The night after the battle at the ruins was eerily quiet, but André found no peace in the silence. The victory against the Crimson Guard, which should have filled him with relief, instead left him with a gnawing sense of dread. The power he had unleashed during the fight had been overwhelming, intoxicating even, but it had also been terrifying. As he sat alone in the crumbling fortress, the memories of the battle replayed in his mind, each flash of dark energy a reminder of how close he had come to losing control.
The fortress was now theirs, the coveted magical resources hidden within its depths secure, at least for the moment. Lina was busy setting up wards and traps around the perimeter, ensuring that they would have some warning if another attack came. But André couldn't shake the feeling that the real threat wasn't from outside the walls—it was from within himself.
The sky was clouded over, the moon barely visible through the thick veil of darkness that hung over the land. The air was cold, biting at his skin as he stood at the edge of the fortress, staring out into the vast expanse of Eldian's wilderness. The weight of his power pressed down on him, a constant, throbbing presence in the back of his mind, like a shadow that refused to be dispelled.
He could still feel the rush of it—the way the magic had surged through him, filling him with strength and confidence, making him feel invincible. But there had been something else, too, something darker. It was as if the power had a will of its own, a voice that whispered in his ear, urging him to give in, to let go of all restraint.
André closed his eyes, trying to silence the voice, but it only grew louder in the quiet of the night.
"You can't escape it," the voice whispered, soft and insidious. "You've tasted the power, and now it's part of you. You know what you're capable of, what you could achieve if you just let go."
André shook his head, his hands clenching into fists. "No… I won't let it control me."
"But you already have," the voice continued, a cold chuckle echoing in his mind. "You used me to defeat your enemies, to protect what you care about. You need me, André. And I can give you so much more."
He opened his eyes, breathing heavily as he fought against the compulsion to listen, to surrender to the dark magic that pulsed within him. He couldn't deny that the power had saved him, that it had been the difference between life and death. But it had also brought him to the edge of something dangerous, something he didn't fully understand.
André turned away from the edge of the fortress, his thoughts a chaotic storm of fear and doubt. He needed answers—he needed to understand what this power was, where it came from, and how to control it before it consumed him completely.
The fortress was a maze of crumbling corridors and darkened chambers, the air thick with the scent of ancient stone and forgotten history. As André made his way through the winding passages, his mind kept drifting back to the battle, to the moment when he had unleashed the full force of his magic against the Crimson Guard commander. The memory of it was still fresh, the sheer magnitude of the power he had wielded both thrilling and horrifying.
"Is this who I am now?" he wondered aloud, his voice echoing in the empty corridor. "Is this what I'm becoming?"
His footsteps led him to a small, hidden chamber deep within the heart of the fortress. The room was dimly lit by a single flickering torch, its light casting long shadows on the walls. In the center of the chamber was an old, weathered altar, its surface covered in strange symbols and runes that seemed to pulse with a faint, eerie glow.
André approached the altar, his eyes drawn to the runes. He could feel the magic emanating from them, a dark, ancient power that resonated with the energy inside him. There was something familiar about it, something that called to him, urging him to reach out and touch the altar.
As his fingers brushed the cold stone, a sudden rush of images flooded his mind—visions of a long-forgotten empire, a civilization that had once thrived on the exploitation of Eldian's magical resources. The people of this empire had worshiped a demon god, a being of immense power who had granted them the strength to conquer and dominate. But in return, the demon god had demanded their souls, their very essence, until there was nothing left of them but hollow shells.
André stumbled back, his heart racing as the visions subsided. He had seen their downfall, the way the empire had crumbled under the weight of its own greed and corruption. And at the center of it all had been the demon god, feeding on their despair, growing stronger with each passing day.
"The power you wield comes from me," the voice whispered, no longer just in his mind but echoing throughout the chamber. "I am Malphas, the one who was worshiped, the one who was feared. And you, André, are my chosen."
André's breath caught in his throat as a figure materialized in the shadows at the far end of the chamber. The figure was tall and cloaked in darkness, its features obscured by the swirling shadows that clung to it like a second skin. But André could feel the power radiating from the figure, a force so ancient and malevolent that it sent a shiver down his spine.
