The silver vines of the monument quivered, their pulse quickening as if sensing the tension in the air. Aris stood at the forefront, Dawn Circle at her side, facing the shadow wolf and Liora, whose eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and calculation.
The wolf lunged first, silent as the night but fast as a striking serpent. Wolves from the Dawn Circle mirrored its movements, circling, ready to defend their land. Sparks of energy—the echoes of the fragments—flared around Aris's hands as she called on the connection she felt with the crown remnants.
> "We do not fight for a crown," she shouted, voice ringing clear, "but for balance!"
Her words resonated in the air. The silver fragments pulsed brighter, sending ripples across the river and lighting the surrounding forest in ghostly hues. The shadow wolf recoiled slightly, hissing, its luminous eyes narrowing.
Liora stepped forward, chanting in the Old Tongue, weaving her power through the shadows that clung to her like a cloak. The ground trembled, and the wind twisted violently, carrying whispers of past kings and forgotten battles.
Aris raised her hands, the fragments thrumming in response. A shield of light radiated outward, pushing the shadow wolf back. But Liora's voice pierced the barrier, sharp and commanding.
> "The fragments call to me! You cannot deny them forever!"
The Dawn Circle joined their strength to Aris's, creating a circle of guardians around the monument. Wolves, scholars, and villagers combined their energies, shaping the first line of true defense. Sparks danced across the shield, and the shadows shrieked, twisting into chaotic forms that strained against the light.
Aris's gaze met Liora's. "You will not take Eldoria," she said. "Not while we breathe. Not while the fragments remind us what balance truly is."
Liora's lips curved into a faint, cold smile. "Balance… is only a moment between storms. But I will savor it while it lasts."
The wolf snarled, and with a sudden, explosive burst of shadow, the barrier wavered. Aris felt the fragments pull at her hands like living tendrils, urging her to focus, to unify. She drew a deep breath, summoning every ounce of the Echo King's teachings, every lesson of patience and understanding.
> "Together," she whispered, and the Dawn Circle echoed her words.
A wave of light surged from the fragments, crashing over the shadow wolf. It let out a howl that was both pain and fury, dissolving into tendrils of mist that retreated into the forest. Liora staggered, her cloak fluttering wildly as she disappeared among the trees, leaving only a trace of cold wind in her wake.
The forest fell silent. The fragments dimmed, returning to their quiet, steady pulse. The first breach had been repelled—but Aris knew it was only the beginning.
> "They will return," she said softly, voice resolute. "And when they do… we will be ready."
The Dawn Circle nodded, understanding the weight of her words. Peace had been tested, and Eldoria had held. But the shadows were patient, and patience was their ally.
And somewhere deep in the forest, Liora watched from the shadows, plotting her next move, her eyes never leaving the monument that pulsed like a heartbeat of living light.