The remnants of the Abyssal Heart had long since crumbled into nothingness, leaving behind an eerie silence that filled the now-desolate ruins of Thalios. The air was cold, thick with the residual energy of what had just transpired. Sera stood beside Damian, her body trembling from both exhaustion and the gravity of what they had accomplished. Kael was gone, consumed by the very darkness he had sought to control, but the weight of Damian's warning hung heavily between them.
The Fates were coming.
Sera glanced at Damian, who hadn't spoken since they had left the ruins. His face was unreadable, his thoughts locked behind the cold mask he always wore. But Sera could sense the tension in him, the way his jaw clenched and his hands tightened into fists whenever he thought she wasn't looking. There was more to this threat than he was letting on.
"Damian," Sera said softly, breaking the silence that had stretched between them. "What… who are the Fates? You mentioned them before. Are they… worse than Kael?"
Damian's gaze remained fixed ahead, his eyes dark as shadows. "Kael was nothing compared to them," he said quietly. "The Fates are ancient beings, older than Limbo itself. They don't control the balance here—they are the balance. They govern the threads of every soul that passes through this realm."
Sera's heart sank. "So… they control us?"
"They control everything," Damian replied, his voice hard. "And now that we've destroyed the Abyssal Heart, they'll come to reclaim their power."
Sera shivered. "Why didn't they intervene earlier? When Kael was trying to take over?"
"Because they didn't need to," Damian said darkly. "Kael's power was insignificant to them. They allow things to play out as they see fit. But now that the Heart is gone, the balance of power has shifted. They won't stay silent for long."
Before Sera could respond, a sudden gust of wind swept through the barren landscape, carrying with it a strange, haunting melody. It was soft at first, like a whisper on the wind, but it grew louder with each step they took, a low, sorrowful tune that echoed through the empty sky.
The wind picked up sharply, whipping around them in a frenzied dance as the melody became sharper, more insistent. The temperature dropped even further, and the sky above them darkened, heavy with storm clouds that hadn't been there moments before.
Then, without warning, the shadows around them began to twist and swirl, forming a spiraling vortex in the distance. The melody grew louder, sharper, until it felt like the sound itself was cutting through the air. From the center of the vortex, a figure emerged—graceful, ethereal, and shrouded in a dark, shimmering cloak.
The shadows bent and swirled around her, obeying her every movement as though they were a part of her. Her face, pale and striking, was framed by long, silver hair that cascaded down her back, glinting like moonlight in the fading light of Limbo. Her eyes—cold and calculating—locked onto Damian with an intensity that sent chills down Sera's spine.
Damian immediately moved in front of Sera, his posture rigid, his hands clenched into fists. "Lyra," he said, his voice low, but filled with tension.
Sera peered around Damian, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight of the newcomer. This woman—this creature—radiated power, but it was a power that felt ancient, almost otherworldly.
Lyra's lips curled into a faint smile as she approached them, her footsteps silent despite the swirling wind and shadows around her. "It's been a long time, Damian," she said, her voice smooth and melodic, almost like a song. "I didn't expect to find you here. And with company, no less."
Damian's expression was grim. "What do you want?"
Lyra's eyes flicked to Sera, her smile widening. "Oh, I'm not here for you, Damian. I'm here for her."
Sera's heart raced as Lyra's gaze settled on her, the weight of it pressing down like a physical force. There was something in Lyra's eyes—something cold and dangerous, but also… curious.
"You've taken quite the risk, haven't you?" Lyra continued, her tone casual but with an edge of something darker. "Guiding a mortal through Limbo… it's not something I would have expected from you, Damian."
Damian's eyes narrowed, his stance tensing further. "She's not your concern."
Lyra raised an eyebrow, her smile never wavering. "Oh, but she is. The Fates have taken quite an interest in her, you see. They've been watching her for some time now."
Sera's stomach dropped. "Watching me? Why?"
Lyra stepped closer, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You're special, Sera. You're not like the others who wander through Limbo. The Fates have plans for you."
Damian's body tensed even further. "What plans?"
Lyra's smile faltered for the first time, her gaze sharpening. "That's not for you to know, Damian. But the Fates—"
"Stop." Damian's voice was hard, commanding. "Don't say another word."
Lyra's eyes flicked back to him, her expression unreadable. "Or what?"
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, with a slow, deliberate smile, Lyra spoke the one word that Damian had warned her not to:
"Fates."
The moment the word left her lips, Damian moved. Faster than Sera could comprehend, he lunged at Lyra, his entire body erupting with power. The ground beneath him cracked, sending shockwaves through the earth as he slammed his fist toward her, a blast of energy so intense that it tore through the air like lightning.
"NO!" Damian roared, his eyes blazing with fury as he unleashed everything he had. His power surged, almost overwhelming the very air around them, and for a moment, Sera thought Limbo itself might collapse under the sheer force of it.
But Lyra was ready.
With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a barrier of shadows, absorbing Damian's attack with effortless grace. The ground trembled beneath the force of the impact, but Lyra remained untouched, her expression calm, almost amused.
"Temper, temper," she chided, her voice like silk. "You've always been too emotional, Damian."
Damian staggered back, his breathing heavy, his body trembling from the effort of holding back his full power. He had come dangerously close to losing control, and Sera could see the strain in his eyes—the raw anger, the frustration at being unable to protect her from what was coming.
Lyra's smile returned, colder this time. "You can't stop the Fates, Damian. And if you push any further, you'll only make things worse for her."
Before either of them could react, the shadows around Lyra swirled once more, enveloping her completely. The wind picked up again, howling through the desolate landscape, and within moments, Lyra's form began to dissolve into the darkness, fading from sight.
But her parting words hung in the air like a curse.
"They will come for you both. And when they do… you won't be able to hide."
The shadows dissipated, leaving only silence in her wake. Damian stood frozen, his fists still clenched, his breathing ragged. Sera, her heart pounding, stepped closer to him, her voice trembling.
"Damian… what just happened?"
He didn't respond right away. His gaze remained fixed on the spot where Lyra had disappeared, his body still tense with the remnants of his fury. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, his voice low and filled with a gravity that made Sera's blood run cold.
"We've made enemies with the Fates," Damian said quietly. "And now… we've run out of time."