The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow over the land as the warriors stood in the aftermath of the battle. The remnants of the crumbled temple were now just dust and stone, but the weight of the victory—however fleeting—still clung to the air. Elara's chest rose and fell as she breathed deeply, her hands trembling from the exhaustion that had settled in.
She had broken the curse. She had defeated the demon's lingering influence. But the victory felt hollow. In her heart, she knew the fight was not over.
The warriors stood around her, their expressions a mix of awe, concern, and confusion. They had witnessed the true power of the ice witch within her, but it was still unclear whether they truly understood what she was capable of—or what she had yet to awaken.
Kael stepped forward, his fiery gaze softening as he watched Elara. "You did it. You saved us. But you're not okay. You're still shaking."
Elara shook her head, brushing aside the strands of hair that had fallen across her face. "I'm fine. We need to move. If the demon was able to leave such a curse behind, it's only a matter of time before others come for us."
Rivena frowned. "Others? You mean, more demons like the one we just fought?"
"No," Elara replied quietly. "Worse."
Her warriors exchanged uneasy glances, but before they could press her further, a voice broke through the silence.
"Is she still hiding from the truth?"
Elara stiffened, her heart skipping a beat as she turned to the source of the voice. It was Nyra, the blind oracle, whose sightless eyes seemed to pierce right through her. Despite her lack of vision, Nyra's understanding of the world was unparalleled.
"Tell them," Nyra urged softly, her voice laced with an ancient wisdom. "Tell them who you truly are, Elara. Tell them about the Light within you. The one that has not yet fully awakened."
Elara swallowed hard. She could feel their eyes on her—their unspoken questions, their doubts. She had kept her true identity a secret for so long, even from herself. But Nyra was right. The time had come to stop hiding.
Elara took a deep breath and turned to face them all. Her voice, when it came, was steady but heavy with the weight of truth. "I'm the daughter of the true God of Light," she said, her words carrying the force of something ancient. "The demon that we fought—the one who masqueraded as the God of Light—has kept me hidden, kept my power sealed away. For thousands of years, I've been kept in the shadows, never fully understanding what I was."
There was a collective intake of breath from the group, and for the first time, they all saw Elara in a different light. She wasn't just a girl with ice powers. She was the daughter of the very being that had created the world—the true God of Light. And that truth left them speechless.
"But…" Kael started, his brow furrowing. "How? How can you be the daughter of Light? And why were you hidden?"
"Because the demon feared my power," Elara continued, her voice growing more resolute. "My father—my real father—was sealed away by the demon. Trapped in a prison of light, frozen in time. I was the only one who could ever free him. But my powers were kept dormant, hidden from me. The demon knew that if I ever unlocked my true abilities, I would destroy him."
She paused, her eyes briefly falling to the ground as she took in the weight of her own words. "The ice magic... it's only a fragment of my true potential. The light within me, the power of creation itself, is what I need to unlock to defeat him—and free my father."
The warriors stood in stunned silence, processing what they had just heard. None of them had expected this. None of them had imagined that Elara's true identity would be so far-reaching, so powerful.
"Then… what do we do now?" Bram asked, his voice thick with awe and concern.
Elara met his gaze, her eyes burning with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. "Now, we search for the key to awakening the Light within me. We need to find the relics of the true God—the artifacts that were hidden when the demon sealed him away. Once I have them, I can unlock my true powers and free my father."
"And how do we find these relics?" Rivena asked, his tone sharp. "Do you have any idea where to begin?"
Elara nodded. "Yes. The first relic is said to be hidden in the Temple of Dawn. It's located deep in the Western mountains, beyond the Storm Gates. But it won't be easy to reach. The path is treacherous, filled with dangerous creatures and traps meant to keep people out."
Thorne, the assassin, smirked. "Sounds like a good challenge."
Kael chuckled. "Of course you'd say that."
"Don't underestimate this quest," Elara said, her expression hardening. "The demon will stop at nothing to keep me from awakening my true power. He's already sent his forces to follow us. We won't be safe for long."
The warriors nodded in agreement, the weight of their mission settling over them like a cloak. They had faced danger before, but this was different. This wasn't just a battle for survival. This was a battle for the fate of the world.
"Then we leave at first light," Kael said, his voice firm. "Together, we'll find these relics and stop the demon once and for all."
Elara nodded. "Together."
As they made their preparations for the journey ahead, Elara couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The path they were about to take would test them all—not just their strength, but their will, their loyalty, and their very belief in what was possible.
But there was no turning back. The Light had to be awakened.
And only she could do it.
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End of Chapter 5
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