Chapter 8 - THE SACRIFICE OF THE OLD KING
The shadow had vanished, but the ancient foundation of the Sunless Citadel was severely compromised.
Centuries of dark magic had eaten away at the structural pillars supporting the upper royal dungeon. Great fissures opened across the white marble floors, and massive chunks of stone began raining down from the cavern ceiling.
"The citadel is collapsing!" Lyra shouted, holding onto a pillar to stay upright as the ground violently pitched beneath them.
"We have to get to the surface!" Aria yelled, looking back toward her parents.
King Aldric was on his knees, holding Serena tightly in his arms. Serena’s face was deathly pale, her breathing shallow and ragged. The dark magic that had bound her collar for twelve years had taken a severe toll on her physical body; without the ambient energy of the citadel holding her together, her life force was rapidly fading.
"Father! Mother!" Aria ran down the crumbling crystal steps, Lyra right beside her.
"Take her, girls," Aldric whispered, lifting Serena into Aria and Lyra’s arms. "Take your mother and get on the dragon."
"What about you?!" Lyra cried out, grabbing her father's blood-soaked sleeve. "Father, you have to come with us!"
Aldric looked up at his two daughters, a faint, proud smile breaking through his exhausted, weathered face. He looked at the white-glowing crests on their palms, then down at the deep fissure creeping across the floor toward the central core of the Dragon Crown.
"The crown requires an anchor," Aldric said softly, his voice full of peace. "If the core is left unstable, the entire subterranean realm will cave in, dragging the capital city down into the abyss. Someone must stay behind to manually lock the ancient key from the pedestal."
"No!" Aria sobbed, grabbing his hand. "No! I just found you! You can't leave us again!"
"I am not leaving you, my sweet flame," Aldric touched Aria’s cheek, his dirt-stained thumb wiping away her tears. "I am finally doing my duty as a father. I spent twelve years hiding behind my crown, letting others suffer for my cowardice. Today, I protect my children."
"Father, please!" Lyra wept openly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "We can find another way! Together!"
"There is no other way, Lyra," Aldric kissed the top of his eldest daughter's head. "You are going to be a magnificent Queen. Rule with the mercy your sister taught you. Rule with the strength of the dragon."
The silver dragon landed heavy on the sanctuary platform, lowering its massive wing like a ramp. Come, little ones, the dragon’s voice was full of solemn reverence. The old king’s path is set. Honor his choice.
Aldric forcibly pushed his daughters toward the dragon's wing. "Go! Now!"
With tears blinding their eyes, Aria and Lyra carried their unconscious mother onto the silver dragon's back.
King Aldric turned away from his family and limped resolutely toward the glowing pedestal of the Dragon Crown. He grabbed the ancient stone levers with his bare, bloodied hands, channeling the remaining fragments of his own royal life force into the mechanism.
"For Arkenfall!" Aldric roared, pulling the levers back with all his remaining strength.
BOOM!
Massive, ancient stone doors began to slide shut over the abyss, sealing the deep core forever.
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As the silver dragon leapt into the air, snapping its magnificent wings and ascending toward the sky-fissure, Aria and Lyra looked down one last time.
King Aldric stood alone at the center of the sanctuary, bathed in a brilliant pillar of gold and silver light, watching his daughters fly away to safety. He raised his hand in a final farewell before the heavy stone doors sealed completely, locking the ancient shadow away for all eternity.
