I lunged towards the throne, my veins pulsing with adrenaline. My furious shout echoed through the chamber, reflecting the intensity of my rage. But before my blade could strike, Nyx's commanding voice halted my assault.
Her presence was overwhelming, sending a chill down my spine despite my fiery determination. As I stood before her, my chest heaving, I met Nyx's piercing gaze with defiant eyes.
"Why?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and betrayal. "Why did you betray me?" The air was thick with tension as I waited for her response, my grip on the sword tightening.
Nyx regarded me with an inscrutable expression, her gaze piercing through the veil of my fury to the core of my being. "Magnus," she began, her voice carrying a weight that seemed to echo through the vast chamber, "betrayal is a matter of perspective."
Her words had a profound impact, each syllable holding significant meaning that sent a shiver down my spine. "You were never meant to be my enemy," she continued, her tone tinged with a hint of regret. "But circumstances have a way of twisting fate, of casting shadows where there should be light."
I felt irritated by her puzzling reply, barely containing my growing annoyance. "Circumstances?" I repeated, my tone dripping with skepticism. "What circumstances could possibly justify your actions? You turned your back on me, on everything we stood for."
Nyx's face stayed calm, not showing the feelings inside her. "You think you understand me, Magnus," she said softly, her voice echoing in the room. "But there's more to my reasons than you can imagine."
I tightened my jaw, trying to control the flood of emotions surging inside me. "I trusted you," I said bitterly, the words laced with venom. "I had faith in you. And this is how you've paid me back? By discarding me like a piece in your twisted scheme."
Nyx's expression softened, and a hint of something resembling regret flickered in her eyes. "Magnus, you were never just a pawn," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You were an integral part of a much grander scheme. And sometimes, difficult choices must be made for a greater purpose."
I laughed, my chuckle echoing emptily in the vast room. "Sacrifices?" I retorted, the word leaving a sour taste in my mouth. "Tell me, Nyx, what greater purpose could possibly excuse the suffering you've inflicted? The lives you've ruined?"
Nyx's gaze was unwavering as she carefully shared her confession. "The Eldoria Empire," she started, her voice carrying the gravity of history, "was a victim of the turbulent powers at work in our world."
I took a step back and listened closely, feeling uneasy as they spoke of Eldoria's fate. A knot of concern formed in my stomach at the news. I wanted to understand more about what was happening and how it might impact the situation.
"It was not a decision made lightly," Nyx continued, her tone sad. "But the balance of power demanded a sacrifice, and Eldoria was meant to be destroyed."
My heart sank as I heard her words. The weight of their admission felt like a suffocating blanket pressing down on me. "You destroyed Eldoria?" I whispered, the realization hitting me hard.
Nyx nodded, her expression grave. "I did what I had to do," she said, her voice tinged with sorrow. "For the sake of the greater good, sacrifices had to be made."
Anger surged within me, a raging fire ignited by the unfairness of her actions. "And what about the Gloria Empire?" I questioned, my voice shaking with fury. "Did you send the monsters there?"
"No." Her face was expressionless. I couldn't understand what she was thinking.
Nyx's revelation sent a shockwave of confusion through me. "You mean to say... you didn't send the shadow monsters to the Gloria Empire?" I asked, with disbelief.
Nyx shook her head once more, her expression unwavering. "No, Magnus. The shadow monsters that plagued the Gloria Empire were not of my doing."
A wave of relief washed over me, mingled with a surge of disbelief. "But why spare Gloria while destroying Eldoria?" I pressed, struggling to comprehend the disparity in her actions.
Nyx's gaze softened, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions. "The reasons are not always clear, Magnus," she explained, her voice gentle yet firm. "There are forces at play beyond our understanding, forces that shape the very fabric of our reality."
I took a moment to absorb her words, grappling with the weight of their implications. "So, you're saying... there's more to this than meets the eye?" I ventured, searching for clarity amidst the chaos of conflicting emotions.
Nyx replied coldly, "Yes. It is the royal family of the Eldoria Empire."
I was stunned, a chill spreading through me as the realization sank in. "But why?" I asked, my voice filled with disbelief. "Why would they do that?"
