For a moment, Kael forgot how to breathe.

The words Arcturus had spoken seemed impossible.

They hung in the air like a curse.

I am your father.

Kael stared at the man standing before him.

The Void King.

The first Moonblade.

The creature who had opened the gates between worlds.

The ruler of the Void.

His father.

“No.”

The word escaped Kael’s lips.

Arcturus smiled.

“Yes.”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

His real father—the man who had raised him for six years before disappearing—stood behind him.

His face was pale.

“Kael, don’t listen to him.”

Kael turned.

“Then tell me he’s lying.”

Silence.

Kael’s heart sank.

“Tell me.”

His father’s eyes filled with pain.

“Kael…”

“Tell me!”

The walls shook.

The Moonblade on the ground began glowing.

Kael’s father closed his eyes.

Arcturus laughed softly.

“You see?”

Kael looked at him.

“He’s afraid to tell you.”

Kael turned back.

“Tell me the truth.”

His father took a step forward.

“I am your father.”

Arcturus laughed.

“Not by blood.”

Kael’s entire body went cold.

He looked at Lyra.

She was crying.

“You knew?”

Lyra shook her head.

“Not everything.”

“You knew he wasn’t my father?”

“I knew there was a secret about your birth.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“I tried.”

“When?”

“Before we entered the Void.”

Kael remembered.

Her words.

Your father made me promise.

He suddenly understood.

She had known something.

Not everything.

But enough.

Kael stepped away from her.

“You lied to me.”

Lyra’s face broke.

“I was trying to protect you.”

Kael laughed bitterly.

“Everyone is.”

He looked around the room.

“Everyone keeps protecting me with lies.”

His eyes fell on Arcturus.

“Are you my father?”

Arcturus nodded.

“By blood.”

Kael stared at him.

“And my mother?”

“Your mother was human.”

“Where is she?”

Arcturus’s expression changed.

“Dead.”

Kael froze.

“No.”

“She died protecting you.”

“You’re lying.”

“I have no reason to.”

Kael stepped toward him.

“You destroyed my family.”

Arcturus smiled.

“No.”

He pointed toward Kael’s father.

“Your family destroyed itself.”

Kael’s father moved forward.

“Enough.”

Arcturus raised his hand.

A wave of darkness threw him against the wall.

“Father!”

Kael ran toward him.

The man fell to his knees.

Kael helped him stand.

His father looked at him.

“Don’t call me that.”

Kael froze.

“What?”

The man looked away.

“You have every right to hate me.”

“Why?”

“Because I lied.”

Kael’s voice became quiet.

“Why did you raise me?”

The man looked at him.

“Because your mother asked me.”

“Why?”

“Because Arcturus wanted you.”

Kael turned.

Arcturus smiled.

“You were born with the power to unite the human world and the Void.”

Kael looked at his hands.

“The Moonblade.”

Arcturus nodded.

“The Moonblade is your birthright.”

Kael shook his head.

“I don’t want it.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“I always have a choice.”

Arcturus smiled.

“That’s what your mother said.”

Kael froze.

Arcturus stepped closer.

“She believed love could save you.”

Kael’s eyes filled with tears.

“Did it?”

Arcturus looked at him.

“No.”

Kael raised his head.

“You’re wrong.”

Arcturus frowned.

Kael looked toward Lyra.

She was still crying.

“But I have something you never had.”

“What?”

“Someone who believes in me.”

Arcturus looked at Lyra.

“She will kill you.”

Kael stepped in front of her.

“Then she will have to.”

Lyra looked at him.

Kael held out his hand.

“Come with me.”

She hesitated.

“Kael…”

“Please.”

Lyra looked at his hand.

Then she took it.

Arcturus watched.

For the first time…

The smile disappeared from his face.

“You think love will save you?”

Kael looked at him.

“No.”

The Moonblade rose from the floor.

It flew into Kael’s hand.

“I think I’ll save myself.”

The sword exploded with light.

Arcturus stepped backward.

