Caspian.
Staring at Lienna has she bared down that beam of light, I couldn’t but wonder how she made it here in the first place. But there was no time dwell on that. Our salvation was finally here.
Her presence ignited a spark within me, rekindling my will to fight. The shadows recoiled, momentarily repelled by the light’s intensity. I took a step forward, my heart racing with renewed hope. Lienna’s light was our only chance.
“Everyone, to the light!” I shouted, my voice carrying across the battlefield.
The light intensified, illuminating the carnage around us. Our fallen men, the scattered remains of our army, and the shadows all were bathed in its brilliance.
Hermes stumbled forward, his eyes locked on Lienna’s radiant form. “We need to rally around her!”
Everyone who was alive began to scurry towards the beam, desperate for refuge. The shadows, enraged by the interruption, attacked with renewed ferocity, their darkness boiling with malevolent energy. I joined the rush, determination fueling my will.
As I approached the beam, the shadows closed in, their horrifying sounds echoing through the air. Lienna expanded the light’s range, enveloping more men within its protective embrace.
A soft gasp escaped my lips as I entered the rays, shocked by the gentle warmth that enveloped me. The contrast to the suffocating darkness was jarring. My skin, bruised and battered, drank in the light’s soothing balm.
I turned to Lienna, my gaze locked on her ethereal form. She floated mid-air, her eyes and hair aglow with an otherworldly radiance. Translucent and shimmering, her beauty was mesmerizing.
Memories flooded back the time she was attacked by Veronica, when we thought all was lost. But this… this was different. Glowing markings adorned her hands and forehead, and her face…
It was the face of the Moon Goddess.
Confusion swirled within me. Lienna had taken on the Goddess’s full form. But shouldn’t she be unable to fight? What had changed? Had she tapped into the moon goddess powers completely?
The shadows began to scream like a chorus of the damned when they realized they couldn’t breach Lienna’s radiant barrier. Their deafening wails echoed through the battlefield, a cacophony of frustration and despair.
Their actions grew desperate, flailing and clawing at the light, but Lienna rose higher, her beams spreading, touching more shadows. With each passing moment, she gained more ground, slowly reclaiming the lost territory.
As I stood within the rays, my strength surged. Adonis and Hermes mirrored my transformation, their eyes locking onto mine. With a nod of my head, I took in a deep breath, going into a full shift.
I took a deep breath, focusing my energy. My body began to shift, muscles contorting, bones rearranging. A deafening roar tore from my lips as my form took shape. The ground trembled beneath me, and I burst into the skies, flames erupting from my mouth to scorch the shadows.
A deafening roar tore from my lips as I took to the skies, bursting into flames to scorch the shadows. Behind me, Hermes and Adonis charged forward, attacking with renewed ferocity. Their actions spurred other soldiers to join the fight.
This time, things felt different. A protective film enveloped our bodies, repelling the shadows’ attacks. Their claws and teeth glanced off, harmless.
Our movements became fluid, coordinated. We struck true, our blows landing with precision. The shadows recoiled, disoriented.
I breathed fire, clearing a path through the darkness. Adonis and Hermes fought with renewed vigor, their swords slicing through the shadows. We were taking back control.
Until the shadows became furious. They possessed the bodies of fallen soldiers, reanimating them to attack. I drew a deep breath, unleashing flames to scorch the walking dead, clearing a wider area.
Lienna ascended higher in the sky, her beams spreading, burning off shadows. The markings on her forehead grew larger, glowing with vibrant colors cerulean, amber, and silver. Her beams intensified, stretching further.
She was in the Moon Goddess’s full glory, her power awe-inspiring.
“We need to rid ourselves of these shadows as much as we can,” I mind-linked with Hermes and Adonis.
“I don’t think we have much time left,” I added, urgency lacing my thoughts.
Below, Hermes and Adonis redoubled their efforts, fighting in perfect sync with the shadows. Their movements fluid, deadly.
