The decision weighed heavily on André as he stood alone in the crumbling chamber, the echoes of Malphas's words still reverberating in his mind. The darkness within him seemed to pulse with anticipation, as if eager for him to accept the bargain that had been offered. But the unease in his gut refused to settle. He knew that aligning himself with a demon god was dangerous, that the power Malphas promised came with strings attached—strings that could bind him in ways he couldn't yet foresee.
Yet, as the hours passed and the cold reality of his situation pressed down on him, André realized he had little choice. The Crimson Guard's defeat was only a temporary victory; their numbers would grow, their resolve harden. And there were others, more powerful, who would come for him—mages, warriors, perhaps even the Emperor of Zaurak himself. Alone, André knew he was vulnerable. With Malphas's guidance, he might stand a chance.
By the time he returned to the fortress's main hall, his mind was made up. He found Lina waiting for him, her expression tense as she paced back and forth across the cracked stone floor. She looked up as he entered, concern flashing in her eyes.
"André, where have you been?" she asked, her voice edged with worry. "I've been looking for you. Something's… off. The wards I set up are acting strange, and I can feel a presence—something dark."
André hesitated, unsure of how much to tell her. He had always trusted Lina, relied on her guidance and support, but this was different. This was a path he would have to walk alone, at least in part.
"I was… thinking," he said finally, his voice subdued. "About what's happening, about what I need to do to survive."
Lina's eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion flickering in their depths. "And what conclusion did you come to?"
André took a deep breath, forcing himself to meet her gaze. "I've decided to accept Malphas's offer."
Lina's reaction was immediate—her eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back as if the very name had struck her. "Malphas? André, do you even realize what you're saying? He's a demon god—a being of pure darkness. You can't trust him!"
"I know," André said quickly, trying to reassure her. "I know what he is, and I know the risks. But Lina, we're outnumbered, outmatched. The forces that are coming for us… I don't think we can hold them off alone. Malphas has power, knowledge that could help us. I can't ignore that."
Lina shook her head, her expression a mixture of fear and disbelief. "André, listen to yourself! This isn't like you. You're talking about making a deal with a demon, about letting him teach you how to use dark magic. This isn't just dangerous—it's… it's…" She trailed off, unable to find the words.
André felt a pang of guilt as he saw the distress in her eyes. He knew she was right, that everything she was saying made sense. But the cold, hard truth was that he had already made his decision, and now he had to see it through.
"I'm not doing this lightly," he said, his voice firm. "I'm doing it because I don't see any other way. I can't protect us, protect myself, without help. And if that means making a deal with Malphas, then so be it."
Lina stared at him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face as if looking for some sign that this was all a mistake, a bad dream. But she found none. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
"If this is really what you've decided," she said softly, "then I won't stop you. But André, please… be careful. Malphas isn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart. He has his own agenda, and I don't trust him."
"I don't trust him either," André admitted. "But I'll be cautious. I won't let him control me."
Lina nodded, though the worry in her eyes didn't fade. "Just… don't lose yourself, André. Don't become something you'll regret."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving André alone in the hall. He watched her go, a heaviness settling in his chest. He hated the idea of causing her pain, of making her worry, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was the only path forward.
As the night deepened, André made his way back to the chamber where he had first encountered Malphas. The shadows seemed to cling more closely to the walls, the air thick with the scent of ancient magic and something darker, something tainted. He could feel Malphas's presence even before the demon god materialized, a cold, oppressive weight pressing down on his soul.
"You've returned," Malphas said, his voice a low, velvety purr that sent shivers down André's spine. The demon god's form coalesced in the center of the chamber, a swirling mass of shadows and dark energy, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light.
"I have," André replied, forcing himself to remain calm. "I've decided to accept your offer. But I want to make one thing clear—I won't be your pawn. I'll learn from you, but I won't be controlled by you."
Malphas chuckled, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the very air around them. "You speak with such confidence, André. I admire that. But let us be clear—this is a partnership. I will teach you, guide you, and in return, you will help me achieve my goals. What those goals are will be revealed in time. But for now, your focus should be on mastering the power within you."
André nodded, though his unease deepened with each word. "Then let's begin."
Malphas wasted no time. The training was grueling, relentless, and unlike anything André had ever experienced. It began with the basics—understanding the flow of dark magic, how to channel it, how to control it. But it quickly escalated into something far more complex, far more dangerous.
Malphas taught him how to tap into the deep veins of magic that ran beneath the earth, how to draw power from the very essence of Eldian's resources. He showed André how to bend the energy to his will, to shape it into weapons, barriers, and spells that could devastate entire armies.
