All the villagers are gathered the cliff of the mountain.The drums began before midnight.
Slow. Heavy. Unforgiving.
Boom....Boom.....Boom!!
Each sound echoed through the village like a death sentence.
Iron bit into Lyra's wrists as two village guards dragged her through the mud. She walked barefoot.Her white dress was no longer white it was stained with dirt, ash, and dried blood from where she had fought.
As she entered, the drums pounded again like war.
Boom....Boom.....Boom!!
Each beat shouted the same truth.
Sacrifice.
"Move!" one of the guards hissed, shoving her forward.
She stumbled but did not fall.She refused to fall.The entire village had gathered in the clearing. Torches surrounded the ancient forest path leading to the forbidden cave. No one met her eyes. Some looked afraid.
Others looked relieved.Children hid behind their mothers.As if she were the monster.
In the center stood the High Elder, staff raised toward the swollen moon.
"The hundredth year has come," he announced, voice echoing through the trees. "Tonight, the sacrifice will be offered. The Monster King must remain asleep."
The crowd murmured prayers.
Lyra lifted her head slowly and smiled. It wasn't fear.It wasn't madness. It was something far worse.
The Elder's eyes narrowed. "Bring the cursed girl forward."
The guards shoved her to her knees.
"You were chosen by fate," the Elder continued. "Your life will seal the darkness for another century. You should be honored."
Lyra let out a quiet laugh. It wasn't loud.
But in the heavy silence of the clearing, it cut through the air like a blade.
"Honored?" she repeated, tilting her head. Even kneeling, she looked untouchable. "You truly have no idea what you are about to do."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
The Elder's grip tightened around his stick. "Silence."
She leaned forward slightly, chains clinking.
"You think you're feeding a dying flame," she whispered. "But you're pouring oil onto a sleeping fire.
For a heartbeat...Silence.
Then the clearing erupted in the crowd.
"How dare she!"
"Blasphemy!"
"She mocks the Elder!"
An old woman stepped forward, fury twisting her wrinkled face. "Arrogant witch! Kneel properly when you speak to him!"
"She has no shame!" another man shouted. "Beat her! Teach her respect before the ritual!"
The crowd's fear turned into anger the easiest emotion to hide fear behind.
The High Elder's expression darkened.
"You stand in chains," he said coldly, "yet your tongue is free."
Lyra's smile widened.
"That is because chains were never meant for me."
The nearest guard struck her across the face.
The sound echoed sharply.Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Her head snapped to the side and the thin line of blood traced her lip but she did not cry out.
She did not lower her gaze.
Slowly… she lifted her face again and laughed.
Just enough to make the torches flicker.
The wind shifted.Clouds swallowed part of the moon.Somewhere in the forest, wolves began to howl.Unease crept back into the villagers' bones.
"Enough!" the High Elder barked, though even his voice wavered slightly. "Throw her into the cave before her curse spreads!"
The guards tightened their grip and dragged Lyra toward the mouth of the cave.The forest seemed to grow darker with every step.
The entrance stood tall and jagged, carved with ancient symbols blackened by time. The massive stone doors were sealed shut, covered in claw-like markings.
The High Elder stepped forward.
He removed the ceremonial mask from his face, revealing deep lines of fear etched into his skin.
He raised his staff toward the moon.
"Form the circle!" he commanded.
The villagers surrounded the clearing, torches lowered. Heads bowed.
The Elder began to chant.
Low at first and then louder and louder....
"By blood once given, by oath once sworn,
Let the sleeping king remain undone.
By chains of earth and breath of sky,
Let sealed darkness never rise.
Peace upon his cursed domain,
Let him sleep in endless pain."
The villagers repeated the last line in trembling unison:
"Let him sleep… let him sleep…"
The runes on the cave doors began to glow faintly red.
Lyra watched and got amused.
The Elder's voice grew sharper.
"By sacrifice of mortal flame,
We bind the beast in ancient name.
By this life offered to the night,
We steal his strength and dim his might."
The iron chains around Lyra's wrists burned.
She tilted her head slightly toward the villagers.
"They really believe this will work again…" she murmured.
The stone doors trembled. A deep rumble echoed from within.The chanting faltered for half a second.The Elder shouted louder, almost desperately.
"OPEN!"
The runes flared.The massive doors slowly split apart with a grinding roar of stone against stone.Cold air burst outward like the breath of something ancient.The torches nearest the entrance extinguished instantly.
Darkness poured from inside.
Several villagers stepped back in fear.
"Throw her in!" someone cried.
The guards didn't hesitate this time.
They shoved Lyra forward.
For a brief second, she stood at the threshold between firelight and shadow.
She glanced back over her shoulder.
Her silver eyes shimmered faintly.
"This is your last chance to run," she said softly.
Then they pushed her in.she stumbled forward into the land.The doors began closing behind her. She didn't have strength to get up.
Outside the cave the chanting sound grew up!
The chanting resumed desperately.
"Let him sleep! Let him sleep!"
The stone doors slammed shut with a thunderous boom.
Silence swallowed the forest. Now, the villagers also stopped chanting. Within few seconds everything went silent.
Inside the cave Lyra slowly rose to her feet.
Perfect.
The air inside the cave felt ancient heavy with something that had been breathing long before humans existed.
Her eyes adjusted slightly.
Shadows stretched endlessly across jagged stone walls.
And then... A metallic scrape.
Due to the darkness, she is not able to see anything!!
Stil her pulse did not quicken.Instead, she took one step forward.There is a pearl bracelet around her wrists began to hum faintly.
Then...another sound came. It sounds like the chains are moving. Massive chains.... dragging!!
Not near her but far deep inside.
A faint crimson glow flickered in the darkness.
For a moment, she thought it was her imagination.
And then.... Two eyes opened.
They did not blaze.They did not flare.
They simply glowed. They are shinning in the darkness.
The darkness did not move around him.It obeyed him.She couldn't see his full form.
Only the outline broad shoulders...
Head slightly lowered.
Heavy chains stretched from stone pillars to his wrists… his chest… his neck.
Each chain thicker than a tree trunk.
Each carved with runes similar to the ones on her own restraints.
The air vibrated with restrained power.He did not speak.But the cave trembled slightly with his inhale.
As if the world itself adjusted to his waking.
Lyra met his glowing gaze without flinching.
For several long seconds
They simply stared at one another.
The iron chains binding her wrists began to crack.A thin silver light flickered beneath her skin.
The crimson eyes narrowed.
A low voice finally echoed through the cavern.
It sounds like it is unused for a century..
"…You are not like the others."
The chains around him strained.
Stone cracked faintly beneath the pressure.
Outside the cave, the wind suddenly shifted direction.
But inside only his eyes shone in the endless dark and he was no longer fully asleep.