The morning wind was cold, sharp, and heavy with dust.
Ella stood at the edge of the cliffs, looking out at the horizon. The Shadowlands lay behind her now — a dark scar stretching far into the mist. The laughter of Varik still echoed in her mind, no matter how far she ran.
Maeve came up beside her, her cloak fluttering in the breeze. She didn't say anything for a long time. The silence between them was deep, but not empty — it was heavy with loss.
Finally, Ella whispered, "He's gone."
Maeve nodded. "Arcturus knew what he was doing. He saved us."
Ella closed her eyes. "Then we can't let his sacrifice be for nothing."
She took out the shard of the Heart hanging around her neck. It pulsed softly, glowing faintly gold this time, not white. The light shimmered across her fingers like liquid fire.
Maeve watched it. "That thing reacts to you," she said. "Like it's alive."
"Maybe it is," Ella murmured. "Arcturus said it connects to my bloodline. Maybe it's trying to tell me something."
"Like what?"
Ella looked out at the faraway desert. "Where to go next."
Maeve frowned. "You think it knows where the Sunstone is?"
Ella nodded slowly. "I can feel it calling. East… beyond the plains. There's something there."
Maeve gave a half-smile. "Then east we go."
---
They traveled for days across the wild plains. The grass grew tall and golden, swaying under the endless blue sky. At night, they camped under the stars, the shard glowing faintly beside the fire.
Maeve tried to keep their spirits high, but Ella was quiet most nights. She dreamed of Arcturus — his calm eyes, his steady hand — and of the moment he was pulled into the dark. Each time she woke, her heart felt heavier.
By the fifth day, the grass gave way to sand. The air grew hotter, the wind sharper. Before them stretched the Mirath Desert — endless dunes that shimmered like fire under the sun.
Maeve shaded her eyes. "We'll need water and cover. No one crosses Mirath without preparation."
Ella glanced at the shard. "The light's stronger now. We're getting close."
Maeve sighed. "You and your magic compass." But her eyes softened. "If it's leading us to the Sunstone, I'll trust it. For now."
They wrapped their faces in cloth and began their trek into the desert.
---
The first few hours were easy enough. The sun was still low, and the wind carried a cool edge. But as the day dragged on, the heat grew unbearable. Their boots sank deep into the sand, and the horizon wavered in waves of light.
By midday, Maeve stopped and pointed ahead. "Look."
In the distance, something glittered — tall, broken towers rising from the dunes like the ribs of a giant beast.
"The lost city of Mirath," Ella whispered.
They pressed on, their pace quickening despite the heat.
As they drew closer, the ruins took shape — shattered stone bridges, half-buried statues, and streets carved into the sand itself. Strange symbols glowed faintly along the walls, whispering in an ancient tongue.
Maeve brushed her hand against one of the carvings. "What language is this?"
"It's the old tongue," Ella said softly. "The same symbols from the Heart's journal."
She traced one of the glowing lines with her finger, and the symbol flashed bright gold for a second before fading.
Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Looks like it recognizes you."
Ella didn't answer. Something about this place felt alive.
They entered what must once have been the city square — now buried halfway in sand. A huge stone statue of a woman stood at the center, holding a crystal above her head. The crystal was cracked, but it still shone faintly with light.
"Who is she?" Maeve asked.
"Queen Liora," Ella said, surprised the name came so easily. "The last ruler of Mirath. She tried to seal Varik before the fall."
Maeve tilted her head. "So this was her city."
Ella nodded. "And the Sunstone was her weapon."
They began searching through the ruins, moving carefully over crumbled floors and collapsed archways. The air inside was cooler, filled with the faint scent of stone and dust.
Hours passed, but they found nothing — no trace of the Sunstone, only broken walls and silent echoes.
Frustrated, Maeve kicked a loose stone. "We've been searching for hours! What if it's gone?"
Ella stared at the shard on her necklace. "No… it's here. I can feel it."
She closed her eyes and let her magic flow through her. The air around her shimmered faintly. Then, from deep below the ruins, she felt a pulse — slow and steady, like a heartbeat.
"It's beneath us," she said. "Underground."
Maeve groaned. "Of course it is."
They searched the plaza again until Ella found a hidden stairway beneath the statue of Queen Liora. The entrance was covered in sand, but they cleared it and descended carefully.
The stairs spiraled deep into the ground. The deeper they went, the colder it became. Strange whispers echoed from the walls — not words, just sounds, like the ghosts of voices long dead.
At the bottom of the stairs, they entered a wide hall lined with tall columns. The walls were covered in carvings that glowed faintly gold.
In the center stood a pedestal.
And on it — a crystal the size of a heart, glowing with brilliant light.
"The Sunstone," Ella breathed.
Maeve stared in awe. "It's beautiful."
They approached slowly. The light was warm and alive, wrapping around Ella like sunlight after a storm. She reached out her hand, but before she could touch it —
"Don't."
The voice came from the shadows.
Maeve drew her sword instantly, eyes scanning the darkness. "Show yourself!"
From behind one of the pillars stepped a man in black robes. His face was covered by a mask made of metal and bone, and his voice was deep and smooth.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said. "The Sunstone belongs to my master."
"Varik," Ella hissed.
The man tilted his head. "Ah. You know his name. Then you know your place — beneath him."
Maeve raised her sword. "We'll see about that."
He lifted his hand, and shadows burst from the ground, forming creatures made of smoke and fire. Their eyes burned red as they lunged forward.
"Get behind me!" Maeve shouted.
But Ella didn't move. She focused on the shard at her chest, feeling it pulse in rhythm with the Sunstone. She could feel their connection — two parts of the same power.
She raised her hand, and golden light exploded from her palm, blasting the shadow creatures into ash.
The masked man stumbled back. "Impossible—"
Ella stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly gold. "Tell Varik this: his darkness will end."
He snarled and raised his hand again, but Maeve was faster. Her sword flashed, cutting through the air. The man's mask cracked, and he screamed as shadows consumed him, vanishing into mist.
When the silence returned, Ella turned back to the pedestal.
This time, she touched the Sunstone.
The moment her fingers brushed it, a blinding light filled the room. Images flashed in her mind — cities burning, skies breaking, a great war between light and shadow. Then she saw her ancestor, Queen Liora, sealing Varik inside the Well, her tears falling like fire.
And then — Arcturus. Bound in darkness, his voice calling out.
"Ella… hurry…"
She gasped and dropped to her knees, clutching the Sunstone. The vision faded.
Maeve ran to her side. "Ella! What happened?"
Ella looked up, eyes wide. "He's alive."
Maeve blinked. "Who?"
"Arcturus. Varik didn't kill him — he's trapped. In the Well."
Maeve frowned. "Then that's where we go next."
Ella nodded, her voice firm. "We have the Sunstone now. We can save him… and end this."
She lifted the crystal. Its golden light filled the chamber, pushing back every shadow.
For a brief moment, Ella felt the presence of her ancestor — calm, proud, and strong.
"Light runs in your blood," a faint voice whispered. "Do not fear the dark."
Then the glow faded, leaving only the quiet sound of sand shifting above.
Ella stood, holding the Sunstone close to her heart. "Let's go home," she said softly.
Maeve smiled, though her eyes were serious. "Home might not be the same when we return."
Ella nodded. "Maybe not. But it will be free."
And together, they climbed the long stairs back to the surface — where the sun was setting over the ruins, painting the desert gold and red.
Far away, deep within the Shadowlands, Varik opened his eyes.
The seal around him cracked slightly, and his voice rolled across the land like thunder.
"Come then, child of light," he said. "Let us finish what began centuries ago."