Back to the present-
I glided with Alina over the realm, our bodies flitting between strands of life. A calm resonance filled the air, resonating with the melodies of forces beyond our sight. We descended further because we had to find out what was about to happen to the female protagonist.
Alina pulled me aside and curiously asked, "Hey, Magnus, what exactly is the Astral realm? Because during the fight with the masked man eight years back, you managed to shift to your astral form in the real world."
I replied, "It is kind of complicated. The Astral realm is a borderline between Heaven - the mortal realm and the mortal realm - Hell. So basically, the astral realm protects the mortal realm from angels and devils. And as for your other doubt, since I have a direct connection with the ancestor who mastered the astral realm - I can control the mana in it. So I am the gatekeeper of the astral realm."
Alina's eyes widened with fascination as she absorbed the explanation. "So, you're like a guardian between worlds? That's incredible, Magnus."
I blushed at this remark and said, "Yes."
As we descended to the darker parts of the realm, a weird thought struck me, "This isn't supposed to be happening. As I strayed away from the novel plot, something should have changed. Did I miss something? What if Alina's dad is in danger? And if Regulus is behind it, how did he open the portal to the astral realm? Was it Nyx?"
Alina became uneasy and whispered, "Magnus, something feels off. Do you think we're heading into danger?"
Before I could respond, the shadows formed a dark portal. Stepping through it, we found ourselves in a creepy dimension of the Astral realm. It was Nyx's realm.
I thought, "Uh, I knew it. Nyx must be behind this."
Suddenly, we saw Count Mapisto and Regulus deep in a conversation with Nyx looming in the background.
I clenched my fists, anger, and concern intertwining. "Nyx," I muttered. "What is happening? Why are Count Mapisto and Regulus speaking as if they are very close?"
As Nyx's form materialized, she chuckled, "Ah, Magnus Thaddeus, you've wandered into my realm. How delightful."
Alina drew her sword, pointed it at Nyx, and furiously said, "Who are you!?"
Nyx touched the sword, broke it into tiny shards, and smirked, "I am Nyx. Ruler of the shadow realm."
In a few seconds, I conjured multiple swords and sent them towards Nyx. The clash of blades echoed in the shadowy realm as Nyx effortlessly shattered the swords. I tightened my grip on my remaining weapon, determined to resist the darkness.
Just as I prepared for another strike, Count Mapisto, his eyes glazed with a darkened aura, stepped forward. Regulus, standing beside him, wore a sinister grin. It became evident that Nyx held them under her influence.
Count Mapisto, who sounded like Nyx, declared, "Foolish mortal. Do you dare challenge the might of Nyx? Your feeble attempts will only lead to your demise."
Alina was shocked by this turn of events. She took a step forward and muttered, "Dad!?"
Regulus chuckled, "You can't comprehend the power we've harnessed. And Alina, your pitiful dad is in our control."
Alina charged forward by casting a new sword and was about to strike at Regulus, but her father stopped her. She looked at her sorrowfully and said, "Dad, I don't want to hurt you."
Count Mapisto, under Nyx's influence, sneered at Alina, "Hurt me? You, a mere mortal, think you can oppose the will of Nyx? Embrace the darkness, my daughter. It is the only path to true power."
Alina, torn between her family bonds and the situation around them, pleaded, "Dad, fight it! You're stronger than this. Don't succumb to the shadows."
Regulus, reveling in the chaos, taunted, "Oh, the family drama. How touching. But sentimentality won't save you in the shadows' grasp. Witness the power Nyx bestows upon those who submit willingly."
The dark tendrils intensified, encircling Count Mapisto as he unleashed an otherworldly force. Alina, desperate to break the influence, cast protective barriers around her, hoping to find a way to free her father from Nyx's control.
While this drama was happening, a plan struck me. I decided to use my teleporting magic which was unique to the astral realm. I created a space between Alina and her dad and sent them to the other side of the shadow realm. I shouted to Alina, "SAVE YOUR DAD. I WILL DEAL WITH THESE PEOPLE." She gave a thumbs-up as she disappeared.
I turned my attention to Nyx and Regulus. "Your twisted games end here. What are your intentions with Eldoria and the Crown?" I demanded.
