Shadow Bands

XXXIII. Blood Moon Pt. 3

 Embers fizzled out on Lyra's armor. Her eyes furrowed at the sight of horror that lay deeper in Windermere. Agonized faces of war riddled on the knight's faces, as they stood motionless in the chaos. The screams of burning people sent shivers down her spine.

The raging fires sparked a memory in her head. Her chest tightened as her head began to reinvision the attack on the Eastern Fortress.

The scenery changed, and she was no longer in Windermere, but rather back at the fortress before it was attacked. The clopping of horse hooves were muted through the wooden carriage walls, which were a familiar navy blue. Grey clouds rolled throughout the skies where she peered through a window, with the occasional ray of sunshine beaming through for a moment. She knew it was going to rain, but when was the question.

"Lyra."

She turned her head to face Aeris. Her heart throbbed, but she wasn't sure if it were with joy, or with pain. All she knew was that she was happy to see her again. Of course, Aeris' mother was beside her.

"Sorry, I must've spaced out."

"It's a long journey." Said Senator Veil. Her voice was smooth like a calm river. "I have no doubt that you would be tired. You aren't one to wake early anyways."

Aeris laughed, then she said. "You should've seen her when she climbed the stairs." Her arms formed a circle around her head with her fingers curled, and her eyes widened.

"I was not!" Lyra argued, feeling her hair as if to make sure.

"Say, Lyra." Began Senator Veil. "You were speaking a lot in your sleep. Saying things like going to the knight's academy and the fall of Lycra. I'm just curious as to what you mean by that?"

Lyra had no recollection of this memory, but perhaps it was just the slip of the mind. Maybe she had already forgotten.

"It must've just been a dream—a terrible one at that—I don't think it's of any importance. I. . ." The words crashed in her throat as the shadow of the fortress engulfed them. Uneasiness settled underneath her skin, as a familiar feeling began to cover her. "This is wrong. This isn't how this went."

"What are you on about, Lyra?" Aeris questioned. "You're speaking nonsense."

An explosion caused Lyra to jump, snapping her attention out the window. The courtyard was in flames, and her hand reached for the blade that wasn't there. In shock, she looked towards Senator Veil but she was no longer there, and neither was Aeris.

She burst through the carriage and scanned the courtyard for the two. The haunting whispers of the wraiths sent shivers down her back. "Aeris!" she shouted.

All that replied were the crackling of burnt wood, and the clashing of metals. She went to call for them again until she heard: "Lyra!" from the otherside of the courtyard. She knew that voice to be Aeris'.

With great haste, she made it to the otherside where she heard the voice. Was it coming from within the fortress?

Lyra crept towards the stone wall, each step as if a pitfall could be under her next stride. She placed her hand on the stone, only to find the feeling unresponsive within herself, as if she lost the sense of touch.

The world fell silent, then she understood where she was at.

Stones began to convex towards her, when she felt a great force tug her from behind. She blinked twice, and Windermere appeared before her.

"Are you crazy?" Kaelen shouted.

She couldn't help but blink, hoping this would all be a dream too. But it wasn't. What lied before her was the exploded remains of a Fyro Beast, a creature engulfed in flames. A magmatic entity whose sole purpose is to burn anything in its path.