The twilight valley faded behind them as Leto led John, Tamara, Blake
and the small Lumibear cub, Ember
toward the heart of the Revenak kingdom. Each step took them closer to the Citadel, and as they neared the outer boundary, a shimmering wall of light loomed before them like a veil.
"Beyond this barrier lies the Citadel of Light," Leto said, his voice resonating with calm authority. "Most of our people have not seen outsiders in generations. Do not be alarmed by their curiosity."
As they stepped through the barrier, a gentle warmth washed over them, like stepping into a sunlit morning after a long night.
Inside, the Citadel was a breathtaking sight—an entire city of light and crystal. Streets paved with luminescent stone wound through graceful towers that seemed to be carved from starlight. The inhabitants—men and women with faintly blue skin and eyes that glowed softly—paused to watch the trio pass. Some looked on with wonder, others with a guarded wariness.
John could feel their eyes on him, and he heard the whispered murmur of the word "bearer" drifting through the air. It was clear that his arrival—and the arrival of his companions—was something of a legend come to life.
"They're staring at us like we're heroes from some old story," Blake muttered, trying and failing to hide his unease. "I'm not used to being on this side of the fairy tale."
Tamara's gaze softened as she looked around. "It's not every day they see anyone from outside, let alone someone carrying a relic of their past. We're a piece of their history walking through the gates."
Leto led them through a grand archway into a vast courtyard. At its center stood a crystal fountain that flowed with liquid light, casting rainbows across the white stone. Around them, Revenakians gathered, murmuring softly as they observed the newcomers.
Finally, Leto stopped before a pair of towering doors carved with the sigils of the Light. He turned to the trio and inclined his head. "The prince awaits within. He will share with you the truths of our kingdom and the role you may yet play."
As the doors opened, John took a deep breath and stepped forward, Tamara and Blake flanking him. Whatever lay ahead, they were no longer just travelers. They were part of a story that had been waiting for them for centuries.
As Leto led them deeper into the heart of the Citadel, the walls around them changed from plain stone to a gallery of ancient murals. Each painting glowed softly, depicting scenes of battles between light and darkness, of heroes wielding weapons that shone like stars.
John's gaze lingered on a mural showing a warrior holding a spear that looked eerily like Eclipse Fang. "Is that…?"
Leto nodded. "Yes. The prophecy of the Bearer speaks of one who arrives from another realm, carrying the Eclipse Blade. It is said he will stand at the crossroads of shadow and light."
He gestured to the mural, where the hero faced a monstrous figure cloaked in darkness. "The Bearer is destined to confront the Dark Master and restore the balance that was lost when the kingdom fell."
As they moved along the corridor, they came upon another mural—this one depicting the king of Revenak and his two sons. One stood bathed in light, the other shadowed in darkness.
Leto's voice grew solemn. "This is the tale of Prince Caelus, the Light Prince, and his younger brother, Dareth. Dareth was once a prince of this realm, but he fell under the influence of the Dark Master. In his envy and weakness, he betrayed the king."
He paused before the mural, the painted scene showing Dareth raising a dark blade against his own father. "With the Dark Master's poison, Dareth brought the king low. Yet before the king fell, he cast a spell that sealed the kingdom in a barrier of light, locking both the light and the darkness within."
As Leto spoke, the doors at the end of the corridor swung open, and the Light Prince, Caelus, stepped into the hall. His presence was like a beacon, a living embodiment of the kingdom's lost grace.
"Thank you, Leto," Caelus said, his voice warm and dignified. "You have done well to bring them here."
Leto bowed low and stepped back, allowing the prince to approach the trio. Caelus' gaze was kind as he looked upon John, Tamara, and Blake. "You have come at a time of great peril, and you carry with you the hope of a prophecy long foretold."
He gestured to the mural of the king and his sons. "You have seen the past—the betrayal that brought our kingdom to its knees. My brother Dareth's choice unleashed a darkness that we have battled for centuries. Now, with the barrier weakening, that darkness threatens to spill into the world beyond."
John felt the weight of the prince's words, the enormity of what lay before them settling heavily on his shoulders. "And you believe we're the ones who can fix this?"
Caelus smiled gently. "I believe you are the ones who can bring light where it is needed most. You are not alone in this fight. Together, we will stand against the darkness and reclaim what was lost."
With the prince's words echoing in their hearts, the trio prepared themselves for the journey ahead—a journey that would take them into the very heart of Revenak's legacy, where the fate of both light and shadow would be decided.