I stood firm, but my body betrayed what I truly felt: distrust. The room was dim, with stone pillars and walls mostly covered in wood, barely lit by torches in the corners.
My voice came out tense. I moved toward him slowly, cautiously, keeping a safe distance. The first thing that came to mind was the mist—that damn mist surrounding my friends outside.
"Before anything else," I said firmly, "dispel the mist. I won't take another step if my friends are still in danger."
The dark figure, who had remained still until then, let out a faint laugh, almost inaudible but disturbing enough to send a chill down my spine. His voice, distorted, almost spectral, continued to unsettle me.
"I can only do that if you accept what I have to propose," he replied, his tone distant, as if it didn't belong to him.
I gritted my teeth, frustrated by the constant game of manipulation. "So you want to make another deal, huh?" My hands clenched into fists, trying to contain my anger. "Wasn't the first one enough? If we're going to talk, you'll have to clear up a few things for me, too."
The dark figure didn't move, but his presence filled the room, dark and oppressive.
"I want to know if what that bastard Grimmor said is true. You brought me here for a reason, and I need to know if this deal between us was real… or if I was just a pawn in your game."
A heavy silence fell between us for a moment. Finally, the dark figure spoke, his tone more calculated, as if he were choosing each word with utmost care.
"I haven't deceived you at all, Darius," he began, and I could sense something deeper was about to be revealed. "Everything I did was necessary. What I promised you, what we signed… it's as true now as it was when we made the first deal. But the reasons… The reasons are far more complicated."
"There are dark forces, Darius, much more fearsome than me. Forces that neither you nor your friends could fully understand," he continued, his voice taking on a grave tone. "When I was corrupted, these forces saw an opportunity and bound me to a fate I never chose."
I frowned, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"The forces that trapped me didn't just turn me into what I am today," he explained, with a calm that only made me distrust him more, "they experimented on me and made me their vessel. They took a pure soul they could find in your world… the soul of your beloved, Selene. They infused it within me, merging her essence with the darkness I carry."
I felt the air leave my lungs. "Are you saying that… Selene… her soul is inside you?"
The dark figure nodded slowly, his words heavy as an impossible burden. "Yes. I never wanted this, but I don't have the power to undo it. Only someone with a bond as strong as yours with her can free her. That's why I sought you, Darius. That's why I urged you to make the deal. Only you can release her soul from this torment… and bring her back to life."
Anger consumed me, but not just anger—desperation began to set in. "And what makes you think I can trust anything you're saying?"
The dark figure appeared vulnerable, or at least he tried to. "There's a way you can trust me…" He paused, his eyes seeming to glow from within the darkness of his hood. "I can allow the two of you to communicate briefly."
"Communicate? With Selene?... Is that possible?" I asked, shaken. I couldn't believe what I was hearing—a mix of surprise and hope overtook me.
The dark figure nodded slowly.
I reflected for a moment, my emotions battling within me: distrust, anger, hope. Finally, barely holding back, I asked, "What do I have to do to talk to her?"
"Come closer to me," he said, his voice resonating with a chilling seriousness.
I approached, hesitantly, my heart pounding, until I stood directly in front of him. If he wanted, he could eliminate me right here, ending my friends as well.
The dark figure raised his hand, open-palmed, and held it out in front of my chest without touching me. "Close your eyes, Darius," he ordered softly.
Of course, I hesitated, but I had come this far. I closed my eyes and found myself surrounded by complete darkness, an infinite blackness that only heightened my distrust. But then, slowly, that darkness began to distort…
Revealing a landscape that seemed strangely familiar. My eyes flew open, and I found myself in a place I knew well: a park in my world, the same one I used to go to with Selene. A mixture of disbelief and nostalgia hit me as I recognized it.
The wind brushed my face, carrying the fresh scent of trees and the sound of water flowing nearby. I started walking, almost unconsciously. My steps took me to the wooden bridge we often visited, that small spot where we would stop to watch the river flowing beneath us. My heart raced; every corner of that park was filled with memories of her.
As I approached the distance from where I could see the bridge, my gaze locked onto a solitary figure, standing with her back to me, watching the water flow. Her golden hair moved gently with the breeze.
My heart began to pound uncontrollably, adrenaline coursed through my entire body, and my feet moved before I could think. I ran, breathless, hoping, wishing with all my might that it was her.
I reached the end of the bridge, breathless, and there I stayed, watching her, unable to say anything for a moment. My lips finally parted, my voice barely a whisper: "Selene?"
The woman, hearing her name, flinched and slowly turned around. Her blue eyes, filled with a starlit glow, met mine. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate, but then surprise lit up her face. "Is it really you?" she asked in a faint voice, as her eyes filled with tears.
