The Dark Knight's Desire – Volume 14: The Forgotten Citadel
The wind howled across the cliffs of the Forgotten Citadel, an ancient fortress long abandoned, its spires crumbling and overgrown with magical vines. Kael squinted at the dark silhouette, armor glinting in the moonlight. "Why do the scariest places always smell like old cheese?"
Elara floated beside him, a glowing orb in her hand. "It's not cheese. It's… centuries of forgotten magic. And it's calling us, Dark Knight."
Kael muttered under his breath. "Of course it is."
Inside, the citadel twisted reality itself. Hallways shifted, staircases disappeared, and portraits whispered warnings in cryptic rhymes. Yet, amid the chaos, Kael and Elara shared playful banter. "If we survive this," Kael grumbled, "I'm charging admission next time."
Elara laughed. "Only if you smile while doing it!"
They soon encountered a hall of mirrors, each reflection showing a different version of themselves—versions shaped by fear, desire, or failure. Kael's reflection showed a knight consumed by darkness; Elara's reflected a mage who abandoned love for power.
"This place is… annoying," Kael muttered, slashing at a mirror that hissed.
"Agreed," Elara said, transforming an illusion into harmless glittering butterflies. "But at least it's pretty."
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed: "Those who face the Forgotten Citadel must choose: sacrifice heart, or lose everything."
A shadowy figure emerged, radiating raw, unpredictable magic. Kael stepped in front of Elara. "We face it together. No one gets left behind."
Elara's eyes sparkled, laughter and determination mingling. "Good. I hate solo adventures anyway."
Their combined strength shattered illusions, dispelling the shadow temporarily. But as the last fragment of darkness faded, a new threat appeared: a glowing sigil floating above the citadel's highest tower, pulsating with ominous energy.
Kael frowned. "That can't be good."
Elara tilted her head, smirking. "It's never good… but it is exciting."
And with that, they climbed toward the sigil, ready to face a trial that would test not only their courage, but the very bond they had forged across countless adventures.