Chapter 5: The Healer’s Sacrifice

The Darkness struck at Ryn, its tendrils of void wrapping around him, pulling him toward oblivion. He fought, his daggers flashing, but shadow cannot cut shadow, and the Darkness was the ultimate shadow.

Lyssa felt his pain through the bond, felt him slipping away. She could save him—she had the power, the knowledge from a hundred lifetimes of healing. But it would take everything she had, would leave her drained and vulnerable.

And the battle was far from over.

“Do it,” Kael said, reading her hesitation. “Save him. We’ll hold the line.”

Lyssa didn’t hesitate further. She poured her power into Ryn, golden light blazing against the Darkness. The void recoiled, unable to withstand the pure life force she channeled.

Ryn gasped as he was pulled back from the brink, his eyes wide with gratitude and horror. “You shouldn’t have—”

“We’re in this together,” Lyssa said, swaying with exhaustion. “All of us. Until the end.”

To be continued…