I took a deep breath, my gaze sweeping over the hall, taking in the familiar arches, the gleaming pillars, the banners that had once been symbols of my duty, my purpose.
And as I looked, I felt a quiet, bittersweet ache, a nostalgia that tugged at my heart.
But beneath it, there was a new feeling, a fierce certainty that this was the path I needed to take.
“I won’t regret it,” I replied softly, turning to him, my voice steady. “This place… it has been my home, yes. But it has also been my cage, my burden. And if I am to truly grow, if Solaris is to grow, then I need to leave. Both Solaris and I need to find our own paths, to discover who we are beyond the roles we were forced into.”
Dario’s hand tightened around mine, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Then let’s go,” he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet, unbreakable resolve. “Let’s find our own way.”
Chapter 24: Dario
Standing beside Elena in her chambers, watching as she packed her things, I felt the warmth of the sun’s light seep into me, a sensation as comforting as it was unfamiliar.
Though the shadows still clung to me as always, they were no longer the chains of my past—no longer a reminder of the curse that had bound me.
For the first time, I stood in the warmth of the sun with a peace I hadn’t thought possible.
I shifted my gaze to Elena. She stood a few paces away, looking out over Solaris with a bittersweet expression that softened her features, her silver hair a river of moonlight against the ivory fabric of her gown.
A calm, steady strength radiated from her as she took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the view of Solaris that stretched before us through the large windows.
I could see the people beginning to gather below, murmuring and moving toward the temple courtyard in anticipation of her announcement.
They had trusted her as their High Priestess for so long, looked to her as their beacon of hope and guidance, and now, she was about to bid them farewell.
“Are you ready?” I asked softly, searching her face as she took in the scene before her.
She nodded, a quiet determination settling in her expression. “Yes. It’s time.”
Hand in hand, we left the chamber and walked through the long, sunlit corridors of the palace, our footsteps echoing softly against the stone.
Guards and attendants watched us as we passed, their expressions a mixture of awe and hesitation as they took inthe sight of their beloved High Priestess with the one they had known as the Shadow King.
But I held my head high, unbothered by their scrutiny. After all, I was no longer a prisoner to their fear or judgment. I was by her side, and that was all that mattered.
As we approached the temple courtyard, the murmur of the crowd grew louder, filling the air with a palpable energy. Elena released my hand to step forward onto the balcony, her presence commanding, regal.
I lingered a few steps behind her, giving her the space she needed to address her people, yet ready to lend my support if she needed it.
The warmth of the morning sun spilled over the courtyard, casting a golden glow that illuminated the faces of the people who looked up at her with respect, admiration, and love.
She raised her hand, and the crowd fell silent, their gazes locked on her as they waited for her to speak.
“My people,” she began, her voice carrying across the courtyard with a strength that belied the emotion flickering in her gaze. “For many years, I have served you, guided you, and protected you with everything I had to give. But today, I stand before you to announce a new beginning—one that will take me away from Solaris.”
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd, a mixture of shock, disbelief, and sorrow.
I could see the confusion in their eyes, the reluctance to accept her words, but Elena held up a hand, and the murmurs subsided as they turned their full attention to her once more.
“I am not abandoning you,” she continued, her gaze sweeping over them with a fierce, unbreakable love that filled every word she spoke. “I believe in you—in the strength and resilience of Solaris. This city has been my home, my purpose, and my greatest responsibility. But it is time for Solaris to walk its ownpath, a path that you will forge together, with courage and wisdom. The future of this city lies in your hands, beyond the walls and wards that have guarded us and kept us separate from the world for so long.”
A brief silence fell over the crowd, and then, from among the gathered people, a man stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern.
“High Priestess… without you, who will guide us? Who will protect us?”
Elena’s gaze softened as she met his eyes, her voice gentle but firm. “Mayor Tarun, you are all capable of guiding and protecting yourselves, just as you have always been. I have only ever been a part of the greater strength of Solaris. Trust in yourselves, in each other, and in the love you have for this city. I know you will rise to meet any challenge that comes your way.”
The mayor nodded slowly, bowing his head in acknowledgment of her words.
