27: The Betrayer Within
After the battle, the Temple plateau was left in ruins. Kaian's forces tended to the wounded and mourned the fallen. But Mia sensed something was off, a dissonance in her intuition. She noticed Kira flinching when Luca, Kaian's trusted second, entered the room. Mia's spirit-sight revealed a shadow lingering beneath Luca's skin, and she brought it to Kaian's attention. Kaian was hesitant to believe, but Mia urged him to watch Luca.
By nightfall, it was too late. Kira was gone, and Luca's scent had vanished. Kaian's roar echoed through the stillness as he realized his trusted friend had betrayed them. Velian revealed that Luca used an old Eclipse rite, and they were heading to the true Temple, a place the old gods buried. Mia's fury was palpable, and Kaian vowed to ride out immediately. But Mia cautioned him to think strategically, as this wasn't just about Kira anymore, but about what was buried in the Temple and what Kira could become or unleash.
As they journeyed deeper into the forest, the path Luca took was steeped in old magic, and the veil between realms thinned. Kira, bound and silent, was not afraid. Luca sat across from her, his eyes hollow with belief, thinking she was a tool to be used. But Kira's calm demeanor and pulsing mark hinted at her growing power. Meanwhile, Mia's intuition flared, and she sensed Kira's presence. She wasn't afraid; she was waiting. The stage was set for a final confrontation, with Kira's fate and the world's future hanging in the balance.