Ale, still overwhelmed by everything he had just discovered, felt an urgent need to act, to not simply endure the unfolding events. "Can you help me get out of here?" he asked, surprised by his own question. Just moments ago, he had wanted to kill Nyxion. And now, he trusted it enough to ask for help.
Nyxion, seemingly unsurprised, replied calmly:
"Yes."
It seemed as though it had been waiting for this question. "It won't be easy," the phoenix added.
Ale clenched his fists, a newfound determination igniting in his eyes. "I'm ready for anything. I can't die yet," he said with resolve. He thought of his grandfather, of the promise he had made to find the Light Prince.
Nyxion observed Ale with a new intensity.
"I need your help too," it said in return, its voice resonating gently through the chamber. "This won't be easy."
Ale nodded without hesitation. "Anything within my power," he replied with the same determination.
The phoenix spread its wings slightly, and the black flames surrounding it began to swirl gently around.
"Come closer," it said, its eyes glowing with an ancient light. "We will seal a pact, you and I."
Ale stepped forward, his heart pounding. He didn't fully understand what this pact would entail, but he knew he had no other choice.
The phoenix bowed its head and, with a flap of its wings, conjured a circle of black flames on the ground. The flames formed a complex symbol, etched with ancient runes similar to those adorning the walls of the sanctuary. Ale immediately felt the intensity of the magic emanating from it. It was raw, untamed energy—powerful, yet not evil.
The phoenix extended a wing toward Ale, inviting him into the circle.
"Place your hand on my wing," said the Spirit of Darkness, its voice carrying an ancient solemnity.
Ale hesitated for a moment but then reached out. When his hand touched the flaming feathers of the phoenix, he felt an intense warmth—not burning, but flowing directly into his veins. The black flames began to dance around him, wrapping his body, swirling and merging with his very essence. He felt the magic of the phoenix intertwine with his own, forging an unbreakable bond between them.
The symbol on the ground lit up, vibrating with an ancient energy. The runes etched into the stone came to life, and a dark light rose into the air, enveloping Ale and Nyxion in a shadowy aura. Ale felt every fiber of his being resonate with this energy.
The phoenix spoke in a deep voice, echoing throughout the sanctuary: "By this pact, our fates are bound. Your strength will become mine, and mine will be yours. Together, we shall restore balance to this world, corrupted by lies and betrayal. In exchange for your loyalty and aid, I will grant you the power to seek vengeance and fulfill your mission."
Though intimidated, Ale felt a new strength rise within him. He bowed his head in acceptance and replied solemnly: "I swear to honor this pact. Together, we will reach our goals."
The black flames flared for a moment, then calmed abruptly. The circle on the ground vanished, and the runes dimmed softly, leaving the sanctuary in solemn silence.
Ale stood, sensing that something within him had changed. The bond with the phoenix was now sealed. Suddenly, an overwhelming fatigue washed over him, as though the very act of sealing the pact had drained him completely. His body trembled slightly, struggling to contain the new power surging within. He felt mana coursing through him with an intensity he had never experienced before, like a raging river flowing through his veins.
Nyxion, noticing the young man's sudden weakness, spoke with calm authority.
"Now you have access to my magical power. But your body and mind must adapt to it. Rest. Tomorrow, we will begin your training."
Ale, blinking slowly, lifted his head to look at the immense creature. "Training?" he murmured, confused, his mind too exhausted to fully grasp the meaning.
Nyxion nodded, its black flames flickering gently.
"Though I have granted you my power, you must learn to master it. You will need to understand the art of combat, but most importantly, you must learn to wield this new magic. Without that knowledge, this power could destroy you as easily as it could your enemies."
Ale vaguely nodded, barely processing the Nyxion's words. The exhaustion was overwhelming, pulling him into a deep torpor. He didn't have the strength to ask more questions as sleep overtook him. His eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted into a deep slumber, his body succumbing to the exhaustion.
Ale quickly slipped into a deep sleep, wrapped in the gentle warmth still radiating from the phoenix's flames.
The exhaustion from the pact and the day's events pulled him into a state of complete lethargy. Slowly, his mind drifted away from reality, detaching from his battered body and plunging into a strange and enchanting dream.
At first, it felt like floating in a calm sea, an infinite ocean of silence and tranquility. The world around him faded away, replaced by a comforting darkness. This darkness wasn't menacing; it resembled a starry night, offering Ale a welcome reprieve after so much effort.
Then, gently, the ocean beneath the starry sky began to stir. The waves formed, light at first, like a gentle ripple soothing his mind. But quickly, this peaceful sea grew restless. The waves, dark blue and glowing from within with a strange light, rose higher and higher, towering hundreds of meters above the surface.
Ale stood still at the center of this tumultuous ocean, watching with a mix of wonder and apprehension. The blue of the waves pulsed like a source of infinite mana, pure and raw. Suddenly, the waves gathered, twisting and swirling until they formed a massive phoenix of water, its wings unfurling in the starry sky.
The phoenix, born from the waves themselves, swirled majestically before crashing down on Ale with tremendous force. He didn't even have time to react. The water, charged with mana, surged through him entirely, immersing him in a power he could not control. He felt his body open to this immense force, as if every cell in his being awakened to a new reality. The limits of his mana seemed to stretch infinitely, as if the entire ocean was pouring into him.
As he drowned in this energy, the starry sky above began to change. The stars, distant only moments before, suddenly rushed toward him. They streaked across the darkness like shimmering meteors, drawing arcs of light in the sky. These stars, guided by an invisible force, crashed into Ale, and with each impact, he was infused with new knowledge. Each star that passed through him imprinted his mind with a new spell, a new formula. Spells of light, spells of water—spells he had never even imagined before.
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Suddenly, everything calmed.
The immense turbulence that had dominated the dream seemed to retreat, like a tide receding into the horizon. The waves gently dispersed, losing their luminous glow, and the stars that had rushed toward him ceased their frantic dance and faded away.
Once more, darkness enveloped Ale—soft, serene, like a comforting blanket. Everything returned to calm, to peace. The ocean had smoothed, becoming once again that tranquil sea beneath a starry night. The shadow of darkness closed around him like a protective cocoon, bringing with it a profound sense of peace.
Ale floated in this state of calm, cradled by the benevolent darkness, until, slowly, the dream began to fade, giving way to reality.