All Chapters of Luminous: The Throne: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"Are you sure you're prepared for this, Lady Alessia?" Troil Testmi's voice was stern, but there was a trace of anxiety as he looked at her armor. "The Vasselgrove Ruins aren't a place for the unprepared." Alessia looked up from the delicate silver etching she was running her fingers over in her armor. She smiled reassuringly, but her fingers quivered slightly. "Sir Troil, I wouldn't have arrived if I wasn't prepared. My armor might not seem impressive to some, but..." She paused, not wanting to appear cocky. "I crafted it myself. It's stronger than it appears." As they reached the ruins, Alessia could hear low giggles from a few of the knights moving beside them. Raizel, one of the most doubtful, snickered as he examined her small armor, his tone condescending. Raizel remarked, "It appears she's donning paper armor. She's certain to face death before she even makes it to the entrance." Alessia maintained her poise and ignored Raizel's jabs. She was not here to prove herself t

"It's Vorgath!" Alessia shouted, her voice trembling but clear as she recognized the ancient terror slithering toward them. "Everyone, stay alert! Vorgath hides in shadows, striking before you even see it!" Her warning echoed around the damp stone walls, but most of her comrades looked as though they had just witnessed a nightmare made real. Gritting his teeth, Raizel cast a skeptical glance at her. "Why should we trust you, Endymion? You're just here to—" A sudden hiss cut him off. The air grew thick, as though drenched in poison, and an oily black liquid shot from the darkness, hitting one of their comrades square in the chest. The scream that followed was horrendous, echoing through the chamber as his flesh melted, leaving only bone behind. The others froze in sheer terror, staring as their fellow knight collapsed—a lifeless skeleton where a man had once stood. "Get it together!" Alessia yelled, snapping them out of their horror. "Vorgath's too fast for us to stand here paralyze

Alessia said to herself, "I really hope there's an easier way out of this next time," as she stumbled out of the ruins. Every step hurt her body. Even though her legs felt like lead and her vision was a little foggy, the cool evening air felt great on her. The sun was low in the sky, and its fiery colors made the distance look gold and red. Alessia opened her eyes and looked ahead. A vast ocean, teeming with breaking waves, crashed against the cliffside. She whispered, "Beautiful." She limps to a nearby rock that looked like a temple section and falls. She didn't care that the hard surface didn't help her pain much. As she looked out at the sea, the sunset played in her tired eyes. A peculiar sensation in her chest halted her movement. The sword she had just bought, the Blade of Lumina, started to shimmer with light all of a sudden. Before she could do anything, the blade broke up into glowing bits that rushed into her body and sent a warm, soothing pulse through her veins. "Wh

"Why are we here?" Raizel finally spoke up, but his tone was tense with doubt, and he looked quickly back and forth between Alessia and the tall trees in the Velmor Forest. There wasn't much light coming through the thick forest above, but the long shadows that danced around them were scary. Alessia didn't seem to be scared. She knelt down and removed an object from her bag, resembling a flattened sphere with intricate carvings that emitted a faint glow. Without responding to Raizel's question, she carefully placed the object on the mossy ground. "Lady Alessia, please answer." Raizel's voice was strong, but it was clear that he was getting tense. Sirena, the other knight, softly spoke up and put her hand on Raizel's arm. "Be quiet, Raizel." She looked back at Alessia with her golden eyes. "She must have a reason." Raizel clenched his teeth and didn't say anything else. As he watched Alessia work, he felt more and more uneasy. She stood up and rubbed her hands against her coat.

"What were you thinking, Alessia?" Andro's voice echoed throughout the room, and his fists slammed into the desk with enough power to rock the inkpot perched on its edge. Alessia stood in front of her uncle, arms crossed, with an enigmatic but defiant face. "I was thinking someone had to stop that monster," she stated calmly, despite her hammering pulse. Andro looked at her, his expression a mix of fury and exasperation. "You thought recklessly—that's what it is! Do you understand what you have done? Do you have any idea what would have happened if someone had recognized you?" Alessia's jaw tensed, but she maintained her stare. "Yes. I know exactly what the implications are. And if I had to do it over again, I would not hesitate." Her comments were like a spark that ignited dried tinder. Andro stood up from his chair and paced behind the desk, running his hand over his hair. "Unbelievable. It's just unbelievable. You're meant to be hidden, Alessia! Instead of drawing attention