Chapter 6: The Light Within
The wind howled through the mountain peaks as dawn broke over Moonvale Island. A pale orange light touched the edges of the forest, brushing against the ruins of the ancient temple where the battle had ended.
Inside a hidden cave nearby, Mia sat beside a small fire, wrapped in a blanket. Ben leaned silently against the wall, his arm bandaged from the fight with Gabriel. Father John watched over them both, reading through the ancient journal they had found inside the temple.
The silence between them felt heavy — like a secret no one wanted to say aloud.
Finally, Mia spoke softly. "You said you and Gabriel were created from one soul. But if you were meant to fight evil… why do you both suffer?"
Ben looked at her, his eyes reflecting the firelight. "Because the people who created us never understood what they were making. They thought dividing light from darkness would make the world pure. But when they tore a soul in two, they created imbalance — and cursed us both."
Mia's heart ached at the sadness in his voice.
"And me?" she asked. "Where do I fit into all this?"
Ben's gaze softened. "You are the last Light-Bearer. Your ancestors sealed away the Shadow Heart — the very thing that gave Gabriel his power. You're its opposite — its key. Without you, the balance can't be restored."
She lowered her head. "But I'm not strong. I'm just… scared."
He stepped closer, kneeling before her. "Courage isn't the absence of fear, Mia. It's choosing to stand anyway."
The way he said her name made her chest tighten — warm and painful at once.
Father John cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "According to this journal," he said, holding up the worn pages, "there's another temple — one that guards the Light Core. If we reach it before Gabriel, we may have a chance to stop him."
Ben nodded slowly. "Then that's where we're going."
The journey through Moonvale's heart was long and treacherous. The island was changing — clouds hung low, trees twisted as if alive, and the sky seemed to darken earlier each day.
As they traveled, Mia began to feel strange surges of warmth in her chest, like light calling her name. Once, as she touched an old stone engraved with symbols, her hands glowed again — brighter this time, forming faint wings of golden light behind her.
Father John watched in awe. "It's awakening," he whispered. "The power within you."
But Ben's expression was unreadable.
He was happy she was growing stronger… yet he knew what that meant.
The more her light awakened, the closer his curse would come to breaking — and when it broke, he would disappear with it.
That night, they camped beneath the glowing cliffs overlooking the sea. The air was still, filled with the gentle hum of waves and cicadas.
Mia sat beside Ben, watching the moonlight ripple across the water.
"You never told me what it's like," she said quietly. "Being immortal."
He gave a small, tired smile. "It's not living. It's just… not dying."
"Do you ever wish you could be free?" she asked.
He looked at her, the faintest sadness in his eyes. "Every day."
Their eyes met — and for the first time, Mia saw past his strength to the broken soul beneath.
She reached for his hand, hesitated, then held it gently. "Then maybe… when this is over, you won't have to fight alone."
Ben didn't answer. But for a brief, silent moment, he let himself hope.
Far away, in the depths beneath the island, Gabriel stood before a pool of black water. His reflection rippled — and from it, a faint heartbeat echoed.
"The light is growing," he murmured. "So it's time to burn it out."
He raised his hand. The water turned red. The shadows around him began to move.
The final battle for Moonvale was drawing closer.