Ereshkigal sat motionless on the branch of a tree, his body shrouded in an almost imperceptible aura of darkness. His empty gaze stretched into the distance, though his mind wandered far beyond. A suffocating silence enveloped him, as if the world around him no longer existed. He had just lost track of Ian—a figure he not only protected but who had also given his life a renewed sense of meaning. Now, Ian had been swallowed by a magical portal that had appeared so suddenly, vanishing without a trace.
Ereshkigal's emotions churned like a storm—anger, disappointment, and sadness colliding in a tempest within his heart. Frustration gnawed at him, anxiety over what might come next consumed him, and regret over his failure to sense the looming threat weighed heavily on his conscience. Unconsciously, Ereshkigal's fist slammed into the tree trunk with such force that the wood nearly cracked, venting a fraction of the unspoken rage within him.
"What should I have done?" he murmured, his voice hoarse and tinged with regret. He felt trapped by his inability to protect those he cared for, a burden that pressed down on every thought in his mind. "Why couldn't I sense the danger sooner? Why did I… overlook it?"
Like a suffocating current of darkness, Ereshkigal felt the weight of the world pressing harder on his shoulders. Losing Ian was not just the loss of a companion but also a fracture in the destiny they were meant to share. In moments like these, the crushing reality of his responsibility loomed even larger, leaving him struggling under the weight of it all.
In a heavy tone, he spoke again, though it seemed directed more at himself than anyone else. "I will find you, Ian. I won't let you disappear like this. This isn't over."
Ereshkigal took a deep breath, attempting to steady himself, though his heart raged with an unresolved storm.
**
He moved swiftly through the trees, his body a fleeting shadow in motion, even though he remained in his human form. Each step was light, yet laden with an unspoken tension. His true power lay dormant, locked away and inaccessible. Ian, his master, was now lost to a magical portal whose destination was unknown, and the emptiness left behind gnawed at Ereshkigal's very being.
Suddenly, a dark figure appeared in his path. Kharzael stood there, his expression twisted into a mocking smile as he loomed like a shadow before him. "Ah, Ereshkigal," Kharzael sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why would a gatekeeper of darkness stoop so low as to become a famulus? Why did you choose a mere human boy like Ian?"
Ereshkigal's icy gaze locked onto Kharzael, brimming with restrained fury. "Silence, Kharzael," he replied evenly, though every word carried a searing intensity. "I know this is your doing. What have you done to Ian?"
Without warning, Ereshkigal's form dissolved into shadow, hurtling toward Kharzael with blinding speed. In an instant, he reappeared right before his foe, seizing him in a vice-like grip. Kharzael, however, merely chuckled, his sly grin unshaken.
With a taunting laugh, Kharzael's form unraveled and reassembled, slipping effortlessly from Ereshkigal's grasp. "You think I'm unaware of your predicament?" he jeered, his tone dripping with mockery. "I know you can't fight me as you are now, Ereshkigal. Your power is tethered to that boy, isn't it?"
Ereshkigal clenched his fists, his anger simmering dangerously, though he refused to show weakness. He knew Kharzael was toying with him, attempting to manipulate his resolve. "I will find him, Kharzael," Ereshkigal said, his voice steady yet resolute. "And you will pay for what you've done."
Kharzael's grin widened, his eyes glinting with dark amusement. In an instant, he disappeared into a shadowy mist, leaving only an oppressive darkness in his wake. When he reappeared, his mocking laugh echoed in the air, as though the entire encounter was nothing more than a game to him.
"Ah, but who knows where that boy is now?" Kharzael taunted, his voice low and sinister. "Perhaps he's already dead, trapped in a realm darker than anything you can imagine, Ereshkigal."
Ereshkigal's suppressed rage finally erupted, his aura flaring with an oppressive darkness that engulfed his form. His human-like arms transformed into shadowy appendages, brimming with terrifying power. He surged toward Kharzael with a force like an unstoppable storm.
Yet Kharzael simply smirked, effortlessly deflecting Ereshkigal's assault as though it were a mere child's play. His confidence radiated in every movement, his superiority evident.
In an instant, Kharzael countered, hurling a sphere of malevolent dark magic directly at Ereshkigal's abdomen. The attack struck with explosive force, sending him hurtling backward and crashing into a massive tree. The impact reverberated through his body like a ripple of pain, yet he refused to let it deter him. He gasped for breath, his eyes still blazing with unyielding hatred.
Ereshkigal forced himself to rise, staggering slightly. The sight of Kharzael's smug grin only fueled the fire within him. "I will not let you win, Kharzael," he growled, his voice heavy with unwavering determination. "I will find Ian, and I will destroy you."
Kharzael raised an eyebrow, his posture as relaxed as ever. "Patience, Ereshkigal. Don't rush. This world is far crueler than you believe, and you already know, don't you? Without that boy, your power is nothing."
With those biting words, Kharzael vanished into a swirling cloud of dark mist, leaving behind only the suffocating aura of his presence. His voice echoed from the void, taunting. "I'll let you live for now, Ereshkigal. It wouldn't be any fun if you perished so easily."
Ereshkigal's gaze turned to the sky, his eyes empty as though he were losing himself in the void. Helplessness pressed upon him, and for a moment, a profound despair threatened to consume him. He slumped to the ground, the weight of his failure crushing him.
In the suffocating silence, his eyes burned, but he fought back the tears threatening to fall. Every tear felt like a crack in the armor he'd built, a weakness he could not afford—not even in a moment like this.
Regret gnawed at him, the image of Ian disappearing seared into his mind. He muttered, his voice barely audible, "Why couldn't I… protect him?"
