Acedia's soul drifted through the void, the darkness around him so complete it felt as though it was devouring all light, all hope. His intangible form glowed faintly, a sickly green that pulsed like a dying ember in the vast emptiness. He had failed.
The thought weighed on him, gnawing at the edges of his mind. He had allowed King Alaric's last vestiges of humanity to break free, and worse, Elias had severed his connection before he could bring Eldoria to ruin.
Ahead of him, the shadows began to shift, coiling and writhing as though they had a life of their own. From the swirling darkness emerged a massive figure, a towering presence that loomed over Acedia like a mountain of shadow.
