The night was heavy with silence, but inside Evelyn, a storm raged. The broken pendant lay cold in her trembling hands—the only link to Lucien, the man she loved and feared she had lost forever.
Her breath hitched as memories flooded her: Lucien's fierce protectiveness, the softness in his eyes when he looked at her, the promises whispered in secret moments far from danger.
But now, he was gone. Or so everyone believed.
Evelyn sank to the ground, tears burning her cheeks. "Lucien… why did you have to leave me like this?"
Kael approached quietly, his expression unreadable. "We have to be strong. For all of us."
Elara stood nearby, watching Evelyn with sympathy and her own storm of emotions. She stepped closer.
"We'll find him," Elara said softly. "If he's alive, we'll bring him back."
Evelyn nodded, clutching the pendant tighter. "I overheard whispers... someone saw a shadow near the ruins—the place Lucien would go if he were hiding."
Kael's eyes hardened. "Then we move at first light."
As dawn crept over the horizon, the group prepared in silence. The tension was thick—Evelyn's grief, Elara's quiet determination, Kael's guarded watchfulness.
Kael reached out and briefly squeezed Evelyn's shoulder. "You're not alone in this."
Evelyn looked up, gratitude shining through her pain.
Together, they set out toward the ruins where Lucien might still be fighting his own battle—alone.
At the ruins, the morning mist curled around the crumbling stones. Every step forward was filled with hope and dread.
Suddenly, from the shadows, a figure appeared—wounded, but alive.
Lucien's eyes locked on Evelyn's. Pain softened to relief.
"I'm here," he whispered.
Evelyn dropped to her knees, sobbing as she took his hand. "Don't ever leave me again."
Kael watched silently,
Elara stood a little apart, her heart heavy but her resolve stronger than ever.
That night, by the fire, Lucien explained the truth.
"I had to hide. Nyra's curse is stronger than we thought. If they found me too soon, they'd kill me."
Evelyn nodded, wiping her tears. "We'll face it together."
Kael's voice was steady. "All of us."
Elara watched them, feeling the weight of what was to come.
The battle was far from over—but in the darkest shadows before dawn, a fragile light of hope had begun to burn.