Fury and frustration surged through me like a raging fire as I glared at Lucian, demanding answers. "Where is Rowan?" I growled, my voice tinged with an edge of desperation. "Tell me, or I'll—"
"Ah, but that would be too easy, wouldn't it, Magnus?" Lucian interrupted, his voice filled with sarcasm "After all, what fun would it be if I simply handed over the information you seek?"
My jaw clenched tightly, my nails digging into the palms of my fists as I fought to contain the simmering rage within me. "Enough with your games, Lucian," I spat, my patience wearing thin. "Give me a straight answer, or—"
"Or what?" Lucian taunted, his smirk widening into a grin of sickening amusement. "You'll strike me down? You'll unleash your fury upon me until there's nothing left but ash and bone?"
The temptation to lash out at him, to let my anger consume me and drive me to violence, was almost overwhelming. But deep down, I knew that would only play into his twisted games and his sadistic desire for chaos and suffering.
"No," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging within me. "I won't stoop to your level, Lucian. But I will find Rowan, with or without your help."
Lucian seemed interested as he thoughtfully looked at me. I promised to find Rowan, help or no help from him, but he seemed surprised at my promise. "Very well, Magnus," he murmured, his tone taking on a cryptic edge. "I'll give you a clue—a riddle, if you will. Solve it, and you may just find what you seek."
My frustration boiled over, threatening to consume me as I resisted the urge to scream in frustration. But deep down, I knew that Lucian's riddle held the key to unlocking the truth—the truth about Rowan's whereabouts and the truth about Lucian himself.
"Fine," I growled through clenched teeth. "Give me your riddle, Lucian. But mark my words—I will find Rowan, no matter what it takes."
Lucian's smirk widened into a grin as he prepared to deliver his riddle. "Very well, Magnus," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Here is your clue:
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In the depths of the forest, where shadows dwell,
A hidden path lies, known to few who can tell.
Follow the whispers of the ancient trees.
And there you'll find what you seek if you please."
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I furrowed my brow, trying to decipher the cryptic message hidden within his words. The riddle was vague, filled with enigmatic imagery that offered little in the way of concrete information. But I knew that if I wanted to find Rowan, I had no choice but to unravel its secrets.
"Enough games, Lucian," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "What does it mean? Where is Rowan?"
Lucian merely chuckled in response, his amusement undiminished by my frustration. "Ah, but where's the fun in simply telling you outright?" He taunted, his eyes gleaming with malice. "The answer lies within the riddle, Magnus. You just have to be clever enough to find it."
I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to give in to the overwhelming rage building inside me. Lucian's games were infuriating, but I knew that losing my temper would only play into his hands. Instead, I forced myself to focus, analyze the riddle, and search for any clues that might lead me to Rowan's location.
As Lucian continued to taunt me with his riddle, frustration bubbled within me like water ready to boil over. But just as I was on the brink of losing my patience, a surge of determination coursed through my veins. I refused to be defeated by his mind games—I would find Rowan, no matter the cost.
With a steely resolve, I focused my thoughts on unraveling the clues hidden within the riddle. In the depths of the forest, where shadows dwell... Could it be a literal forest, or perhaps a metaphor for something darker, more elusive? And what of the hidden path, known only to a select few? It was as if each word held a piece of the puzzle, waiting to be pieced together.
But before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, a sudden surge of energy pulsed through me, causing my astral sword to materialize in my hand. Without a moment's hesitation, I lunged forward, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision as it found its mark.
Lucian's eyes widened in shock as my sword pierced his form, a look of disbelief crossing his features as he realized what had transpired. With a gasp, his form began to fade, his essence dissipating into the ether like smoke carried away by the wind.
As his soul vanished from sight, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me. "I'll see you in the next world, Lucian," I murmured, my voice tinged with a mixture of triumph and defiance. "And there, justice will be served."
With a final glance at the spot where Lucian had once stood, I turned away, my mind already racing with thoughts of the next steps in my quest to find Rowan.
Back with Alina:
Ariana summoned the dark vortex of energy, Alina knew she had to act swiftly. With a determined expression, she raised her sword high, channeling her own inner power to counter the looming threat.
