Chapter 9 Fire Eyes

Nyxira POV

The shadow stepped through the broken sky.

It didn't walk.

It floated.

Like smoke.

Like death.

Its fire eyes stared right at me. They didn't blink.

They didn't need to.

My hands started to shake again.

But I didn't move back.

I couldn't.

Zeryn stepped beside me. His sword was ready. He didn't speak, but I could feel him-like a shield behind me.

Darian stood on my other side, cold light in his hands. A spell, maybe. Or something worse.

The old Guardians stayed kneeling.

Still.

Like they were waiting for a sign.

The Herald stood between us and the shadow. His body was burned, broken, but his smile was sharp.

Like he enjoyed the pain.

Like he wanted more.

"Rayn," the shadow said again, voice deep as thunder. "You should have stayed gone."

I stepped forward.

My legs felt heavy, but I moved them anyway.

"I came back," I said.

The shadow's fire eyes grew brighter. "Then you will burn again."

I lifted my hand.

Light rose from my palm. Not soft light. Bright. Hot. It cracked the air.

The Guardians stood.

The Archive rumbled.

But the shadow laughed.

Not loud.

Not wild.

Just... low.

Cold.

And behind that laugh, the stars cracked again.

More shadows slipped in.

Some small.

Some huge.

Some had wings.

Some had claws.

All of them looked hungry.

Zeryn POV

I knew this was coming.

Not like this.

But I knew.

We couldn't run. Not anymore.

And if we didn't fight now, we'd never get the chance again.

I stepped in front of Nyx. She didn't stop me.

I faced the Herald. He tilted his head like I was a joke.

But I wasn't.

I charged.

My blade hit first.

Right at his chest.

But he moved fast-too fast.

The sword sliced smoke.

Then his hand hit my chest.

Hard.

I flew backward, slammed into the star-floor.

It didn't break.

But I almost did.

Nyx cried out.

Darian shouted something in old language.

The light in his hand burst forward.

It hit the Herald, threw him back.

The Herald didn't fall.

He spun, caught himself, smiled again.

Like a child playing a game.

I stood, gasping.

The Guardians moved now.

Fast. Silent.

They ran toward the shadows pouring from the rift.

The war had started.

Darian POV

The Archive was falling.

I could feel it.

Not in a loud way.

Not shaking walls or crashing skies.

No.

It was deeper than that.

Like a thread pulling loose. Like time bleeding.

Nyx was standing at the center of it.

And the shadows wanted her.

Because of what she was.

Because of what she remembered.

But they didn't know her like I did.

Not the new her.

Not the broken, fighting, glowing girl standing with fire in her hands.

I stood beside her again.

"They're coming for you," I said.

"I know."

"We won't let them."

She looked at me.

"I don't want to lose anyone."

"Then win."

The Guardians clashed with the shadow beasts.

Swords of light met claws of smoke.

The air was full of screams.

And over it all-

The shadow with fire eyes walked forward.

Step by step.

Slow.

Steady.

No one could stop it.

Yet.

Nyxira POV

The fire-eyed shadow wasn't like the others.

It didn't rush.

Didn't roar.

It just came.

Like it knew nothing could stop it.

But I had to try.

I lifted both hands.

Fire rose.

Not normal fire.

Not red or orange.

It was white.

And gold.

It hummed like a song I once knew.

It burned without smoke.

The shadow paused.

Just for a second.

Then it opened its mouth.

And spoke a word I didn't know.

The fire in my hands shook.

Then faded.

Just like that.

Gone.

My breath caught.

No. No. No.

The shadow smiled.

Its voice was soft this time.

"You still don't remember enough."

Then it raised its hand.

And the stars cracked again.

A bolt of black fire hit me.

I didn't scream.

But I fell.

Hard.

Zeryn ran to me.

He caught me before I hit the ground.

I could feel his heart beating fast.

He whispered my name.

"Nyx. Nyx, stay with me."

I tried to open my eyes.

