Nobody dared approach Set. The crimson-eyed demon remained motionless, surrounded by an aura so dense and threatening that it seemed like an invisible, impenetrable wall. Alister, Shun and the other warriors' bodies lay on the battlefield, but the mere idea of recovering them was unthinkable. Relon, with a heavy heart and a mind filled with anger, ordered everyone to retreat within Alnuum's western walls. "Close the western gates! Now!" he commanded, his voice heavy with frustration and pain. The gates' security was illusory, but for now, it was the only barrier between them and Set.
Within the throne room, the atmosphere was heavy. Relon sat down, but the weight of the last hours left him restless. "You disobeyed my orders!" he said, his voice tense as he looked at Suzannah. The witch, always proud, now seemed discouraged, almost defeated. "And I would do the same again if I could," she replied, the sadness evident in her gaze. "Alister and Shun agreed with my command!" she added, trying to justify her choice.
Relon stood up abruptly, his face a mask of fury. "But now they are dead!" he screamed, his voice echoing off the room's walls. "What will you do now, witch? We have a powerful demon at our city's gates and we no longer have warriors who can face him!"
Katara, always calm and thoughtful, took a step forward. "We must send a messenger in search of Kal. He has defeated a demon before, he can defeat this one too!" she suggested, trying to bring a solution to the king.
"Kal is leagues away from here, we won't be able to bring him in time!" argued Gwen, concerned with the urgency of the situation.
Remembering an important detail, Katara insisted. "When I freed him from Alnuum's dungeons during the war of greed, Kal used a strange ability that rapidly transported us to Fox Village. If we can talk to him, he may be able to use that ability to return here more quickly!"
Suzannah, clearly uncomfortable with the lack of alternatives, intervened. "There is a magic that allows us to communicate with someone at a distance, but it requires an enormous amount of mana, and I... I do not have that mana now!" Her voice betrayed the frustration and exhaustion weighing on her.
Relon, visibly nervous, responded with determination. "Why must we depend on Kal? This war has always been ours from the beginning. Kal helped us in the war of greed, but the battle was ours, not his. We must find a solution!"
Lilla, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up. "My connection with Kal is weak now, but I still have a little of his divine mana. I can fight Set!" she declared, with a conviction that surprised them all.
Feeling his young companion's spirit, Arthan stood up as well. "I was able to wound him before. I can fight alongside the princess!" he said, determined.
Inspired by Lilla and Arthan's courage, Gwen and Katara also rose. The decision to fight was clear in each of their eyes. But before they could organize themselves, Alnuum's eastern gates opened, revealing a new entourage.
Relon observed, perplexed, as the Felwaves, led by Shiera, entered the city. By Shiera's side were her brother Leon, Elven Princess Luna, and one hundred and twenty elven and Felwave warriors. The king's summons had finally borne fruit.
Shiera approached the king, with an apologetic demeanor. "Forgive us for the delay, my king," she said, bowing her head respectfully.
A new hope arose in Relon's heart upon seeing the reinforcement. He turned to Suzannah, his voice firmer than before. "The old times have passed, witch. Now is the hour of those who will guide the future!"
Suzannah, still shaken by what had happened, felt a spark rekindle in her heart. "The fire in my heart is dying out," she thought, remembering the days when she led battles without hesitation. But seeing the young ones before her, ready to face Set, she remembered a time when she too was driven by passion, by the determination to fight against all odds. "I may look young, but my heart is old," she reflected. "Today I am more rational and less emotional, but there are moments when, even against all expectations, we must light our heart on fire."
Suzannah's gaze softened as she observed the young warriors with a mix of pride and nostalgia. "I do not believe they can win, but the flame that burns them can change this story, just as it did in the war of greed," she thought, feeling the weight of her words and the responsibility now falling upon the shoulders of those ready to face the demon waiting outside.
In Zoarlath, the darkness of night mingled with the heavy atmosphere hanging over the Duchy's capital. Inside Catoni's house, Adonis and the others were desperately trying to find a way to escape the city. Aura, now awake and still recovering from recent events, contemplated the black dome encircling Zoarlath, seeking a solution. "I've never seen anything like this," Yorin commented, his voice heavy with perplexity and concern.
Meglin, who had remained silent until then, closely observed the ominous dome. "It is ancient magic," he said, his serious tone capturing everyone's attention. "This type of magic is beyond our mortal understanding."
Meglin's words awoke Aiya's curiosity, and she immediately asked: "Do you know this type of magic, Meglin?"
The mage took a deep breath before responding, drawing everyone closer. "My master told me of this long ago. I always thought of it as legend," he began. "As you all know, the magic we use is divided into two fundamentals: elemental magic and arcane magic. However, in the beginning of times, when the land was still new and full of mana, there were two more types in abundance: divine magic and black magic. Divine magic is still used by priests and healers, though weakly and scarcely. However, black magic is no longer accessible to mortals..." Meglin's pause left them even more intrigued.
"When was the last time black magic was heard of?" asked Aiya, eager for more information.
Meglin reflected for a moment before responding. "The last time I heard of black magic being used was during the War of Greed in Nannu. The avatar of Greed, Morfrey, and his followers used black magic unrestrainedly. Perhaps this explains the strange things happening around the world."
Having fought in that war, Arphaxad considered this. "It's true. We faced demons unseen on earth for centuries, and Morfrey himself was bathed in a malign and shadowy aura and ceased being human. Many people died just from his baneful presence."
Meglin nodded, adding: "We call these magics 'ancient magics' because they were used in ancient times. But in my studies, I classify them as 'Essences of Divinities.'"
Being a powerful sorcerer, Adonis questioned: "Why 'Essences of Divinities'?"
