The clash of steel and cries of battle slowly faded as Lucien carved his way through the Order's guards. Dorian and the others held the line, forcing the enemy back, until the chamber was filled with silence broken only by the sound of heavy breathing. Lucien's eyes locked on Iman, still bound but standing tall, her chains glowing faintly from the echo of Elara's presence.
He rushed to her side, tearing at the bindings until they fell away. Iman collapsed into his arms, exhausted but alive. Her voice trembled as she whispered:
Iman:"Lucien… she was here. Elara's voice… it saved me."
Lucien held her tighter, his heart pounding with relief.
Lucien:"I thought I'd lost you. I swear, I'll never let them touch you again."
Dorian approached, his blade dripping with blood, his expression grim but awed.
Dorian:"We all heard it. Elara spoke through her. The Order was terrified — they believed she had returned."
Iman shook her head weakly, her eyes soft but resolute.
Iman:"No… she didn't return. She only came to protect me. Her soul isn't mine. She was a shield, not a burden."
The clan exchanged uneasy glances, torn between reverence and fear. To them, Elara's voice was a miracle, proof that their fallen leader still watched over them. But to Lucien, it was something deeper — a reminder that Iman was chosen, not possessed.
As dawn broke outside the lair, the Order's survivors fled into the shadows, their confidence shattered. Lucien lifted Iman gently, carrying her out into the light. The battle was won, but the war was far from over. Elara's voice had saved them once, and its echo lingered in their hearts, a promise that they were not alone.
The chapter closes with Lucien whispering to Iman as she rests against him.
Lucien:"You're safe now. And whatever comes next… we'll face it together."