Elena's Rebirth

ol of nebulae.Star-born of great genius Elena stood on the Zenith, the highest platform where the

night, a discord in the usually

hyr walked up, his usually calm fac

, resonant tone, "the Coun

celestial law, the Counc

ntensified."What is

his gaze unwavering."Grav

blow.Treason? Against Aethelgard? Aga

lance between the celestial and mortal realm

of captured stars.The Councilors, their shapes shimmering and unclear, sat atop thron

er, of consorting with mortals, and of sharing celes

d throughout the room. "I have only attempted to understand

ul voice. "You have violated their trust, Elena. Your informat

s of Elena interacting with humans and exchanging glimmers of sky magic. Alt

re ignored. Since they had already rendered their

has been upset by your actions."

her connection to the starlight, start to unravel. Dull grey replaced the brigh

away from you," the Counselor decla

was falling, tumbling through the whirling nebulae, the glittering city fading into a far-off, unrea

ld. The smell of damp earth and strange plants filled her nostrils as the blurred, lus

rlight from her fall.There appeared to be a reaction from the land itself, a

strange ground. Her soul was filled with a hollow ache and a gaping wou

es emerged from the shadows: rough-looking mortals, t

e of them demande

Elena could only say

n. She had been struck by a dark, shadowy bolt, the energy bur

ut of the trees came shadowy figures, their eyes blazing with evil energy. The exis

voice a rasping whisper,

by drawing their weapons. The clash of steel and dark magic reverberated through the ancient forest

the brush. Once a place of strange beauty, the forest had devolved into a deadly maze. The fallen star-born Elena was now on the run, being pursued i

rayed robes. Her shoulder continued to throb with the dark magic, a never-ending throb of pain. As a terrifying reminder, the Shadow Weavers' guttural hisses and crackling energy rev

e quickly? With sharp gas

er celestial energy. It resembled attempting to light a wet spark in a hurricane. With

s shoved behind a thorny bush by Kaelen. Remain in this place. Be silent as well. With his

in comparison to the star-born, were putting

at him. Kaelen dodged and swerved, aiming his dagger at a crevice in the dark a

ide her. It was something wild and unbridled, a hint of the earth's own magic reacting to her anguish, rather than the luminous

ed looks. "What was that?" Momen

es!" Kaelen yelled a

k. Kaelen assisted Elena to her feet while examini

n confusion. "I'm not

ven weakened, in direct combat against two resolute mortals. Dark tendrils snaked ac

rround us!" Bram swung hi

and once more. "We mu

st. Elena faltered, her strength ebbing away. The strange, nascent magic inside her was

he roots of an old tree, he discovered a tiny, protected alcove. His vo

udied her wound. "This cut is unli

emporary shelter. In the background, the sounds of

fallen star, deprived of her light, lost and hurt in a strangely familiar yet stra

erosity of these harsh mortals and the weird magic that had awakened inside her were strands of something new that she had not yet fully comprehended.