Chapter 18: The Eclipse Prophecy

Chapter 18: The Eclipse Prophecy

The forbidden catacombs beneath Mount Voros smelled of damp earth and centuries of untouched dust. Guided by the flickering violet glow of the Sovereign's Edge, Elder Vance led Nikolai and me down a spiraling stone staircase into the deepest archives of the First Kings.

"It has been over two hundred years since anyone opened the Codex of the Fallen," Vance said, his voice echoing softly against the cavern walls. He stopped before a heavy iron door inscribed with ancient warding runes. Taking a breath, he pressed a drop of my royal blood—collected from a small prick on my finger—against the central lock.

The heavy iron tumblers clicked open, and the door swung wide with a low groan.

Inside sat a solitary pedestal holding a massive, iron-bound tomb. Vance stepped forward with revered care, brushing away a thick layer of dust before turning the brittle, parchment pages.

"Here," Vance whispered, gesturing to a full-page illustration painted in dark crimson ink. It depicted a terrifying eclipse—a blood-red moon hanging above a jagged mountain peak, beneath which a dark rift devoured the land.

Nikolai leaned over the pedestal, his brow furrowed as he scanned the ancient text written in the old wolf dialect. "The Abyssal Well."

"Yes," Vance confirmed gravely. "The Abyssal Well is a tear between our physical realm and the void of the fallen guardians. High Priestess Vespera was sealed away during the First War, but she left behind a fail-safe. When the Crimson Eclipse reaches its total alignment—which happens tomorrow night—the barrier between realms weakens to its absolute thinnest point."

I stepped closer, tracing my finger over the ancient script. "The cultist said she needs royal blood."

"Not just any royal blood, my Queen," Vance said, looking up at me with pale, fearful eyes. "The blood of a living Crescent heir wielding the Sovereign's Edge. The blade acts as the key, but your blood is the catalyst. If Vespera spills your blood upon the altar during totality, the seal will shatter permanently, releasing the shadow horde into the Northern Ridge."

Silence stretched across the cold stone vault.

"Then we don't let her touch you," Nikolai said instantly, his voice a low, fierce growl that reverberated through the catacombs. He turned to me, taking both of my hands into his broad, warm palms. "I will march the entire southern garrison to the Obsidian Ridge. We will build an unyielding wall of steel around that altar before her cultists can even begin the chant."

"Nikolai, a frontal army assault won't break dark magic," I said gently, looking up into his golden eyes. "Your men will hold the mountain pass against Vespera's shadow beasts, but the altar itself... that falls on us. Only the Sovereign's Edge can seal the Abyssal Well once it begins to open."

Nikolai tightened his grip on my hands, a raw flicker of fear passing through his fierce gaze—not fear of the dark cultists, but fear of losing me. "You're asking to step directly into her trap, Elora."

"I'm stepping into the fight I was born to finish," I replied, stepping closer until my forehead rested against his chest. "We fought for this realm, Nikolai. We gave our people a future. I won't let an ancient shadow take it away from us now."

Nikolai let out a long, heavy breath, leaning down to press a firm, possessive kiss against my hair. "Then we fight together. To the very end."

"To the end," I echoed.

Vance bowed his head solemnly, shutting the massive tome with a heavy thud. "The eclipse begins at midnight tomorrow. May the Moon Goddess guide your blades."