I walked away from what was once Nethria. Only ruins and a painful silence remained. The ground before me was desolate; the wind rose in sporadic gusts, sweeping away dust and memories. I felt the magic moving within me, subtle but steady, as if waiting for the right moment to burst forth.
Then, I saw something in the distance. A figure moving quickly through the shadows. I crouched down, watching from behind some rocks. It was a young woman in worn but sturdy leather armor. She was facing a creature… something I had never seen before. The creature had a disturbing presence, shrouded in a dark cloak that seemed to consume the light around it, and its face—if it could even be called that—was little more than a skull illuminated by an inner fire. Its eyes burned with an infernal intensity, and a strange energy, almost like a supernatural flame, emanated from one of its skeletal hands.
The young woman attacked with agility, her hands glowing with a strange light as she struck at the air. But the creature didn't stay still; every time she hit it, it vanished only to reappear elsewhere, mocking her efforts.
I couldn't just stand there watching.
I unsheathed the sword Eldrek had given me and moved in quickly. The magic flowed within me, burning, and the familiar pain flared as I channeled it. Without hesitation, I ran towards the creature, which turned to face me. Its eyes were like dark pits, as if staring directly into the abyss of my own energy. I didn't give it a chance. I shouted, and the magic responded, granting me a strength I didn't fully understand. My sword connected, and the blow made it recoil, its form distorting.
The young woman looked at me, surprised, but she said nothing. Her gray eyes shone with determination. We weren't alone in this.
The creature lunged at me, and I barely managed to raise my sword to block it. The impact was brutal, a surge of energy that coursed through my arm like a shockwave. I cursed under my breath; the pain felt as if the darkness itself wanted to pierce through me.
"Dodge! You can't block it like that!" she shouted as she cast a spell that seemed to revitalize the air. Her magic was different, a vibrant energy that clashed with mine.
I nodded, adjusting my stance. The creature disappeared and reappeared behind me. I lunged forward, slicing through the air with precision. The sword channeled my magic, and this time, the creature shrieked, its form fragmenting for a second.
"What is this thing?" I asked, gasping for breath.
"A chaos specter," she replied without looking away. "They're worse than any physical creature. Your magic doesn't affect it because they possess it too. Only something with a nature of light can really hurt it."
The irony wasn't lost on me. Chaos magic had brought me here, but now it was useless. The energy burned within me, but against this enemy, it seemed ineffective.
We braced ourselves. The creature vanished again, but we both knew it wasn't finished.
"Are you still standing?" she asked, her piercing gaze studying me.
"I am," I replied, though the magic was burning stronger than before. "I don't know for how long, but I don't have a choice."
Suddenly, the specter launched a direct attack toward her. Without thinking, I stepped forward, raising my sword and channeling all the magic I could. The dark power wanted to spiral out of control, but I struck anyway, only to see that the specter barely flinched. This wasn't like the harpy; this time, the magic wasn't enough.
"You can't hurt it with that!" she exclaimed. "Your magic is chaos, just like its own. But my mana is light; that can counter it."
I stepped back as she raised her hand, concentrating a sphere of light. The creature charged towards us, and just as it was about to strike, she released the spell. The specter halted, as if the light had impaled it.
I seized the moment to attack from another angle, supporting her as she led the battle. Each of my blows barely managed to slow the specter, but hers weakened it more and more with each flash of light she released. The creature writhed with every impact of light, and I felt the magic within me vibrating, almost as if it had some connection to the creature.
Finally, in one last synchronized move, she unleashed a final attack while I held it at bay. The specter let out a final shriek, its form exploding into dark fragments that dissolved into the air.
I took a deep breath, feeling the magic retreat, though it still pulsed within me, unsettling my body. It had been too easy to let it consume me, but now was not the time to dwell on that. Not here.
"Good job," she said, her voice a bit softer now that the threat was gone.
She approached me calmly, her gray eyes shining with a mix of curiosity and caution. It was hard not to notice her appearance: her dark hair fell in light strands over her shoulders.
Her movements were precise, with a restrained energy that reflected a skill few possessed in this era. There was no doubt she had been surviving on her own for quite some time.
"I didn't expect anyone else to be able to face those things. Chaos… it's not something many can handle."
I looked at her for a moment, sheathing my sword. "I don't know if I handle it or if I just let it carry me," I admitted, feeling the weight of my words. "But I know that without it, I'd be dead."
