The storm above Elyndor had finally fallen silent.
Aren stood before the ancient gate hidden beneath the ruins of the Star Temple. The Crystal Heart glowed in his hands, its light pushing back the endless darkness around them.
Liora looked at the strange symbols carved into the stone.
"They're moving," she whispered.
Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "The Shadow King is close."
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
"You should never have come."
From the darkness stepped the Shadow King, his black armor covered in cracks that leaked silver starlight. Behind him floated thousands of broken stars, trapped like lost souls.
Aren raised the Crystal Heart.
"You stole their light."
The Shadow King laughed.
"No. I saved it. The stars abandoned this world, and I gave them a purpose."
The ground shook.
The ancient gate slowly opened, revealing a sky that was not a sky at all—but an endless ocean of stars.
Liora gasped.
"Another world..."
The old stories had been true.
Elyndor was only one kingdom among many.
The Shadow King stretched out his hand toward the gate.
"Beyond this door lies the First Star. With its power, I can rebuild the heavens."
Kael charged forward, but dark chains erupted from the ground and trapped him.
Liora used her magic to break the chains, while Aren walked toward the Shadow King.
The Crystal Heart began to crack.
A voice filled Aren's mind.
Only a true Starborn can awaken the First Star... but the price is everything.
Aren looked at his friends.
If he opened the gate, he might never return.
The Shadow King smiled.
"Choose, child of the stars. Save your world... or save yourself."
Aren closed his eyes and stepped toward the gate.
The Crystal Heart exploded into a thousand beams of light.
The entire kingdom trembled.
And from the endless ocean beyond the gate...
...something ancient opened its eyes.
**To be continued in Part 25...**