Celestia’s feet carried her down the familiar path to the entrance of the sixth level of the dungeon, a place shrouded in nightmares. The icy Tundra within had become a constant in her life, its lizard warriors—hulking figures wielding axes laced with ice magic—waiting at every turn, their armour nearly impenetrable. Before the curse, Celestia had ventured this far often, each journey a test of her will and skill. Now, with the burden of her frailty, the dungeon felt like a place of reckoning.
The air around her thickened with dampness and a relentless chill that seeped deep into her bones, making each step feel heavier than the last. Shadows stretched ominously, curling around her like sentient nightmares, whispering of the horrors that lay deeper in the labyrinth. Celestia’s breath came in shallow, ragged gasps, her energy waning with every exhale. Her body, once strong and steady, now seemed to betray her. The dark circles under her eyes, the pallor of her skin—all whispered of her exhaustion, her drained mana, and the toll the curse had taken on her. The deeper they went, the more it felt like a fight against herself, against everything she had lost.
As they neared the heart of the sixth level, Celestia halted, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her sword. The cool steel hummed faintly under her touch, the weight of it grounding her, a quiet reminder of every battle she had fought and survived. But now, as the cold air pressed against her skin, she felt the absence of something—someone—she could rely on.
Alone. The word struck her like a hammer, reverberating in her chest. She had always walked this path by herself, every step forward a testament to her independence, her strength. But the weight of the curse had shifted everything. What had once been self-sufficiency now felt like a prison.
Before the curse, she had ventured through this place countless times, blade in hand, cutting down the threats lurking in the dark with precision and deadly grace. She had been a warrior, untouched by fear or doubt. But now, she was no longer the same. The curse had stolen her strength, leaving her fragile, vulnerable. And though she loathed to admit it, she knew—deep down—that she couldn’t face this alone anymore.
Her violet eyes flickered to Caleb behind her, his presence steady and unwavering. His gaze was fixed on her, but there was no judgment, no expectation. Just quiet concern, an offering of support that Celestia could feel like a weight pressing against her chest. She clenched her jaw, her grip tightening on the sword, a silent vow to herself. She didn’t need his help. She made it this far all on her own.
But even as the thought crossed her mind, she hesitated.
There was something about tonight, something in the coldness of the air, the tension that crackled in the space between them. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to trust anyone—least of all Caleb, who had already become a constant presence in her life.
Her heartbeat quickened, but she refused to let her uncertainty show. Her shoulders squared, and she faced the darkened path ahead.
She wouldn’t use her magic. She wouldn’t show weakness.
“I don’t need your help,” she murmured under her breath, though the words were more for herself than for him.
But Caleb remained quiet, his gaze still unwavering. He didn’t push. He didn’t question. He simply stood there, waiting, as if the decision were entirely hers to make.
Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Instead, she unsheathed her blade, the soft scrape of metal against leather echoing through the still air. Her stance was firm, every movement controlled, a testament to her skill. Yet inside, a storm brewed—one she refused to acknowledge.
For now, she would face it alone.
“Danger’s near, my lady,” Caleb muttered, his voice low and taut with concern. Celestia caught the flicker of his golden eye, briefly meeting his gaze. His unspoken worry hung between them, heavy and undeniable. The tension in his jaw matched the unease creeping into her chest. He slowed his pace, subtly matching her steps, as though he were prepared to act should she stumble.
But before she could draw in another breath, massive armoured Lizard Warriors emerged from the darkness. Their nearly impenetrable armour glinted menacingly in the dim light, and the surrounding atmosphere turned frigid as they summoned their ice magic, an icy aura radiating from their hulking forms. A shiver ran down Celestia’s spine, igniting a flicker of dread deep within her. She clenched her fists, aware that this was a battle she had to face, yet the horrors of her past echoed in the recesses of her mind, warning her of the impending struggle.
As the armoured Lizard warriors appeared, he let out a low hiss, golden eye locking with the approaching threats. He positioned himself beside Celestia, ready to defend her with every ounce of his skill, and every fibre of his instincts, but his voice was still low, a hushed whisper meant only for her ears.
“When you tire, let me take the lead. Until then, I’m right here with you,” he whispered, his voice steady but laced with urgency. The Lizard warriors’ guttural growls echoed through the air, and the tension in the atmosphere thickened. He could feel the cold creeping in, but it was nothing compared to the chill settling in Celestia’s heart.
