Page 68 of Crowned By the Shadow
When the process was complete, we stood transformed. Not gods, not mortals, but something in between, guardians of the balance, keepers of harmony. The corruption had not consumed us, but found its perfect counterweight in the light we carried.
I looked at Thorn, seeing him truly for the first time with my new senses. He was still himself, still my fierce, loyal warrior, but now he glowed with inner purpose, cosmic awareness shimmering beneath his skin. Through our strengthened bond, I felt his love, his awe, his determination to face this new reality together.
“It is done,” the Moon Goddess said, her voice filled with wonder and gratitude. “The balance is restored.”
Where the Aetherweavers had stood, there was now only light. Pure, radiant energy free from the cycle of failure and fragmentation. Fiona’s voice echoed around us one last time, filled with peace and gratitude, “Thank you, Eclipse Child. At last, we can rest.”
I felt their release. Their long vigil finally ended. Centuries of waiting, of guiding, of hoping for success where they had failed, all of it coming to a close as they dissolved into the cosmic tapestry, their essence returning to the great cycle of existence.
“What happens now?” Wyn asked, her twilight-touched eyes wide with wonder.
“Now,” I said, my voice resonating with newfound authority, “we rebuild. We heal the wounds that corruption has left across the realms. We teach others the truth about balance, that light and shadow, life and death, creation and destruction are not enemies but partners in the great dance of existence.”
Van, or rather the Sun God fragment, and the Moon Goddess nodded in approval, their ancient eyes shining with hope renewed. “And we will help,” the goddess promised. “Together, as it was always meant to be. Or at least we will after we find the remaining fragments of my love’s soul.”
I nodded in understanding. The Sun God deserved to be complete once more, or at least as complete as he could be given the fact that some of his fragments had died. It was their quest and a way for them to get reacquainted with one another, and I certainly would not deny them that after centuries of suffering.
As we prepared to return to the mortal realm, I felt a profound peace settle over me. The path ahead would not be easy. There was much healing to be done, many wounds to mend. But with Thorn by my side and our friends standing with us, I knew we could face whatever challenges awaited.
For in choosing balance over destruction, in embracing transformation without losing ourselves, we had found the true meaning of the Eclipse Child’s destiny: not to fight the darkness, but to bring harmony to all.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Senara
The journey back to the fae realms felt different than any passage I’d traveled before. With our transformation, Thorn and I perceived the universe in ways impossible to describe with mortal language. The cosmic threads connecting all realms appeared as luminous pathways, vibrant and alive with energy. We could navigate them as easily as walking a familiar forest path.
I held Thorn’s hand as we guided our companions through the spaces between worlds. Wyn’s twilight-touched eyes widened in wonder, while Ronan and Volker followed in stunned silence. For them, this journey was extraordinary. For us, it was simply the first step in our new existence.
“It’s beautiful,” Wyn whispered, her voice carrying strangely in this in-between place. “I can feel the balance.”
“Yes,” I replied, smiling at my friend. “Balance is everywhere, if you know how to look for it. I would like to make a stop before we return to fae lands, if you don’t mind?”
The others murmured their consent, and I grinned at Thorn. “Let’s go tell Echo the good news.”
He smiled back at me and squeezed my hand.
When we took another step the chamber where we had witnessed Echo be crowned the new High Lord of the Elves seemed to materialize around us. The young High Lord sat on his throne, as though he’d been expecting us.
“Thorn, Senara,” he said, inclining his head slightly. “You return changed.” His gaze flickered between us, noting the subtle transformations in both of us.
“We return having restored balance to the realms,” I replied, my voice carrying more authority than it once had. “The Void Dragon Empress is no more, or rather, she has been restored to her true form as the Moon Goddess.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Echo’s expression remained carefully neutral, but he studied us more carefully now, his gaze lingering on the subtle glow that emanated from our skin, the way our eyes seemed to reflect more than just the light around us.
“You have become something other than fae,” he observed. “Something... more.”
“We have become guardians,” I explained. “Keepers of the balance between light and darkness, life and death, creation and destruction. We maintain the harmony that allows all realms to exist in peace. How did you know to expect us?”
Echo smiled then, and it was a thing of beauty, showing the audience that he wasn’t just the High Lord infused with the memories and experiences of the past lords, but a young man who was happy to see his friends once more as well.
“Rys,” he replied with a shrug. “He said that we would know if you had succeeded or not by the end of the day and I was trying to be ready for whatever outcome came our way. I’m just glad that you were victorious.”
“As am I. We just wanted to stop by and let you know the good news, but we still need to go to the fae courts.”
He nodded. “Thank you for giving us a reason to feast tonight! Before you go, there is something I’d like you here for.” I raised an eyebrow at the High Lord, but he just grinned. “Kaelyn?”