Satisfied, I reverted to my human form, gazing up at Lienna. She rose higher, her beams illuminating every corner of the battlefield.
The shadows began to vanish, the scene reminiscent of a century past when the Moon Goddess purged the realm of darkness.
History repeated itself, but this time through Lienna.
As the shadows dissipated, the air lightened, and our soldiers’ morale surged. They fought with renewed hope, their cries of victory echoing across the battlefield.
Lienna’s radiance intensified, bathing the realm in a warm, silvery glow. The shadows’ hold on our world faltered.
The Moon Goddess’s power, channeled through Lienna, would save our realm. With newfound determination, I joined the fray, fighting alongside Hermes and Adonis.
Her beams reached even further, enveloping every last shadow. We watched in awe as they dissipated, reduced to nothingness. Yet, Lienna continued to spread her light, as if ensuring the darkness was eradicated.
A strange phenomenon began to unfold. Every wound we’d sustained during the war started to heal. Lost strength seeped back into our bones, revitalizing us. The exhausted, battered soldiers stood tall once more, restored to full vitality.
Shocked gasps and screams of joy filled the battlefield. Faces etched with pain now radiated happiness. Tears of relief streamed down worn faces.
Lienna unleashed a shockwave of moonbeam energy, causing the ground to tremble. The light then began to recede as she gently descended back to the ground.
We waited, breathless, our hearts racing with wonder. What we’d witnessed defied comprehension.
As Lienna touched down, her hair and eyes still glowed with an ethereal translucence. My heart pounded with uncontainable happiness and relief.
Finally, she stood among us, her presence a balm to our weary souls. The Moon Goddess’s power still resonated within her, a gentle hum of divine energy. The silence was palpable, punctuated only by ragged breaths and sniffled tears. We gazed at Lienna, our savior, our hearts overflowing with gratitude.
I broke the silence, my voice trembling. “Lienna?” I called out, cautious, taking a step forward.
She smiled, tilting her head to the side, her gaze radiant. “Lienna is here, but she’s not the one working right now. This is the Moon Goddess.”
Her voice transcended time and space, echoing within me, filling the air with an otherworldly presence. I struggled to meet her gaze, my eyes dipping in reverence.
Hermes’s eyes widened, understanding dawning. “Oh… ” he trailed off.
Adonis asked, awe-tinged, “You brought Lienna here?”
The Moon Goddess nodded, her hair shimmering with an ethereal glow. “Yes, it was finally time to reveal myself. You three have protected the realm remarkably well, to the best of your abilities. It is only right that I correct my mistakes.”
I nodded, happiness welling up, threatening to spill over. The prophecy had come true after years of doubt, after moments of lost faith.
“We did it,” I whispered, my voice slightly hoarse.
The Moon Goddess’s smile broadened. “You did, and I am proud. But now, my time here is drawing to a close.”
Her voice took on a hint of melancholy. “Sadly, I will be departing from this body soon. While it was lovely to live in her and prepare myself, anymore and I might cause serious harm to this vessel. I do not think any of you will appreciate that.” Well, that was certainly true.
Adonis’s face clouded with concern. “What will happen to Lienna?”
The Moon Goddess’s gaze softened. “Lienna will be fine. She has been a gracious host, and I have taken care to ensure her well-being. My departure will leave her unharmed.”
Hermes stepped forward. “And what of the shadows? Are they truly gone?”
The Moon Goddess’s radiance intensified. “Yes, the shadows are no more. You have won this battle, and the realm is safe once more.”
Her gaze swept over us, her voice filled with warmth. “I will return soon to bless you all, but for now, I will leave you to celebrate this victory. Great news, indeed the shadows are no more. Till we meet again.”
With those final words, the Moon Goddess began to fade, her light receding, leaving Lienna falling before us, heading straight to the ground.
I caught her just in time, flinching at how cold her body was. Hades, but she was freezing. I gazed out at the destruction left in the war’s wake, my heart filled with sorrow at the loss of so many men, but overjoyed that we had succeeded.
We had won the war.