Collide: The Memory of Stars

Selene's POV

The moment the last of the Dark Matter was vanquished, the key burned hot in my grasp.

Its glow intensified, light spilling from my fingertips like liquid gold.

The ground beneath us trembled, cracks forming in the ancient stone as if something long buried was finally awakening.

Then, a pulse—soft yet immense—washed over us.

The world blurred.

A blinding radiance engulfed my vision, swallowing us whole. The ruins, the battlefield, even the bodies of our fallen enemies melted away into the overwhelming brilliance.

My breath caught as a strange weightlessness settled in my bones, and for a moment, I was sure we were being lifted into the sky itself.

But when the light faded, we were not in the ruins of Eldoria anymore.

We stood in an endless white expanse, the air warm and filled with an unfamiliar yet comforting energy.

And before us, standing as though they had been waiting for an eternity, was a figure unlike any we had ever seen.

The being radiated an ancient presence. Their form was humanoid yet featureless, composed entirely of pure, shifting light.

They bore no defined face, yet I felt their gaze upon us, both knowing and kind. Their mere presence made my heart feel lighter, as though the weight of our long struggles had momentarily lifted.

Khael took an uncertain step back, his small form tense.

Tyra's hand hovered near her weapon, but even she hesitated, as if sensing that steel would be meaningless here. Axel remained still, his blue eyes locked onto the figure with cautious curiosity.

The being spoke, though their voice did not pass through our ears—it echoed within our very souls.

"You have come far, bearers of fate."

A shiver ran down my spine at their words, though they carried no malice.

Axel was the first to speak. "You... you're the heart of Eldoria, aren't you? The one who has been waiting."

The figure inclined their head slightly, the very movement sending ripples of light through their form. "I am the Luminescent One, the guardian of this land's true essence. Long have I slumbered, waiting for the key to be made whole again. And now, you stand before me at the recipe of change."

I swallowed "We need to restore Eldoria. Its people, its magic—it's all but gone. If there's a way to bring it back, we'll do whatever it takes."

A deep silence followed. The Luminescent One watched us, though they bore no eyes. Then, they raised a glowing hand, and in an instant, the key in my grasp trembled, responding to their presence.

A flicker of power passed between us, and I gasped as images flashed through my mind—visions of Eldoria in its former glory, the towering spires, the rivers of golden light that once ran through its streets, the people who had thrived in its embrace.

And then, the destruction. The war. The fall. The echoes of suffering that still lingered.

"Restoration is not so simple," the Luminescent One murmured.

"Eldoria's magic, once vast and eternal, is fractured. Though the key has been reforged, the land's essence remains weak. To awaken it fully would take more time than you possess. But... a beginning can be made."

The air around us shimmered.

From the void of endless white, color bled into the world. A patch of green spread beneath our feet, soft grass blooming where there had been nothing. Trees took root in the space around us, their leaves rustling in an unseen breeze.

The scent of fresh earth filled my lungs, and warmth—real, undeniable warmth—wrapped around us.

In mere moments, we stood within a sanctuary.

A small, radiant land, surrounded by an unseen barrier, capable of sheltering those in need.

My throat tightened. It wasn't much—not yet. But it was something. A chance for life to return.

The Luminescent One lowered their hand. "This sanctuary will stand as a refuge. A place for renewal. But the magic that flows here is fragile. It must be nurtured, protected, until Eldoria can regain its former strength. And for that, the shadows that still linger must be eradicated."

Tyra's grip on her weapon tightened. "You mean the ones outside this barrier? The ones that keep coming?"

"Yes," the Luminescent One confirmed. "If you seek to ensure a future for the survivors, you must secure the path. The remnants of darkness will not cease until they are severed from this land."

Axel exhaled sharply. "Then that's what we'll do. We'll clear the path and make sure they have a way back."

The Luminescent One seemed to smile—though no face existed to do so. "Then go forth, bearers of fate. I grant you my blessing, though its strength is but a flicker of what once was. May it guide you in the trials ahead."

A warmth spread through my chest, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. The power was faint but undeniable, settling into my very being. A renewed sense of purpose burned within me.

The Luminescent One lifted their hand once more, and light surged around us again.

The world blurred—

And when it cleared, we were back in Eldoria. But not in the ruins we had left.

A sanctuary stood where once there had been only death.

The Luminescent One's presence lingered like the last traces of starlight, the glow of their form fading as they withdrew back into the Heart. Though their words echoed in our minds, there was little time to dwell on the gravity of their warning.

The sanctuary had begun to form, a fragile bastion against the ruined world beyond.

A shimmering barrier stretched across the remains of Eldoria, forming a protective dome.

Within its boundaries, the land pulsed with the first signs of renewal. The grass, vibrant green, stretched like a hopeful whisper against the wind, and a soft warmth filled the air, brushing against our weary bodies. It wasn't much—only enough to house about two hundred souls—but it was proof that life could return.

Tyra wiped the sweat from her brow as she surveyed the land. "It's a small start," she admitted, "but it's something."

Axel's gaze swept across the sanctuary's border, where darkness still loomed beyond the shimmering light.

"The enemies outside won't sit idle. They'll test the barrier. We need to secure the perimeter and clear the area before we bring the others."

Khael rolled his shoulders, his expression grim. "Then we better move fast. They already know we're here."

As if summoned by his words, the twisted remnants of Dark Matter gathered at the fringes of the barrier, their formless bodies shifting with malice. Some had taken grotesque shapes—elongated limbs, hollowed-out eyes that burned with eerie hunger.

They writhed and clawed at the edges of the sanctuary, recoiling as the light repelled them but refusing to retreat entirely.

"They're waiting," I murmured, gripping the key tightly. "Testing for weakness."

Axel nodded. "Then we give them nothing to exploit."

The battle began swiftly, our weapons flashing in the light of the newly reborn land. Tyra led the charge, her blade cutting through the dark masses as they attempted to force their way through.

Khael, despite his smaller form, fought with precise, deadly efficiency, flames bursting forth from his hands to incinerate the nearest threats. Axel moved with unwavering focus, his strikes methodical, his magic lashing out to keep the creatures at bay.

But it was unrelenting. For every shadow we cut down, more emerged. The remnants of Dark Matter clung to the ruins of Eldoria like a parasite unwilling to let go.

They sought to smother the fragile hope we had ignited.

I held the key against my chest, closing my eyes. The Luminescent One had said the magic here was still weak—but weak did not mean gone. I reached out, feeling the pulse of energy beneath my fingertips.

If the sanctuary could grow, if the Heart had enough power to shield this place, then maybe…

The key burned with warmth, and I opened my eyes just in time to see the barrier flare with renewed light. The Dark Matter creatures shrieked as the energy surged outward, a cleansing force that sent them scattering back into the ruins.

The battle was not over, but the tide had turned.

Axel exhaled sharply, lowering his weapon as the last of the shadows dissolved into the mist.

"That should buy us time."

Tyra nodded, still catching her breath. "Not much, but enough to bring the others."

I turned toward the sanctuary, taking in the fragile beauty of what had been created. It was a start—just a small space in a vast, broken world. But it was hope. And hope was enough to fight for.

"We'll finish securing the area," I said, voice steady. "Then we bring them home."

To be continued.