Chapter 14
The chamber held its breath.
Two figures stood beneath the flickering torchlight—mirrors of one another, yet unmistakably different. Elira, cloaked in the sharp edges of the present, her spirit tempered by betrayal and rebirth. And Eliendara—the one from the coffin—radiating raw, ancient energy, like fire freshly unearthed from beneath centuries of ash.
Kael remained near Elira, hand still resting on the hilt of his sword. His gaze never left the second version of her.
The priest's voice echoed through the space like a forgotten hymn. "You were one once—soul and vessel. The seal split you into halves. Now, the ritual must begin… or the Gate will collapse."
Elira's throat tightened. "What does merging mean?"
"Unity," the priest said. "Memories will be shared. Power will be whole. But one mind… one will… must lead. Two queens cannot rule one throne."
The other Eliendara's smile didn't fade. "Don't worry. I have no intention of fighting. We were broken once. I won't do that to us again."
Elira didn't trust the gentleness in her tone.
The priest began to chant. Symbols circled them both—runes that moved like living flame. The air thickened. Reality bent.
Then—
Visions.
Seven cloaked figures surrounding a blood-red circle. Each one chanting in a language that didn't belong to mortals. Chains of magic binding a small girl—Elira, no, Eliendara—to the stone floor. A voice rising above the rest:
"Split the gate. Anchor the key. Bury the truth."
One of the cloaked figures looked directly at her through the vision.
And for a moment, Elira could see the face beneath the hood.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
She gasped and fell to her knees.
Kael was by her side instantly. "What did you see?"
Elira's voice was barely a whisper. "One of them… one of the Seven… is in the manor."
The second Eliendara didn't react. "Then the ritual must finish. If we're not whole before they awaken, we won't survive."
The priest's voice grew louder.
The circle pulsed.
And then it came—the final choice.
Merge completely… and erase one self to empower the other.
Or remain two… and risk tearing apart what remained of her sanity.
Kael turned to her. "You don't have to choose now. You can—"
But Elira stepped forward.
"I choose to merge."
The other Eliendara tilted her head, a flicker of pride—and sorrow—in her eyes.
"Then take what you need. And remember who you are."
Elira reached forward.
Their hands touched.
Light exploded from between them, blinding and searing. Wind howled, runes shattered, and the seal—the one inside her soul—broke.
Screams echoed—hers, and her own.
The world around her vanished.
And when the light faded…
Only one stood.
Eyes glowing like twin stars.
Power humming in her breath.
The Gate had awakened.
And Eliendara Dravencourt was born.
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We're just getting started. The secrets run deeper, and the enemies closer than ever...
🔮 Next Chapter Preview – Chapter 15: The One Inside the Walls
As Eliendara returns to Dravencourt, her senses shift. Someone she trusted now feels wrong. A scent. A heartbeat. A word spoken too carefully.
One of the Seven Sealing Lords is already inside the manor.
And they're watching her every move.