Dawn in Ayurea castle felt so peaceful after a night full of tension. The morning air brought a refreshing calm, as if washing away the wounds and fatigue felt by all the castle's residents. Raka, who had just recovered from his wounds, sat in the palace garden, enjoying the sunlight that was starting to warm his body.
Ayra approached slowly, carrying a bowl of herbal medicine that had been specially prepared by the palace physician. A warm smile spread across her face when she saw Raka who was pensive.
"Morning, my warrior," Ayra greeted softly, sitting beside Raka.
Raka smiled, turning to Ayra. "Morning, Ayra. Thank you for taking care of me. Without you, I might have..."
Ayra put her index finger on Raka's lips, stopping his words. "Don't talk like that. You are Ayurea's hero now, and... someone who means a lot to me."
Ayra's words made Raka's heart beat. However, when he was about to respond, suddenly something strange was felt inside him. She felt like there was a foreign energy disturbing her mind, and her body began to feel heavy.
"Ayra… I feel… strange…" Raka whispered, his voice and breath suddenly weakening.
Ayra was shocked, immediately touching Raka's forehead which was starting to sweat. "Raka, what happened?"
Suddenly, from the darkness of the garden, an unrecognizable figure in a black robe appeared. He stood there, staring at them with a cold and threatening gaze. Ayra immediately stood up, raising her sword, ready to protect Raka.
"What do you want?!" Ayra shouted, her eyes sharply staring at the mysterious figure.
The figure chuckled, his voice low and creepy. "I didn't come to fight you, Princess Ayra. I just want… to collect something from your hero."
Ayra stared in confusion, but before she could ask further, the figure raised his hand and created a ball of dark energy that was directed towards Raka. Ayra tried to block it, but the ball of energy immediately enveloped Raka's body, making him fall and suffer.
"What did you do to him?! Stop it!" Ayra shouted, panicking.
The figure only smiled sarcastically. "He doesn't belong to you, Ayra. He's part of something bigger—something you never understood. Do you think he came here just by chance?"
Raka, still overcome by pain, tried to speak weakly. "Ayra… I don't… know what he means…"
The mysterious figure stepped forward. "There is a pact older than your kingdom, older than the magic you know. Raka is trapped in this world because of the power I unleashed. A power you will never understand."
Ayra stared at the figure angrily. "I don't care about your pact or your power! Raka is part of my life now, and I won't let you take him away!"
However, the figure shook his head, his eyes glowing with a terrifying red light. "You have no choice, Princess. Sooner or later, Raka will return to his origin, to the source of energy I created."
With a single hand movement, the figure disappeared into a black mist, leaving Raka limp. Ayra ran towards him, grabbing his hand, her heart filled with anxiety and fear.
"Raka, I will find a way to save you," Ayra whispered determinedly. She knew that the threat from the mysterious figure was more than just words. There was something greater that bound Raka to this world, something beyond her knowledge.
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For the next few days, Ayra searched for answers. She visited old witches, read ancient books, and spoke to palace advisors who had knowledge of ancient magic. From all of them, she found one consistent thing: Raka might be connected to the "Shadow Dimension," a place where trapped souls were summoned by dark magic.
That night, Ayra returned to Raka's room. Raka, who was still weak, smiled when he saw her. Although his body felt heavy and tired, Ayra's presence always gave him a little strength.
"Ayra… what did you find?" Raka asked softly, trying to look at her.
Ayra sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Raka with a soft but concerned gaze. "Raka, I found something that was not easy… about the magic that brought you here. You might be… connected to magic from the Shadow Dimension."
Raka was silent, trying to digest the information. "Does that… mean I can't be here forever?"
Ayra lowered her head, finding it hard to say it. "I don't know, Raka. But I will do everything to find a way for you to stay here… with me."
Raka sighed, and he reached out, holding Ayra's hand gently. "Ayra, if fate is against us, I just want you to know… that I am happy to have met you, even if only for a moment."
Ayra felt her tears start to flow. She held Raka's hand tightly, determined not to give up. "Raka, I won't let you go. Whatever fate or magic this is, I will find a way to stop it."
Raka smiled slightly, trying to calm Ayra down. However, in his heart, he knew that time might not be on their side.
＊＊＊
The next day, Ayra met a royal wizard who might be able to help them. The wizard proposed a dangerous ritual that could break Raka's bond with the Shadow Dimension, but with high risks. Ayra knew that it was her only option.
That night, Ayra told Raka about the plan for the ritual. Despite the risks, Raka agreed to do it, because he also didn't want to lose the chance to stay in the world of Ayurea—by Ayra's side.
As the full moon rose, Ayra and Raka prepared for the ritual at the top of the castle tower. Under the moonlight, the wizard began to chant an ancient spell, and a glowing magic circle appeared around Raka.
Ayra stood beside him, holding his hand tightly. "Raka, whatever happens, remember… I am here with you."
Raka smiled weakly, then nodded. "I believe in you, Ayra. Always."
However, in the middle of the ritual, the magic circle began to vibrate, and the energy of the Shadow Dimension tried to pull Raka out of the Ayurea world. His body began to be covered in black mist, and his face showed deep pain.
"Ayra… I… can't…!" Raka cried, trying to resist the strong pull.
"I won't let you go, Raka!" Ayra screamed, her eyes filled with tears. She gripped Raka's hand with all her strength, trying to keep him from being sucked into the darkness.
However, at the peak of their struggle, a bright light suddenly appeared in the middle of the magic circle. A soft voice echoed around them, as if coming from a higher realm.
"Ayra, a strong bond of love can transcend dimensions," the voice whispered. "Trust your heart, and you will find a way to save her."
With courage flowing from her heart, Ayra made a promise to Raka, with a voice full of conviction. "Raka, I will always be with you, wherever you are. Because you are a part of my life, a part of my heart."
The light grew brighter, enveloping Raka and Ayra, and instantly, the black energy from the Shadow Dimension was blown away, leaving Raka who now fell into Ayra's arms. They had succeeded—their bond of love had broken the dark magic that bound Raka.
Ayra hugged Raka tightly, her tears flowing profusely, while Raka smiled weakly but gratefully.