Impossible.

Kael’s mark changed.

The crescent moon on his hand became silver.

The seven stars surrounding it began shining.

His eyes turned bright blue.

Lyra stared.

“Kael.”

“What?”

“Your power.”

Kael looked at his sword.

“I can feel it.”

His father stared at him.

“That’s impossible.”

Arcturus’s voice became quiet.

“No.”

He smiled.

“That’s exactly what I wanted.”

Kael frowned.

“What?”

Arcturus laughed.

The darkness around him grew.

“Wake up, my son.”

The room exploded.

---

Kael opened his eyes.

He was falling again.

But this time…

He was alone.

“Lyra!”

No answer.

“Lyra!”

He reached for her.

Nothing.

The Void had separated them.

Kael fell through darkness.

Then he landed.

Hard.

He opened his eyes.

He was standing in a forest.

But this wasn’t the silver forest.

The trees were dead.

The ground was covered in black ash.

A red sun burned in the sky.

Kael stood.

“Lyra?”

Silence.

He turned.

Nothing.

Kael’s heart began racing.

“Lyra!”

A voice answered.

“Kael.”

He froze.

His mother.

He turned.

She stood beneath a dead tree.

Older.

Weak.

But alive.

“Mother?”

Kael ran toward her.

She caught him.

For a moment, he was six years old again.

He was no longer the Moonblade.

He was no longer the chosen one.

He was simply a son who had found his mother.

Kael cried.

She held him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why did you leave me?”

“Because I had to.”

“You weren’t dead.”

“No.”

“Why did you let me believe you were?”

“Because Arcturus was searching for you.”

Kael stepped back.

“You knew who my father was?”

His mother nodded.

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I wanted you to have a normal life.”

Kael laughed bitterly.

“I never had one.”

His mother touched his face.

“You had a childhood.”

“Not after you disappeared.”

“I watched you.”

Kael froze.

“What?”

“I was always nearby.”

“Why?”

“Because I loved you.”

Kael’s eyes filled with tears.

“Then why didn’t you come home?”

“Because every time I tried…”

She looked toward the red sky.

“…they found me.”

“Who?”

“The Voidborn.”

Kael looked around.

“Where are we?”

“The heart of the Void.”

Kael stared.

“How do we leave?”

His mother looked at him.

“You can’t.”

“What?”

“The Void has chosen you.”

Kael shook his head.

“No.”

“Kael.”

“I don’t belong here.”

His mother smiled sadly.

“You were born here.”

“No.”

“You were born from the Void.”

Kael stepped backward.

“Stop saying that.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I don’t care.”

His mother touched his chest.

“Your heart is human.”

Kael looked at her.

“Then why?”

“Because your father was not.”

Silence.

Kael looked down.

“Arcturus.”

She nodded.

“He was once human.”

Kael stared.

“What?”

“Before he became the Void King.”

“How?”

“Power.”

His mother looked toward the red sun.

“Arcturus believed humanity was weak.”

“And the Void made him strong.”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you love him?”

She closed her eyes.

“Because once…”

She smiled sadly.

“…he was a good man.”

Kael couldn’t imagine it.

“How?”

“He loved me.”

“Did he love me?”

His mother was silent.

Then she said:

“More than you know.”

Kael stared.

“Then why did he become a monster?”

“Because he was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Losing you.”

Kael’s heart stopped.

His mother continued.

“Arcturus discovered that you were born with a rare power.”

“The Moonblade.”

“No.”

Kael frowned.

“Something greater.”

“What?”

“The power to choose.”

Kael didn’t understand.

His mother smiled.

“You can control both worlds.”

“The human world and the Void.”

“Yes.”

“And Arcturus wants that?”

“He wants you to rule beside him.”

Kael shook his head.

“I’ll never do that.”

His mother looked at him.

“Then he will destroy the human world.”

Kael’s eyes hardened.

“Let him try.”

His mother stepped closer.

“Kael.”

“I’ll stop him.”

