The winding streets of Kharith seemed to stretch on endlessly, their broken stones leading ever deeper into the heart of the ancient city. The air grew heavier with each step the group took, the oppressive weight of dark magic pressing down on them like an invisible force. Haru moved ahead of the group, his senses alert to the slightest hint of danger, while Borgak and Lirael watched their flanks. Seraphine and Naome trailed behind, the tension between them almost palpable.
Seraphine could feel it now, more strongly than ever the voice. It whispered to her from the depths of the city, a seductive murmur that echoed in the back of her mind. It was not a voice like any other; it was something ancient, older than words themselves, and it spoke directly to her darkest desires, Power.
Seraphine's hands trembled as she walked, her dark magic coiling and pulsing beneath her skin. She had always craved power, ever since she had been cast out as a child for what she was. The world had turned its back on her, leaving her with nothing but her magic to protect herself. And now, here in Kharith, she could feel that same magic growing stronger, drawn to the ancient energy that thrummed beneath the city.
But with that power came a cost. And Seraphine was beginning to understand that all too well.
"We're close," Haru said, his voice low as he stopped at the mouth of a large, stone archway that led into what appeared to be an underground passage. "The heart of the city is just beyond this point. We'll need to be ready."
Borgak nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his greatsword. "Whatever's down there, it's waiting for us."
Naome's brow furrowed as she glanced at Seraphine, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you all right?" she asked softly, her voice laced with worry. "You've been quiet."
Seraphine stiffened at the question, her fingers curling into fists as she tried to ignore the voice in her mind. "I'm fine," she said quickly, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. "Let's just keep moving."
Naome didn't press her, but the concern didn't leave her face. Seraphine could feel the others watching her as they descended into the underground passage, their suspicion growing with every step she took. They knew about her magic, and they knew how dangerous it could be. But what they didn't know what Seraphine herself was only beginning to understand was that the darkness beneath Kharith was not just influencing her. It was speaking to her.
The passageway was narrow and winding, the walls slick with moisture. The faint glow of Naome's celestial light illuminated their path, but it did little to dispel the oppressive gloom that clung to the air. The deeper they went, the colder it became, and the whispers in Seraphine's mind grew louder, more insistent.
You are strong, Seraphine. You have always been strong. But you could be more. You could have everything you've ever wanted.
Seraphine clenched her jaw, her heart racing as the voice filled her mind. She knew where it was coming from now. It was the same dark force that had corrupted Kharith centuries ago, the same power that had once belonged to the mad mage Baldu Ra. The whispers had spoken of him in the ancient tome they had discovered, and now, Seraphine could feel his presence growing stronger with each passing moment.
Baldu Ra. His name carried with it the weight of a thousand sins, a mage who had once ruled Kharith and bent its magic to his will. But his hunger for power had led him to darkness, twisting the very magic of the city into something malevolent. And now, even in death, his influence remained, poisoning the city with his corruption.
You could be more than him, Seraphine. You could be greater. You have the power to finish what Baldu Ra started.
Seraphine's steps faltered as the voice became louder, clearer. She tried to push it away, to focus on the task at hand, but the temptation was overwhelming. The promise of power, the promise of acceptance these were things she had wanted her entire life. And here, in the ruins of Kharith, they were being offered to her.
"Seraphine."
Haru's voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she blinked, realizing she had fallen behind the group. He was watching her with those sharp, calculating eyes, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana.
"Are you with us?" he asked, his voice steady but cold.
Seraphine forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine," she said again, though the lie tasted bitter on her tongue.
Haru didn't respond, but he didn't look convinced, either. He turned and continued down the passage, and Seraphine followed, her mind still buzzing with the voice of Baldu Ra.
They reached the end of the passage, stepping into a vast, underground chamber. The ceiling stretched high above them, lost in the darkness, and the walls were lined with intricate carvings, each one depicting scenes of magic, war, and destruction. At the centre of the chamber stood a large, circular stone platform, and beneath it, the air pulsed with a deep, rhythmic energy.
"This is it," Naome whispered, her voice barely audible. "The heart of Kharith."
The platform was surrounded by a faint, glowing aura of dark, twisted magic that radiated from the very core of the city. The energy was palpable, like a living thing, and it pulsed in time with the beat of their hearts.
Lirael's hand tightened on her bow, her expression grim. "So, what do we do? Destroy it?"
Naome shook her head, her gaze fixed on the platform. "We can't just destroy it. If we do, the entire city could collapse. The magic is too deeply intertwined with the foundation of Kharith."
"There has to be another way," Borgak said, his brow furrowing. "Something to stop the corruption without destroying everything."
As the group debated their next move, Seraphine's gaze was drawn to the platform. The dark magic that radiated from it was intoxicating, filling her with a sense of longing, a hunger she couldn't control. The voice of Baldu Ra echoed in her mind, louder now, more insistent.
This is your moment, Seraphine. You can take this power. You can become more than any of them. You can be free.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she took a step forward, her hand reaching out toward the platform. The magic called to her, urging her to claim it, to let it fill her completely. She could feel the power just beneath the surface, waiting for her to take it.
But then, Naome's voice cut through the fog of temptation.
"Seraphine, stop!"
Seraphine froze, her hand inches away from the platform. She turned slowly to see Naome staring at her, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and concern.
"You can't touch it," Naome said, her voice trembling slightly. "That magic… it's too dangerous. It's the same magic that corrupted Baldu Ra."
Seraphine's hand hovered in the air, her mind torn between the voice in her head and the warning in Naome's eyes. The promise of power was so close, so real. But the look on Naome's face, the genuine care in her voice, made her hesitate.
They will never understand you, the voice of Baldu Ra hissed. They will never accept you. But I will. I can give you everything you've ever wanted.
Seraphine's hand trembled as she fought against the pull of the magic. She had always relied on her power to protect herself, to survive. But here, at this moment, she realized that she was standing on the edge of something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined. If she took that power, if she gave in to the darkness, there would be no turning back.
"I…" Seraphine's voice broke as she stepped away from the platform, her hand falling to her side. "I can't."
Naome let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her shoulders relaxing as relief washed over her. "You did the right thing," she said softly. "That magic would have destroyed you."
Seraphine nodded, though the weight of the decision still pressed heavily on her heart. She had come so close to losing herself, to becoming the very thing she had fought against. The voice of Baldu Ra still echoed faintly in her mind, but for now, she had silenced it.
Haru stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the platform. "We need to find a way to contain this," he said. "If we can't destroy it, we need to stop it from spreading."
"There's a ritual," Naome said, her voice steady. "Something I can perform to weaken the magic, to contain it. But I'll need time."
"Do it," Borgak said, his hand tightening on his sword. "We'll keep watch."
As Naome began to prepare the ritual, the others spread out around the chamber, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger. Seraphine stood near the platform, her mind still reeling from the confrontation with the dark magic. The voice of Baldu Ra had been silenced for now, but she knew it wasn't gone.
The darkness was still watching, still waiting for its moment.