The glowing map pulsed beneath Mela's hand, casting a warm golden light across the clearing. Symbols shimmered and shifted, forming a winding trail leading to a place marked with a sun-shaped crest.
Eli leaned closer. "It's showing us where the Starwhisps were taken."
But as the light faded, a cold wind swept through the clearing and suddenly, the butterfly-light shattered into silver sparks and vanished.
Then came a whisper. Not from the woods this time from the stone.
"Only one may carry the light… and one must carry the dark."
Mela stepped back. "What does that mean?"
The stone cracked. From the center rose a small crystal, floating in midair. It split in two one side glowing gold, the other swirling with deep midnight blue.
The gold half drifted to Mela. The blue one hovered in front of Eli.
"Take it," Mela whispered.
"I don't like this," Eli said, but his hand reached out anyway.
The moment he touched it, the sky above them thundered. A streak of black lightning split the clouds.
Eli's eyes glowed blue.
And then… he collapsed.
Mela screamed. She dropped to her knees, shaking him. "Eli?!"
His eyes fluttered open. But when he looked at her, his voice wasn't his anymore.
"You shouldn't have come here, Lightbearer."
Mela's heart sank. Something had entered Eli. Something ancient.
The whispering trees fell silent. Even the wind held its breath.
And somewhere far, far away… the Light Thief smiled.