“You can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because he is not the only one who wants to control you.”

Kael froze.

“What do you mean?”

His mother looked behind him.

Kael turned.

A figure stood in the distance.

Lyra.

She was walking toward them.

Kael’s heart jumped.

“Lyra!”

He ran.

They collided.

He held her.

She held him tighter.

“I thought I lost you.”

“So did I.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

He looked at her.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

Then she saw his mother.

Her face changed.

“You’re alive.”

Kael’s mother smiled.

“You knew me?”

Lyra nodded.

“My father told me about you.”

“Your father was a good man.”

Lyra’s eyes filled with tears.

“He died because of Arcturus.”

Kael’s mother looked at her.

“No.”

Lyra froze.

“Arcturus didn’t kill your father.”

“Then who did?”

Kael’s mother looked toward the forest.

“Your father.”

Lyra stopped breathing.

“What?”

“Your father killed himself.”

Lyra shook her head.

“No.”

“He believed the only way to stop Arcturus was to become part of the Void.”

Lyra’s tears fell.

“He sacrificed himself.”

Kael looked at her.

“Lyra…”

She stepped backward.

“No.”

Kael moved toward her.

“Don’t.”

“Lyra.”

“Don’t touch me.”

Kael stopped.

She looked broken.

“My father didn’t kill himself.”

“He sacrificed himself.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Kael’s mother stepped closer.

“He believed you would one day understand.”

Lyra shook her head.

“I don’t.”

Her voice broke.

“I don’t understand anything.”

Kael took another step.

“Lyra.”

She looked at him.

He didn’t speak.

He simply opened his arms.

She stared.

Then she ran to him.

Kael held her.

She cried against his chest.

He didn’t tell her everything would be okay.

Because he didn’t know.

Instead, he whispered:

“I’m here.”

Lyra held him tighter.

“Don’t leave me.”

“I won’t.”

“Promise.”

“I promise.”

His mother watched them.

A strange sadness appeared in her eyes.

Then she looked toward the sky.

“He’s coming.”

Kael turned.

“Who?”

The red sun disappeared.

Darkness covered the world.

Arcturus appeared above them.

His voice echoed.

“Kael.”

Kael raised his sword.

“Stay away from my family.”

Arcturus laughed.

“Family?”

He looked at Lyra.

“She will betray you.”

Kael stepped forward.

“No.”

Arcturus smiled.

“She doesn’t know what she carries.”

Lyra frowned.

“What?”

Arcturus raised his hand.

The ground beneath Lyra cracked.

She screamed.

Kael ran.

“Lyra!”

A strange symbol appeared on her chest.

A moon surrounded by flames.

Kael’s mother gasped.

“No.”

“What?”

“She’s the key.”

Kael looked at Lyra.

“What does that mean?”

His mother stared at her.

“Her blood can destroy the Void.”

Kael froze.

“Then why does Arcturus want her?”

“Because without her…”

She looked toward Arcturus.

“…he cannot control you.”

Kael understood.

Arcturus didn’t need Lyra dead.

He needed her alive.

Kael stood between them.

“You won’t touch her.”

Arcturus smiled.

“Then prove it.”

The Void King disappeared.

A massive army emerged from the darkness.

Thousands of Voidborn.

Kael raised the Moonblade.

His mother stepped beside him.

Lyra stood on his other side.

Three people.

One family.

One impossible battle.

Kael looked at them.

“Ready?”

Lyra wiped her tears.

“No.”

Kael smiled.

“Good.”

She looked at him.

“Why do you always say that?”

“Because I never am either.”

His mother laughed.

For one moment…

They were almost a normal family.

Then the army attacked.

Kael moved.

The Moonblade struck.

Silver light exploded.

Lyra raised her sword.

Moonlight filled the sky.

His mother used magic Kael had never seen.

The battlefield became chaos.

Kael fought harder than ever.

Every strike brought him closer to Arcturus.

But the Voidborn never stopped.

One creature attacked his mother.

Kael turned.

