Chapter 35: Aria
Far from the radiant citadel and the Vanguard's domain, a storm raged over the jagged cliffs of the Forgotten Plains. The skies wept, and the earth trembled, but Aria remained still, her figure a silhouette against the chaos. She stood at the edge of a chasm, her cloak whipping violently in the wind, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon.
This was where she thrived—in the tempest, where the world mirrored the turmoil inside her.
Aria was a hunter, a survivor of a world that sought to consume her. Her past was written in scars, each one a story of betrayal, loss, and resilience. She had been born to the Silent Glade, a peaceful tribe that sought harmony with the land. But peace was a fleeting luxury, and when the Corruptor's influence reached her village, it turned tranquility into ash.
The Corruptor's agents had descended in the dead of night, their forms monstrous and twisted, their laughter cruel. Aria had been a child then, too young to fight, but old enough to remember. She had hidden beneath her mother's bloodied cloak, her breath shallow, as the sounds of death filled the air.
She never saw her family again.
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The Wanderer
Years later, Aria was a ghost of her former self. She wandered the wilderness, trading her innocence for skill, her compassion for survival. She became a shadow, a name whispered in fear by those who preyed on the weak. Her blades were her voice, and death was her trade.
But even shadows have dreams, and Aria's came in fragments. For months now, she had been haunted by visions of a man standing amidst ruin, his silhouette outlined by a brilliant light. He was a stranger, yet he felt familiar, as if her fate was intertwined with his.
> "He is the key," the voice in her dreams whispered. "Find him, and your path will be revealed."
Aria didn't believe in fate, but she believed in survival. If this man could give her answers—or a purpose—she would find him.
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A Dire Encounter
The rain intensified as Aria descended into the forest at the chasm's base. The trees here were ancient and gnarled, their roots clawing at the earth like desperate hands. She moved silently, her instincts honed by years of practice, her senses sharp.
She didn't expect to encounter trouble this deep into the wild, but trouble always found her.
The first sign was the silence. No birds, no insects—just an oppressive stillness. Aria crouched low, her hand drifting to the hilt of her blade. Her amber eyes scanned the shadows, and she caught the faintest flicker of movement.
A beast lunged, its body grotesque and pulsating with a sickly glow. It was one of the Corruptor's creations, a creature born of chaos. Aria rolled to the side, her blade flashing as she struck. The creature roared, its acidic blood hissing as it splattered the ground.
More emerged from the shadows, their forms varied and unnatural. Aria's heart pounded, but she didn't falter. She was outnumbered, but not outmatched.
For every beast that lunged, she delivered a swift and brutal counter. Her movements were precise, her strikes lethal. Yet, as the fight dragged on, she realized there were too many.
A roar split the air, deafening and guttural. Aria turned just in time to see the largest of the beasts bearing down on her, its jaws wide. She braced herself, but before it struck, a surge of energy cut through the air.
The beast collapsed, its body seared and smoking. Aria spun, her blade at the ready, but what she saw left her breathless.
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The Stranger
A man stood at the edge of the clearing, his hand outstretched. Energy crackled around him, fading into the air. His dark hair clung to his face, and his clothes were tattered, but his eyes burned with intensity.
Aria recognized him instantly. He was the man from her dreams.
"You," she said, her voice low and guarded.
The man's gaze met hers, his expression unreadable. "You were expecting me?"
Aria tightened her grip on her blade. "Not like this."
The man stepped closer, his movements slow, deliberate. "We don't have much time. The Corruptor's influence is spreading faster than I anticipated."
Aria frowned, her mind racing. "Who are you?"
The man hesitated, as if weighing his answer. "Leon," he said finally. "And if you're here, it means you're part of this too."
Aria didn't lower her weapon. "Part of what?"
Leon's gaze hardened. "The fight to stop this world—and countless others—from falling apart."
For a moment, the only sound was the rain. Then, against her better judgment, Aria lowered her blade.
"Start talking," she said.
Leon nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his face. "I will. But first, we need to move. There's a lot you need to know, and even more you need to see."