I remain standing before the blackened stone altar, my fingers still resting on its cold surface. A strange glow continues to shimmer around me, as if the cavern itself were breathing, alive. The pain from the Mark on my forehead slowly fades, replaced by an intense clarity, almost painful. The memories of my past are still fresh in my mind, each image burned into my memory like an indelible tattoo. I feel that something has changed within me, a new strength flowing through my veins.
Suddenly, the air becomes heavy again, and I sense a familiar presence drawing closer. That voice... The same one I heard earlier, soft yet charged with a cold authority. It resonates through the cavern walls, each word vibrating like an echo from another world.
"You weren't supposed to survive, Alaric."
I quickly turn around, searching for the source of this voice. "Who are you? Show yourself!"
A figure slowly emerges from the shadows, draped in a dark cloak that seems to melt into the cavern's darkness. Her features are familiar but marked by pain and anger. Her eyes, dark and piercing, glow with a dangerous light. She moves with an unsettling grace, each step echoing against the stone.
"I am a survivor, just like you," she says, her voice trembling slightly. "But unlike you, I haven't forgotten. I haven't forgiven."
I frown, trying to understand her words. "Who are you? Why are you saying this to me?"
She pulls back her hood, revealing a face hardened by time and grief. "I am Nyanja. I come from the same village as you, Eyoma. But unlike you, I didn't lose a brother that day. I lost my daughter."
Her face is hardened by grief, and I feel my heart clench as I listen. "Your daughter... I'm sorry. But why do you blame me? Why blame our village?"
Nyanja grits her teeth, her eyes sparkling with suppressed tears. "Because it was your arrogance that killed her. The elimo... You all thought that this plant was a gift from the Ancients, that you had to keep it to yourselves, like a secret. But you knew that others needed it, that others could have benefited from it. If we had shared, if we had agreed to give, maybe the Mpaya wouldn't have attacked us. Maybe my daughter would still be alive!"
I feel the weight of her words, and I understand the depth of her pain. She is driven by a rage I know well, a rage I have felt myself many times since the destruction of our village. "I understand your pain, Nyanja. But attacking your own people won't bring your daughter back."
She shakes her head, her eyes filled with bitter tears. "They are not my people. Not after what they did. They condemned us with their selfishness. And now, you must pay for their mistakes."
Before I can react, she raises her arms, murmuring words in an ancient language. A green, pulsating energy flows from her hands, spreading like a wave throughout the cavern. "By the will of the Ancients, I command the spirits of earth and air, Control of Beasts!"
Instantly, the animals hidden in the shadows—bats, snakes, and even a large black feline with glowing eyes—emerge from the corners of the cavern. They move with eerie synchronization, their eyes glowing with a strange and terrifying intelligence. Nyanja's magic binds them to her, turning them into extensions of her own will.
I raise my sword, ready to defend myself. "Nyanja, don't do this. We don't have to fight."
But she doesn't listen. She raises her hand again and shouts, "Shadow Claw Strike!"
The large black feline leaps at me, its razor-sharp claws glinting in the light of the cavern's crystals. I move quickly, just barely dodging the attack, but I feel the sharp wind of its claws grazing my skin. The beast circles me, ready to strike again.
I must act quickly. I focus the energy of the Mark on my forehead, feeling the new power surging within me. I recall the strength I felt in my memories, the power of the Ancients flowing through me. I extend my free hand, trying to channel this energy, and I shout, "Dawn Blade!"
A blade of pure light bursts from my hand, cutting through the air with deadly precision. It strikes the black feline mid-leap, sending it crashing against the cavern wall with a piercing cry. The beast dissipates into a cloud of shadows, its body vanquished by the magical attack. A sharp pain shoots through my head as the Mark pulses, but I grit my teeth and press on.
Nyanja doesn't stop. She calls forth more creatures, using her magic to control them. "You won't defeat me that easily, Alaric! Illusion Mist!"
A thick green mist spreads throughout the cavern, obscuring my vision. The bats swoop down on me, their wings flapping furiously, creating a deafening noise. I shield my face with my arm, trying to fend them off, but I feel their claws scratching my skin.
I must use what I've learned, what I've understood in this cavern. The mist is just an illusion, a decoy to distract me. I close my eyes, focusing on the vibrations in the air, on the energy of the Mark resonating within me. I listen to the sound of every wingbeat, every breath, and I take a deep breath.
I open my eyes suddenly, and I channel the energy into my sword. "Wave of Light!"
A blast of pure light radiates around me, dissipating the mist and forcing the bats to retreat. Nyanja shields her eyes from the blinding light, her magic faltering for a moment. I take the opportunity to rush toward her, but she quickly recovers.
"I won't let you win!" she screams, her eyes filled with rage and pain. "You don't understand what it's like to lose everything! March of the Beasts!"
The snakes and bats merge into a compact mass, their bodies fusing to form a gigantic shadow serpent that rises above me. It hisses with a furious intensity, its eyes piercing into my soul. The serpent lunges at me, its jaws wide open, ready to devour me.
I know I must act now or it will be too late. I dive once more into the strength of the Mark, remembering my parents, my brother, the promise I made to them to survive, to protect. I raise my sword, channeling all the energy of the Mark into the blade. "This is for you, Nyanja," I murmur, feeling a tear roll down my cheek. "Fate Slash!"
The blade shines with a brilliant light, and I bring it down with all the strength I can muster. It cuts through the shadow like a bolt of pure light, striking the serpent and slicing it in two. The shadow dissipates with a piercing scream, and the cavern falls silent once more.
I fall to my knees, exhausted, my breath ragged. Nyanja lies on the ground, wounded by the power of the attack. She breathes heavily, but her eyes are still fixed on me, filled with tears and pain. "Why... Why did you have to win? Why couldn't you just... die with the rest of our people?"
I approach her slowly, my heart heavy with sorrow. "Nyanja... I'm sorry. I never wanted to fight you. I never wanted things to turn out this way. But I have to survive. For my brother. For our people."
She closes her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. "All I wanted... was justice for my daughter. She didn't deserve to die because of our elders' ignorance."
I kneel beside her, feeling the weight of sadness in my own eyes. "I know. And I'm sorry. But revenge won't bring back your daughter, or my family, or our village. We have to learn to live with our pain, to find another way."
Nyanja seems to waver, her body trembling under the strain of staying conscious. "Maybe... maybe you're right. But it's too late for me. Take care of our people, Alaric. Protect what's left of them..."
She closes her eyes, and her breath stops. My heart tightens as I feel life leave her body. She was one of us, a survivor broken by loss, just like me. But now, she is gone. I feel a deep sorrow within me, a sadness that tears at me. I had to do what I had to do to survive, but at what cost?
I slowly rise, the pain of the Mark on my forehead returning as a reminder of the weight of my actions. The cavern around me has returned to silence, but I know that this silence is temporary. I must continue. For my people, for my brother, and for myself.
As I leave the altar, I murmur a silent prayer for Nyanja, for her daughter, and for all those we have lost. "There is no justice in this world, only the choices we make and the consequences we must accept."