Meglin responded promptly: "To conjure an elemental or arcane magic, you only need knowledge of it and the amount of mana required to conjure it. However, the 'Essences of Divinities' are magics that require divine mana, and we humans do not possess this type of mana. Therefore, to conjure one of these essences, it is necessary to have access to divine mana, something no human is capable of obtaining."
Aura, with a troubled expression, asked: "Are you saying that whoever is conjuring these magics isn't human?"
"Exactly," replied Meglin. "That friend of yours was never human from the beginning, because no human is capable of conjuring something like this."
Meglin's words caused Arphaxad to recall his past moments with Eron. "When I found him in the White Palace dungeons in Bercuranon, strangely, his cell was open!" he said. "When the golden-eyed soldiers went to our inn in Bercuranon, Eron told us to leave and go elsewhere. He said he was a farmer, but he was always very literate and clever. He remained very calm about the soldiers' pursuit." Memories began flooding everyone's minds, and now they realized Eron's peculiarities.
"Eron knew how to read phrases and words in the ancient language," continued Arphaxad. "And furthermore, it was Eron who guided us to Hadon's house, where we first met Yorin!" Arphaxad took a deep breath and concluded: "Damnit, we were being manipulated by someone who isn't even human!"
Aiya, even more distraught than the others, deeply lamented. "I was the most deceived... I was unsuccessful in my search in this miserable city, and believed a man who called himself 'The Blessed.' I followed everything he said! He told me where I could find you, and said you also had the same goal as me. So I did not hesitate to share the information I had with you! I was really a fool, me, who was once part of Israeli intelligence in my past life."
Aura and Yorin became curious about Aiya's words. "Past life? Israeli intelligence?" Aura asked, but Aiya quickly changed the subject back to Eron.
"There's no use crying over spilt milk now," said Cruxe, waking everyone from their thoughts. "We need to find a way out of this city. The people are possessed and crazed—soon they'll be here!"
Suddenly, Catoni quickly exited and went to his workshop, returning with a golden book in his hands. The book bore a symbol of two golden wings over a white background. "This is an ancient book I received when I was captain of the guard in the White Castle. Here we will find answers!" said the old man, holding the Arkon coat of arms book.
Everyone gathered around Catoni as he opened the book. Hope grew, even as desperation still lingered in their hearts. Whatever secrets this book revealed would be the key to escaping Zoarlath and facing the darkness threatening to swallow them all.
At the White Palace Mausoleum, the battle between Kal and Spartan intensified. The ruins shook with each clash of their swords, and the echo of confrontation reverberated through the surroundings, frightening the few who still risked living nearby. Spartan, with his worn armor and visible wounds, still maintained a firm stance, but it was clear he was at a disadvantage. "You've gotten stronger than before, boy!" Spartan grunted breathlessly.
Kal, with a determined smile, responded swiftly: "I HAVE!" And with that, resumed attacking with renewed ferocity. The sound of metal against metal echoed like thunder, making the ruins seem alive with the destructive energy of the fight. People nearby fled in panic, fearing the confrontation was an ill omen.
While this epic battle unfolded at the White Palace, in another place, Kal awakened to a completely different environment. He rose quickly, confused and frightened, feeling himself to ensure he was whole. "Where is this place?" he asked aloud, his tone heavy with uncertainty. The environment around him was a vast darkness, an absolute void. He tried calling for Domeh or Daat, but there was no response. The silence was absolute, oppressive.
"Is this time I truly died?" Kal thought as he began walking. The void around him seemed infinite. Kal walked for an immeasurable time, his footsteps faintly echoing in the darkness. He had no idea how much time had passed, but his feet began to ache, and desperation started to infiltrate his mind. "I've walked so far, but there seems to be no end to this darkness," he thought, struggling to keep hope alive.
Suddenly in the distance, he spotted a small pale light. Kal's heart raced. "Someone... finally!" he thought, and began running toward the light, but no matter how fast he ran, the light never seemed to get closer. It remained a small distant point, fueling his desperation.
"Am I in hell?" he questioned himself, starting to feel lost. He tried using his divine mana to speed up, but nothing happened. He did not feel the familiar presence of his energy, and this only increased his anguish. He was trapped in an endless void, helpless and alone.
Tired and without hope, Kal finally gave up. He laid down on the cold, dark floor, staring at nothing. "Even the feeling of frustration has disappeared," he murmured to himself. Thoughts of regret began to invade his mind. "I should have smiled more...should have been happier, told more jokes...should have enjoyed life with my family more..." A deep sadness consumed him as he thought of all the missed opportunities.
Kal rubbed his hair, stretched out his arms and legs, and shouted into the void: "Why do I have such difficulty with feelings?" But deep in his mind, he remembered something Domeh had said before, during a moment of crisis. "Sometimes you just need to try doing what you've never done before!" The memory of these words sparked something within him.
Gathering all his courage, Kal stood up again. He fixed his gaze on the small pale light and said to himself: "So I just need to do something I've never done before, isn't that right?" With this new determination, he began running again, but this time something was different. He was faster, stronger, and did not tire. With each step, he accelerated more and more.
As he gained speed, Kal noticed his footsteps left trails of golden sparks that lit up the void around him. The darkness enclosing him began to crack, with divine light emanating from his feet. His divine mana had returned, flowing through his body with renewed intensity.
The small point of light began to grow. It was no longer just a distant point; there were seven points, and as Kal approached, they transformed into gigantic suns. The light emanating from them was bright, but did not burn. Kal, now before the seven suns, felt minuscule, like an ant before mountains of light. But at the same time, that light was welcoming, familiar. He stopped and looked at the suns with a mix of reverence and curiosity.
Finally, he felt at home. The darkness that surrounded him now seemed distant, and the presence of those gigantic suns brought a feeling of peace and purpose. Kal did not know what would come next, but for the first time in a long time, he felt he was in the right place.