He was too late.

Lyra moved.

She blocked the attack.

The creature’s claws pierced her side.

“LYRA!”

Kael screamed.

Something inside him broke.

The Moonblade exploded.

A wave of energy destroyed every Voidborn nearby.

Silence.

Lyra fell.

Kael caught her.

“No.”

She looked at him.

“Kael.”

“Stay with me.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s not that bad.”

“You’re lying.”

“Yes.”

Kael laughed through his tears.

“You idiot.”

“Your idiot.”

He froze.

Lyra smiled weakly.

“What?”

She touched his face.

“If I die…”

“Don’t.”

“Listen.”

“No.”

“Kael.”

He looked at her.

Her eyes were full of tears.

“If I die…”

“I won’t let you.”

“Then promise me something.”

“What?”

“Don’t become him.”

Kael understood.

Arcturus.

The Void King.

The monster.

Lyra touched his chest.

“Whatever happens…”

“Yes?”

“Stay you.”

Kael held her hand.

“I promise.”

Lyra closed her eyes.

“Good.”

Then she collapsed.

“Lyra!”

Kael held her.

His mother ran toward them.

“She’s alive.”

Kael looked at her.

“Help her!”

“I can.”

“Then do it!”

His mother placed her hands over Lyra’s wound.

Moonlight appeared.

The wound began closing.

Kael watched.

“Will she be okay?”

His mother nodded.

“Yes.”

Kael finally breathed.

Then a voice echoed across the battlefield.

Arcturus.

“How touching.”

Kael slowly stood.

His eyes were filled with rage.

Arcturus appeared.

“You saved her.”

Kael raised his sword.

“I’ll kill you.”

Arcturus smiled.

“Then come.”

Kael charged.

Their swords collided.

The impact shook the entire Void.

Kael attacked.

Arcturus blocked.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Kael grew stronger.

The Moonblade glowed brighter.

Arcturus began stepping backward.

“You are powerful.”

Kael struck.

“You won’t control me.”

Another strike.

“You won’t touch Lyra.”

Another.

“You won’t destroy my world.”

Arcturus blocked.

Then smiled.

“Your world?”

Kael froze.

Arcturus pointed behind him.

The Void began opening.

Through the crack…

Kael saw Aetheria.

His home.

His kingdom.

His mother.

His friends.

Everyone.

Arcturus raised his hand.

The portal began expanding.

“The choice is yours.”

Kael stared.

“Come with me.”

Arcturus held out his hand.

“Rule both worlds.”

Kael looked at the portal.

Then at Lyra.

She was standing now.

Weak.

But alive.

She looked at him.

“Kael.”

He looked at her.

She smiled.

“Come home.”

Two choices.

Two worlds.

One decision.

Kael looked at Arcturus.

“You know something?”

Arcturus frowned.

“What?”

Kael smiled.

“I don’t want your throne.”

Arcturus’s expression changed.

“I don’t want your power.”

The Moonblade began glowing.

“I don’t want to rule anyone.”

Kael stepped toward Lyra.

“I just want to protect the people I love.”

The sword exploded with light.

Arcturus screamed.

Kael raised the Moonblade.

“That’s something you’ll never understand.”

The blade struck.

The Void shattered.

And Arcturus disappeared.

But before he vanished…

He smiled.

“Then you will die with them.”

The portal exploded.

Kael felt himself falling.

Lyra reached for him.

He grabbed her hand.

His mother grabbed his other.

The three of them fell together.

But Kael saw something in the distance.

A black throne.

And sitting upon it…

Was Arcturus.

Waiting.

Watching.

Smiling.

Kael realized the truth.

The battle wasn’t over.

Not yet.

But as Lyra held his hand…

Kael knew one thing.

Whatever happened next…

He would not face it alone.

Because the Moonblade had chosen him.

The Void had claimed him.

But his heart…

His heart belonged to Lyra.

And he would fight the entire universe before he allowed the darkness to take her away.

To Be Continued…