The morning light rising over the fairy village filtered through the thin veil of mist, casting a gentle brightness over the wooden lodge where Shadow and Elriya had spent the night. The forest looked calm, yet the energy drifting between the trees whispered that something far more important was about to begin. As the two warriors walked toward the training grounds at the call of the elder fairy, the faint vibrations from their rings echoed softly with each step.
The rings given by Asterielle kept their powers from overflowing, but that was only the basic safeguard. What neither of them knew was that the true potential sealed within those rings had only just begun to awaken. And today, the purpose of the elder fairy was exactly that.
The training field was wide, encircled by ancient stone pillars marked with old magical sigils. The air carried a subtle floral scent, but the density of magic was far more dominant. When the elder fairy saw them, she smiled, her eyes shimmering.
"Elriya… today we will reveal your true light," she said, raising her hand.
Elriya inhaled sharply. "True light? But… I only know healing magic."
The elder fairy gently shook her head. "No. That was only the beginning. If Asterielle chose you, the reason runs far deeper."
Before Elriya could step back, the elder fairy extended her palm toward her chest. The air around them trembled. The magic inside Elriya, long dormant like a heart forgotten, suddenly began to beat again. Warmth flowed from her hands and spread across the grass; wilted leaves revived, broken branches healed themselves.
Elriya felt the magic coursing through her and held her breath. "This… is so strong… and exhausting."
"Because you have reached the true form of your healing," the elder said. "But this is only your first power."
Then, with a flick of her wrist, the elder fairy summoned a small sphere of flame into her palm. The orange sparks flickered as she pointed it at Elriya.
"Neutralize it."
Elriya froze. "How?"
"No touching. Only feel."
For a moment, nothing happened. Then the runes on her ring lit up with a soft blue glow. The energy around the fireball twisted… bent… unraveled. The flame collapsed inward as if pulled by an unseen force—straight into Elriya's open hand—and vanished completely.
Shadow's eyes widened. "Elriya… you did that."
The elder nodded with pride. "This is your second power. Magic absorption. You can nullify, dispel, or even draw the mana of another's spell into yourself."
Elriya stared at her trembling hand. "I can… steal mana…"
"Yes. And there is still one more."
The elder spread both hands. A point of light bloomed on Elriya's chest and rapidly grew. Elriya instinctively stretched out her arm, and a beam of pure brilliance surged forward—soundless like a silent lightning bolt. When it struck a stone pillar, the pillar split cleanly in half, its surface so smooth it seemed a sword rather than light had cut it.
Shadow was breathless. "Elriya… that attack…"
Elriya looked at her own hands and shivered. "How… did I even do that?"
"The true offensive form of your inner light," the elder replied. "A Pure Light Strike. Rare, sacred, and one of the highest forms of holy power."
When it was Shadow's turn, the elder tilted her head.
"You think your shadow tendrils are only weapons. But they are part of you."
Behind him, the tendrils rose—no longer wild, but steady, breathing, alive. They swayed gently like living limbs waiting for his command.
"Don't think," the elder said. "Feel."
Shadow closed his eyes. The tendrils aligned themselves. One slammed into the ground, cracking the earth. Another sliced through the air with precision. When he opened his eyes again, the elder pointed to a massive tree.
"Climb it. With your tendrils."
Shadow inhaled deeply. The tendrils latched onto the bark like claws, pulling him upward. The tree swayed under the sudden movement, yet within seconds Shadow reached the top. Through the leaves, he could see the sky almost smiling at him.
When he returned to the ground, his ring pulsed with a purple glow.
"You no longer only attack," the elder said. "You can move, defend, restrain, and shape the battlefield itself."
Shadow's eyes burned with determination.
Katherina and Demir's divine pact with the Duke would end in five days.
And for five days, Shadow and Elriya trained relentlessly. Each morning their powers flowed more freely; each night they collapsed exhausted but stronger. Elriya learned to accelerate her magic absorption—sometimes nullifying two spells at once. Shadow controlled his tendrils not as tools but as living extensions, coordinating offense and defense simultaneously. The fairy folk watched their evolution with pride, and the elder fairy revealed a new secret every day.
By the fifth night, shadow and light danced together in perfect harmony over the training grounds.
That night, the moon shone brighter than ever. As Shadow and Elriya rested in their lodge, their rings suddenly trembled. First a faint shimmer… then a radiant aura filled the room.
Moonlight fell like a pillar at the center of the lodge. From within that beam, Goddess Asterielle appeared with graceful elegance.
"Of course I would find you like this," she said with a playful smile. "Collapsed on the floor, exhausted."
Elriya immediately sat up. Shadow straightened himself, but Asterielle waved her hand.
"Relax," she laughed softly. "Yes, I'm a goddess, but seeing you like this makes me happy. Two determined souls pushing themselves to gain real power."
Then her face grew serious.
"But this peace will not last. The Duke is empowering his army with dark magic. Not only human soldiers… he has struck pacts with the forest's dark creatures. The King's forces cannot stop him."
Shadow's fists tightened. "We will."
Asterielle nodded. "I know. That is why I chose you, darling."
Fear flickered in Elriya's eyes. "He's going to attack the King… isn't he?"
"Very soon," Asterielle said. "Your time is short. But you have grown. And I have faith in you."
Before they could thank her, she blew them a delicate kiss. The glowing stardust landed on their rings and dissolved.
"This… for your courage."
Moonlight trembled, and her form dissolved into shimmering light.
By morning, the fairy village was bustling.
The villagers gathered to see them off. The elder fairy hugged them warmly. Elriya did not want to let go. Shadow bowed in quiet respect.
"Your power has grown," the elder said. "But your path is only beginning."
For a final time, the lights of the fairy village faded behind them. As Shadow and Elriya walked deeper into the forest, the wind carried a heavy secret.
The Iron Heights awaited them.
And the confrontation with the Duke was near.
The shadows parted, and the light followed them.
Their fate had already stepped onto a path with no return...
Chapter 16 – THE END