Caleb’s heart beat steadily, though his senses were sharpened, aware of the weight of her quiet resolve. He saw it in the way she moved, the firm set of her shoulders, the determination in her step. Despite the signs of exhaustion clinging to her, there was no hesitation in her actions—she was ready to fight. The flicker of doubt that occasionally crossed her features was quickly masked, replaced by the warrior she had once been. Caleb couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for the way she pushed through, even when it would have been easier to surrender to the shadows of her past.
As the first Lizard warrior charged forward, its icy axe glinting ominously, Caleb stepped protectively in front of Celestia. He felt the surge of adrenaline kick in, heightening his senses as he calculated the enemy’s movements. With a swift motion, he drew his sword, the blade glimmering with a fierce resolve.
“Stay close, Celestia,” he urged, his voice unwavering, a reminder of his presence beside her. The first warrior swung its axe, the sound of metal slicing through the air sharp and menacing. Caleb deftly sidestepped, striking back with a calculated blow that sent the creature staggering.
Caleb’s gaze flickered to Celestia as she faced the approaching Lizard Warrior, her movements slow but deliberate. She was no longer the unrelenting warrior she had once been—her strikes lacked the fluidity and precision that had made her a fearsome presence in the dungeon. The weight of exhaustion tugged at her, her movements sluggish as if her body wasn’t fully in sync with her mind’s command.
Her sword clashed against the lizard’s armored scales, the impact heavy and awkward, but there was a fire in her eyes, a flicker of determination beneath the surface. Caleb watched, tension coiling in his gut, as Celestia struggled to hold her ground. Her breath was ragged, each swing of her blade a challenge to her failing strength. Yet, she fought on, unwilling to surrender. There was something in her—a refusal to let the past dictate her future, even if it meant fighting with everything she had left.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Every time the Lizard Warrior pressed forward, Celestia staggered back, the weight of her exhaustion almost overwhelming, but she regained her stance quickly, her grip tightening on the hilt of her sword. Caleb could see the fire in her gaze—the determination to prove that she was still a warrior, that she was more than the curse that haunted her. It was a battle, not just against the lizard, but against herself.
The warrior in her was still there, but it was clear that every swing, every step, cost her more than it had before.
As more Lizard Warriors joined the fray, Caleb’s eyes flicked between the combatants, his mind focused solely on the fight. The echoes of the dungeon’s silence had been replaced by the harsh clash of steel and the guttural roars of their foes. He moved with precision, cutting down one Lizard Warrior after another, his stance steady and calculated.
His gaze, however, never strayed far from Celestia. She fought with what remained of her strength, the fire in her eyes flickering with every swing of her blade, though it was clear her movements lacked the fluidity he imagined a seasoned warrior’s would have. The hesitation in her strikes, the staggered steps—it wasn’t the form of a novice, but of someone who had once been far more skilled. Her battles weren’t a memory of strength alone, but a burden she still carried.
Caleb guessed, from the glimpses of her resolve, that once, long ago, she had been a warrior to be reckoned with. But now, with every blow, the toll of her curse and the weight of her past became evident. He didn’t have the luxury of lingering on that thought. His blade flashed in the dim light of the dungeon, cutting down another foe as he kept his focus on the immediate threat.
Her fight was hers to face, and though the struggle was clear, Caleb couldn’t deny the flicker of the warrior she once was, even in her weakened state. She wasn’t giving up, and that, for now, was enough.
Caleb’s heart clenched as he glanced back at Celestia, his eyes catching the flicker of vulnerability in her stance before he could tear them away. The Lizard Warriors were closing in, and he could feel the weight of her every movement, every breath, every shift.
Then, the axe descended with terrifying speed.
He was too late. The blade sank deep into her side with a sickening crunch, and the cry that tore from her lips was enough to freeze his blood. The world seemed to tilt as his body surged toward her, his heart hammering in his chest.
“Celestia!” His voice cracked, raw with panic, the sheer horror of the moment propelling him forward. He caught her just as her knees gave way, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. Her weight felt like the entire world, fragile and heavy all at once, and he held her with an urgency that bordered on desperation.
The world around them blurred, the looming danger fading into the background as he focused solely on her. “You have to fight,” he murmured, desperation clinging to every syllable. His fingers brushed her hair back from her pale face, each touch imbued with his determination to keep her anchored in this realm.
