Who are you?

Chapter 11

We stood in the arcane chamber of the castle, circled by ancient sigils and cosmic tapestries that had been meticulously arranged. This room had served as the starting point for countless quests, each one significant but none as personal as this one."I've calibrated the portal to take us to the Realm of Forgotten Lore," Aleera announced, her eyes focused on the swirling vortex that had materialized in the center of the room. "That's where the first part of the inscription should be."

Gripping my staff tightly, I approached the portal. "We're making the right choice, aren't we? It's not just about us anymore."

Aleera closed the distance between us, her touch as reassuring as ever. "We're doing this to protect our realm and our child. I believe in us, Y/N."With a shared look of determination, we stepped through the portal. The world around us twisted and spun until we found ourselves standing amidst towering bookshelves and crumbling scrolls. The Realm of Forgotten Lore was a labyrinth of knowledge, each corner filled with the echoes of long-lost wisdom.

After hours of navigating through the maze, guided only by the fragments of my vision, we found it—a stone tablet inscribed with ancient runes, eerily similar to the ones I had seen.

"The first piece of the prophecy," Aleera mused as she began to decode the inscription. Her eyes glowed with intense focus, resonating with the mystical energies of the realm.After a moment that felt like an eternity, she spoke. "It says, 'Where moonlight kisses the Eternal Sea, the Celestial Tear shall be.'""That sounds like a location," I suggested, excitement building within me."It is," Aleera confirmed, her eyes suddenly clouded with nostalgia. "The Eternal Sea is a realm I visited when I was younger. It's a place where the waters are made of liquid moonlight.""I've never been there," I said, filled with a sense of wonder and trepidation. "But it sounds like our next destination."

Before we could leave, a sudden force swept through the room, knocking ancient scrolls off their shelves and causing a low rumble to echo through the labyrinth.

"They know we're here," Aleera said, her fangs bared and her eyes aflame. "We need to leave—now!"As we retraced our steps, my mind couldn't help but drift to Elysia. Would she grow up in a world of wonder or one of chaos? The weight of that uncertainty fueled me, pushing me forward as we fought off a group of spectral guardians, remnants of scholars who had lost their way in the maze of forgotten knowledge.

Finally, we reached the portal and leapt through it, emerging back in our arcane chamber. We were both visibly drained but resolute, the first piece of the prophecy now in our possession.

"Next stop: The Eternal Sea," Aleera said, her fingers already weaving another portal into existence.But before we could take that step, a searing pain emanated from my abdomen, causing me to stagger. Aleera caught me, concern filling her eyes."Elysia?" she questioned, panicked."She's okay," I reassured her, taking a moment to tune into the life within me. "But she's restless, as if she knows what's at stake."Aleera nodded, her eyes filled with a blend of love and determination that I had come to cherish. "Then let's not keep her waiting. Our quest is far from over, and I have a feeling that the challenges we're going to face will test us in ways we can't even begin to imagine."

The portal materialized us on the shores of the Eternal Sea. The sight was surreal; luminescent waves crashed onto the shore, casting ethereal glimmers that danced upon the surface. The sea was a blend of liquid silver and radiant blues, resembling the interplay of moonlight and dark waters.

"It's as beautiful as I remember," Aleera whispered, her eyes reflecting the luminous tides."But we're not here for sightseeing," I reminded her. My senses were tingling with an unusual vibe, as if the sea itself was aware of our presence and the mission that brought us here.Aleera took my hand and led me along the shoreline. "The inscription mentioned moonlight kissing the sea. There must be a specific location where that happens."

We followed the meandering coast, each step accompanied by the soft hiss of retreating waves. Soon, we arrived at a secluded cove, where the cliffs seemed to reach out and caress the moonbeams descending from the sky. The point where the moonlight met the sea was almost celestial, creating a silvery halo on the water.

"Look," Aleera pointed, her voice tinged with awe.A radiant glow emanated from the water, shaping itself into a crystalline gem hovering just above the surface. The Celestial Tear.With my magic at the ready, I carefully levitated the gem towards us. It pulsated with power, resonating with the energies of countless realms."We did it," Aleera exhaled in relief, her eyes meeting mine.That's when it happened—emerging from the shadows, figures clad in dark robes and adorned with arcane symbols appeared around us. "You think you can claim the Celestial Tear that easily?" their leader sneered, drawing a sword imbued with dark energies.

Aleera positioned herself in front of me, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Who are you?"

"We are the Order of the Shattered Veil, and we will not let you control the fate of the realms," he declared, initiating an attack.The following moments were a blur of strikes, spells, and dodges. Aleera was a whirlwind of ferocity, her sword skills honed to a lethal edge. I unleashed bolts of arcane energy, each one finding its mark among our attackers.

Despite our efforts, the leader of the Order managed to circle around us, making a beeline for the Celestial Tear. Reacting quickly, Aleera lunged at him, her sword clashing with his in a burst of sparks. Their eyes met, locked in a moment of understanding and defiance.

"I will not let you harm my family or my realm," Aleera growled, her grip tightening on her weapon.With a snarl, the leader tried to overpower her, but Aleera used his momentum against him, redirecting his force and disarming him with a swift maneuver. Seizing the opportunity, I bound him and his followers with ethereal chains, their powers neutralized."We need to go," Aleera said urgently, her eyes meeting mine. "We've claimed the Celestial Tear, but we've also alerted every faction interested in it."

Nodding, I levitated the gem into a specially crafted box, locking it with multiple magical wards. We took one last look at the Eternal Sea, its beauty now intertwined with memories of battle and love, before stepping into the portal Aleera conjured.

As we reappeared in our castle, I felt Elysia kick softly, as if acknowledging our triumph and the steps we had taken to secure her future. Aleera sensed it too, her hand moving to rest beside mine on my abdomen."We're shaping a better world for her, for us," I said, my voice tinged with hope and determination."And we'll face whatever comes our way—together," Aleera vowed, sealing her promise with a kiss that tasted like victory and the moonlight of a thousand realms.