Tales of chronicles

Lita, balling her fists, felt the power clash against the threat. Light began forming in her palms as before, glowing brighter and more controlled. Breathe deep; her powers responded, and so did she. And the energy burst forth in a wave that surged outward, cutting through the ranks of the shades.

The blast proved too strong: shades going to be erased in its path; their ghostly forms disintegrate into mist. But for every shade she destroyed, more emerged, seemingly endless.

"There are too many!"

Lita shouted, straining to keep her magic going.

With gritted teeth, Flare cleaved into another shade.

"We can't hold them off like this forever. We need to fall back!"

Just then, the magic of Lita faltered, and the glow before her hands flickered. She was draining too fast, and the shades were pressing from all sides.

Before she could react, one of them slipped by Flare's defenses and clawed its way to Lita.

Time slowed when that thing lunged, but Flare threw herself in the way and absorbed most of the blow.

Flare gasped as the shade's claws raked across her side, the sheer strength of the strike knocking her to the ground.

"Nuh-uh!"

Lita hollered, her heart freezing in terror. Flare was sprawled on the ground, dead-eyed.

The shades hissed their triumph as they scented Lita's moment of weakness, and rushed straight toward her, ready to finish what they had begun.

But inside Lita, something snapped. The fear, the panic, the helplessness-all melted away in place of burning fury. The power within again exploded more brightly and hotter than earlier, enveloping her in bright light.

The ghosts swung back in the air, vaporizing as the light expanded by contact, Lita's magic pulsing out in waves, pushing the shadows until none stood.

When the fog cleared, the air once more turned to stillness. Lita was in the aftermath, the tremor in her body a sign of the power surge, her eyes on Flare, still motionless on the ground.

Without saying another word, Lita ran to her in a flash and dropped to her knees.

"Flare? Flare, wake up!"

Flare's eyes fluttered open, pain etched across her face.

"I'm...fine," she said through gritted teeth, though her wound told a different story.

Lita's heart raced; panic surged.

"You are not fine. You saved me."

Flare managed a weak smirk.

"It's...my job."

Lita's eyes brimmed with tears, and she suppressed them. Not finished yet. Whoever had set up this trap was still out there, watching and waiting for the next move.

As Lita helped Flare to her feet, she realized another thing: this was no longer just a journey to discover her power; she was being hunted. Someone-or something-was pulling the strings, trying to use her, just as the woman in the forest had hinted.

"I will not be defeated by them,"

Lita whispered to herself and grew very determined.

The shadow of the Temple of Shadows loomed closer as Flare and Lita limped away from the battlefield. Lita knew whatever lay ahead of her would test her in ways she could not even imagine at the moment.

She was ready.

And whoever was behind this, they would learn soon enough: Lita Vallerie was not her mother's puppet.

She was else altogether.

Then her and Flare's skittering feet set one foot into the wild space, and before them stood the ominous Temple of Shadows. The reality of the ambush settled into Lita as the first word of what, really, the shades had been sent for: much more than mindless creatures of the mist, they had been sent with a purpose. Someone was watching, testing her limits. 

And now Lita knew exactly who it was.

The pieces began to fall into place as they reached the foothills of the mountains. The Temple of Shadows loomed high above them, its dark spires hidden within swirling clouds. Lita could feel it calling to her, the ancient magic within it pulsing like a heartbeat. But there was something more. A presence. It was faint, but unmistakable.

The woman from the forest. 

"She's from the temple,"

Lita muttered, narrowing her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Watching us the whole time."

Flare, still pale with the wound she had taken, glanced at her.

"What are you talking about?"

Lita turned to Flare, voice low and steady.

"The woman who warned us about the Northern Princess. She didn't come out of nowhere. She's tied to the Temple of Shadows. I felt it when she spoke to me...her magic, it's connected to the temple. She was testing me with those shades. She wanted to see what I could do."

Flare frowned, her expression darkening.

"If she's from the temple, then she's not just a bystander. She's a part of, or worse, controlling the trials."

Lita's fists clenched at her sides.

"Then she can get what she wants. I'm going to the temple, and if she's there, I'll face her."

The path leading up to the temple was steep and treacherous, the wind howling through the narrow passes. As they climbed, the air grew colder, and the darkness deepened.

The magic surrounding the temple thickened, becoming almost oppressive. Every step felt heavier than the last, as if the very mountain itself was resisting their ascent.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally came to the great temple gates. Before them stood immense, ancient stone doors marked with the faintest glow of twilight under the etchings of the runes. The Temple of Shadows was as great and fearful as it was mysterious, and Lita could feel all of its weight-and time- concentrated over her.

The doors opened just as they came near, creaking slowly and deliberately, the sound echoed throughout the mountains. Lita's heart raced within her chest, yet she did not halt. She stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the temple.

Heavy with magic, the air was inside. The walls pulsed in and out like the temple was alive and watching them. Shadows flickered from here to there, and the lone figure stood at the far domain of the dark hall, clad in dark robes just like the woman who'd ambushed them in the woods.

"Welcome, dear Lita Vallerie,"

came the cold, mocking womanly voice. She swept closer, the shadows obscuring most of her face, but Lita recognized her at once.

"You,"

Lita said, her voice steady, yet tinged with furious hatred,

"You sent the shades."

The woman gave a smile hard to place: sick delight.

''Yes, indeed. I was trying to determine what you could do. And I must say, I am impressed. More powerful than I had anticipated, but equally untrained. Unrefined."

Lita narrowed her eyes.

"Why? What do you want from me?"

The woman pushed back her hood, revealing her sharp angular features and piercing eyes. She was beautiful, yet cold and dangerous there.