Page 71 of Favored By the Stars

I watched Volker's expression falter, hurt flashing across his face before determination replaced it again. But doubt lingered like smoke in the air.

Then Van's shadow loomed large and ominous behind him, a specter of despair that seemed almost tangible in its malevolence. "Do you think you can escape this fate?" it mocked, circling him slowly as if savoring every moment of his torment. "You'll never die; trapped here forever while the gods mock your existence from afar."

Van clenched his jaw tight enough that I could see the muscles strain beneath his skin. He shot back defiantly, though uncertainty seeped through his bravado. "No! The gods promised me freedom."

"They lied!" the shadow spat, interrupting him with contemptuous laughter. "They always lie! That's what gods do! You'll be nothing more than this cursed shell until the end of time."

As their voices swirled around us like storm winds threatening to tear apart our resolve, I felt the weight of their words press down on me too, taunting me with fears I had tried so hard to suppress.

"Give in, Senara. Thorn doesn't really want you and this bond that you forced on him. He wants his freedom. You are a bolder chained to his neck, dragging him under until he will suffocate, because you were too selfish to let him go when you had the chance." My dark self pointed a blade tip to my throat. I hadn't even seen her move and could barely dodge the swipe of the blade itself.

The shadows surged around us, their taunts slicing through the air like knives. I could see Wyn struggling against her dark self, each spell she cast flickering as if it took every ounce of her soul and left her drained in return. I felt my heart pound in rhythm with her exhaustion; we were running out of time.

"Wyn!" I shouted, trying to break through the haze of despair that enveloped her. "You're stronger than this! You can't let it win!"

But the shadow twisted and laughed, a sinister sound that echoed off the temple walls. "Look at her! She's crumbling under the weight of her own fears. Just give up, Wyn. Let go."

"No!" Wyn's voice quivered, but doubt seeped into her tone. Her hands trembled as she faced her shadow self.

I had to do something. I remembered those days in our childhood when Wyn had been bullied, how she had been abused, how I had stepped in, my fists clenched and my heart racing, ready to defend her no matter what. This was no different; I couldn't stand by while darkness threatened to consume my friend.

With a surge of determination, I pushed past Thorn and Volker, charging toward Wyn's dark reflection. "Get away from her!" I shouted.

The shadow turned its gaze toward me, sneering. "You think you can save her? She'll never be free while you're around!"

Ignoring its words, I drew on the magic pulsing within me, the power of both moon and sun intertwined in harmony, and aimed it straight at the darkness before me. A barrier formed between Wyn and her shadow self. The darkness recoiled for just a moment.

Taking advantage of that hesitation, I launched myself forward, gathering every ounce of strength within me for one decisive blow.

"Leave her alone!"

I struck hard with a force fueled by all the times I'd defended Wyn in our youth, every harsh word spoken against her by others became energy coursing through me now. My fist connected with the shadow's core, sending ripples of light erupting from where I struck.

The dark figure screamed, a sound that clawed at my ears before dissipating into mist as it shattered under my blow.

Wyn gasped behind me as the remnants swirled away like smoke caught in a breeze. The oppressive weight lifted slightly from the room.

"You did it," she breathed, relief washing over her face like dawn breaking after a long night.

But we weren't safe yet; there were still more shadows lurking in the depths waiting for their chance to strike again.

I turned to see Thorn facing his dark reflection, a twisted version of himself with one eye that burned like a blazing fire and the other seeming to suck that same light directly into itself. The image before me was more than a little disconcerting. My heart raced as I watched the two square off, shadows swirling around them like a storm.

"Thorn, you've got this!" I called out, trying to push my own fears aside.

"Just stay back!" he shouted, his voice taut with strain. The dark Thorn lunged forward, and with a fluid motion, Thorn dodged the attack. He countered with a powerful swing of his sword, but the shadow parried effortlessly, smirking as if he enjoyed the challenge.

"You think you're strong enough?" the shadow sneered. "You're just a soldier in someone else's war. Not even a commander, general, or lieutenant. You? You. Are. Nothing. Nothing but a fleshy shield that Senara can use to keep herself safe."

Thorn's jaw clenched. "No! Senara is my soul bonded and we will never abandon one another." With renewed fury, he charged again. This time, he focused on not just strength but precision, he anticipated the shadow's movements and ducked under its strike. In one fluid motion, he drove his blade through the creature's core.

The shadow shrieked and dissolved into wisps of darkness, leaving only the faintest echo of its laughter behind. Thorn turned to me, eyes fierce yet vulnerable. "I'm okay," Thorn grunted at me when he caught my concerned look.

I nodded and shifted my gaze to Wyn as she faced her dark self once more. The twisted version sneered at her, lashing out with words meant to cut deeper than any blade.

"You're nothing without your friends," it taunted. "You'll always be second-best!"

"No!" Wyn shouted back fiercely. She focused her energy and sent a surge of magic toward her shadow self, light clashed against the dark in a dazzling display that made me have to shield my eyes or risk being blinded.

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