As I struggled to stand on the barren wasteland, a low, mocking voice echoed in my mind.
"Ah, mortal, you didn't perish in that little spectacle after all."
"Soren?" I frowned, glancing down at the dimmed ring. Though its light had faded, his voice resonated clearly within my consciousness.
"Don't be surprised. I can't completely leave you, even if I wanted to," he grumbled. "The Rift's energy has disrupted everything. My connection to the outside world has been severed, but that doesn't stop me from 'enjoying' the chaos of your daily life."
"What else do you know?" I asked warily, a creeping sense of unease washing over me.
"Oh, I know everything happening out there—your kingdom's turmoil, Aster's failure, and, of course, your two lovely companions." His tone dripped with amusement.
I winced at the headache forming in my temples. "Soren, now's not the time."
