The world trembled as the chamber crumbled around Raya, the echoes of Eryx's demise reverberating through the air. Dust and debris rained down from the fractured ceiling, but Raya's eyes were fixed on Kael's lifeless body. Her face was pale, her chest unmoving, yet something within him refused to let go.
The mark on his wrist pulsed, a faint warmth cutting through the haze of despair. It was as if the mark was calling to him, urging him toward something unseen.
"It responds to your emotions," the elder's voice echoed in his mind. "It is a force of creation as much as destruction—if you can wield it."
Raya dropped to his knees beside Kael, his trembling hands hovering over her still form. His breath hitched, the flames of anger that had fueled him in battle now tempered by guilt and desperation. The glow of the mark spread, its light washing over Kael's body like the first rays of dawn.
"No," Raya muttered, his voice hoarse. "I won't let you go."
The mark burned hotter, and he gasped as a surge of energy coursed through him. It wasn't like the raging inferno he'd felt in battle; this was different. It was calmer, steadier—a soft hum of life rather than the roar of destruction.
Raya placed his hand over Kael's chest, the light of the mark intensifying. His mind raced with uncertainty. Could the mark really bring her back? Or was this a cruel illusion, a final punishment for his failure?
The ground shook beneath him as another piece of the ceiling collapsed, but he didn't move. He couldn't.
"Come on, Kael," he whispered, his voice trembling. "You can't leave me. Not now."
The light grew brighter, enveloping them both. Raya closed his eyes, focusing every ounce of his will into the mark, willing it to do something—anything.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause. The rumbling of the collapsing chamber faded, the air growing still. Then, a faint gasp broke the silence.
Raya's eyes snapped open.
Kael's chest rose and fell, her breathing shallow but steady. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused, but alive.
"Raya…?" she croaked, her voice barely audible.
Relief flooded through him, and he let out a shaky laugh, tears streaming down his face. "You're back," he murmured. "You're okay."
Kael's gaze sharpened as she took in her surroundings. "What… what happened?"
"The mark," Raya said, glancing at his wrist. The glow had faded, but the faint warmth remained. "It… it saved you. Somehow."
Kael frowned, her hand instinctively reaching for the bloodstained wound on her chest. The flesh was unmarked, as if the injury had never existed. Her eyes widened in shock. "That's… impossible."
Before either of them could process what had happened, the chamber gave another violent lurch. A massive crack splintered through the floor, and Raya scrambled to his feet, pulling Kael with him.
"We need to move!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Kael nodded, still unsteady but determined. Together, they sprinted toward the exit, dodging falling debris and leaping over widening chasms. The chamber roared in protest, the destruction accelerating with every passing second.
They burst into the open air just as the structure behind them collapsed in on itself, a plume of dust and rubble rising into the sky. Raya and Kael stood on the edge of the forest, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of what had just happened hung heavy between them.
Kael finally broke the silence, her voice tinged with awe and unease. "The mark… it's not just a weapon, is it?"
Raya shook his head, staring down at his wrist. The faint glow had dimmed entirely, but he could still feel its presence, a quiet power thrumming beneath the surface. "No. It's more than that."
Kael placed a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm despite the lingering exhaustion in her movements. "You saved me, Raya. Whatever that mark is… it's a part of you now. But you need to learn how to control it."
Raya met her gaze, the weight of her words sinking in. She was right. The mark wasn't just a curse or a tool for vengeance—it was something far greater. And if he was going to face the Fell Sovereign, he needed to understand its true potential.
"We'll figure it out," Raya said, his voice steady. "Together."
Kael managed a faint smile, though her eyes were shadowed with worry. "You brought me back, Raya. But don't think I'll let you forget what this power can do—what it can take."
Raya nodded, his resolve hardening. The road ahead was uncertain, but he wasn't alone. Kael was with him, and together, they would uncover the truth behind the mark.
And when the time came to face the Fell Sovereign, Raya vowed he would be ready. Not just to fight, but to decide what kind of man he truly wanted to be.
The journey was far from over, but for the first time, hope flickered on the horizon.