The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the faint rustle of the Codex of the Gods as it hovered beside Lethyxia, its pages turning of their own accord. She extended her hand, and the book settled in her palm once more.
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“This will be our weapon,” she declared, her voice firm. “The Codex holds the truths of gods and mortals alike—their secrets, their vulnerabilities. If we are to face Noctarion, we must understand him as he understands us. Knowledge is our greatest ally.”
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Helena nodded hesitantly, though her fear was far from assuaged. “And what about Mooniegale’s daughter? What is your plan for her?”
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Lethyxia’s lips curled into a faint, almost predatory smile. “We bring her to us. If she is as cunning as her mother, she’ll seek answers—and we will ensure that every path she takes leads her straight into our grasp. One way or another, Helena, this game will end with us as victors.”
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As the moonlight faded behind thick clouds, casting the room into darkness, Lethyxia’s voice echoed, chilling and resolute. “And if Noctarion wishes to interfere, let him. Even gods can bleed.”
Helena shuddered at Lethyxia’s words, her unease deepening. The sheer audacity of challenging Noctarion—the Eternal Sentinel, a being feared by even the gods themselves—felt like courting doom. Yet, she knew better than to question Lethyxia’s resolve. Her queen had faced greater odds and emerged victorious, carving an empire from the chaos of divine games.
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“What will you have me do, Your Highness?” Helena asked, her voice trembling but steadying under Lethyxia’s piercing gaze.
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“You’ll begin by locating the girl,” Lethyxia instructed, her tone firm. “Her existence disrupts the balance. She must be found before she fully realizes what she is capable of—or worse, before Noctarion aids her in unlocking her potential.”
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Helena nodded, swallowing her unease. “And when I find her?”
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Lethyxia turned her back to Helena, staring out into the night. “Bring her to me alive, by any means necessary. But tread carefully. She is no ordinary mortal; she carries remnants of her lineage. Underestimate her, and you won’t live to regret it.”
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Helena’s stomach twisted, but she inclined her head. “As you command.”
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As Helena left the room, Lethyxia let out a slow breath, her fingers brushing the cover of the Codex. Her gaze turned skyward, where stars glimmered faintly behind the clouds. She murmured softly, her words meant for no one but herself.
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“Noctarion, what game are you playing this time? Is she your gambit—or your redemption?”
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The book in her hands pulsed once, a faint glow emanating from its cover. Lethyxia’s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening. “If you think I’ll let you undo everything I’ve built, you are sorely mistaken.”
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---
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Helena made her way through the winding corridors of the Temple, her heart pounding. The memories of Mooniegale’s daughter, now a haunting presence, replayed in her mind. She couldn’t shake the sensation that the girl had been watching her even in death, her piercing gaze a constant shadow.
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She stepped into the war room, where a group of scouts and shadow weavers awaited her. “We have a new target,” Helena announced, her voice stronger than she felt. “A girl tied with noctarion . I want her found and brought back here. Alive. No mistakes.”
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The shadow weavers exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions betraying their fear. “A girl connected to the Eternal Sentinel? That’s only a myth!” one of them blurted out.
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Helena’s glare silenced him. “Do as you’re told, or I’ll remind you why you serve this crown,” she snapped. “Prepare the search teams immediately. We leave at first light.”
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Meanwhile, in the depths of an ancient forest the willow tree, a girl sat by a shimmering pool of water. Her reflection rippled as she gazed into the surface, her white silver eyes glowing faintly.
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“They’re coming for you,” a deep, resonant voice spoke from the wind.
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She didn’t flinch, her gaze remaining fixed on the water. “I know,” she replied softly. “They always come.”
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Noctarion stepped forward, his eyes glinting with starlight as he regarded her. “Will you run?” he asked.
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Xia's lips curved into a faint smile. “No. I’ve been running for too long. If they want me, they’ll find me. But I won’t be the girl they remember.”
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Noctarion’s gaze softened, a rare flicker of something close to pride crossing his features. “Good. You are stronger than they think, child of the cursed bloodline. The question is, will you rise above their expectations—or fall beneath them?”
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She stood, her figure illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the trees. “I suppose we’ll find out, won’t we?”
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The night deepened, and the forest seemed to hold its breath as the girl and the Eternal Sentinel vanished into the shadows. The game had begun, and the pieces were now in motion.
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Helena's team worked tirelessly into the night, poring over ancient maps, texts, and reports from spies scattered across the dominion.
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Whispers of a silver-eyed girl in the borderlands had surfaced over the years, but none had connected her to Mooniegale’s lineage until now. The possibility that she had survived—or worse, had been reborn—gnawed at Helena’s resolve.
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As the shadow weavers prepared their magic and scouts loaded provisions, Helena lingered in the war room, staring at a map of the forest where the girl had last been sighted. The air was thick with tension, every shadow seeming to carry the weight of Lethyxia’s command.
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One of her lieutenants, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, approached cautiously. “high priestess,” he said, breaking the silence, “do you truly believe we can capture someone tied to Noctarion? If the tales are true…”
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Helena cut him off with a sharp glare. “Tales are meant to frighten fools. We have our orders. Whatever she is, she is mortal. And mortals can bleed.”
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In the heart of the ancient forest, xia leaned against the willow tree, her mind racing. Memories of a life long past flickered at the edges of her consciousness—fragmented and distorted, like shards of a broken mirror.
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She didn’t know who she had been before, but she felt the weight of it, the burdens of decisions and sacrifices she couldn’t remember making.
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“I won’t let them control me,” she muttered, her fists clenching.
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“Control is an illusion,” Noctarion’s voice rumbled, deep and soothing like a distant storm. He stepped into view, his celestial presence warping the space around him. “Even I, for all my power, answer to the whims of a greater force.”
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She turned to him, her silver eyes alight with defiance. “Then why help me? What do you gain from this?”
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Noctarion’s expression was unreadable, his starlit gaze fixed on her. “You carry a legacy that can tip the scales of this world. Your choices will shape the fates of gods and mortals alike. Whether you rise or fall, I will bear witness.”
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Xia frowned, her heart pounding. “Witness? That’s all I am to you—a spectacle?”
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He stepped closer, the ground beneath him darkening as though the stars themselves bent to his presence. “You are more than you realize. But the path you choose is yours alone.”
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For a moment, silence enveloped them, broken only by the rustle of leaves in the night breeze.
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“What do you see in me, lio?” she asked softly.
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The Eternal Sentinel regarded her with a rare tenderness. “I see the embers of a fire that once burned brighter than the sun. I see a destiny forged in sacrifice and redemption. And I see a choice—a choice that will determine whether this world thrives or crumbles.”
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Xia's gaze dropped to the shimmering pool, her reflection rippling as if in answer. “Then I’ll choose to fight. For myself, for those who can’t, and for the truth of who I am.”
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Noctarion nodded, his form shimmering with celestial light. “Then prepare yourself. They will come with chains, with fire, and with lies. And you must be ready to burn brighter than them all.”
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Xia straightened, determination hardening her features. “Let them come.”
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