Volume 17: Shadows of Rebirth
The northern plains were silent, scarred by the battles that had raged for weeks. Humans and demons worked side by side, rebuilding shattered walls, tending to the wounded, and clearing the lingering traces of shadow corruption.
Elias and Azeryn walked through the recovering camps, their presence a symbol of hope. Soldiers from both realms paused to bow or nod in respect.
Azeryn's golden eyes scanned the horizon. "It feels… quiet. Too quiet."
Elias frowned. "The Void Sovereign is gone, but its remnants might still linger. Darkness rarely disappears completely."
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A New Council
In the Citadel, representatives of both realms gathered. Elias stood at the center.
"We rebuild together," he declared. "No human or demon will rule over the other. Our strength comes from unity, not division."
Azeryn added, her voice steady, "And our bond is a testament. If we can survive the Void together, so can our people."
Rydell, now acting as a liaison between realms, nodded slowly. "It's… unusual, but I see the sense. The Void's remnants showed us how fragile we were alone."
Varak grunted in agreement. "Trust must be earned—but today, we have a chance to rebuild something stronger."
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The First Warning
That night, Elias felt a tremor through the Crown of Realms marks. A faint, pulsing shadow lingered far beyond the northern border.
Azeryn appeared beside him, wings unfurling in alert. "You feel that?"
Elias nodded, grim. "Something survived. The Void left behind more than destruction. There's intelligence… intent."
From the darkness, whispers echoed faintly, a voice that seemed to slither into their minds:
"You think you've won… but I am reborn."
Elias's hand found Azeryn's, twin marks blazing. "Then we'll face it. Together."
Azeryn's golden eyes gleamed with fierce determination. "No matter what rises from the shadows, we will protect both realms."
Above the Citadel, the stars flickered as if acknowledging the unspoken promise:
Even in the quiet after war, a new darkness was stirring—and the King and Queen would face it, side by side.