There was a brief silence between us; the echo of the battle still lingered in the air.
"I'm Darius," I said at last, meeting the young woman's gaze.
"Lyris," she replied with a nod. Her voice had a hint of contained strength, but also confidence. "I didn't expect to find someone like you in this era."
I didn't respond immediately. I was still processing what had just happened, but deep down, I felt this encounter was more than mere coincidence.
Lyris glanced at me sideways, as if she had already made a decision. "We can't stay here. Night is approaching, and it won't be safe outside. I know a place where we can take shelter." Her tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.
I nodded, acknowledging that she knew more about this era than I could guess. This wasn't the time to question it.
"Alright, lead the way."
Without wasting any time, Lyris turned and began walking with quick steps, and I had no choice but to follow her. The desolate landscape and the growing chill of the falling night urged us to move faster. The chaos within me, for now, remained calm.
Lyris led me through hidden paths among the hills in silence. The surroundings were barren, with no trace of life in the land, as if everything had been abandoned long ago.
When we approached the structure, I realized how well hidden it was, concealed by the natural shape of the hills. It was modest, with makeshift furniture and blankets scattered over the stone floor, but it was enough to survive.
Upon entering, Lyris spoke again, her voice calmer after the battle.
"Rest wherever you want; this place is safe for now," she said, not looking directly at me. I nodded, grateful for her hospitality, though questions piled up in my mind.
The cold was beginning to seep into the structure. I moved closer to a blanket, pretending to feel comfortable, while my mind couldn't stop churning over everything that had happened. I couldn't tell her the truth, not yet.
"Lyris, what's happened here?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though inside, insecurity was gnawing at me.
I couldn't reveal that I came from another era; she'd probably think I was crazy. So I improvised.
"I think I lost part of my memory… maybe from a blow. I feel confused and don't remember this place well."
Lyris raised an eyebrow, visibly puzzled by my question. Silence stretched for a few more seconds until I saw a mix of doubt and mistrust reflected in her eyes.
"How can you even ask me that?" she asked, her voice filled with skepticism.
I felt tempted to reply, but before I could, I continued with my excuse.
"It's like something in my mind is broken… maybe if you tell me what's happened here, I could start remembering."
She didn't seem convinced. Her gaze stayed fixed on me, as if she were evaluating every word I spoke. Then, after a deep sigh, she let her guard down just a bit.
"What we faced a moment ago was only one of the many creatures infesting this place. For hundreds of seasonal cycles, this world has been a battleground for dark beings."
She paused, and I noticed her hands tensing slightly over the log where she had seated herself. Her gaze hardened, and for a moment, she seemed to look through me, as if reliving the memories that haunted her.
"A long time ago, a being with magic similar to yours—a dark magic—began wiping out all traces of life. Not just animals or plants, but humans and other creatures, too."
The tension in her lips was evident. Her jaw clenched tighter with every word that left her mouth. I leaned forward, wanting to say something, but I didn't dare. Her story was too personal.
"There were wars… many tried to fight him, but he not only had immense power, he also managed to build an army of beings."
Her voice broke slightly, and I saw a glimmer of vulnerability in her eyes. She looked down, turning away as if she didn't want me to see her in that state.
"I… was just a child when it all happened. My parents…"
She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to. The pain she carried was palpable, and I felt it as if it were my own. The loss resonated in the air we shared, filling every corner of that small shelter. "I'm sorry," was all I could say.
Lyris let a few tears escape, and she quickly wiped them away.
"I don't know why I'm telling you all this," she said, trying to smile, though the sadness was still evident on her face.
Trying to shift the topic, I asked if there were other survivors. Her answer was clear:
"Few, scattered across this vast world. It's no longer about living, just surviving. This world… it's not a place for life anymore." She paused before continuing.
"But… I have something that helps me survive. My magic… I can bring life back to what's dead. It's not much, but I can make some plants grow again."
She stood up, inviting me to follow her. We went to a door at the back of the shelter. What I saw left me speechless: a small, well-kept garden, with trees and plants full of life. The contrast with the rest of the landscape was overwhelming.
The fruits and vegetables growing there were so well-preserved that it almost seemed impossible.
"This is my little refuge," she said with a nostalgic smile. "It's not much, but it's enough for me to survive." She picked a purple fruit from a nearby tree and tossed it to me.
"This one's my favorite. It has everything you need to stay strong, and it's also very sweet."