"Your darkness cannot defeat me, Ariana!" Alina shouted, her voice echoing across the battlefield with unwavering conviction.
Ariana's laughter only intensified, her eyes gleaming with malice as she prepared to unleash her fury upon her adversary. "We shall see about that, Alina," she hissed, her voice carrying the weight of centuries of bitterness and resentment.
With a swift motion, Alina charged forward, her sword poised to strike. The clash of steel rang out like thunder as their blades met in a flurry of sparks, each blow fueled by their unyielding determination.
Their dance of death continued, each combatant seeking to gain the upper hand in the relentless struggle for dominance. Alina's movements were swift and precise, her every strike aimed with deadly accuracy as she sought to break through Ariana's defenses.
But Ariana was a formidable opponent, her dark powers weaving a web of shadows that threatened to ensnare Alina at every turn. With each passing moment, the battle grew more intense, the air crackling with the energy of their clashing wills.
As they fought, words were exchanged like arrows in flight, each barb and insult only fueling the flames of their animosity.
"You cannot defeat me, Alina!" Ariana taunted, her voice filled with contempt. "You are nothing but a pawn in a game you cannot hope to win."
Alina's muscles tensed as she dodged a barrage of dark energy blasts hurled by Ariana. With deft footwork, she weaved between the swirling tendrils of shadow, her sword flashing in the dim light of the battlefield.
Ariana's laughter echoed mockingly as she continued her relentless assault, her movements fluid and predatory. But Alina was undeterred, her focus unwavering as she searched for an opening in her opponent's defenses.
With a sudden burst of speed, Alina closed the distance between them, her blade arcing through the air with deadly precision. Ariana parried the blow effortlessly, her dark aura pulsating with malevolent energy.
Their swords clashed again and again, the sound of steel ringing out like a symphony of war. Alina's strikes were swift and precise, each blow aimed with surgical precision as she sought to wear down her opponent's defenses.
But Ariana was no stranger to combat, her movements calculated and precise as she countered Alina's every move. With a wicked grin, she launched a flurry of strikes, each blow driving Alina back with the force of a battering ram.
Gritting her teeth against the pain, Alina fought on, her determination unyielding in the face of an enemy. With a surge of inner strength, she pushed herself to her limits, her every movement fueled by the desire to emerge victorious.
Their battle raged on, the clash of their swords echoing across the battlefield like a dance of destruction. Each moment seemed to stretch on for an eternity, the air thick with tension and anticipation.
But even in the midst of chaos, Alina remained focused, her resolve unshakable as she faced off against her greatest enemy. With every strike, every parry, she drew closer to victory, her spirit burning bright amidst the darkness that threatened to consume them both.
With a fierce battle cry, Alina summoned the last reserves of her strength, her sword blazing with an intense light that pierced through the darkness surrounding them. In a flurry of motion, she launched a relentless assault, her strikes raining down upon Ariana like a tempest.
Ariana fought back with all the ferocity of a cornered beast, her dark powers swirling around her in a maelstrom of chaos. But Alina was relentless, her movements fueled by a burning determination to emerge victorious.
With a final, decisive blow, Alina's sword cleaved through the darkness, striking true and finding its mark. Ariana staggered backward, her eyes widening in shock as she realized the tide of battle had turned against her.
"You... you cannot defeat me!" Ariana spat, her voice tinged with desperation as she struggled to maintain her composure.
But Alina's resolve was unbreakable. With a steely gaze, she pressed forward, driving Ariana back with a relentless onslaught of strikes. Each blow echoed like thunder, reverberating through the air with the force of a hurricane.
And then, in a moment of triumph, Alina delivered the final blow. With a swift, decisive strike, her sword pierced through Ariana's defenses, shattering the darkness that had enveloped them both.
Ariana let out a strangled cry of defeat as she fell to her knees, her dark powers waning as the light of victory washed over her. With one last defiant glare, she vanished into the ether, leaving behind only the echo of her defeat.
Alina stood victorious, her chest heaving with exertion as she surveyed the battlefield before her. The air crackled with energy, the remnants of their epic clash lingering like a storm on the horizon.