The sky over the Crystal City didn't just darken; it felt like the light itself was being swallowed. The giant shadow we saw from the balcony descended with a deafening screech. It wasn't a dragon—it was a Void Wraith, a creature made of the Dark Lord's own essence.
"Shakil, the city's barrier is weak! If the Wraith hits the central spire, the ancient magic will collapse!" Lyria shouted, her hair whipping wildly in the freezing wind.
"Not on my watch," I growled.
I felt the bond on my wrist burning. The silver mark was glowing so brightly it shone through my sleeve. I didn't wait for the monster to reach us. I ran to the edge of the balcony and leapt into the air.
"Shakil! No!" I heard Lyria scream.
As I fell, I slammed my staff downward. "Gravity Burst!"
A shockwave of magic propelled me forward like a cannonball. I slammed into the side of the Void Wraith. The creature felt like cold smoke and sharp needles. It shrieked, its purple eyes locking onto mine.
You... the Guardian of a dying star... a voice hissed inside my head.
I felt a cold darkness trying to seep into my mind through our soul-bond. I could feel Lyria's terror, but I also felt her power.
"I'm not just a Guardian," I spat, driving the blades of my light-glaive deep into its translucent chest. "I'm her partner!"
The Wraith exploded in a cloud of dark mist, throwing me off. I was falling toward the jagged rocks below when a burst of silver energy caught me. Lyria was hovering in mid-air, her feet barely touching the ground, her hands glowing with celestial power.
She landed me safely on the city gates. But as we looked up, our hearts sank. The Wraith was just the scout. Behind it, an army of thousands was marching through the mountain pass, led by a figure in obsidian armor.
Dark Lord Kael had arrived.