[Intro — low rumble, something waiting in the dark]
[Verse 1] We came through the pass before the dawn could break The star was there — I’d know it anywhere But the ground was wrong Too quiet, then too loud And out of the northern mist they came
Not monsters — worse Men who chose this Men who looked at light And swallowed darkness willingly Men with nothing left to miss
[Pre-Chorus] The archer pulled her bow The veteran drew his blade The priest found somewhere low And the youngest said
“I’ve got the left flank”
[Chorus — full battle, drums and war] Light or blight We didn’t come this far to fall here Light or blight We bleed on holy ground and hold the line They want the star to stay in darkness We want whatever’s on the other side Light or blight Light or blight
[Verse 2 — mid-battle, things going wrong] The archer held the right The veteran carved the center clean I pushed through to the north Eyes on the star, hands on the fight
Then I heard it — Not a war cry Not a crash of steel
Just a sound that shouldn’t happen In a fight that we were winning Something small Something final
I turned around too late
[Pre-Chorus 2 — slowing, breaking] He was on the ground Still holding his position The left flank — clear Like he promised
(he always comes back) (three times) (this was the last time)
[Chorus — but something is different, heavier] Light or blight He didn’t come this far to fall here Light or blight He bled on holy ground and held the line He wanted the star to mean something He wanted whatever’s on the other side Light or blight Light
[Bridge — the battle is over, Elara walks to Polaris alone]
(silence)
We won.
I walked to the star I did what the child said I stood where the light falls I looked up
And nothing.
No voice No answer No warmth through the cold Just a star That doesn’t know my name Just a star That has never heard of me
(long silence)
Then — from the north edge of the field — Where the veteran had been Where the veteran had gone
Figures Not blighted Something else entirely Something older
[Outro — new sound, ethereal, otherworldly]
And they said:
“Follow us.”
I almost didn’t see her At the edge where the mist begins Small Still
The child
Watching
“Follow us.”