After witnessing Azra's anointing ceremony and what had happened to Iris. Ian slumped onto the throne and felt his rotting forehead wrinkle. He could frown. Iris, being dragged to Zandar by her father, for some reason, bothered him. He hadn't been bothered by anything since he had claimed the Hollow throne. He was sure that something wasn't right with him. He could feel pain. The throbbing ache in his shoulder was unrelenting, and for some reason, it wouldn't go away. None of this was supposed to happen. Nobos had explained that his lack of emotions was because the Hollow Guardian was meant to be impartial in his judgment. So far, he had been nothing of the sort.
" Ian!" he heard Rhya call him in a trembling voice. She had gone grey. Her body was so weak that she was shaking and not from fear. Living with him in the Hollow had taken a toll on all of them. Athan was bearly standing, and Tyla hadn't been able to walk for some time now. She was fading faster than he had predicted.
" You have to do something!" Rhya pleaded, approaching him with faltering steps.
Ian grumbled. He wasn't allowed to meddle with the living. Nobos had been clear on that. Everything he did reflect in the Hollow, and the presence of his minions had caused some disturbance in the belly of the Hollow, but Huriath, one of the Hollow Lords, had taken care of it. But he also warned that things might worsen if he doesn't expel his minions into the living realm.
" Please!" Rhya's pleas fell on deaf ears.
Ian didn't bother to reply or look at her. He stared at the dull shine of the obsidian walls in the throne room.
" Her father, King Lund, is just as cruel as Seth! My parents said he was part of a group that rebelled against Queen Mara. She was the ruler in those times!" Rhya provided some more insight into past events. Rhya had spoken three phrases, and she was already breathless.
" I suggest you save your breath! You look like you need it!" Ian coldly said and stood up from his throne and walked out of the hall.
Ian looked over his domain. The blue fires burned brightly over the realm. His palace was on top of the tallest mountain in the empire, and he could see almost everything. Despite the lack of eyes, he found that the flames that had replaced them were connected to the entire domain. All he had to do was focus on something, and he could see as if he was just a few paces away. He wouldn't deny his position came with certain advantageous perks.
" You can't let her in the hands of Lund! Iris will suffer!" Athan huffed from behind him, leaning against a wall. He could bearly stand.
" Cause you did such a great job protecting her all along!" Ian scorned. The memory of Iris breaking and crying flashed in front of his eyes, and the pain in his shoulder grew. He grimaced, swallowing a grunt.
" You shouldn't speak her name! You sully her name when it comes off your disgusting lips!" Ian scorned. He could feel a sliver of anger in his dull, monotonous tone.
" I know, and I regret hiding things from her!" Athan's voice strained when he pushed himself off the wall.
" All of this ", Ian paused ", This is on you, on all of you! When you die, I'll ensure that your souls will be tortured for all eternity in the deepest pit of the Hollow!" Ian said in his flat, bland tone.
Athan let out a laboured sigh and slumped at his feet. He wasn't begging. His legs gave in. Not long now, he will be dead soon. Athan knew that asking for forgiveness would be pointless. He had none to give.
" Milord!" Nobos called " There is a problem!" he informed and stopped next to him.
" What is it?" Ian asked without turning to look at him.
" The fires are fading! You need to take them back to the living realm! Their presence is affecting the Hollow!" Nobos informed and looked at Athan's tired expression.
" They will be dead soon!" Ian flatly replied and kept gazing in the distance.
Nobos bowed " Forgive me, but we cannot wait for that to happen. The realm is in danger. The realm's magic is weakening! They cannot stay any longer," Nobos said and drew his sword out and ran it across Athans's neck.
Athan choked, sputtering blood, and the light in his eyes turned dull. The realm fires blazed the moment he gave his last breath.
" Our realm draws from the souls that enter. The realm feeds on the darkness within them. And by the looks of it, he had plenty!" Nobos pushed Athan's body off the cliff and turned to Tyla and Rhya, who just stood there waiting to meet their end.
Ian didn't bother to stop Nobos. There was no point. It was a mercy that he wouldn't be able to offer. They didn't deserve it, but he knew Nobos was right in his judgment. He heard two thuds behind him, one after another. He didn't turn. He already knew what Nobos did. The Hollow fires blazed again, rising to the darkened sky when Tyla gave her last breath.
" Help her!" Rhya breathed out her last words, and the fires of Hollow blazed again.
Nobos sighed " It is done!" he said, halting his steps next to him.
" You are the first ruler of this realm to seek vengeance!" Nobos looked up at him frowning.
" Ettrick sought power!" Ian retorted, " We all have our weaknesses!" he turned around and walked back into the throne room.
" And look what that got him! Ettrick wanted to gain his soul back! That is why he chased Iris. The source, if used properly, can restore one's soul! There is a price. A sacrifice must be made. A soul for a soul. Not just any soul. It must be untainted, pure!" Nobos informed.
" I thought this place feeds on darkness!" Ian retorted.
" It does! But we also need pure souls for ourselves. We feed on them. That's why we aren't as you are!" Nobos explained.
" Will it work on me?!" Ian asked.
Nobos nodded " It would, but you would lose your powers, and you'd become one of us. The Guardian before Ettrick did that, and that's how Ettrick defeated him. That's how you beat Ettrick. You see where I'm going with this. Your soul makes you weak. Without a soul, you have complete control over the darkness! Nobos sat in a chair.
Ian hummed " Who would be willing to take my place then?" Ian asked and sat on his throne.
Nobos muffled a chuckle " Any lord. Including myself!" Nobos earnestly replied.
" The reason why you are still on that throne is that you can't die!" Nobos said and stood up.
" Better accept it. There is no turning back, Ian. You knew this would happen, so make the most of it. Your position comes with great power. Within the confines of this realm, you are all-powerful. You are a God!" Nobos raised his hand and disappeared.