Page 141 of The Light Within

“Stay back,” Cinn warned Julien.

Cinn’s gaze bored into the pulsating core of theMachina Tenebrisas he summoned his dark friend, directing the shadowy limb towards the machine’s heart. His shadow slithered and surged, aiming for the core that surely powered the whole damned machine. However, as his shadowinched closer, a strange resistance became apparent. The blue light of the core flickered defiantly, and the crystalline tubes pulsed with energy, as if repelling his efforts.

Cinn tried again.

Again, the shadow failed to penetrate the machine’s defences, its dark tendrils recoiling as they encountered an invisible barrier. Cinn couldfeelthe resistance, akin to magnets repelling each other. The force that was almost sentient, pushing back against each attempt. Frustration and desperation surged within him.

“Stop!”

Cinn blinked, shaking his head. Julien had been trying to get his attention for some time.

“It’s impervious to shadow.”

You don’t say.“I can see that.”

“Let me try. I’ve been itching to since the second I saw it.”

Is that safe?Cinn wanted to ask, but bit his tongue. Julien needed security and confidence, not seeds of doubt. “Are you sure? You don’t look great.” That was an understatement—his face was pale and drawn, his hands trembled slightly, and there was a lingering tension in his posture.

But Julien only stepped forward, eyes narrowing at the pulsating core of theMachina Tenebris. He extended his hand. In an instant, the chamber filled with pure, bright white light. Beautiful, bright light.

Sparks of light danced circles around him like tiny stars, and in that moment, Julien, with his mess of golden hair, seemed less like a man and more like a celestial being descended into the shadows—a vengeful angel.

His light grew brighter, intensifying with each passing second until it was nearly blinding. Julien’s face was set in determination as he thrust his hand forward, and light shot through the air, a swarm of fiery sparks. They collided with the machine, embedding themselves in the metallicsurface and seeping into the cracks and crevices of its structure. Flickering for a moment, they then flared with a sudden burst of energy, sending out a searing light that caused the machine to groan and shudder.

Cinn threw his arm in front of his face, blinking rapidly. Several parts of the machine burst into flame.

“Is this safe?” Cinn shouted, as the flames spread across the dark metal like wildfire. The crystalline tubes hissed and shattered, severing the red tendrils that snaked around the machine.

As Cinn took several steps back, wrenching Julien back with him, the core throbbed violently, the blue light flickering erratically as if fighting against the onslaught of Julien’s motes. A sharp crack rang through the chamber, followed by a deep rumble as the core’s protective lattice splintered.

Smoke filled the chamber, obscuring Cinn’s view, but more importantly, choking his lungs. He coughed, spluttering all over Julien.

Julien doubled over, hacking violently as the smoke clawed at his throat, each cough racking his body.

“Ju—” Cinn tried to shout his name, but was rendered speechless by the smoke smothering him.

Another coughing fit hit Julien. He struggled against it, then managed to croak, “Hold on,” pushing Cinn flat against a wall.

What was a minor draft passing through the chamber became a strong wind, then a violent, swirling vortex, whipping all the smoke away from them into the whirlwind encircling the machine.

TheMachina Tenebriswas no longer visible, lost in the churning mass of thick, grey smoke. The air crackled with energy, the swirling fog distorting the space around it like a frenzied mirage.

A deafening roar ripped from the centre. Cinn dropped to his knees and squeezed his eyes shut.

There was a series of snapping sounds, followed by what sounded like a pattering of glass raining down onto the ground.Then the raucous noise faded. Cinn peeled his eyes open to find the smoke dissipating—Julien was directing it down a tunnel. It left behind a pile of twisted, melted metal, jagged edges still glowing faintly with heat, like the scattered bones of a defeated beast. The machine was utterly destroyed, a lifeless, deformed heap.

A profound stillness settled over the chamber, wrapping around them like a heavy shroud. The change could befelt, deep within Cinn’s bones, a palpable shift in the air. The oppressive weight that had filled the space moments before lifted, replaced by an eerie calm. Was he imaging this? He exchanged a glance with Julien, and was met with his answer.

Cinn found Julien’s hand, squeezed it tight. “You did it.”

Julien did not reply, and his hand slipped out of Cinn’s to hang by his side.

“Julien?” Cinn dropped his voice down low, cautious.

Julien was still staring at the machine, his jaw clenched tight, eyes filled with a dark, simmering rage. His entire body was trembling, almost vibrating with fury, as if he were barely holding himself together. His chest heaved with rapid, shallow breaths, and his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white. The strong frown etched into his forehead seemed to deepen even further, his expression hardening into something almost feral.

“Non!” Lucien’s voice cut through the air like a blade, and Cinn almost jumped out of his skin. Lucien had gotten to his feet, his clothes covered in ash, a stream of blood trickling from his left ear down to his collarbone. “Non!” he shouted again, his voice raw with disbelief and fury. “Qu’as-tu fait?!”

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