Page 70 of Crowned By the Shadow
“We will need guidance,” Xavier added, looking at Thorn and me. “Will you stay among us, teach us this new balance?”
I felt Thorn’s hand tighten around mine, our thoughts aligning through our bond. “We cannot stay permanently,” I explained. “Our duties as guardians will take us throughout all realms. But we will return often, and we will help with this transition.”
“I will stay,” Wyn offered, stepping forward. The patterns of light and shadow danced across her skin as she spoke. “My transformation has given me insight into balance that I can share with others.”
“As will I,” Volker added. “There is much research to be done, much knowledge to recover and preserve.”
Over the next few days, word spread throughout the fae realms. Things were changing, and the corruption continued to recede, but the best part was that as the corruption healed itself, so did the distrust that had divided the fae for so long.
Wyn and Volker established a temporary workshop in the neutral territory of the Twilight Caverns, where fae from all courts could come to learn about the true nature of balance. To my surprise, many came, not just scholars and mages, but warriors and artisans, rulers and servants.
“They’re hungry for knowledge,” Wyn told me one evening as we watched a group of mixed-court fae practicing simple balancing exercises. “For so long, they’ve been taught to fear what they didn’t understand. Now they want to understand.”
I smiled, watching a Sun Court warrior attempting to channel shadow magic under the patient guidance of a Moon Court mage. “Understanding is the first step toward harmony.”
Thorn joined us, his presence a constant comfort at my side. Through our bond, I felt his contentment mixed with anticipation. We both knew our time here was limited, our duties would soon call us elsewhere, to other realms where balance needed to be maintained.
“Ronan has decided to stay,” he informed us. “He’s establishing a new guard, one that draws members from all courts to protect the neutral territories.”
A flush stole up Wyn’s cheeks before she said, “Oh, that’s nice of him.”
“A worthy endeavor,” I said, pleased that our friend had found his purpose. At some point, I’d have to ask Wyn about her feelings toward Ronan.
“And Van?” Wyn asked, clearly trying to move on from Ronan.
“He travels between realms, seeking fragments of himself that were scattered when he fractured his essence,” Thorn explained. “The Moon Goddess is usually with him, but her focus is on healing the cosmic wounds left by the corruption.”
I nodded, understanding the enormity of their task. The damage done by the Empress’s corruption went beyond the physical realm, affecting the very fabric of reality itself. It would take time to heal completely, perhaps centuries.
As twilight deepened around us, I felt a familiar tug, a gentle pull on my awareness that signaled our presence was neededelsewhere. Thorn felt it too, his hand finding mine as our thoughts aligned.
“It’s time,” he said softly.
Wyn’s expression fell, though she tried to hide her disappointment. “So soon?”
“Balance must be maintained in all realms,” I explained, embracing my friend. “But we’ll return. This is not goodbye, merely until next time.”
She nodded, blinking back tears. “I’ll continue our work here. By the time you return, we’ll have established a proper academy of balanced magic.”
“I have no doubt,” I said, smiling at her determination.
We said our farewells to the others, to Volker with his ambitious research plans, and to Ronan with his new unified guard. Each had found their purpose in this new era of balance, each would contribute to maintaining what we had fought so hard to restore.
As night fell completely, Thorn and I stood at the edge of Moonweaver’s Grove, the cosmic threads of reality visible to our transformed senses. The pull grew stronger, calling us to another realm where darkness and light struggled to find equilibrium.
“Ready?” Thorn asked, his eyes reflecting the starlight above.
I nodded, feeling a profound peace despite the challenges that lay ahead. We had faced the void and emerged transformed but not consumed. We had found a way to maintain our sense of self and our love, even as we embraced our cosmic purpose.
“Together,” I said, the word both a statement and a promise.
Hand in hand, we stepped into the space between realms, following the threads of destiny that we now helped to weave. The fae realm faded behind us, but it would remain in our hearts, the place where our journey had begun, where balance was taking root once more.
As guardians of cosmic harmony, our story would continue across countless realms and ages. But one truth remained constant: we faced it together, bound by a love that transcended mortality, a connection that even the void could not sever.
And in that knowledge, I found not just purpose, but joy.
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