Chapter 35 — The Guardian and the Queen
The Hollow Queen stood at the edge of the Echo Grove like a crack in the world, her silver armor reflecting the light of Lyra and Kai's combined power. Her presence pressed against the air, suffocating and cold—ancient malice wrapped in haunting beauty.
Her gaze lingered on Lyra first.
"My daughter," she said softly, almost lovingly.
But the chill in her voice cut through Lyra like a blade.
Kai stepped in front of Lyra without hesitation, his stance protective, power shimmering across his hands.
The Hollow Queen's eyes slid to him.
"And this must be Kai. The boy who thinks he can stand against destiny."
Kai's jaw tightened. "I don't care about destiny. I just care about her."
Lyra grabbed his arm, trying to steady her pounding heart. The warmth of his skin grounded her.
The Queen smiled—slow and poisonous.
"Such devotion… How fragile."
The air suddenly split open behind her.
A tear in reality.
A portal swirling with stormlight.
From it stepped a figure—tall, broad-shouldered, clad in deep blue armor with symbols of twin crowns carved into the chestplate. His eyes were bright silver, glowing with ancient power.
Lyra drew in a sharp breath.
Kai froze.
Even Thorne whispered under his breath, "What—no way…"
The newcomer looked exactly like Kai.
Except older.
Sharper.
More… celestial.
The Hollow Queen extended an elegant hand toward him.
"Allow me to introduce the Guardian of the Crown of Two…"
She paused, enjoying every second of Kai's stunned expression.
"…Kevin."
The forest went silent.
Kai's heartbeat thundered in his ears.
"My—what… who…?"
Kevin stepped forward, his voice rich and resonant.
"Kai," he said softly, "little brother."
Kai staggered backward as if struck.
Lyra grabbed his hand, squeezing hard.
"Kai… are you okay?"
Kai's voice cracked. "I don't… I don't remember having a brother."
Kevin bowed his head. "You were taken from the Celestial Sanctum as an infant. Hidden. Protected. We searched for you across realms."
He lifted his gaze.
"And now I finally found you."
Lyra felt Kai tremble—she tightened her grip even more.
The Hollow Queen's voice slithered around them.
"Touching, isn't it? A family reunion… just before the worlds burn."
Kai stepped forward, fury in his voice.
"What do you want from us?"
The Queen spread her arms.
"The Crown of Two must awaken. Your bond fuels it. Your powers guide it. But every crown requires a sacrifice."
Her gaze sharpened—directly at Lyra.
"And I choose mine."
Kai instantly moved in front of Lyra.
"NO."
Lyra pulled him back beside her. "Kai, stop. I'll fight with you. Not behind you."
The Hollow Queen raised her hand—
—summoning a wall of dark magic that crashed toward them like a tidal wave.
Kai grabbed Lyra's waist and pulled her into a tight hold as their combined shards flared.
White and dark spiraled between their bodies—
BOOM!
The blast of their united magic shattered the Queen's attack and tore a crater into the ground, sending shockwaves across the Grove.
Thorne stumbled. "Okay—wow—they're terrifying now."
Kevin watched with narrowed eyes… but not hostile. More like analyzing.
The Hollow Queen tilted her head.
"Impressive… but predictable."
With a flick of her wrist, shadow vines erupted from the earth, snaking toward Lyra.
Kai roared, "Stay away from her!"
He swung his arm, unleashing a wave of dark-fire. Lyra followed with a streak of white-light, their magic merging into a blinding silver arc—
But Kevin stepped between them and the Queen, raising a hand.
A barrier of pure starlight formed instantly, absorbing the blast.
Kai froze.
"What are you doing?!"
Kevin's expression was calm, controlled.
"Protecting you."
Lyra's eyes widened. "From us?"
Kevin sighed. "From making a fatal mistake."
The Hollow Queen smiled behind him. Kevin didn't turn to her—but he didn't strike her either.
Kai shouted, "She tried to kill Lyra! And you're—what? Defending her?!"
Kevin's jaw tightened for the first time.
"I am guardian of the Crown. Not servant of the Queen. But she is vital to the balance. Killing her would shatter the realms."
Lyra stepped forward, fury building.
"So what? We just let her manipulate everything?"
Her voice cracked.
"You think she cares about balance? She wants domination!"
Kevin's eyes flickered—almost pained.
"I know what she's become. But my duty—"
Kai cut him off.
"Your duty? What about your family? You're my brother—yet you stand with her?"
Kevin's expression softened.
"I stand with the Crown. And right now, that means stopping all of you."
He raised both hands.
Starlight swirled outward, forming glowing chains that lashed toward Kai and Lyra.
Lyra gasped. "Kai—!"
Kai reacted instantly—grabbing Lyra by the waist and spinning them aside. The chains struck the ground, carving molten lines into the earth.
Kevin whispered, almost apologetic:
"Forgive me."
Kai growled, "Like hell."
The Queen watched the chaos with cold amusement.
The Battle of Brothers
Kevin's starlight swords appeared in his hands—fluid, radiant extensions of his power.
Kai summoned dark-fire blades.
Lyra's white-light flared along her staff.
Their eyes locked.
And the forest exploded into motion.
Kai charged first, fury blazing behind every step.
Kevin met him effortlessly, blades clashing in an eruption of sparks.
Lyra circled behind Kai, firing streaks of white-light to disrupt Kevin's defenses. Each shot bent around his armor like the laws of magic shifted to obey him.
Kai's voice tore through the clash of steel and flame.
"You should have been fighting beside me!"
Kevin blocked a strike and twisted away.
"I have been fighting for you my entire life!"
Their blades collided again—dark and starlight meeting in a violent burst.
Lyra leaped in, her staff spinning, unleashing a spiral of silver energy.
Kevin skidded back, his boots carving grooves into the earth. For the first time—his composure cracked.
Thorne shouted from behind a fallen tree,
"You three are going to blow up the entire forest!"
Kai ignored him.
Kevin's eyes met Kai's—full of regret.
"Kai… I'm trying to save the realms."
Kai's voice shook with emotion.
"So am I."
He and Lyra moved as one.
Their shards blazed—white and dark merging into swirling silver.
Kai lifted Lyra by the waist, spinning her mid-air as she unleashed a beam of burning silver that smashed into Kevin's barrier—
CRRRRACK!
The barrier fractured.
Kevin dropped to one knee.
The Hollow Queen's smile vanished.
This time, she looked… worried.
Kai landed beside Lyra, still holding her hand.
"Kevin," he panted, "you don't have to fight us."
Kevin looked up—not angry… but anguished.
"You don't understand," he said softly.
"If the Crown awakens, one bearer must break."
Lyra froze. "Break? What does that mean?"
Kevin's voice trembled.
"One will survive. One will die. That's the law of the Crown of Two."
Silence.
Lyra's hand slipped from her mouth.
Kai's world shattered.
"No," he whispered. "No. There must be another way."
Kevin shook his head. "There isn't."
The Hollow Queen finally stepped forward.
"Which is why," she murmured, "I will decide who lives."
Her shadow magic coiled around her hand.
Lyra stepped in front of Kai.
Not hesitating.
Not blinking.
Kai grabbed her, pulling her back.
"Lyra—no! Don't—"
She turned to him, eyes fierce, glowing bright.
"I'm not letting anyone choose my fate. Or yours."
Kai cupped her face, trembling.
"I'm not losing you."
His voice cracked.
"Not now. Not ever."
Lyra placed her forehead against his.
"Then fight with me."
Kevin watched them, pain etched on his face.
The Hollow Queen raised both hands.
The forest fell into shadow.
War had arrived.