The growing tension within Hiroto felt like a storm brewing inside him. The moment the crystal shattered, something had awakened—a dark pull that tugged at his soul. Each day since, the sensation had only intensified, like a shadow creeping ever closer, urging him to reach out, to embrace it. Yet Hiroto resisted, feeling that same unease that had filled him in that eerie white world from his dream.
Despite his best efforts to shake it off, the whispers seemed to echo louder in his mind, especially when he was alone. Sometimes, they would come to him in his sleep—fragments of voices, unfamiliar and cryptic. "Come closer... join us... embrace the power..." It was as though the very darkness he had released was calling to him.
During the day, Hiroto kept his discomfort hidden behind a calm demeanor. But the tension never truly left. It lingered, heavy, like a storm cloud hanging just above him.
As Hiroto and Ronan sat in their partially built base, discussing their next steps, the door suddenly creaked open. A cloaked figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the fading sunlight outside. His name was Elandor, and his presence seemed to command attention. His voice, smooth and steady, brought with it a sense of ancient wisdom, but Hiroto couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him.
"I have seen this darkness before," Elandor said, his gaze fixed on Hiroto. There was something unnerving about the way his eyes lingered on him, as if he could see more than Hiroto was willing to show. "Long ago, I was part of a group that fought to protect the world from such evil. We sacrificed everything to contain it."
The words struck Hiroto deeply. The darkness... it wasn't just a random force. It had a history, a purpose. And now, Hiroto had unwittingly released it.
He clenched his fists, feeling the pull of that same dark energy inside him, as if it had heard Elandor's words and was now waking from a long slumber. It was a constant weight in his chest, making it hard to breathe, hard to think clearly. He glanced at Ronan, hoping his friend hadn't noticed the subtle tremble in his hands.
Ronan, always the more cautious one, frowned. "But if it's so dangerous, why would you want us to help you?" he asked, voice tinged with skepticism. "Why haven't you dealt with this yourself?"
Elandor's expression remained unreadable, but Hiroto couldn't miss the faint flicker of something in his eyes. "Because you two are the key. The darkness within you—" he paused, looking directly at Hiroto, his voice lowering, "—is different from what I have encountered before."
Hiroto's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" he asked, though part of him already feared the answer.
"The crystal may have broken, but it still lingers in those it touches. It seeks control, and it will corrupt, slowly, until nothing remains of the person you once were." Elandor's words hung in the air like a threat, and Hiroto couldn't help but feel the weight of them pressing down on him.
The darkness stirred again inside him, urging him to heed Elandor's words. A part of him, a part he refused to acknowledge, wanted to give in—to let the darkness consume him. After all, if it had the power to do what Elandor claimed, it could make him stronger, right? He could feel the energy coursing through him, warm and dangerous. Just a taste of it would be enough, wouldn't it?
He shook his head sharply, trying to rid himself of the thoughts. No. I can't let it control me. I won't become that.
Elandor, noticing Hiroto's inner turmoil, stepped forward. "You were strong enough to survive the encounter with the crystal. That means you might also be strong enough to control it." His voice was calm, but Hiroto could hear the unspoken warning beneath it.
Control. The word echoed in Hiroto's mind. Could he really control this power? Or was it already too late?
The growing darkness within him pulsed in response, almost as if it were laughing at his doubt.
Ronan, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "I don't trust him, Hiroto. Something about his answers... they don't sit right with me."
Hiroto turned to his friend, the unease growing in his chest. "What do you mean?"
Ronan hesitated, his gaze shifting toward Elandor, then back to Hiroto. "He's too calm about this. Too... prepared. We don't even know who he really is."
Hiroto swallowed, the tension in his throat making it hard to speak. Ronan's doubts echoed his own fears. How much does Elandor really know? And more importantly, What is he hiding?
But for now, they had no choice. The village's condition was worsening. Crops withered overnight, strange whispers filled the air, and an oppressive feeling of dread hung over them all. Something had to be done, and they were the only ones capable of stopping it.
"Let's follow him, for now," Hiroto said, his voice steady, though his mind raced with the uncertainty of what they were about to face. "We don't have any other leads."
As they set off toward ancient ruins and forgotten places, Hiroto felt the darkness stir within him once more. It wasn't just in the air—it was inside him, waiting to rise again. And as much as he tried to suppress it, Hiroto couldn't help but wonder: What would happen if I embraced it?
The storm in the distance seemed to grow louder, a harbinger of the true battle that lay ahead. And Hiroto could feel, deep in his bones, that this was only the beginning.