I saw him.

Saw stars behind him.

Then nothing.

Zeryn POV

She was still breathing.

But just barely.

The fire in her skin was gone.

All of it.

Like something had ripped it out.

I looked at the shadow.

I wanted to tear it apart.

But how?

I wasn't a god.

I wasn't a hero.

I was just me.

But that had to be enough.

I laid Nyx down gently.

Stood.

Held my sword again.

Looked at Darian.

He nodded.

"We have to distract it," he said. "Give her time."

"Time for what?"

"To remember the rest."

I didn't ask more.

We ran together.

Straight at the shadow.

I screamed.

Darian shouted a spell.

We hit it from both sides.

It turned.

And smiled.

Like this was exactly what it wanted.

Nyxira POV

I wasn't dead.

I knew that.

Because I could still feel.

Feel cold.

Feel dark.

I was somewhere else.

Not the Archive.

Not the stars.

Somewhere deeper.

Inside.

Inside myself?

Or something older?

A voice whispered.

Not loud.

Not near.

It said one word.

"Rayn."

I turned.

Saw a light.

It was small.

But strong.

I walked toward it.

The ground under my feet wasn't real.

Nothing here was.

But I walked anyway.

The light grew.

Then I saw it.

A memory.

One I hadn't seen before.

My first fire.

My real one.

Long ago.

In another life.

I was standing on a mountain of ash.

The sky burned.

Wings of flame opened behind me.

I wasn't scared.

I was ready.

And I spoke a vow.

Not just words.

A promise.

"I will guard the flame. Even if it means falling again."

The vow came back to me.

Like it had never left.

I felt the fire again.

Deep inside.

Not borrowed.

Not broken.

Mine.

I opened my eyes.

And they burned.

Darian POV

I saw her rise.

Not slowly.

Not weak.

She didn't float.

She didn't shout.

She just stood.

But the ground glowed under her.

Her hair lit like fire again.

Her hands burned white.

And the shadow paused.

For the first time-

It looked unsure.

Nyx stepped forward.

Her voice was soft.

But it shook the air.

"I remember."

The shadow hissed.

"You cannot stop what's begun."

Nyx kept walking.

"You didn't steal the flame. You only borrowed pieces."

The shadow raised its hand.

But this time-

Nyx raised hers too.

And fire met fire.

White against black.

The Archive shook.

Light exploded.

The Herald screamed.

Zeryn pulled me back.

We watched.

And the flames fought.

Zeryn POV

The light was too bright.

I had to look away.

But I didn't want to.

I wanted to see her.

See her win.

When I looked again, the shadow was falling.

Piece by piece.

Its fire eyes dimmed.

Its body cracked.

And then it was gone.

Gone like smoke in wind.

Nyx stood in the middle of the platform.

Breathing hard.

But alive.

The Herald was gone too.

Only ashes left.

The Guardians knelt again.

Darian whispered, "She did it."

I didn't say anything.

I just walked to her.

Held her.

She didn't cry.

She didn't smile.

She just leaned against me.

Tired.

But not broken.

Not anymore.

Nyxira POV

The stars turned gold again.

The sky above closed.

The rift sealed.

For now.

I knew it wouldn't last.

The Herald was gone.

But not forever.

The flame was safe.

But not hidden.

And the shadow I stopped?

It wasn't the last one.

Not even close.

Zeryn brushed my hair back.

"You okay?"

I nodded.

Then shook my head.

"I don't know."

He smiled a little.

"That's okay."

Darian stepped closer.

"We need to leave before the Archive fades."

"Where will we go?" I asked.

He looked up.

"Where it all began."

Zeryn frowned. "The Temple?"

"No," Darian said. "Beyond that. The Forgotten Lands."

I felt cold.

Even with the fire in me.

Because I remembered that place now.

And I knew what waited there.

I looked at them both.

Then at the sky.

The stars were watching.

Always.

And I whispered-

"Then let it begin."