"Malphas…" André whispered, the name feeling both foreign and familiar on his tongue.
The figure stepped forward, its presence filling the chamber with an oppressive weight. "Yes, André. I have watched you from the moment you awakened in this world. I have seen your struggle, your fear, your anger. And I have seen the power you possess—the power that links you to me."
André took a step back, his mind racing. "You're the source of this power… the one who—"
"The one who gave it to you," Malphas interrupted, his voice smooth and commanding. "Yes. But I am not your enemy, André. On the contrary, I am your guide, your teacher. I can show you how to control this power, how to harness it to achieve your true potential."
André's eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring in his chest. "Why? Why would you help me? What do you want from me?"
Malphas chuckled, a low, sinister sound that echoed in the chamber. "I want what any teacher wants—for his student to succeed. You have a great destiny ahead of you, André, but you cannot walk that path alone. You need guidance, and I can provide it. All I ask in return is your loyalty."
"Loyalty?" André repeated, his voice hardening. "You want me to serve you?"
"I want you to survive," Malphas replied, his tone turning serious. "You have enemies, André—enemies who will stop at nothing to destroy you. The Emperor of Zaurak is only the beginning. There are forces in this world that would see you dead, simply because of the power you possess. But with my help, you can rise above them all. You can become something more—something greater."
André felt the weight of Malphas's words pressing down on him. He knew that the demon god was right—his power had already made him a target, and the battles ahead would only grow more difficult. But the idea of aligning himself with a being like Malphas, a creature of darkness and corruption, filled him with unease.
"What's your agenda, Malphas?" André asked, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "You're not just offering this out of kindness. What do you really want?"
Malphas paused, his form shifting slightly as if considering his answer. "I want freedom, André. I have been bound to this world for centuries, my power trapped and diminished. But you… you are the key to my release. Together, we can reshape this world, bend it to our will, and claim what is rightfully ours."
André's heart pounded in his chest, the implications of Malphas's words sinking in. The demon god wanted to use him as a vessel, a means to regain his power and influence over Eldian. It was a dangerous proposition, one that could lead to unimaginable consequences.
But at the same time, André couldn't deny the allure of what Malphas was offering. The power to control his abilities, to protect those he cared about, to rise above the challenges that lay ahead… it was tempting, dangerously so.
"What if I refuse?" André asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Malphas tilted his head, the shadows around him swirling like a living thing. "If you refuse, you will face your enemies alone. You may survive for a time, but eventually, they will overwhelm you. Your power will consume you, and you will fall—just like the empire that came before you. But if you accept my offer, you will have the strength to face anything that comes your way. You will be unstoppable."
André stood there, torn between the desire for power and the fear of what that power would cost him. He could feel the darkness within him, urging him to accept, to embrace the strength that Malphas offered. But he also felt a flicker of resistance, a part of him that still clung to the hope that there was another way.
"You don't have to decide now," Malphas said, his voice softening. "Take your time, André. Consider my offer. But know this—the longer you hesitate, the more vulnerable you become. The world of Eldian is unforgiving, and those who
are not strong enough to claim their place are destined to be crushed."
With those final words, Malphas's form began to dissolve into the shadows, the oppressive weight lifting from the chamber as he disappeared. But the darkness he had left behind remained, lingering in the corners of André's mind like a poison.
André stood alone in the chamber, his thoughts a tangled mess of fear, doubt, and temptation. The power within him was growing, and with it, the dangers that surrounded him. He knew that he couldn't ignore Malphas's offer forever—sooner or later, he would have to make a choice.
But for now, all he could do was try to hold on to the man he had once been, the man who still believed in the possibility of a future that wasn't ruled by darkness and fear.
As he left the chamber, the weight of the decision ahead pressed down on him like a leaden shroud. The path before him was unclear, and the whispers of the demon god echoed in his mind, promising power, control, and the fulfillment of his deepest desires.
But at what cost?
André didn't know the answer, and that uncertainty was more terrifying than anything he had faced in Eldian so far.