Xue was distressed from what had happened. He was sitting near the corner of the conference room, lost in the whirlpool of thoughts of what could have been the best possible outcome, wondering what would had happen if he had created other possibilities. In a small voice Xue talked to himself. "If only I had disrupted or destroyed the ritual... What if i had just created some variables ...what if"
Xue felt a deep sense of frustration and helplessness, mixed with an unsettling realization that his efforts may have been in vain. His frustration gnawed at him like an unrelenting force, and the sense of helplessness settled deep in his chest. Everything that was happening felt like a nightmare. He felt that everything that had happened was meaningless. His body ached with exhaustion, but it was the ache in his soul that weighted far more.
And then a voice came.
"You were given everything" the voice said in a sharp and mocking voice, "yet you couldn't even do what had to be done"
Xue clenched his fist around the hilt of his sword not being sure where it had came from, or even if it was real. It was an internal torment, a twisted reflection of his own mind born from the weight of every failure, every mistake, and every life he couldn't save. It started taking root in deepest part of his mind. It's tone was cold and unforgiving, it's word were sharp as a blade and full of mockery.
"you think you're strong, don't you?" the voice continued ,growing louder with each moment passing by. "The chosen one who has it all. Power, skill, everything you could ever need. And yet you keep on failing over and over again losing everyone you cherished one after another."
Xue jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. He couldn't. Not anymore. There was no point in arguing with it. As the voice was right. The words of the voice, cold and unyielding, echoed in his mind like a relentless tide-too true. Xue stood up in a tired manner as he was about to leave the room.
Alissa and Seraphina rushed through the corridors, towards Xue but as they meet their gazes with Xue the tension between them grew heavier. They felt lost at the sight of Xue who looked as frail and tired similar to a dying animal. With a heavy heart Alissa and Seraphina exchange glances slowly approaching Xue.
Alissa's voice trembled slightly as she she spoke, trying to find the right words. "Xue.... there's something we need to tell you," she began, her eyes avoiding his , as though not wanting to bother him any further.
Seraphina stepped forward, her usual calmness replaced by an air of sorrow. "The demons ... have started to attack again, they are attacking the main land of the central continent. We have to act soon or there will be far more tragedy than the last time."
Xue's hand tightened around the head of his sword. the news was the last thing he needed. "More bloodshed... and more loss" the voice came back again and in a cold and mocking tone. " you couldn't even save the one you loved when you were by her side." it jeered (rudely mocked). "How do you think you will save the ordinary people when you are not even there?".
Those words twisted inside him, striking the core of his guilt. Suddenly Alissa blew a small comfortable gust of wind in Xues face.
Alissa's voice followed, warm and steady, "You feel distant right now, let me guess worried about how to get there?" Xue nods. With a light sigh Alissa tells him that the teleportation spell is ready.
Seraphina's voice, usually calm, carried a note of quiet determination. "You are not alone in this. You were never alone."
Xue's gaze snapped up to meet their eyes, and for a moment, the storm inside him quieted. While he had been burdened by his own thoughts he had forgotten that others were there too, fighting their own battles. While the voices inside him hadn't vanished, but the spark of hope was there, however faint. And for now that was enough.
The three of them rushed towards the teleportation spell prepared by the Alissa's father Mr.Alphine who was the head of elves. Mrs Serisa tells the three of them to get ready as the teleportation spell had been activated. The three of them look at each other and with nod as they prepare to leave.
"Xue, Alissa and Seraphina" with a soft voice from Mr.Alphine "Be careful"
Mrs.Serisa nodded and with a expression equal to somber. "We can't be of much help for there could be much more to the play than we understand. For now every race of this continent is preparing for the attack coming from the demons."
Mr alphine with the voice laced with both regret and helplessness " I hope you understand, Xue. We can't afford to do much."
Swoosh