The clash of the two swords made the entire hall tremble.
Celestine was pushed several steps backward.
Edran remained motionless.
The black sword still vibrated in his hand.
— You're stronger — he said.
Celestine took a deep breath.
— And you still talk too much.
She charged.
Edran blocked.
The black blade met Celestine's sword again.
This time, Celestine did not retreat.
She spun and attacked from the side.
Edran barely dodged.
— You've learned to fight better.
— I trained.
— No.
Edran smiled.
— You remembered.
Celestine attacked again.
Strike.
Block.
Thrust.
Dodge.
The two moved across the hall as their blades clashed.
Leonhardt watched closely.
— She's trying to figure out his pattern.
Aldren nodded.
— And Edran is studying her movements as well.
Seris looked at Seraphina.
— Who's going to win?
Seraphina replied:
— It depends on who loses control first.
Lyra remained silent.
Her hand was resting over the mark on her neck.
The Guardian noticed.
— Are you feeling something?
— Yes.
— What?
Lyra looked at the black sword.
— It's calling to me.
The Guardian became serious.
— Don't touch it.
Lyra frowned.
— Why?
— Because that sword doesn't only contain a fragment of Aelira's soul.
He looked at Celestine.
— It contains something far more dangerous.
---
Celestine blocked another strike.
Edran's strength was absurd.
She slid across the floor.
— You're much stronger than I expected.
Edran advanced.
— I've had four hundred years to perfect my swordsmanship.
Celestine dodged.
— Then four hundred years didn't teach you to be humble.
Edran laughed.
— Aelira used to make jokes during battles too.
Celestine stopped for a moment.
That sentence triggered a memory.
Aelira stood before Edran.
Younger.
Holding a sword.
— You talk too much.
Edran smiled.
— And you think too much.
The memory disappeared.
Celestine returned to the present.
Edran attacked.
She barely blocked.
— Did you see it?
— I did.
— Then you're starting to remember.
Celestine attacked with force.
— I don't need to remember everything to defeat you.
Edran caught her sword.
— Perhaps.
He pushed her away.
Celestine flew backward and crashed onto the floor.
Leonhardt took a step.
— Celestine!
She raised a hand.
— No.
Celestine slowly got back up.
Her arm hurt.
But her eyes were determined.
— This fight is mine.
Edran smiled.
— Finally.
Dark energy began to envelop his sword.
The hall grew darker.
Seraphina became alarmed.
— Edran, stop!
— It's too late.
The black sword began absorbing the light from the torches.
Celestine felt the Void react violently.
Don't let that sword touch you.
She tightened her grip on her weapon.
— Why?
Because it knows your soul.
Celestine understood.
The sword was not merely a weapon.
It had been used against Aelira.
And now it carried some of that energy.
If it touched Celestine directly, it could force her memories to return all at once.
And that could destroy her mind.
— Then I need to finish this quickly.
Celestine charged.
Edran did the same.
The swords clashed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
On the fourth, Celestine's sword cracked.
Leonhardt's eyes widened.
— Celestine!
The sword broke.
The broken half fell to the floor.
Edran pointed the black sword at her.
— It's over.
Celestine looked at her broken weapon.
For a few seconds, she did not move.
Then she smiled.
— No.
Edran frowned.
— What?
Celestine gripped the remaining piece of the sword.
— I don't need a whole sword.
The Void enveloped the broken blade.
A new black blade formed over it.
Edran froze.
— That...
Seraphina murmured:
— She did it.
Celestine charged.
Her first strike hit Edran's sword.
The second opened a crack in the black blade.
Edran stepped backward.
— Impossible!
Celestine attacked again.
Edran's sword shattered.
The black half fell to the floor.
The hall fell silent.
Edran stared at his own hand.
— No...
Celestine pointed her sword at him.
— It's over.
Edran began to laugh.
— No.
— You lost.
— No!
A dark energy exploded around him.
Celestine was forced to retreat.
Edran clutched his chest.
— You don't understand!
His armor began to crack.
— My immortality isn't in the sword!
Seraphina went pale.
— Edran...
— It's inside me!
A massive dark aura filled the room.
The walls began to tremble.
The Guardian shouted:
— Everyone, get back!
A barrier appeared.
Celestine remained standing before Edran.
— Then I'll destroy it.
Edran raised his hand.
A wave of energy struck Celestine.
She blocked it.
But she was pushed backward.
Leonhardt ran to her.
— Are you okay?
— Yes.
— He's getting stronger.
Celestine looked at Edran.
— No.
She realized something.
— He's getting weaker.
Leonhardt frowned.
— What do you mean?
— His energy is leaving his body.
Seraphina realized it too.
— Celestine is right.
Edran looked at his own hands.
Small cracks began appearing across his skin.
— No...
Celestine raised her sword.
— Your immortality is failing.
Edran screamed.
— It can't be!
He charged desperately.
Celestine dodged.
Edran attacked again.
She blocked.
He lost his balance.
Celestine spun and struck his chest.
The armor shattered.
A black mark appeared.
Celestine recognized it.
It was the same symbol she had seen in her memories.
— That's it.
Seraphina shouted:
— The mark!
Celestine rushed forward.
Edran tried to stop her.
She dodged his attack.
Her sword struck the mark.
A golden and black explosion filled the hall.
Celestine fell to her knees.
Edran remained standing.
For a few seconds.
Then he fell.
Silence returned.
Celestine breathed heavily.
— Is he dead?
Seraphina slowly approached.
She looked at Edran.
— No.
The king opened his eyes.
But his eyes were no longer red.
They were human.
He looked old.
Very old.
— Finally... — he murmured.
Celestine approached.
— Are you going to die?
Edran smiled.
— Not yet.
He looked at the broken sword on the floor.
— But now I can.
Celestine was surprised.
— What does that mean?
Edran looked directly at her.
— Aelira succeeded.
Celestine froze.
— What?
— She discovered how to destroy my immortality.
He breathed with difficulty.
— But I killed her before she could finish.
Celestine felt a pain in her chest.
— Then why did I succeed?
Edran replied:
— Because you finished what she started.
He closed his eyes.
— Now only one thing remains.
— What?
Edran opened his eyes again.
— Finding out who ordered me to kill Aelira.
Celestine became serious.
— Are you saying you didn't act alone?
Edran smiled.
— Never.
Before he could explain, the hall's door burst open.
Everyone turned.
A hooded figure entered.
Seraphina went pale.
— No...
The figure removed his hood.
Celestine immediately recognized him.
It was the First Inquisitor.
He held a small golden blade.
— Looks like I arrived too late.
Edran tried to stand.
— You...
The First Inquisitor smiled.
— Four hundred years, Edran.
He raised the blade.
— And you still keep making the same mistakes.
Celestine raised her sword.
— What do you want?
The man looked at her.
— The answer you're looking for.
He smiled.
— I was the one who gave the order to kill Aelira.
The entire hall fell silent.
Celestine felt her blood run cold.
And the Void inside her finally screamed:
Don't trust him.