Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Flicker of the Unbroken

The air shrieked as the Void Gate ripped open wider, a yawning maw of darkness swallowing the western sky. Tendrils of shadow spilled forth, twisting into grotesque creatures—scaly, clawed, with eyes like smoldering embers. They lunged at the nearest mages, tearing through robes and flesh with brutal efficiency."Shadowspawn!" Thorne shouted, her voice cracking with disbelief. She'd denied the threat for hours, dismissed it as a lie spun by traitors—but now it stood before her, fangs bared, hungry for magic.Seraphina laughed, a sound like shattering ice. "See, Thorne? This is what you get for blind loyalty to a broken council. The Void Gate opens, and your precious academy burns. But join me—swear fealty to the Shadow Coven—and I'll let you rule beside me."The council mages hesitated, their staves wavering. Some stepped back, eyes fixed on the advancing Shadowspawn. Others stood their ground, but fear flickered in their eyes.Ethan stumbled forward, supported by Ella. The Blades at his hip pulsed weakly, but this time, the pain in his bones wasn't just agony—it was a call. A desperate, urgent hum that matched the rhythm of his racing heart."Lila," he gasped, "the journal—does it say anything about closing the Gate?"Lila flipped through the pages, her hands shaking so hard she could barely hold the book. "Yes—" she choked out, "but it requires all seven Blades, or… or a sacrifice. Someone with a bloodline tied to the Fallen Knights, merging their life force with the Blades' power."Kael's fire flared, incinerating a Shadowspawn that lunged at his legs. "No one's sacrificing anything. We fight—together."But the Shadowspawn kept coming, pouring through the Gate in endless waves. Mia and Jax raced forward, leading a group of students—mages who'd refused to believe Seraphina's lies, who'd snuck out of their dorms to help. They unleashed wind, earth, and fire magic, but the Shadowspawn were relentless, their bodies regenerating even when sliced apart.Seraphina targeted Thorne, her ice magic piercing through the council leader's shield. "Choose, Thorne! Die with your fools… or live with power!"Thorne stumbled back, her staff clattering to the ground. For a moment, she stared at the Void Gate, at the Shadowspawn tearing through her mages, at the students fighting and dying for a council that had failed them. Then she looked at Ethan—pale, bleeding, but still standing, the Blades humming faintly at his side."Traitors," she whispered, but her voice lacked venom. "You were right."She grabbed her staff, her eyes hardening. "Council mages! Defend the students! Focus fire on the Shadowspawn—leave the Coven to the kids!"A cheer erupted from Mia and the students. Kael grinned, summoning a wall of fire that blocked a wave of Shadowspawn. "About time she came around!"But Seraphina's rage was a physical force, her ice magic exploding in a storm that froze three council mages solid. "Fool! You've condemned us all!" She turned to Ethan, her eyes blazing. "Give me the Blades, or I'll feed your friends to the Shadowspawn one by one!"She lunged at Ella, ice spear aimed at her chest. Ethan moved on instinct, drawing the Cursed Blade. This time, the pain didn't cripple him—it fueled him. He embraced it, let it merge with the fear, the anger, the desperate need to protect. The Blade's rune blazed gold, and a wave of fire shot from its tip, melting the ice spear.Ella stumbled back, eyes wide. "Ethan—your Blade!"He looked down. The Cursed Blade's glow was brighter than ever, the pain in his bones fading to a dull thrum. The other Blades hummed in response, their runes flickering to life—gold, silver, blue, and white, each answering the call."Unity," he whispered, remembering his grandfather's voice. "Not just the Blades—us."He reached for Lila's hand, then Kael's, then Ella's. Their fingers touched, and a surge of magic raced through them—Lila's runes, Kael's fire, Ella's herb-infused vitality, merging with the Blades' power. The pain in Ethan's veins vanished, replaced by a warmth that spread to his fingertips.Seraphina screamed, launching a tidal wave of ice at them. But Ethan swung the four Blades as one, their combined light forming a barrier that