Caleb felt the icy tendrils of despair creeping in, threatening to pull her under. , he silently urged, his heart pounding. Time was slipping away, and he couldn’t afford to lose her—not now.
He pressed Celestia against the cold stone wall, steadying her as best he could. Without a second thought, he cast a simple healing spell, golden light flickering as it spread across her side, easing the bleeding. But that wouldn’t be enough. He needed to keep her safe.
With a flick of his wrist, he wove another spell—this one a protective barrier, shimmering with a soft, golden hue. The magic encased her, shielding her from further harm as it hummed with a quiet power, stabilizing her for the moment.
The Lizard Warrior lunged again, but Caleb was already moving. His focus never wavered from Celestia, even as his sword flashed in defence of them both.
“Stay with me, Celestia. Focus on my voice.” His golden gaze bore into her violet eyes, searching for any flicker of awareness, any sign that she was still there, still fighting. “You’re stronger than this. You can do this.”
But deep down, a gnawing fear gripped him—a fear that her will to keep living, might not be enough to pull her back from the edge. The air crackled with tension as the Lizard Warriors advanced, their monstrous forms looming larger in his peripheral vision.
Caleb felt a surge of fury mixed with despair; he would not let them take her. With a fierce resolve igniting within him, he drew his sword, the blade gleaming like a beacon of defiance with his magic. The weight of the moment bore down on him, each breath a reminder of the stakes. He fought fiercely, a whirlwind of steel and fury, determined to cut through the encroaching darkness and reach her.
“Get away from her!” he roared, the sound reverberating off the cold stone walls, fueled by a primal instinct to protect. Each strike he delivered was a promise to Celestia—a vow that he would keep her safe, no matter the cost.
As he battled the remaining Lizard Warriors, his every movement was infused with urgency. He stole glances back at Celestia, each flicker of her fragile form threatening to tear him in two. He needed to defeat those beasts quickly, needed to return to her side, where she lay pale and still, clinging to life against the biting cold that threatened to swallow her whole.
“I dare you to hold on!” he shouted, his voice a fierce anchor above the clamour of steel and ice. “I’m right here. I won’t let go!”
With each successful blow, he felt his energy-draining, but he pushed through the fatigue, a blazing determination igniting his spirit. He would fight until the very last breath to keep her light alive.
Celestia’s eye fluttered uncontrollably, a flicker of awareness struggling to break through the haze of pain. Her chest tightened with each strained breath, the chill of the wound seeping deeper, like shards of ice in her veins. Around her, a soft, golden glow flickered—her sole tether to the world, a fragile beacon piercing the darkness. She clung to it, even as her curse surged within her, feeding on the cold, beckoning her to surrender. The shadows whispered louder now, their voices insistent, urging her to yield to the stillness, to embrace the numbness creeping over her.
Yet deep within, a fierce spark rebelled, battling the shadows that loomed, refusing to bow to their seductive pull. She forced her eyes to open, struggling to focus on that faint light, her only lifeline. Every inch of her ached, but her will rose defiantly. She would not let herself slip away, not to this cold, not to this darkness.
Each breath was a quiet declaration, a painful but steadfast refusal. Her fingers twitched, grasping at the remnants of her strength, as the light pulsed faintly, mirroring her heartbeat. She had come too far, endured too much, to abandon herself now. No curse, no darkness would claim her—not here, not now. She held on, fierce and unyielding, grounding herself in that golden glow as her lifeline.
Caleb’s eyes briefly met hers as her chest heaved with laboured breaths, but his gaze quickly flicked back to the Lizard Warriors closing in. His mind was sharp, his every movement calculated as he fought to keep them both alive. Fear for her gnawed at him, but he couldn’t afford to let it cloud his judgment. His golden eye narrowed, focused solely on the battle at hand.
With a swift motion, he swung his sword, fending off an attack, and in the same breath, cast another spell to fortify the protective barrier around Celestia. Every strike was purposeful, a methodical dance of defence, yet all the while, a small part of him remained tethered to her, ensuring she was safe in his periphery.
As he cut through the last Lizard Warrior, he was instantly by her side, his breath shallow and frantic, his clothes stained with the blood of the lizard, cradling her in his arms. The air was thick with the aftermath, filled with an electric tension as he pleaded at that stubborn strength she fought for.
