The dark figure's staff glowed with an eerie, pulsating light as the ground beneath Alysia cracked open. She stumbled, but Aragos grabbed her arm, pulling her behind him.
"This is your mess," she hissed, trying to regain her footing.
"Be silent," Aragos snapped, his focus on the enemy.
The figure stepped closer, the hem of their cloak floating as though untouched by gravity. "How far the mighty have fallen," it said mockingly. "The King of Izea, reduced to hiding in his own sanctuary."
Aragos clenched his fists, golden energy crackling around them. "Speak your purpose, or be silenced."
The figure's laughter echoed, hollow and sinister. "You don't recognize me? I suppose time erases even the greatest sins."
Alysia's heart raced as she watched the tension between them escalate. "Who are they, Aragos?"
He didn't answer, his expression grim. The figure tilted its head, amused. "Still playing the hero, I see. Tell me, does she know what you really are? Or what you've done?"
Before Alysia could ask what that meant, the figure raised its staff, and a blast of dark energy surged toward them.
"Move!" Aragos shouted, shoving her aside.
She hit the ground hard as the energy collided with Aragos, sending him crashing into a shelf. Books and debris rained down, but he stood, unshaken.
"Stay out of this," he growled at Alysia.
"Like hell I will!" she retorted, her hands glowing as she summoned her magic.
The figure turned to her, its eyes narrowing. "How precious. A little witch with no idea of her limits."
Alysia threw a fireball at the figure, but it dissipated before reaching them. The figure raised a hand, and an invisible force lifted her off the ground. She gasped, struggling against it.
"Put her down!" Aragos roared, charging forward.
The figure released Alysia, sending her tumbling to the floor. Aragos closed the distance between them, his fist glowing as he struck. The impact sent the figure flying, but it landed gracefully, as though untouched.
"This isn't over," the figure said, their voice echoing ominously. With a swirl of their cloak, they vanished into the shadows, leaving only the faint scent of sulfur behind.
Aragos turned to Alysia, his expression a mix of anger and concern. "You could've gotten yourself killed."
"And you could've told me what the hell is going on!" she shot back, glaring at him.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There are things you don't understand. Things better left buried."
"Well, it's a little late for that," she said, gesturing to the ruined chamber. "Who was that?"
"An old enemy," he said vaguely. "One I thought was long dead."
Alysia crossed her arms, her frustration boiling over. "You're going to have to do better than that, Aragos. If I'm stuck with you, I deserve to know the truth."
He stared at her for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. But not here. This place is compromised."