My own eyes grew misty as she ran toward me, and I did the same. We embraced, her arms wrapping around me as if she feared I would vanish at any moment. I felt her warmth, her fragrance, and it was exactly as I remembered.
My mind struggled to process everything, but my heart only wanted one thing: to stay there, in that embrace that felt eternal, reflecting all the pain and hope we had held onto for so long.
"It's… just as I remember you," I thought, as I took in every detail of her. Her golden hair that fell to her shoulders, her large, bright eyes, even the clothes she wore were the same—a black sleeveless top and a short, dark skirt held at her waist by a belt. Everything about her seemed untouched, as if time had never passed.
Selene looked at me, her eyes still bright with tears. "How is this possible?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion and confusion.
"I don't know… but I can finally see you," I replied, feeling my voice break with happiness. "You don't know everything I've done to reach you, all that I've risked." Selene smiled, her joy lighting up every corner of her face.
"I'm so happy too," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "I've been in this place for… I don't know how long. It's always day here, and I'm always alone. Although…" she struggled to remember, her gaze turning thoughtful, "I think someone visits me sometimes. I'm not sure… it's kind of confusing." She frowned slightly, as if trying to sort her thoughts.
I knew who she meant, but I said nothing. Instead, I gently took her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "Don't worry about that," I told her firmly. "I think I've found a way for us to be together again. I just need you to be patient, and I promise I'll make it happen."
Selene closed her eyes and smiled sweetly, hugging me again. "I trust you, Darius. I know you'll do everything you can," she said, her voice filled with trust and love.
I held her in my arms, savoring every second, but then I noticed something strange. My hands, resting on her back, began to fade. Panic seized me, and I pulled back to look at my entire body. "No… not yet. Give me more time!" I shouted desperately, trying to hold onto her.
Selene looked at me, wide-eyed, filled with fear. "What's happening, Darius!?"
I looked at her, feeling the anguish tighten around my chest.
"I promise I'll come back, Selene," I said with determination. In the last moment, before I completely faded, I took her face in my hands and kissed her. The world disappeared around me, and a second later, I was forced to open my eyes, finding myself face to face with the dark figure again.
He lowered his arm and slowly turned, walking toward the window in the room. He looked outside, at the battle still raging in the distance. "Now, do you trust my words?" he asked.
Still affected from seeing Selene and, even more, from having had so little time with her, my gaze hardened.
"I'll never fully trust you," I said, my voice shifting from doubtful to firm. "But I'll work with you… just to have her by my side again. After that, any deal we have between us is over."
The dark figure turned to me. "Your terms are acceptable," he replied. "I assure you, we both stand to gain from this."
I looked at him with resolve. "Good, now that's clear, tell me what we need to do."
The dark figure let out a sigh, as if he knew the gravity of what he was about to explain.
"It won't be easy," he said in his low voice. "We'll need to retrieve an ancient, powerful artifact, one strong enough to achieve the goal we seek."
I smirked cynically. "Of course it wouldn't be easy… why do you need me to use it?"
The dark figure tilted his head slightly. "That's the key question," he said. "I can't use the artifact. The chaos within me prevents it from working. Only you can wield it. That's why it's vital that you don't let the chaos corrupt you… otherwise, the entire plan falls apart."
I pressed my lips together, absorbing his words. Despite my distrust, I understood the weight of what he was telling me. I nodded slowly, feeling the responsibility settle on my shoulders.
"I understand," I finally said, my voice restrained. "I'll do what's necessary."
"Where's the artifact?" I asked, my mind still racing to process all the information.
Before the dark figure could answer, I heard a laugh from outside. Grimmor. I froze for a second, my chest immediately tightening.
"What the hell is going on down there?" I muttered, quickly walking to the window.
From there, I could hear Grimmor's voice, clear and mocking. "I see you're all tired," he said. My eyes widened, and I leaned against the window frame to get a better view.
At that moment, I saw Grimmor throwing his magic sword at Lyris—the same sword he'd used to kill Nymira. My heart stopped, and a desperate scream escaped my lips. "Nooo, Lyris!"
Lyris noticed the danger, but she was too exhausted, worn out from maintaining the protective shield. She couldn't move in time. The sword pierced through her abdomen forcefully, protruding from her back. A groan of pain escaped her lips as she fell to the ground, and I felt as if my world shattered into pieces.
Eldrek ran toward her. Aelira immediately felt it when Lyris let go of the spell, causing her more strain to keep the shield up. Exhausted and in shock, she tried to do something, struggling toward Lyris to find a way to help.
"Dispel the mist!" I shouted to the dark figure, with all the desperation built up in my chest.
The dark figure placed his hand on his chest, murmuring to himself, focusing on removing the spell. But I wasn't going to wait. Without a second thought, I leapt down, my only thought was to reach them before it was too late.