The training was brutal, pushing André to the brink of exhaustion. But with each lesson, he could feel himself growing stronger, more attuned to the dark power within him. The magic responded to him more easily now, the once unruly energy bending to his will with a mere thought.
But there was a cost.
As the days turned into weeks, André began to notice subtle changes in himself. His emotions became more volatile, his temper quicker to flare. The power he wielded seemed to feed on his anger, his fear, amplifying them until they were all-consuming. The lines between right and wrong, good and evil, began to blur, and he found himself questioning the very morals he had once held so dear.
It was during one of their training sessions that Malphas began to show his true colors.
They were deep within the heart of the fortress, in a chamber that had once served as a sanctum for the ancient mages who had lived there. The air was thick with the residue of old spells, the walls lined with runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. André stood at the center of the chamber, his hands raised as he concentrated on the task at hand.
Before him was a large crystal, its surface shimmering with raw magical energy. Malphas had instructed him to tap into the crystal, to drain its power and harness it for himself. It was a delicate process, one that required precision and control.
As André began to draw the energy from the crystal, he felt the familiar surge of power, the dark magic flowing through him like a raging river. But this time, there was something different—something more intense. The energy was volatile, wild, and as he struggled to contain it, he felt it slipping out of his control.
"Good," Malphas murmured from the shadows, his voice filled with a strange, twisted pleasure. "Feel the power, André. Let it consume you."
André gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he fought to keep the magic in check. "I… I can't… it's too much…"
Malphas's eyes glowed brighter, his voice growing more insistent. "You can do it, André. You are more powerful than you know. Embrace the darkness, let it flow through you. Let it become a part of you."
André could feel the energy spiraling out of control, threatening to tear him apart from the inside. The temptation to give in, to let go and allow the power to consume him, was overwhelming. But something in the back of his mind—a faint, distant voice—warned him of the danger.
"No," André whispered, his voice barely audible. "I won't… I won't lose myself."
With a final, desperate effort, André pulled back, severing the connection to the crystal. The energy dissipated, leaving him gasping for breath, his body trembling with the effort. Malphas watched him in silence, his expression unreadable.
"Why did you stop?" Malphas asked after a long moment, his voice low and dangerous. "You were so close, André. So close to true power."
André looked up, meeting the demon god's gaze with a mixture of defiance and fear. "Because
… because I'm not like you. I won't let this power control me."
Malphas's eyes narrowed, the shadows around him shifting like a living thing. "Is that so? And yet, you came to me. You asked for my help. Do you think you can simply take what I offer without consequence? Power comes with a price, André. Remember that."
"I know," André said quietly. "And I'll pay it. But I won't lose myself in the process."
Malphas's lips curled into a cold smile. "We shall see."
The days that followed were tense, the air between André and Lina filled with unspoken words and unasked questions. Lina had noticed the changes in him, the way his mood shifted, the way his eyes seemed darker, more intense. She knew he was struggling, that the power he wielded was taking its toll on him.
One evening, as they sat by the fire in the main hall, Lina finally broke the silence.
"André," she began, her voice soft but firm, "we need to talk. I've seen what this training is doing to you, and I'm worried. Malphas… he's not just teaching you how to use magic. He's changing you."
André stared into the flames, his mind racing. He knew she was right—he could feel the changes in himself, the way his thoughts were becoming more twisted, more aligned with the darkness. But at the same time, he couldn't deny the power he had gained, the strength that had allowed him to survive.
"I know," André admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. "I can feel it too. But Lina, I don't see any other way. I need this power to protect us, to fight back against the forces that are coming for us."
Lina reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "André, there's always another way. You don't have to do this alone. We can find another path, one that doesn't involve making deals with demons."
André looked at her, the desperation in her eyes cutting through the fog of darkness that clouded his mind. He wanted to believe her, wanted to find another way. But the truth was, he didn't know if there was one.
"I wish I could believe that," he said quietly. "But right now, I don't see it. Malphas has given me power, and I need that power if we're going to survive."
Lina's grip tightened on his arm, her voice filled with urgency. "Just promise me one thing, André. Promise me you'll stay vigilant, that you won't let Malphas control you. You're stronger than he thinks—you can resist him."
André nodded, though the weight of his decision still hung heavy on his heart. "I promise, Lina. I'll be careful."
But even as he said the words, André couldn't shake the feeling that the darkness was already too deep, that the bargain he had made was leading him down a path from which there might be no return. The power was seductive, the promises enticing, and with each passing day, he found it harder to resist.
As the night wore on, André and Lina sat together in silence, the fire crackling softly in the hearth. The future was uncertain, the challenges ahead daunting, but for now, they had each other. And in the quiet moments between the shadows, André allowed himself to hope that maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to hold on to the light.