The mist slowly receded with the arrival of Elara and Fael, as if their very presence could dispel the darkness. The red-eyed wolves, once so ferocious, now howled weakly and retreated into the thinning fog. The looming shadow of Malakor vanished as well. The air grew clearer, yet the tension between Lira, Arka, and the two Celestial elves remained palpable.
Elara and Fael immediately knelt beside Lira, carefully examining her condition.
"Lira, thank the stars you're safe!" Elara exclaimed, her clear blue eyes scanning every inch of Lira's body as if to ensure no lasting damage. "We've been searching for you for months!"
Fael let out a sigh of relief. "We were close to giving up. King Eldrin is gravely concerned."
He glanced at Arka, who was still clutching his wounded shoulder, suspicion glinting in his eyes.
"Who is he, Lira? What happened here?"
Lira tried to rise, aided by Elara. The pain still throbbed in her body, but the presence of her friends gave her renewed strength.
"This is Arka," Lira said hoarsely. "He saved me. He's been taking care of me all this time."
Arka gave a slight nod in greeting, still eyeing the two Celestial elves with a mix of awe and caution. He had never imagined the Celestial elves to be real, and now here they were—radiant, with transparent wings and a captivating aura. But he also sensed an authority emanating from them.
Fael stepped closer to Arka, his gaze cold.
"You're human. Why are you with Princess Lira? What have you done to her?"
His voice was accusatory, as if Arka were to blame for everything that had happened to Lira.
"Fael! Don't speak like that!" Lira snapped, defending Arka. She stepped forward, even though her body was still unsteady.
"Arka is my savior! He knows nothing of the Celestia. He only tried to help me."
Elara shot Fael a warning look, then turned back to Lira.
"Lira, we were sent by King Eldrin. He is furious about your fall, and now dark ripples are spreading from Earth to the Celestia. We must take you home immediately."
"I know about the dark energy!" Lira interrupted, her voice urgent.
"I saw it! It's Malakor! This gate is his seal, and my fall weakened it. The ban on elf-human unions… it's not just law, it's part of the seal!"
Lira tried to explain what she had seen and felt, hoping her friends would understand.
Elara and Fael exchanged glances. Their expressions shifted from worry to shock, then disbelief.
"What nonsense is this, Lira?" Fael said sharply.
"Malakor was sealed centuries ago. And that ban… it's sacred Celestian law, not part of some ancient, ridiculous seal!"
"But I saw it! In my dreams, in the memory of the gate!" Lira insisted, frustrated by their disbelief.
"There were ancient humans who fought alongside our ancestors! This gate is the proof!"
Elara sighed.
"Lira, you may still be traumatized by your fall. The mortal realm can distort the minds of elves who are unaccustomed to it. Let's go home. Your father awaits. He'll explain everything."
Her voice held a commanding tone, making Lira feel like a child being scolded.
"No! You don't understand!" Lira stepped back, turning to look at Arka. The man now gripped his shoulder tightly, the pain from his wound evident on his face. He had been hurt because of her, and now the elves wanted to take her away without understanding the truth.
"I can't leave," Lira whispered, her eyes pleading as she looked at Elara and Fael.
"Not before I find out what's really happening. This threat is real. I feel it. I saw it."
Then she turned to Arka, her grip on his hand tightening.
"And I won't leave Arka. He helped me, he believes in me. And now he's in danger because of me."
Fael scoffed.
"A human? Lira, have you forgotten who you are? You're the daughter of the Celestial King! You cannot love or ally with a human! That is a grave violation!"
"Love knows no laws!" Lira shouted, her voice trembling with emotion. Anger and disappointment surged through her.
"You only see rules, not the greater truth!"
Suddenly, Arka, who had remained silent until now, spoke. His voice was low but firm.
"I don't know anything about the Celestia, or Malakor, or that forbidden law. But I know Lira. She's honest. And she's been hurt by something bigger than both of us understand. If there's danger threatening her, I'll protect her."
He stepped forward, standing beside Lira, facing Elara and Fael.
Elara and Fael narrowed their eyes at Arka, as if just now realizing the weight of his presence. They sensed something strange in him—not Celestial energy, nor dark magic. It was an ancient, grounded energy with untapped potential.
"This human… there's something unusual about him," Fael whispered to Elara, though Lira and Arka could still hear.
Elara looked at Lira with questioning eyes, then back at Arka.
"Lira, this is no longer a request. It's an order from the King. You must return. And this human… he cannot come with you."
Lira shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. She would not leave Arka. Not after everything they had been through.
Suddenly, King Eldrin's voice echoed again in Lira's mind—this time clearer, more urgent:
Malakor… The Key…
Lira knew she had to choose.
Return to the Celestia, leave Arka behind, and allow the threat of Malakor to grow unchecked?
Or remain in the mortal world, seek the truth, and fight alongside Arka—defying the wrath of the Celestia and confronting an unseen danger?