The blinding light overwhelmed Rose, forcing her to shut her eyes tightly. The air around her buzzed with energy, a strange hum reverberating in her chest. She felt as though she were floating, untethered, her body weightless yet heavy with anticipation.
When the light finally subsided, Rose opened her eyes to find herself standing in an entirely different place. The chamber was gone, replaced by a vast, endless expanse of stars and swirling nebulas. She gasped, turning in slow circles as she tried to take it all in.
Sylus stood a few feet away, his posture stiff and his gaze fixed on something in the distance. His crimson eyes glowed brighter here, their intensity casting faint shadows on his sharp features.
"This is the Interstice," he said, his voice calm but tinged with something she couldn't quite place. "A space between realities. The Veil brought us here to show us the truth."
Rose stepped closer to him, her heart racing. "The truth about what? About you?"
Sylus nodded slowly, but his gaze remained distant. "And about why you were brought to me."
Before Rose could respond, the stars around them shifted, rearranging themselves into a scene that unfolded like a memory. It was as if the universe itself were telling a story.
The first image was of a grand city—Onychinus, she realized. Its towering spires and dark, metallic architecture were unmistakable. The streets below were bustling with activity, shadowy figures moving with purpose. At the center of it all stood a younger Sylus, his eyes not yet crimson but a deep, piercing blue.
Rose watched, mesmerized, as the memory played out. Sylus was commanding even then, standing tall as he addressed a group of followers. Yet there was a softness to him, a glimmer of hope in his eyes that she hadn't seen before.
"This was before the fall," Sylus said quietly, his voice heavy with regret. "Before Onychinus became a prison."
The scene shifted abruptly, the vibrant city darkening as chaos erupted. Fires raged, and the once-bustling streets were littered with debris. Figures that had once followed Sylus now turned against him, their faces obscured but their intentions clear.
Rose's chest tightened as she watched him fight, his movements precise but desperate. He was strong, but he was outnumbered, and the weight of betrayal was evident in every strike.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice breaking the silence.
Sylus's jaw tightened. "I trusted the wrong people. I believed in something that wasn't real."
The memory shifted again, this time showing Sylus kneeling before a massive, shadowy figure. Its form was indistinct, constantly shifting, but its presence was suffocating.
The figure spoke, its voice a low, guttural rumble that sent shivers down Rose's spine. "You have failed me, Sylus. But you will serve another purpose."
Rose's eyes widened as she saw the shadowy figure reach out, its tendrils wrapping around Sylus. His blue eyes glowed briefly before fading to crimson, his expression contorting in pain.
"This is when it happened," Sylus said, his voice barely above a whisper. "When I was bound to the Black Zone."
Rose felt a lump form in her throat as the scene shifted once more, this time showing Sylus alone in a dark, desolate landscape. His once-commanding presence was now shrouded in despair, his every step weighed down by invisible chains.
"But you broke free," she said, stepping closer to him. "You escaped."
Sylus turned to her, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and determination. "Not on my own."
The stars shifted again, this time forming an image of Rose. She was sitting in her apartment, the game's headset resting on her head as she pressed Start.
Rose's breath caught as she saw herself enter the game for the first time. She remembered that moment vividly—the sense of wonder, the thrill of discovery. But she hadn't realized then just how much her actions would change everything.
"You were the catalyst," Sylus said, his gaze unwavering. "Your presence disrupted the Black Zone, shattered the chains that bound me. Without you, I would still be there."
Rose's mind raced as she tried to process his words. "But why me? Why did I affect you like that?"
Sylus shook his head. "I don't know. That's what the Veil brought us here to find out."
Before Rose could respond, the scene around them began to dissolve, the stars swirling into a vortex of light and shadow.
The Veil wasn't done with them yet.