel, standing just behind Rhysand, was watching with a similar intensity. His dark eyes were locked on Isarella, and though his face remained impassive, Rhysand could see the way his shadows seemed to twitch and stir, extending towards her, as if they were reaching out to her in silent desperation. It was as if his shadows had recognized something within her, something they had longed for-his mate, his counterpart.
"What is happening?" Cassian muttered, disbelief clear in his voice.
As if to answer Cassian's question, the battlefield shifted once more. A second battalion of Hybern's soldiers regrouped, forming a line and marching toward Isarella, their weapons raised high, eager to avenge their fallen comrades. The sheer size of the battalion made it clear that they were prepared to take the Princess of Dawn down, no matter the cost.
But Azriel, his eyes sharp and focused, could see the toll that Isarella's immense display of power had taken on her. She swayed on her feet, her strength ebbing, the light that had burned so brightly starting to dim. Her breathing was uneven, her once steady movements growing sluggish. Azriel felt a pang of panic rise in his chest. She couldn't keep this up—she was running on empty.
Azriel..
Azriel's name echoed in his mind, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. It was the only word he could hear, the only thought in his mind. He could feel her presence, could feel her faltering, and it was as if every part of him, every shadow, screamed to go to her. To protect her.
But she had already begun to fall.
The moment was too much. The exhaustion, the toll of her power, all caught up with her at once. Isarella's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, her once blazing form flickering before it vanished completely, leaving only the remnants of her light behind.
Ariel's heart skipped. "Isarella!" he shouted, his voice laced with desperation.
Hybern's second battalion was drawing closer, their weapons poised to strike, but Azriel was already moving. His wings unfurled behind him, and with a speed that matched the urgency in his chest, he surged toward her, ignoring the soldiers, ignoring the danger. The battlefield was a blur around him, but all that mattered was getting to her, getting to the woman who had just poured every last ounce of her strength into saving them all. Her power was gone, for now, but he would not allow her to fall to the enemy. Not on his watch.