shattered the ice, sending shards flying."We're not done yet," he said, his voice steady, strong—no trace of the weak F-rank from the alley, no trace of the doubt that had plagued him.They charged. Ethan led the way, the four Blades slicing through Shadowspawn like paper. Lila's runes bound the Coven mages, Ella's smoke bombs blinded them, and Kael's fire incinerated any who broke free. Thorne and the council mages fought beside them, their magic now focused, determined.But Seraphina was relentless. She grabbed the pendant, holding it high. "If I can't have the Blades, I'll tear the Gate open wider! Let the void consume us all!"The pendant glowed, and the Void Gate shuddered, expanding. More Shadowspawn poured forth—bigger, stronger, their eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence. One lunged at Lila, its claws grazing her back. She screamed, falling to her knees.Ethan spun, slicing the Shadowspawn's head off. He knelt beside Lila, the Blades' light healing her wound. "Hold on.""I'm okay," she gasped, pushing him away. "Go—stop Seraphina. The pendant—destroy it. It's the key."Ethan nodded. He stood, the four Blades blazing. Seraphina stood at the edge of the Gate, the pendant in her hand, laughing as the world crumbled around her."Your little unity trick won't save you!" she shouted. "The void is endless! It will consume everything—magic, mortal, all of it!"Ethan ran toward her, the Blades' power surging. He didn't think of fear, or weakness, or the weight of legacy. He thought of Lila's courage, Kael's redemption, Ella's loyalty. He thought of his grandfather, of Lila's mother, of all the Fallen Knights who'd fought for balance.He jumped, swinging the four Blades in a single, perfect arc. Light exploded from the blades—brilliant, pure, unyielding. It hit Seraphina square in the chest, and she screamed, her body dissolving into shadow. The pendant flew from her hand, spinning through the air.Ethan caught it. The moment his fingers touched the cold metal, he felt its power—the same power that had guided them, that had unlocked the Blades, that had opened the Void Gate. He squeezed it, channeling the Blades' light into the pendant.It shattered, exploding into a million pieces of light.The Void Gate shuddered, the shadow tendrils retreating. The Shadowspawn collapsed, dissolving into mist. The sky cleared, the dark clouds fading to pink and gold as dawn's light returned.Ethan collapsed to his knees, the Blades slipping from his grasp. The warmth faded, and exhaustion washed over him—bone-deep, overwhelming. Lila, Kael, and Ella ran to his side, kneeling beside him.Thorne approached, her staff in hand, her expression unreadable. "You did it. You closed the Gate."Ethan nodded, too tired to speak."But the Shadow Coven isn't gone," Thorne said, her voice softening. "Seraphina was just a lieutenant. Their leaders remain—hidden, plotting. And there are three more Blades to find."Lila picked up her mother's journal, brushing dust from its pages. "We'll find them. Together."Kael grinned, clapping Ethan on the shoulder. "Count me in. I owe you—for everything."Ella pulled a small vial from her satchel, handing it to Ethan. "Healing salve. For the pain. And I'll make more—for the next fight."Ethan took the vial, smiling faintly. He looked at the four Blades, their runes now soft, calm, glowing in harmony. He looked at his friends, their faces tired but hopeful. He looked at Thorne, who nodded once, a silent promise of council support.The void was closed. Seraphina was gone. But the fight wasn't over. The Shadow Coven still lurked. Three Blades remained. And the legacy of the Fallen Knights still weighed on them.But this time, Ethan didn't feel powerless. He didn't feel like a loser. He felt like a leader. A protector.He stood, with the help of his friends, and picked up the Blades. Their hum was gentle, a quiet reminder of what they'd fought for, of what they still had to do."Let's find the next Blade," he said.The sun rose higher, casting light over the damaged academy, over the students and mages tending to the wounded, over the empty sky where the Void Gate had been.Their journey was far from over. But this time, they faced it not as outcasts, not as traitors, but as heroes.And they were ready.