Chapter 3: The Rival’s Challenge
I stood alone in the wasteland, the cold wind biting at my skin. My hands reached out instinctively, searching for Kian. But all I found was empty air. The vast, desolate landscape stretched endlessly in every direction, jagged cliffs lining the horizon like teeth of some ancient, hungry beast.
“Kian?” I called out, my voice trembling. “Where are you?”
No answer.
The silence pressed down on me, heavy and thick, until it felt like I could hardly breathe. And then I saw it—movement in the distance. A shadow, barely visible against the grey sky, standing still, watching me. My heart pounded in my chest as the figure slowly began to approach. I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. I was frozen, rooted to the spot, my breath coming in shallow, frantic gasps.
As the figure drew nearer, I recognized the dark silhouette—it was the same shadowy presence that had threatened Kian in the forest, the same mysterious rival whose voice had sent a chill down my spine.
“Lyra,” the figure called again, its voice smooth and cold, echoing through the emptiness. “You can’t run from this.”
My heart raced as the figure stepped into the dim light. It was no longer just a shadow but a person—a woman, tall and sharp-featured, her eyes glowing faintly like embers in the dark. She wore a long, flowing coat that billowed around her, and there was something about the way she moved—calm, confident, and utterly dangerous.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. “Who are you? What do you want?”
She stopped a few feet away from me, her gaze piercing. “You already know who I am, Lyra. I’m the one who’s been chasing Kian through time, the one who’s been waiting for this moment.”
I shook my head, confusion swirling in my mind. “Why? What do you want with him?”
A small, bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “What I want is far more complicated than you realize. Kian has something that belongs to me, something he’s kept hidden for years. And you”—she stepped closer, her eyes narrowing—“you’re the one standing in my way.”
Fear surged through me, but there was something else, too—something more dangerous. Anger. I had been pulled into this strange world, into a conflict I didn’t understand, and now this woman was telling me I was in the middle of it.
“Well, I’m not moving,” I said, my voice trembling but defiant. “I don’t care what he’s done or what you think he owes you. I’m not letting you hurt him.”
The woman’s smile widened, but it was cold, devoid of warmth. “Oh, you’re brave. That’s going to make this interesting.”
Before I could react, she raised her hand, and the ground beneath us shifted, the air vibrating with a strange, unsettling energy. I stumbled back, feeling the force of her power as the world seemed to bend and warp around us.
“You don’t understand, Lyra,” she said, her voice soft but dangerous. “This isn’t a fight you can win. Kian has already lost. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
***
The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the weight of the woman’s words pressing down on me. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something—movement. A flicker of light in the distance.
And then, suddenly, Kian was there.
He appeared between us like a bolt of lightning, his body tense, his eyes locked on the rival. His presence was a shock to my system—relief and fear and something else, something deeper, all at once.
“Kian,” I breathed, taking a step toward him. But his hand shot out, stopping me in my tracks.
“Stay back,” he warned, his voice low and deadly. He didn’t take his eyes off the woman, his whole body coiled, ready to strike.
“Kian,” the woman purred, her voice dripping with mockery. “I was wondering when you’d show up. It’s been too long, hasn’t it?”
“I told you to leave her out of this,” Kian growled, his eyes flashing with anger.
The woman chuckled softly, shaking her head. “You know I can’t do that. She’s a part of this now, whether you like it or not.”
There was a dangerous silence between them, the kind that felt like it could explode at any moment. I watched, frozen, as Kian’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.
“You don’t have to do this,” Kian said, his voice softer now, but still filled with tension. “It doesn’t have to end this way.”
The woman tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “You’re right. It doesn’t have to end this way. But it will.”
***
For a moment, everything seemed to pause. The air was still, the world holding its breath. And then, without warning, the woman lunged. But Kian was faster.
He moved like a flash of light, his body fluid and precise as he intercepted her attack. The force of their collision sent shockwaves through the ground, and I stumbled back, watching in awe as the two of them fought with a ferocity I hadn’t expected.
Kian was relentless, his movements sharp and calculated, but the woman was no less skilled. She fought with a grace and power that was almost beautiful to watch, like a dancer in the midst of a deadly performance. But I could see the exhaustion in Kian’s eyes, the way his muscles strained with every strike. He was strong, but I could tell he was reaching his limit.
And then, just as quickly as the fight had begun, it was over.
With a sudden, forceful blow, Kian knocked the woman back, sending her sprawling to the ground. She didn’t stay down for long, though. With a snarl of frustration, she vanished into the air, dissolving like smoke.
I blinked, disoriented. One second she had been there, and the next, she was gone. But the threat she left behind was still palpable, hanging over us like a storm cloud.
***
Kian turned to me, his face hard, but his eyes softened when he saw the fear in mine. Without thinking, I rushed to him, throwing my arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around me instinctively, pulling me close, and for a moment, the tension melted away.
“Kian,” I whispered into his shoulder, my voice shaking. “What is happening?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he buried his face in my hair, holding me tighter, as though he were afraid to let go. I could feel the rise and fall of his chest, the unsteady beat of his heart against mine.
“I’m sorry, Lyra,” he murmured after a long silence. “I never wanted you to be a part of this. I tried to protect you, to keep you safe. But I’ve failed.”
I pulled back just enough to look up at him, my heart aching at the sadness in his eyes. “You haven’t failed,” I said softly. “You’re here, aren’t you? That’s all that matters.”
Kian looked down at me, his expression torn. “There’s so much you don’t know,” he said, his voice rough. “So many things I should have told you.”
“Then tell me now,” I urged, my fingers tightening around his shirt. “Whatever it is, whatever you’re hiding, I can handle it.”
For a moment, he just stared at me, as though weighing his options. And then, finally, he sighed, his hand coming up to cup my face gently.
“I’ve been running from her for a long time,” he began, his thumb brushing lightly against my cheek. “She’s not just a rival, Lyra. She’s… she’s someone I once trusted. Someone I cared about. But that was a long time ago, and things have changed. Now, all she wants is to destroy everything I’ve built—everything I care about.”
I felt a pang in my chest at his words. “And I’m part of that?”
He nodded slowly, his gaze locking onto mine. “Yes. You’re more important to me than you know. And that’s why I have to protect you.”
Before I could respond, he leaned down, his lips brushing softly against mine. It was a gentle kiss, filled with unspoken promises and the weight of everything we had been through. My heart swelled, and for a brief, precious moment, the rest of the world faded away.
But then, just as quickly as it had begun, Kian pulled back, his eyes darkening with urgency.
“We need to go,” he said, his voice tight. “She’ll be back. And next time, I might not be able to stop her.”
***
Without warning, the ground beneath us trembled again, and a loud, echoing sound filled the air. In the distance, a massive structure loomed, glowing with an eerie light, and I felt a strange pull—like something, or someone, was calling me toward it. Kian’s grip on my hand tightened as we stared at the ominous shape together.
“What is that?” I whispered.
Kian’s face paled, his voice low and tense. “That’s where it all began.”