ONLINE: Blades of Eternity-Chapter 194: CHARLOTTE’S DRIVE

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the secluded clearing not far from the grand coliseum. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew settling on the grass. At the heart of this stillness stood Charlotte, her shield resting against her arm as she stood motionless. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was steady, her posture unwavering.

She was deep in focus, the kind of concentration that demanded not just physical precision but an unyielding connection to the magic flowing through her veins. Tonight, she was alone—completely alone. No one to watch, no one to judge.

Her grip on the shield tightened, and with a sharp intake of breath, she opened her eyes. The training began.

In a heartbeat, her shield came alive. Ancient runes etched across its surface began to glow, pulsing with an energy long forgotten by most. The Divine Shield, a relic of elven craftsmanship, resonated with her movements as she transitioned seamlessly into the first technique.

Charlotte swung the shield outward in a wide arc, and golden light erupted from its edges, forming a luminous barrier around her. The shield hummed with power, its light reaching into the night as if trying to touch the stars. The force of the barrier sent a powerful gust across the clearing, flattening the grass and shaking the nearby trees.

The barrier shimmered, pulsing as Charlotte pushed its boundaries further. Then, with a practiced flick of her wrist, the barrier dissipated, and she transitioned into the next phase.

Pivoting on her heel, Charlotte thrust the shield forward with a sharp cry. From its surface burst a spear of light, crackling with condensed energy. It shot forward like a bolt of lightning, carving through the air and slamming into the ground several yards away. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, shaking the earth beneath her feet.

She barely paused.

With her shield raised high, Charlotte called upon the heavens themselves. The golden aura surrounding her flared, bright enough to rival the moonlight. A vortex of swirling energy formed above her, growing denser with each passing second.

"Now," she whispered.

Slamming the shield into the ground, the vortex descended, releasing its power in a dazzling explosion of light. The clearing lit up as if dawn had arrived early, and the shockwave from the blast flattened everything in its path. When the light finally faded, Charlotte was left standing amidst a clearing that looked as though a storm had torn through it.

Her shoulders rose and fell as she caught her breath, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. The runes on her shield dimmed, and the clearing fell silent once more.

Charlotte glanced around, taking in the aftermath of her training. The grass was scorched, the trees at the edge of the clearing trembling from the force of her magic.

She let out a soft laugh, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Almost perfect," she said to herself.

The moonlight fell softly upon her now, no longer rivaled by the brilliance of her magic. She stood there for a moment longer, basking in the quiet satisfaction of progress before slinging her shield over her shoulder and making her way back to the pavilion.

The night was hers alone, and she intended to keep it that way. After a few more hours went by of Charlotte pushing herself to the limit, she suddenly laid down flat on the field.

"Just watch me dad, am going to surpass you one day" Charlotte suddenly said as she gazed upon the skies while she suddenly reminisced on something that happened in her past.

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She was only six years old then, standing on the balcony of her family’s modest estate, hidden behind the lush woods of their village at a remote corner of Eldoria. It had been a day like any other until the air filled with the clash of steel and the fiery roar of invading beasts.

"Stay inside, Charlotte," her mother had urged, pulling her into the safety of their home. But curiosity burned brighter than fear in her young heart. She had wriggled free, darting to the window just in time to see him—her father.

Tall and unyielding, his silver armor gleamed under the sunlight, his sword igniting with the purest flames of elven magic. He moved with such grace that it looked more like a dance than a battle. His shield, much like hers now, deflected blows effortlessly while his voice rang out over the chaos, rallying his comrades.

"Protect the villagers! Do not falter!"

Charlotte watched, her small hands pressed against the glass, eyes wide in awe. For her, he wasn’t just her father—he was a hero. A towering figure of strength and courage, the kind of person she wanted to be when she grew up.

She didn’t understand the gravity of battle then, only the admiration that swelled in her chest as her father turned the tide, forcing the invaders to retreat.

That night, when he returned home, bruised but victorious, she had run to him. "Papa! I want to be just like you!" she declared, her tiny hands clutching at his armor.

He had laughed, kneeling to ruffle her hair. "You’ll be better than me, my little star," he said, his voice warm and full of pride.

Years later, that warmth turned to a void she could never fill.

It was a quiet afternoon. Charlotte was helping her mother tend to their garden when a messenger arrived, his face pale and grief-stricken. Her mother froze, the basket of herbs falling from her hands.

The words came slowly, each one driving a dagger into their hearts.

"Commander Arlen... has fallen in battle."

Charlotte’s world shattered.

Her mother sank to her knees, tears spilling freely down her cheeks as she clutched the messenger’s hands, begging for it to be a mistake. But the man’s sorrowful expression was answer enough.

Charlotte didn’t cry immediately. She stood there, numb, her father’s voice echoing in her head: You’ll be better than me, my little star.

That night, she went to her father’s study, the place where he had trained and planned his strategies. She picked up his shield, her small hands barely able to lift it, and stared at her reflection in its polished surface.

"I’ll make you proud," she whispered, the tears finally falling.

Back in the present, Charlotte let out a shaky breath, her hand still on her shield. "I’ll make you proud, Papa," she murmured, her voice steady despite the heaviness in her heart.

Her father’s legacy was both a comfort and a burden, but it was one she carried willingly. His strength, his courage, and his sacrifice—they were her guiding stars.

The dawn outside grew brighter, a promise of a new day. She wiped away the lone tear that had escaped and stood, her resolve renewed. There was no room for sorrow now. She had a legacy to uphold, and the path ahead demanded her full strength

High above the isolated training ground, General Cao hovered silently, the morning breeze rustling his dark cloak. His sharp eyes locked onto Charlotte below, her movements as precise as the strokes of a master artist. Each strike of her shield radiated an intensity that rippled through the air, shaking the ground with a force that even seasoned warriors might struggle to match.

Cao crossed his arms, a faint smile playing on his lips as he observed the young girl. ’The legacy lives on...’ he thought, a flicker of nostalgia glimmering in his steely gaze.

His mind drifted to a memory from decades ago, to a battlefield scarred by war and chaos. Amid the carnage, one figure had stood unyielding—a warrior clad in radiant silver, his shield shining like a beacon against the darkness.

They had called him The Legendary Shield, a name spoken with reverence and fear alike. Arlen, Charlotte’s father, had been a force of nature, a protector who could hold entire armies at bay with sheer will and skill. Cao had fought alongside him once, during a desperate defense against overwhelming odds.

"He was invincible," Cao murmured under his breath. But even legends could fall, and the memory of Arlen’s sacrifice still left an ache in his chest.

Watching Charlotte now, he saw the same spark, the same indomitable will. It was uncanny—almost as if the shield itself had passed its essence to her.

"She’ll surpass him one day," Cao muttered, though his expression turned somber. "If she survives long enough."

The young girl suddenly unleashed a dazzling flurry of strikes, the second phase of the Divine Shield technique illuminating the open field. Her resolve was palpable, and Cao felt a pang of admiration.

Satisfied, he turned away, soaring higher into the sky. She doesn’t need my guidance—not yet. She has a fire that must burn on its own.

The general adjusted his trajectory, setting his sights on the pavilions where the other girls resided. ’Lila, Guinevere, Sofia...’ I should ensure they’re prepared as well. Each of them has a role to play in the days to come.

As he flew, the image of Charlotte’s shield burned in his mind—a reminder of the past and a hope for the future. Arlen, your daughter carries your legacy with honor. Let’s see if the world is ready for the new Shield of Eternity.