Chapter 5 - THE BOND OF BLOOD
When their hands entered the ring of starlight, time seemed to stop.
The terrible roar of the corrupted dragons faded into a soft, ambient hum. The violent shaking of the subterranean world slowed to a absolute stillness.
Aria found herself standing in a space of pure, infinite blue light. Beside her, Lyra was holding her hand, looking around in utter wonder.
Before them floated two gigantic spirits—two legendary sky-serpents made of pure starlight. One was a brilliant golden beast with wings that fanned out like sunbeams; the other was a graceful silver dragon with eyes like falling snow.
Children of the split flame, the two dragon spirits spoke in unison, their voices echoing in the minds of the sisters like harmonizing harps. For three centuries, humanity fought to dominate us or lock us away in darkness. They forgot that the crown is not a leash. It is a promise.
"We don't want to dominate you," Aria said stepping forward, her voice echoing through the starlight realm. "We just want to save our family. We want to save our home."
"Please," Lyra added, stepping beside Aria, her head held high like a true queen. "Help us undo the dark magic that infects our world."
The twin dragon spirits dipped their massive heads in unison.
Then speak the ancient vow, daughters of Aldric and Serena.
Aria and Lyra looked at each other. They didn't know the words of an ancient ritual, but they didn't need to. They squeezed each other's hands tight, speaking from the very bottom of their hearts.
"We stand together," Aria spoke.
"As sisters of blood and light," Lyra continued.
"To protect the realm," Aria declared.
"And heal the dark!" Lyra finished.
REALITY SHATTERED BACK INTO EXISTENCE.
A blinding pillar of gold and silver fire erupted from the Dragon Crown, shooting straight up through the cavern ceiling, punching through thousands of feet of solid rock until it burst into the open night sky above the capital city of Arkenfall!
"NOOOOO!" Malrec roared as the raw, uncorrupted energy blew him away from the crown.
The purple dark magic that was infusing the slumbering dragon statues was instantly cleansed. The crimson fire in the dragons' eyes dissolved, replaced by a calm, noble blue light. The subterranean dragons didn't wake up to destroy; they unfurled their massive, magnificent wings and let out a harmonic chord of victory that shook the very stars in the night sky.
Malrec slammed against the far marble pillar, coughing black blood, his dark robes shredded to rags. He looked up, his eyes filled with pure terror, as Aria and Lyra stepped out of the light.
Aria’s dark hair was floating gently, golden sparks dancing around her eyes. Beside her, Lyra stood tall, wrapped in an aura of silver energy.
"The Dragon Crown has chosen," Aria said, her voice carrying the terrifying authority of the ancient realm.
"And your darkness has no place here, Malrec," Lyra finished, pointing her hand toward the defeated adviser.
A wave of silver-gold energy shot out from their joined hands, hitting Malrec square in the chest. The dark magic inside him was forcefully purged, evaporating from his body like dark steam. Malrec let out a final, pathetic whimpering cry before collapsing onto the floor, unconscious and completely stripped of his magical power.
Down below, the silver dragon—now freed from its dark chains—let out a triumph roar.
King Aldric, carrying the weak but living Serena in his arms, looked up at the high sanctuary, tears streaming down his face. "They did it... my daughters did it."
Aria looked down at her hand, then up at Lyra.
"We actually did it," Lyra breathed, a real, unprompted smile breaking across her face.
"Yeah," Aria laughed, wiping a tear from her cheek. "We did."
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Suddenly, the massive silver dragon flew up to the sanctuary platform, hovering just outside the open archway. It lowered its vast, noble head, inviting the two sisters to touch its scales.
Aria and Lyra walked forward together, placing their hands on the cold, shimmering silver snout of the ancient guardian.
