Chapter 7: The Veil of Shadows

King Alden's Pov

The air vibrated with confusion. Shadows moved like animals, scurrying between Solthar's fire and Elara's scale flashes.

I held steady with my sword, slicing through the oncoming hooded ones.

Their eye glows went on forever, each one a reminder of the Void's hold on this world.

Elara was behind me, the scale light trembling unsteadily in her hand. She was holding on, barely.

She gasped with brief, ragged breaths and I saw that she was about to break apart.

"Elara!" I screamed above the noise. "Focus!

The scale is in your power! " "I am focusing!" she screamed back, shaking with her words.

The crimson figure plowed through the strife, untouched by the struggle.

They appeared as a presence to catch my notice, a signal of wickedness within the rolling shadow.

They fixed their gaze on Elara, and the slight smirk on their lips sent a shiver down my spine

.“You’ve postponed the end long enough, Alden,” the figure said, their voice full of mockery.

I didn’t reply.

There was no place for words in this fight.

The figure reached out a hand, and shadows around them solidified into a great spear of darkness.

With a flick of their wrist, the spear shot at Elara. I moved automatically, jumping into its path. The blow rocked waves of shock through my frame, sending me crashing to the ground.

A wave of pain radiated through my chest, but I struggled to rise, supporting myself on my sword. "Alden!

Elara's voice was frantic, but I brushed her aside."I'm fine," I managed to say, though blood still adhered to my mouth.

The red figure cocked their head to the side, a smile on their face.

"You're stubborn.I'll admit it." "Stubborn enough to get this done," I shot back, advancing on them.

They easily deflected my attack, quick and agile. When I thrust with my sword, it was countered by a release of darkness, shocking the ground beneath us."Elara!" I shouted again, straining with effort in my fight. "Have faith in the scale! It will lead you!"

She hesitated, but then the mood changed. The light of the scale stabilized, keeping up with our fight.

"Do it now, Elara!" I shouted.

She held the scale aloft, the light burning like a second sun. The shadows receded, shrinking back from its brilliance. Even the red figure faltered, its expression of confidence replaced by one of worry.

But working the light came at a cost.

Elara screamed with blood-curdling horror as the power tore through her, twisting at her frame."Elara, stop!" I shrieked, terror clutching at my heart."I can't!" she wailed, crying tears streaming down her face.

"It won't let me!"The red figure laughed cruelly. "She doesn't control it. It controls her.". It filled me, pushing out the pain and exhaustion. I rushed at the figure, my sword casting the light of the scale as I plunged it in.

For a moment, I saw something in its eyes—recognition, maybe even fear—before my sword struck true. The body swayed, dark fluid pouring from the wound.

They released a low laugh as they dropped to knees. "Do you think this makes any difference?"I stood over them, my chest heavy with emotion.

"You'll never have her. The Void will not win."Their laugh was deafening, and it echoed eerily.

"The Void doesn't need to win, Alden. It just needs time."And before I could utter another word, they disintegrated into shadows, disappearing into the wind.

I spun around to see Elara on the ground.

The scale was in front of her, its beam weak but unchanging."Elara," I exclaimed, racing to her side. "You're—" My words were overwhelmed by a crushing bellow. I glanced upwards to see storm clouds coalesce into a towering spiral of malice.

Through the heart of it, an enormous shape began to materialize—a monster, something I could not imagine having ever existed.

Its body was a sheer blackness, its eyes radiating an otherworldly red light."The Void Dragon," I whispered, dread creeping in.

Elara stared up, her face pale.

"What… what is that?""Our worst nightmare," I replied, my hand on my sword hilt.

The creature descended slowly, its presence crushing.

The earth trembled as it landed, its huge claws digging into the earth.

"You dare to challenge the Void,"

it growled, its voice rumbling and thunderous, making everything around us tremble. I stood between Elara and the dragon, my sword raised high. "While I breathe, you will not have her.

"The dragon chuckled, a hollow and deep one. "Brave words, little king. But bravery will not save you."It charged, and the world fell into chaos once more.

The battle was a blur of fire, darkness, and pain. Solthar fought valiantly, his golden flames fighting the darkness of the Void Dragon.

I struck wherever I could, each strike of my sword met with resistance that felt like striking the night itself. "Elara!" I bellowed, searching for her amidst the battle.

She was standing nearby, holding the scale in her hands. Its light was fading brighter again but flickered like a flame in the wind. "Elara, you need to escape!" I yelled.

"No chance!" she yelled back at me. "It's happening to me, too!"

I didn't have time to protest.

The Void Dragon's whip whipped around to her. I sprang into its path, the collision flinging me to the ground.

Pain ran through my body, but I stood up. Blood streamed down my temple, but I forced it away. "Elara, listen to me!

You're the only one who can halt this!

"Her eyes fastened on mine, wide with fear and determination."I don't know what to do!""

"You do," I replied firmly.

"You've always known."

The Void Dragon roared, its huge wings spreading as it prepared to charge again."Elara, now!" I shouted, my voice breaking. She closed her eyes, clenching the scale firmly.

The light around her became too much, making even the dragon pause. For a moment, there was silence. And then all exploded in light.

When the light had disappeared, the Void Dragon was gone. The shadow retreated, and the space fell unnaturally silent.

I lurched to Elara, who was still on the ground. The scale remained next to her, its glow weak but continuous.

"Elara," I said, beside her on the ground. "Wake up." Her eyes slowly opened, and relief flooded through me. "It's over," she whispered, her breath a mere sigh.

I shook my head. "Not yet.

The Void's not finished with us.

"There was a distant rumble to the air, and I looked up to see storm clouds massing once more.

"It's just starting," I declared, grasping my sword.