Chapter 24: The Betrayer’s Truth

The forest they escaped into was thick and unyielding, the towering trees blocking out most of the moonlight. Ithan and Lyra moved in silence, their breaths heavy from the battle. The Sigil’s glow dimmed, leaving only faint pulses that matched Ithan’s racing heartbeat.

Finally, they stopped to rest, leaning against the gnarled trunk of a massive tree. Ithan broke the silence.

“Erza… she was with you before, wasn’t she?” His voice was sharp, accusatory.

Lyra’s face hardened. “Yes. She was one of us, once.”

“And you didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”

“I thought she was dead.” Lyra’s voice wavered, and for the first time, Ithan saw a crack in her composed demeanor. “Erza and I trained together. She was brilliant, powerful… and ambitious. Too ambitious.”

“What happened?”

Lyra’s gaze dropped to the ground. “We were tasked with guarding the Sigil’s twin—an artifact equal in power but far more volatile. Erza believed that the artifact could be used to reshape the world, to fix its flaws. But when she tried to harness it, the artifact rejected her… and it broke her. She turned to the Hollow King for salvation, and in doing so, she betrayed everything we stood for.”

Ithan’s fists clenched. “So she’s after the Sigil now? To finish what she started?”

“She doesn’t need to,” Lyra said grimly. “The Hollow King already has the other artifact. Together, they form the Key—a weapon capable of rewriting existence. That’s why we can’t afford to fail.”

The weight of her words settled heavily on Ithan. His training had prepared him for battle, but the idea of fighting someone like Erza—someone with the same skills and drive as Lyra—filled him with dread.

“What about you?” he asked suddenly. “If she was your ally, your friend… how do I know you won’t do the same?”

Lyra’s eyes snapped up to meet his, blazing with fury. “Don’t compare me to her. Everything I’ve done, everything I’ve sacrificed, has been to stop people like her.”

Ithan didn’t respond, but the tension between them was palpable.

As they resumed their journey, the Sigil began to pulse more insistently, leading them deeper into the forest. The air grew colder, and an unnatural silence enveloped the woods.

They came to a clearing where the ground was littered with shattered stone and broken weapons—remnants of an ancient battle. In the center stood an obelisk, its surface carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly.

Lyra approached cautiously. “This is a waypoint. The Sigil recognizes it.”

Before she could say more, a voice rang out from the shadows.

“So predictable, Lyra.”

Erza emerged, her dark cloak billowing as if caught in an unseen wind. Her presence was overwhelming, her power palpable.

“Ithan,” she said, her tone almost playful. “You’ve grown stronger. But do you even know what you’re fighting for?”

“I’m fighting to stop you,” Ithan said, stepping forward.

Erza’s smirk widened. “You’re so sure you’re on the right side. Tell me, has Lyra told you everything? About the Sigil? About your family?”

Ithan froze. “What are you talking about?”

Erza’s gaze shifted to Lyra. “Go on, Lyra. Tell him the truth. Or should I?”

Lyra’s expression was a mask of control, but Ithan could see the panic in her eyes.

“What truth?” he demanded, his voice rising.

Erza’s laugh was cold and sharp. “You’ll find out soon enough, Ithan. And when you do, you’ll see that this world isn’t worth saving.”

Before Ithan could react, Erza disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind an ominous silence.

Ithan turned to Lyra, his voice low and dangerous. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Lyra hesitated, and in that moment, Ithan’s trust in her fractured further.