Crown of Thorns and Roses

Elena's scream was lost in the black void. Shadows coiled around her like serpents, cold and suffocating. They whispered her name in a chorus of voices—mocking, accusing, relentless.

"You failed us, Elena."

"You were too weak."

"You ran while we burned."

"No!" Elena cried, clutching her head as the shadows pressed closer, their voices drilling into her mind. The air was freezing, her breath fogging as she stumbled blindly through the darkness.

From somewhere deep within, memories surfaced—flashes of fire and ash, the screams of her village as it fell. Faces of the people she had known—her friends, her neighbors—twisted and broken. And at the center of it all stood her mother, reaching for her through the flames.

"Elena… save us…"

Elena fell to her knees, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. Tears stung her eyes, blurring the shadows that swirled around her. She could feel herself slipping, sinking into their icy embrace.

"This is my fault," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I couldn't save them…"

The shadows pressed closer, sensing her weakness. They wrapped around her limbs, tightening like chains. Her body grew heavy, her will faltering as the darkness pulled her deeper.

And then—

"Elena!"

The voice shattered through the void like a crack of lightning. Elena's eyes snapped open, her breath hitching as a burst of light split the darkness apart.

"Get up," the voice commanded, firm and steady.

She looked up, her vision clearing just enough to see a figure standing at the edge of the void—Cassian. His sword blazed with silver light, the shadows recoiling from its glow. His face was set in a hard line, his silver eyes locking onto hers.

"Stand up, Elena," he repeated. "Or the darkness will devour you."

"I can't," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The weight of the shadows pinned her down, dragging her into oblivion. "I'm not strong enough…"

Cassian's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, his sword slicing through the shadows like a blade through silk. "Strength isn't given. It's taken. Now stand."

His words struck something deep inside her, a flicker of anger sparking to life in her chest. She gritted her teeth, her hands digging into the cold ground beneath her.

"I can't save them," she said, her voice trembling but steady. "But I won't let the darkness take me, either."

The shadows hissed in fury, surging toward her like a storm. Elena forced herself to stand, her legs shaking as she rose to her feet. The warmth—the strange, pulsing light she had felt before—stirred within her again.

Cassian raised his sword, its silver glow washing over her like a tide. "Focus, Elena. You control the light—don't let it control you."

She closed her eyes and reached inward, searching for the power that burned beneath her skin. It flared to life, hot and bright, spilling from her like liquid fire.

When she opened her eyes, the shadows halted, writhing at the edges of the light that poured from her hands.

"Go back to the void where you belong," she whispered.

With a cry, Elena thrust her hands forward, the light exploding outward in a blinding wave. The shadows screamed as the light burned through them, tearing them apart piece by piece. The void trembled, the darkness retreating like a wounded beast.

When the light finally faded, the shadows were gone.

Elena collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. The clearing was back—the stone arch behind her, its runes now dim. The air was still, the forest silent once more.

Cassian sheathed his sword and approached her, his footsteps slow and deliberate. "You faced it," he said softly, his voice carrying a note of approval. "Your greatest fear. And you conquered it."

Elena looked up at him, her face pale but resolute. "It wasn't just fear," she said hoarsely. "It was guilt."

Cassian held her gaze, his expression unreadable. "The crown tests what lies deepest in your heart. Fear, guilt, weakness—it will rip them out and force you to face them. If you cannot…" He trailed off, but she understood.

The forest would consume her.

She pushed herself to her feet, every muscle aching. "What now?"

Cassian tilted his head, his silver eyes reflecting the faint light of the runes. "Now you rest. The first gate is behind you, but the trials are far from over."

He turned, already walking back toward the path. Elena hesitated for just a moment before following, her thoughts a swirling storm.

She had survived. But at what cost? The darkness had shown her things she could never forget—her village in flames, her mother's outstretched hand. And the guilt still clung to her like a shadow.

But beneath the guilt, something else had stirred. A spark of power.

She glanced at Cassian's back, his movements silent and unyielding. "Why are you helping me?" she asked suddenly.

He didn't stop walking. "I told you—I have my reasons."

"And what are they?"

Cassian was quiet for a long moment. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and distant.

"Because, Elena, the crown does not choose lightly. If it has marked you, then you may be the one to end this curse. Or…" He glanced back at her, his silver eyes dark with meaning. "…you may be its next victim."

Elena shivered, but she lifted her chin. "I won't fail."

Cassian turned away again, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "We'll see."

As they disappeared into the forest once more, Elena felt the weight of the journey ahead settle onto her shoulders. The crown had chosen her—but she would choose what happened next.

And she would not break.