Chapter 17

The sun had fully risen by the time the last of the Shadowborn was driven from Verran's walls, their twisted forms crumbling into ash as the first light of dawn touched them. The soldiers of Verran and Draven stood together in the aftermath, their weapons still drawn, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of another attack. But the battlefield was quiet now, the enemy scattered, their leader destroyed.

Seraphina stood atop the city walls, looking out over the scene below. The once beautiful fields surrounding the capital were now marred with the scars of battle. The ground was torn up, littered with the bodies of both men and Shadowborn alike. Smoke still rose from parts of the city, where fires had broken out during the fighting, and the air was thick with the smell of blood and burning wood.

But the city had held. They had won. For now.

Kael approached her, his armor spattered with dirt and blood, his face drawn with exhaustion. But his eyes were steady, his expression resolute. "Seraphina," he said, his voice low, "the council is convening. They want to discuss what happens next."

Seraphina nodded, though her heart was heavy. The victory they had won came at a great cost. Too many lives had been lost, and though the Shadowborn had been driven back, the threat they posed was far from over. She knew the council would want answers-answers she wasn't sure she could give.

She turned away from the battlefield and followed Kael down the stairs, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. They had to be ready for the next battle, the next wave of darkness. But more than that, they had to understand the power of the Wraithwood, the force that she had barely been able to control.

The palace was a hive of activity as they entered, soldiers and servants rushing about, tending to the wounded and preparing for the council meeting. Seraphina barely noticed them as she made her way to the council chamber, her thoughts focused on the task ahead.

When they entered the chamber, the council members were already assembled, their faces lined with worry and exhaustion. Lord Corwin was among them, his usually calm demeanor frayed by the events of the past days. He rose as Seraphina and Kael entered, bowing respectfully.

"Your Highness," he said, his voice tense, "we are relieved to see you safe. The battle was hard-fought, but we have prevailed. However, the threat of the Shadowborn remains. We must decide our next course of action."

Seraphina nodded, taking her seat at the head of the table. "Thank you, Lord Corwin. But we cannot rest on our laurels. The Shadowborn may have been driven back, but they are far from defeated. We must prepare for their return."

"Your Highness," another council member, Lady Elara, spoke up, her voice trembling slightly, "there are rumors among the soldiers-rumors of the power you wielded in the battle. They say it was... unnatural, like the darkness itself was at your command. What happened in the Wraithwood?"

Seraphina glanced at Kael, who gave her a slight nod of encouragement. She took a deep breath and began to explain. "The Wraithwood is a place of ancient magic, a place where the veil between our world and the Shadowborn's is thin. The darkness there... it's alive, and it's powerful. During the battle, I was forced to tap into that power, to use it against the Shadowborn."

The council members exchanged uneasy glances. Seraphina could see the fear in their eyes, the fear of the unknown, of a power they didn't understand.

"I know it sounds dangerous," Seraphina continued, her voice steady, "and it is. But it was necessary. The leader of the Shadowborn was too powerful to be defeated by ordinary means. The power of the Wraithwood is dark, yes, but it's also a weapon we can use to protect our world. If we can learn to control it, to harness it, we might stand a chance against the Shadowborn."

Lord Corwin frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. "But at what cost, Your Highness? The Wraithwood's power is dangerous-what if it consumes you? What if it turns against us?"

Seraphina didn't have an answer to that. She knew the risks, had felt the darkness within her, the temptation to let it consume her completely. But she also knew that without it, they had no hope of defeating the Shadowborn.

Kael spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "The Wraithwood's power is dangerous, yes, but it's also our best chance. Seraphina didn't let it consume her-she controlled it, used it to protect us all. We need to trust her, to trust that she can continue to do so."

The council members murmured among themselves, their expressions uncertain. Finally, Lord Corwin spoke. "We trust you, Your Highness, but we must proceed with caution. The power of the Wraithwood is not something to be taken lightly. We must find a way to harness it safely, without risking the lives of our people."

Seraphina nodded. "I agree. We will need to study the Wraithwood, to understand its power and its limits. But we must also prepare for the next battle. The Shadowborn will return, and we must be ready."

The council continued to discuss their plans, debating strategies and logistics, but Seraphina's mind was elsewhere. The battle had been won, but the war was far from over. And the power she had wielded, the darkness that still lingered within her, was a reminder of just how much they had to lose.

When the meeting finally adjourned, Seraphina remained in the chamber, staring down at the map of Verran spread out on the table. Her eyes traced the lines of the borders, the places where the Shadowborn had been sighted, the areas that were now vulnerable to attack.

"You're thinking about the next battle," Kael said quietly, stepping up beside her.

Seraphina nodded, her expression distant. "We won this time, but I don't know if we can keep winning, Kael. The darkness... it's growing stronger, and I don't know if I can control it."

Kael placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle but reassuring. "You don't have to do this alone, Seraphina. We'll find a way to control the power, to use it without letting it consume you. But we'll do it together."

Seraphina looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and fear. "I'm scared, Kael. Scared of what I might become if I keep using this power."

Kael's expression softened, and he reached out to take her hand in his. "I'm scared too, Seraphina. But I believe in you. You're stronger than you think, and you're not alone. We'll face this together."

Seraphina squeezed his hand, drawing strength from his words. She didn't know what the future held, didn't know if they could truly defeat the Shadowborn or if the power of the Wraithwood would be their salvation or their doom. But she knew that as long as Kael was by her side, she had a chance.

"We need to be ready," Seraphina said, her voice resolute. "We need to study the Wraithwood, to understand its power and how to control it. And we need to prepare our people for what's to come."

Kael nodded. "We will. And we'll do whatever it takes to protect our world."