Chapter Eleven

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a blood-red hue across the horizon as the first stars of twilight emerged. Lyra stood on a cliff overlooking the vast ocean, her heart-shaped face illuminated by the dying light. The wind whipped through her wild tangles of hair, and she breathed deeply, savoring the salt-tinged air. It was here, at the edge of the world, that her final showdown with Arthur would take place. The ancient ruins of a long-forgotten civilization lay scattered around them, their crumbling stones a testament to the passage of time and the impermanence of all things.

"Arthur," Lyra called out, her voice strong and resolute yet tinged with sorrow. "It's time."

He emerged from the shadows, his imposing figure outlined against the fiery sky. His piercing blue eyes met hers, cold and unyielding, as he slowly approached. The expensive suit he wore seemed to accentuate his wealth and power, but it could not hide the darkness now consuming him.

"Lyra, my love," he said, his