The shrine rumbled beneath her feet,cracks spread along the ancient walls, glowing faintly with golden light the whisper from inside echoed again, louder this time.Moonborn… you've returned.
The pendant around Aria's neck throbbed violently her mark blazed like a brand.
Behind her, Caelen and Lysander stood tense, blades ready — but the door before them had no lock it responded only to her.
She took a step forward and the sealed chamber opened.
---
Inside was silence.
Not peace — but a heavy hush, thick like a storm waiting to break.
A circular hall stretched before her, its walls carved with runes and broken memories. At the center stood a stone coffin, wrapped in chains that pulsed with ancient magic.
And then...A voice,soft,bitter you left me here.
---
Aria gasped the voice wasn't from the past.
It was now and it came from the coffin.
Chains shifted. One cracked slightly. A hand reached out — clawed, but unmistakably once human.
Who…?she whispered abd then her vision snapped.
---
💤 Memory Surge 💤
A battle.
Betrayal.
A friend kneeling in front of her — hands bound, eyes wide with disbelief you were supposed to protect me.
Aria — the warrior version of her — raised a blade, eyes cold this is mercy.
A scream a seal.
And the friend — the girl she once called sister — was locked away beneath the shrine.
---
🌙 Back to Present
Aria staggered back, hand over her heart.
She wasn't an enemy,she whispered she was… one of us.
Caelen stepped forward, eyes sharp her name was Eryss she was your second-in-command.
Lysander's jaw clenched she betrayed you during the war you had no choice.
But Aria shook her head.
No I saw it she didn't betray me,i betrayed her.
---
The chains pulsed harder a low growl echoed from the coffin.
You chose your power over your people, the voice spat and now you want to remember? To fix it?
Caelen raised a warding hand we need to re-seal her that thing inside isn't Eryss anymore.
But Aria's hands shook.
I did this, she said i sealed her… not out of duty. But because I couldn't stand the truth.
---
Lysander stepped forward Aria, listen to me
But Caelen cut him off no she needs to remember all of it that's the only way she'll know who to trust.
Their voices rose.
Aria gritted her teeth.
The two parts of her — the light and the warrior — started pulling in opposite directions inside her chest.
One wanted to free Eryss.
The other screamed to destroy her again.
And then—magic exploded.
---
The walls cracked.
The pendant split completely in two — one half glowing blue, the other silver.
And Aria?
She fell to her knees, clutching her head make it stop—"
But her voice doubled one crying on cold.
---
Lysander ran to her Aria!
Caelen drew his sword don't touch her—she's splitting!
But it was too late Aria looked up—
And her eyes weren't just glowing.
One was blue.
One was silver.
Both past selves… were now awake.
---
💫 Author's Note:
> Chapter 26 is pure chaos 😮💨
Aria's memories are no longer just visions. They're alive in her.
Eryss — the cursed soul she sealed away — has returned.
And now? Aria doesn't know who she is anymore.
💬 Question for you:
Should Aria free Eryss to learn the truth… or destroy her to protect the world?
📚 Add to your collection if you're emotionally shaking and spiritually screaming 😭✨