Nyx nodded solemnly, her expression grave. "Yes, Magnus. The shadow monsters that plagued the Gloria Empire were orchestrated by the royal family of Eldoria."
Shock coursed through me, a cold realization settling in the pit of my stomach. "But why?" I demanded, my voice tinged with disbelief. "Why would they do such a thing?"
Weren't they the main character's family!?
Nyx's gaze hardened, her features set in a mask of determination. "The reasons are known only to them,"
Aelarion chimed in and seriously said, "Magnus, that's why we need your help to defeat these people and solve the crisis in the Gloria Empire."
Nyx's gaze remained unwavering, her resolve unyielding in the face of my growing anger. "Their motives may be unclear, Magnus, but the threat they pose to the realm is undeniable."
Aelarion's voice joined the conversation, his tone grave and earnest. "We need your strength, Magnus," he implored, his eyes pleading for understanding. "You have the power to make a difference, to stop this madness before it consumes us all."
But I was done being manipulated, done being pushed around by forces beyond my control. Anger flared within me, a burning flame fueled by frustration and resentment. "Why me?" I demanded, my voice dripping with disdain. "Why should I be the one to clean up your mess?"
Aelarion's expression softened, his gaze filled with empathy. "Because you have the power to make a difference," he insisted, his voice tinged with urgency. "Because you're stronger than you realize, Magnus. We need you."
But I refused to be swayed by his words and refused to play the hero in this twisted game of manipulation and deceit. "I'm not your hero," I spat, my words laced with venom. "I'm not your savior. I'm just a man trying to survive in a world gone mad."
Nyx's gaze hardened, her patience wearing thin. "You may not see it now, Magnus," she said, her voice tinged with frustration, "but the fate of the realm rests in your hands. Whether you choose to accept that responsibility is up to you."
Aelarion's plea echoed in the chamber, a desperate plea for reason amidst the rising tension. "Magnus, please," he implored, his voice tinged with desperation. "We cannot do this alone. The fate of countless lives hangs in the balance. We need your strength and your courage."
But I remained steadfast, my resolve unyielding despite their pleas. "I didn't ask for this," I retorted, my voice dripping with defiance. "I didn't ask to be thrust into some grand destiny. I just want to live my life in peace."
Nyx's patience wore thin; her frustration was palpable as she regarded me with a steely gaze. "Sometimes, Magnus," she said, her voice a whisper that seemed to echo through the chamber, "destiny chooses us, whether we like it or not. The question is whether you will embrace it or fight against it."
Then my eyes widened with frustration building over me. I angrily said, "Listen here, Nyx. You betrayed me, and now you act like the victim. Like I said, I won't help you. My only goal is to find the Eldorian Shard and then leave this place."
"But..." Nyx was about to say something when I cut her off. "And wait! About destiny. I reject my destiny. I didn't want to go on this quest to find the Eldorian shard."
She replied coldly, "What if I attack the Gloria Empire? Will you come to save it?" Her gaze bore into mine, as if she were expecting something.
I chuckled wickedly. "Then! You give me a reason to kill you!"
On saying that, I turned my back against her and faced Aelarion. "Aelarion, right?" He nodded, and I looked at him coldly. "We might be enemies in the future. You had a reason to hate people, but destroying the lives of common people in the Eldoria Empire was a line to not cross."
"You're right," he conceded, his voice tinged with a hint of remorse. "There are lines that should never be crossed, no matter the circumstances."
I narrowed my eyes, the weight of our exchange hanging heavy in the air between us. "Remember this, Aelarion," I warned, my tone firm and unwavering. "The choices you make define who you are. Choose wisely."
Then I created a portal connecting Nyx's realm and the Gloria Empire, and I was about to step into the portal. I heard Nyx calling for me.
"Magnus," she called out, her tone cutting through the air like a blade. "Before you go, there's something you should know about the Eldorian Shard."
I paused in my tracks, my curiosity piqued despite my resolve to leave Nyx and her manipulations behind. Slowly, I turned to face her, my expression guarded.
Nyx met my gaze head-on, her eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl. "The Eldorian Shard," she began, her voice low and measured, "is in the possession of the royal family who orchestrated the attack on the Gloria Empire."