I examined it for a moment, impressed by how something so simple could mean so much in a world like this. As I prepared to taste it, I couldn't help but think about how different everything was here compared to the era I came from.
This small refuge, this oasis of life, seemed like a quiet answer to the destruction surrounding it. I felt a pang in my chest at the thought of what this place represented for Lyris.
I took a bite of the fruit she had thrown to me, and I couldn't believe how delicious it was. "It's incredible! I've never tasted a fruit this good," I said, as the sweetness filled my mouth. However, as I enjoyed the flavor, my thoughts drifted back to what Lyris had shared.
What kind of being was capable of causing so much death and destruction? I couldn't stop wondering if this being had started plotting everything back in the era I came from. Lyris had said this had begun centuries ago… maybe something important had happened.
Suddenly, Lyris interrupted my thoughts.
"It's too cold out here; we'd better go back inside," she said. I nodded silently and followed her into the shelter. Before closing the door, she gathered some vegetables from her garden, and we both went back inside.
Inside, Lyris started preparing a soup in an improvised kitchen in the center of the place. The warmth of the fire comforted me, but my mind remained trapped in dark thoughts. While she chopped the vegetables and tossed them into the boiling water, Lyris broke the silence once again.
"You need to be very careful with the magic inside you," she said without looking at me.
"Maybe it's not the same magic as that dark being's… but they share something in common: both have the power to destroy and corrupt." The tone of her voice made it clear that this was no light warning.
"I hope you've mastered it because if you haven't… you could become one of those creatures that now dominate this place."
I nodded, hiding the worry building up inside me. I knew what she was saying was true, but I didn't want to alarm her further. The power of chaos definitely unsettled me.
My training was far from over, and sometimes, I felt like I still had a lot to learn. But tonight wasn't the time to voice my doubts.
The question I had been holding back finally came out. "If you knew I have dark magic, why did you trust me enough to bring me here?"
Lyris smiled, though it was barely noticeable. "I'm not entirely sure," she admitted. "Maybe it was because I saw you fight with everything you had against the specter… and you didn't hesitate to help me. Nowadays, it's hard to find warriors willing to help each other."
She paused for a moment, stirring the soup. "It's been a long time since I've seen other warriors. I've come across some good creatures, but most flee when they see me. No one trusts anyone anymore, and it's understandable, considering how things are."
I looked at her in silence. I could feel her loneliness, that sense of isolation in a world that had ceased to be welcoming. Somehow, I understood her pain. The world had changed so much that distrust had become a barrier between everyone, even those who could be allies.
As Lyris stirred the soup in silence, I couldn't help but feel I needed to tell her my intentions. "I'm leaving tomorrow," I said, breaking the calm atmosphere.
"My instincts tell me I need to get closer to the territory of that being who destroyed everything."
Lyris froze for a moment before turning to me, clearly alarmed. "Are you crazy?" Her look was a mix of disbelief and concern.
"Seems like you didn't just lose your memory but your mind, too."
I smiled nervously, unsure how to respond. I knew what I was proposing sounded risky, but something inside me was pushing me toward that place, even if I didn't know exactly why. Besides… that old wizard had told me to follow my instincts, so if something went wrong, I could always blame him. But that part, of course, I wasn't going to tell her.
Lyris put the spoon aside, letting out a deep sigh.
"That being hasn't been seen in a long time… maybe he's dead. But his territories are infested with all kinds of creatures. It's not a place you can go alone, and certainly not without a plan."
There was a brief pause. Her expression changed, and after a moment of reflection, I noticed her hands trembled slightly before she clasped them together. Then, after a deep sigh, she surprised me with her next words.
"I'll go with you."
"What?" My surprise was evident.
"I'll go with you, but only up to a safe point," she quickly clarified, as if she had already thought it through. "It's the least I can do after you helped me with the specter. But after that, you're on your own."
I looked at Lyris, not knowing what to say. I hadn't expected anyone, much less her, to offer to help me on this dangerous journey. A rush of thoughts flooded my mind.
In this desolate world, I hadn't expected to receive help from anyone, especially from someone with so much to lose. I silently thanked the courage her decision implied.
"Thank you, Lyris," I finally said.
"You have no idea how much I appreciate it. Without you, honestly, I'd have no idea where to go."
Lyris nodded, her face regaining its usual calm. "It doesn't change the fact that it's foolish to go there, but… rest, Darius. Tomorrow will be a long day."