Nyx, the embodiment of darkness, chuckled, "Magnus, you underestimate the power you hold. Eldoria's fate lies in your hands."
Regulus, the puppeteer behind the scenes, smirked, "The Crown of Eldoria is a powerhouse to unimaginable power. With it, we can reshape the very fabric of reality. You can join us, Magnus, or witness the kingdom's descent into chaos."
I clenched my fists, rejecting their propositions. "I won't let you manipulate Eldoria for your selfish desires. And what about Ariana? What's her role in this sinister plot?"
Nyx's voice resonated ominously, "Ariana is a pawn, a means to an end. The Crown holds the key to unlocking her true potential."
On the other side of the shadow realm-
The shadow realm trembled with eerie energy as Alina faced her controlled father. Dark tendrils enveloped him, distorting his features with an otherworldly aura. Alina was determined to save her dad.
Alina's first blows were redirected by Count Mapisto, whom Nyx had controlled to raise an impenetrable wall. The father and daughter were engaged in a heartbreaking battle.
Alina was fighting with her dad. Tears welled up in her eyes as she summoned every ounce of her strength to break the dark influence that gripped him.
"Father, please! Fight it!" Alina pleaded, her voice trembling with a mix of sorrow and determination. She conjured protective barriers, trying to shield herself from the attacks done by her father.
Count Mapisto's movements were cold and mechanical, devoid of the warmth that once characterized him. His voice, now laced with darkness, responded, "Alina, you cannot defy the will of Nyx. Embrace the shadows, and you too shall wield unimaginable power."
Alina gritted her teeth, pushing back against the emotional turmoil that threatened to consume her. "No, Father! I won't lose you to this darkness. I refuse to believe that you're gone!"
The battle continued a clash of familial love against the dangerous forces that sought to corrupt it. Alina's spells collided with the sinister energy emanating from her father, creating a dazzling yet heart-wrenching display of magical conflict.
In a moment of determination, Alina cast a spell infused with memories of their happier times together—the laughter, the shared moments, the love that once defined their relationship. The spell enveloped Count Mapisto in a radiant light, momentarily dispelling the shadows surrounding him.
For a brief moment, father and daughter locked eyes, a glimmer of recognition breaking through the darkness. Alina seized the opportunity, her heart pounding with hope, "Father, fight back! Remember who you are!"
Count Mapisto was struggling against the puppet strings of Nyx and hesitated.
As tears streamed down Alina's face, a heartfelt whisper escaped her lips, "I know you're in there, Dad. I believe in you."
Alina's dad's mind was going through many emotions. He was still surrounded by the happy days with his wife in the dream realm.
Adrian muttered, "Eleanor, I want to tell you something." His voice carried traces of the emotional turmoil he had experienced in the shadow realm.
Eleanor nodded, allowing him to continue.
Adrian continued, "I am under the influence of Nyx, manipulated to do things beyond my control. Alina, our daughter, is trying to save me from that darkness. She fought for me when I couldn't fight for myself. I can't escape. What am I supposed to do?"
Eleanor grabbed Adrian's hand and said, "I will help you."
She emitted a golden glow, there was peace in the air. Eleanor chanted a spell, tapping into the core of her being. Her magic intertwined with the very essence of her soul, creating a protective aura.
The dark influence that had clouded Adrian's mind recoiled in the face of Eleanor's formidable magic. The air seemed to purify, dispelling the remnants of Nyx's influence.
Adrian, feeling the warmth and strength of Eleanor's magic, experienced a profound sense of relief. The weight that burdened his soul began to lift, and a newfound clarity emerged from the dissipating darkness.
Eleanor's voice, now filled with power and determination, resonated through the room. "Adrian, we'll face this together. Our love will be a shield against the darkness. You are not alone."
Adrian woke up in his body, and he was back to his original self. Alina was seated next to him, and as she saw her dad was awake, she hugged him while crying, "DAD!" He patted Alina and said happily, "I am back."
Back with Magnus-
As Alina and her father defeated Nyx's manipulation, I was severely injured by the relentless attacks of Nyx and Regulus.