Chapter 94: THE PANDORA’S CODEX ARC; Little Lyra " Defending my Big brother from the villain"

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: THE PANDORA’S CODEX ARC; Little Lyra " Defending my Big brother from the villain"

Lyra voice rang out, high and fierce, cutting through the chaos like a blade of sound.

The cry seemed to come from somewhere deeper than her small body should have been capable of reaching. It was not merely a scream of fear. It carried anger, desperation, and the raw refusal to watch her brother die in front of her. For several agonizing moments, Lyra had been trapped behind Theon, trembling as the battle raged around them. She had watched Noel move with terrifying speed, watched her brother stagger beneath the effects of the barrier’s suppression, and watched blood darken his clothing. Every instinct had told her to remain hidden.

But Theon was no longer standing between danger and safety.

He was standing between Lyra and death.

The realization shattered the last of her hesitation.

Theon’s head snapped around in shock. Lyra had stepped out from behind him, her small body planted firmly in the open clearing, her hands extended before her. Her legs were shaking so badly that she could barely keep her balance, but she forced herself to remain upright. Her face was pale and streaked with tears, and loose strands of hair clung to her damp cheeks. Yet beneath the fear, her expression held a determination that seemed far too large for her small frame.

She had always hated being afraid.

She hated the way fear made her feel helpless. She hated hiding behind Theon while he faced every threat alone. He had spent his entire life protecting her, stepping in front of danger whenever she stumbled, fell, or lost control of her magic. Even now, weakened and bleeding, he had refused to let Noel reach her.

Lyra could not allow him to bear everything by himself.

A sphere of flame materialized between her palms.

At first, the fire flickered uncertainly, thin tongues of orange light twisting around one another as though they might vanish before taking shape. Lyra’s fingers trembled. Her breathing came in short, painful gasps. She could feel the suppression of the barrier pressing against her magic, smothering the energy before it could properly form.

Still, she held on.

She drew upon every remaining thread of power within her body. The flame grew larger, expanding into a medium-sized fireball that crackled and roared with genuine heat. The warmth spread across her face, replacing the cold sweat on her skin. Its orange glow illuminated the clearing, casting restless shadows over the trees, Theon’s wounded body, and Noel’s approaching form.

Theon stared at her as if he could not believe what he was seeing.

"Lyra," he breathed.

She heard the fear in his voice, and it nearly broke her concentration. He was not angry that she had disobeyed him. He was afraid for her. Even after everything, even while facing an enemy who wanted them dead, Theon’s first thought was still her safety.

That gave her the strength to continue.

"I’m not going to let him hurt you," she whispered, though she did not know whether Theon heard her.

The fireball hung between her palms for one heartbeat. The flames reflected in her tear-filled eyes as she fixed her attention on Noel. He had been so confident moments earlier, so certain that neither of them could challenge him. He had treated them like frightened children who could be crushed without effort.

Lyra wanted him to understand that he had been wrong.

With a cry that tore at her throat, she released the spell.

The fireball shot forward.

Straight at Noel.

The boy reacted instantly. His enhanced speed allowed him to twist in mid-air, turning his body away from the center of the blast. The flames exploded against the space where his chest had been, sending a wave of heat across the clearing and scattering sparks in every direction.

But Noel was not fast enough to avoid the entire attack.

The outer edge of the fireball clipped his shoulder. The impact tore through his clothing and burned into his flesh, spinning him violently through the air before he crashed against the ground. He struck hard enough to send dirt and broken leaves flying around him.

For a moment, there was only the sound of the fire fading.

Then Noel cried out.

The pain in that cry was real. It was also accompanied by fury, the kind of fury that came from being humiliated by someone he had believed was powerless.

For one beautiful, impossible moment, hope surged in Theon’s chest.

Lyra had done it. She had managed to hurt him.

The attack had not defeated Noel, but it had interrupted him and had forced him to retreat. It had proven that Lyra was more than a frightened girl hiding behind her brother. Theon felt something warm rise beneath his exhaustion, something dangerously close to pride.

Then he looked at Lyra’s face.

The hope vanished beneath fresh terror.

She was already exhausted. The barrier’s suppression had affected her too, draining her magical reserves far more quickly than they should have been depleted. The fireball had demanded every remaining fragment of power inside her, and she had forced even more energy into it through sheer desperation.

The spell had taken everything she had left.

And more besides.

The flames disappeared from between her hands. Her fingers went slack. Her arms dropped limply to her sides, and the strength went out of her legs. Her body swayed once before collapsing forward.

"Lyra!"

Theon caught her before she struck the ground.

The impact nearly sent him down as well. His knees buckled, and pain ripped through his injured body, but he ignored it. He gathered Lyra against his chest, one arm supporting her back while the other cradled her head. Her body felt frighteningly light in his arms. She was conscious, but barely. Her breathing was shallow and rapid, each breath catching as though even drawing air required more strength than she possessed.

Her small hands curled weakly against his clothing.

"Stay with me," Theon said, pressing his cheek against her hair. "Lyra, stay awake. Look at me."

Her lashes fluttered. She tried to focus on him, but the world had already begun to blur. Her ears rang from the force of her own spell. Every part of her felt cold now that the fire had vanished. The magical reserves inside her had been reduced to an empty, aching hollow.

"I’m..." Her voice cracked. She swallowed with difficulty. "I’m sorry."

Theon’s heart clenched.

"Sorry for what?"

"That was... all I had."

The confession carried more shame than fear. Lyra had wanted to help him. She had wanted to stand beside him as an equal, even if only for a moment. Instead, she had used up everything and fallen into his arms, leaving him to face Noel alone once again.

Theon tightened his hold around her.

"You did perfectly," he told her fiercely. "Do you hear me? You were incredible."

A faint tremor passed through her body.

"I didn’t... stop him."

"You hurt him. You gave us time. That is more than enough." Theon adjusted her carefully, shielding her from the open clearing with his own body. "Now rest. Close your eyes if you need to. Let me handle the rest." He said. *She actually risked her life to save me. Enough of all this It’s time to get serious*