Page 76 of Favored By the Stars

"I'm, I'm fine," she managed to say, though her voice sounded wrong, deeper and resonating with an echo that hadn't been present before, sending a shiver down my spine. "Keep fighting!" Her determination shone through, even as she struggled to regain her composure, the fierce light in her eyes undiminished despite the peril she faced.

I lunged toward Wyn, my heart hammering against my ribs as dark energy pulsed around her slender form. The void shard embedded in her chest glowed with an unnatural greenish light, sending tendrils of shadow cascading down her arms.

"Something's happening," Wyn whispered, her voice now layered with multiple tones as though several people spoke at once. She raised her trembling hands, and to my horror, the ground around her feet cracked open. Skeletal fingers clawed their way up from the earth, followed by the remains of long-dead creatures answering her unspoken command.

"This power..." she gasped, both terrified and awed, as shadows coalesced around her fingertips. The darkness seemed to bend to her will, forming intricate patterns before solidifying into spectral weapons that hovered protectively around her.

Thorn positioned himself between us and Eldric, but I noticed the masked figure's attention had completely shifted. His silver mask tilted toward Wyn, the animalistic features catching the eerie light emanating from her transformed magic.

Eldric took a step toward Wyn, completely ignoring me despite moments ago fixating on claiming my pendant. "Such raw potential... Centuries have passed since anyone witnessed necromancy of this caliber."

The corrupted fae hesitated, their grotesque forms momentarily still as they awaited new commands. Eldric raised a hand, signaling them to stand down as he continued his approach toward Wyn.

"Stay back!" I warned, channeling both moon and sun magic through the Crescent Diadem, preparing to defend my friend.

But Eldric paid me no mind. His focus remained entirely on Wyn as she struggled to control the surging power within her. The shadows around her thickened, and more undead creatures emerged from the ground, forming a protective circle.

"You have no idea what you truly are," Eldric said to Wyn, his voice almost gentle. "What you could become with the proper guidance."

The shadows swirling around Wyn intensified, dark tendrils coiling around her limbs like possessive serpents. Her face, usually bright with curiosity and warmth, had drained of all color, leaving her pale as moonlight. But what truly broke my heart was the raw terror in her eyes as she stared at her own hands.

"What's happening to me?" Wyn's voice cracked, tears welling up. "Senara, I can feel them, all of them, the dead beneath our feet. Their voices, their pain..." She clutched at her head, silver hair falling forward to curtain her face.

I took a cautious step toward her, noting how the skeletal guardians shifted but made no move to attack. They simply repositioned themselves, hollow eye sockets fixed on me as I approached their mistress.

"Don't come closer!" Wyn cried out, backing away. "I don't know if I can control this. I don't want to hurt you."

Thorn circled to my left, sun-blade drawn and pointed at Eldric. "Whatever you did to her, undo it now," he growled, his stance protective but uncertain as he eyed the undead guardians.

Eldric's mask tilted in what I could only interpret as amusement. "Undo? One cannot simply undo awakening. Your friend has touched powers older than the fae courts themselves."

I reached for Wyn despite her protests, stopping just short of touching her. "Wyn, look at me. We'll figure this out together. I won't let you face this alone."

"The things I'm seeing, Senara..." Wyn whispered, her eyes distant. "Civilizations long buried. Knowledge that was meant to stay hidden." A sob escaped her. "What if I become like him?" She jerked her chin toward Eldric.

"You won't," I promised, though uncertainty gnawed at my insides. Everything was unraveling, the Void Dragon Empress, the artifacts, and now Wyn's transformation. Each step forward seemed to plunge us deeper into chaos.

Volker moved to stand beside me, his eyes fixed on the undead guardians. "They're not attacking. They're... protecting her."

"Of course they are," Eldric interjected. "They recognize power when they sense it. As should you all."

Thorn lunged forward, forcing Eldric back with a sweeping arc of his blade. "Stay away from her!"

I met Wyn's frightened gaze. "We'll find a way through this. I promise you."

Her lips trembled. "There's always a price for power like this, Senara. Always."

And in that moment, I felt our control of the situation slipping away like water through cupped hands.

A bone-chilling shriek tore through the air as a swarm of corrupted fae burst from the shadows, their twisted forms moving with unnatural speed. They ignored me completely, surging past Thorn and Volker toward Wyn.

"No!" I screamed, watching in horror as dozens of clawed hands reached for her.

Wyn's newfound shadows lashed out defensively, her undead guardians lunging to intercept the attackers. For a moment, it seemed her power might protect her, until Eldric raised his hand and spoke words that slithered through the air like venomous snakes. The skeletal defenders shuddered and collapsed, crumbling to dust at Wyn's feet.

"Your control is admirable but premature," Eldric said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "The Shadow Dragon Clan could do much for someone with your potential."

Wyn's eyes met mine, wide with terror as dozens of corrupted fae surrounded her. "Senara!"

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