Suddenly, his anguish erupted in a cry of raw emotion. "What am I supposed to do? Why must it be this way?" His voice reverberated through the trees, the agony of his soul laid bare.
Unleashing his frustration, Ereshkigal felt the suffocating mix of rage, regret, and sorrow swirl around him. He sat motionless, lost at the crossroads of despair and purpose, unsure of which path to take, feeling utterly alone in his fight.
**
The night felt suffocatingly dark for Ereshkigal, as if the world had blurred the boundary between reality and dreams. He woke with labored breaths, as though he had been running endlessly. His eyes snapped open, wide and filled with unease. He sensed something he couldn't explain—a subtle vibration that resonated within him. Ian. He could feel Ian's presence, even from a great distance. Somehow, Ian was reaching out to him, trying to connect their energies in an unstable link.
Memories of the haunting dream returned to him, vivid and terrifying.
In an infinite darkness, Ian was trapped. He stood trembling, gripping his staff tightly. Around him, there was nothing but boundless, oppressive blackness—no direction, no landmarks. He could see nothing, hear nothing, save for the sound of his own heart-wrenching sobs echoing in the void. Ian wept, calling out names that meant everything to him—names that had become part of his existence, yet now felt distant.
"Gerude... Ereshkigal... Helel... Thalindra... Elara..."
His voice cracked and faltered, pleading, hoping someone would hear him.
Every name Ian uttered struck Ereshkigal like a knife to his heart. He felt Ian's pain as if it were his own, every cry tearing through him like a jagged wound. His chest tightened, an unbearable weight pressing down on his breath. With trembling hands, he clutched his chest, feeling the overwhelming surge of emotion emanating from Ian's heart—fear, loneliness, and a fragile glimmer of hope.
"What should I do?" he whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the night. His heart swirled with regret, fear, and desperation. Ian needed his help, and all Ereshkigal could feel was the pain left in the wake of that consuming darkness.
He couldn't stand idle. He couldn't leave Ian trapped in that darkness alone. This was more than a dream; it was a call. His instincts, which had never failed him, now guided him forward.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the dense shadows of the forest. Each step felt like one toward his destiny, even as his heart throbbed with unshakable anxiety.
As he walked, Ereshkigal sensed an oddity in the air—a strange, unexplainable aura. It was unnatural, casting an oppressive veil over the forest. His strides carried him toward a place that felt alien, a clearing suffused with corrupted and tainted energy.
There, amidst the thickening darkness of the woods, he spotted forest sprites flitting through the air. Yet, their radiance was faint, barely piercing the night. Their once-brilliant beauty seemed dimmed by an encroaching shadow, as though their light was too weak to resist the overwhelming gloom.
Ereshkigal observed them from a distance, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings, but doubt crept into his heart.
What's happening here?
He could feel a familiar darkness in the air, pressing against him. Standing firm, he allowed his instincts to guide his path. He knew Ian—or some clue to finding him—was tied to this place.
**
Unwavering, Ereshkigal pushed aside the underbrush obstructing his way. Each cautious yet resolute step brought him closer to a settlement of forest sprites. The night deepened, and the oppressive aura grew heavier, thick with an unsettling mystery. Occasionally, the dim glow of fluttering sprites punctuated the darkness, but even their light seemed blocked by a deeper shadow.
As Ereshkigal approached, one of the smaller sprites, its glow barely perceptible, noticed him. The sprite emitted a startled chirp, like a frightened bird. Its tiny wings trembled, and in an instant, it darted away, its frantic flutters carrying it toward a house at the heart of the settlement. The structure, built from towering tree roots, appeared simple, yet strange—adorned with faintly flickering lights that seemed too weak to repel the surrounding darkness.
Ereshkigal pressed onward, even as the uneasy sensation in his chest intensified. Something was profoundly wrong here. Something had ensnared these creatures in a silence heavy with tension.
Suddenly, a larger sprite emerged, human-sized and draped in a garment crafted from massive flower petals. The once-vivid hues of its attire had faded, its radiance dulled. A faint crown of light hovered above its head, fragile and flickering. Its wings, once splendid and graceful, were tattered and torn, bearing the scars of prolonged suffering.
Despite the clear pain etched in its every motion, the sprite's presence commanded respect. It gazed at Ereshkigal intently, and its voice, soft yet powerful, broke the tense silence.
"What brings you here, gatekeeper of darkness, to tread upon our lands?" It spoke with a wisdom honed over centuries, though its tone carried an edge of doubt.
Ereshkigal recognized the figure—a being of mystery, yet one whose identity was unmistakable.
Seleneva, the Light Sprite, Queen of Arthalion Hill.
She had once been renowned for her grace and extraordinary strength, though now it seemed she had been forgotten in the throes of her affliction.
Ereshkigal's sharp gaze remained fixed on her as he tried to piece together the puzzle before him.
"I'm looking for Ian," he said, his voice steady yet strained with tension. "He—my master, the one I'm bound to—he's trapped in the darkness. I need to find him." He felt the weight of the words as they left his lips, an admission of the helplessness he'd struggled to deny. "What happened here? What has befallen you and your people?"
Seleneva sighed deeply, her gaze drifting into the blackness of the forest as though to hide the depths of her sorrow. Her voice, softer now, carried a profound regret.
"We, the sprites of Arthalion Hill, have been consumed by a darkness unlike any we've ever known. Our light, once eternal, now flickers weakly. Our strength is bound and corrupted by a force greater, more malevolent... something beyond this world."
She paused, seemingly gathering her thoughts, before continuing,
"Kharzael arrived not long ago, bringing an unimaginable darkness. He came to claim the Arcanis Stone—an artifact vital to us. It was the key to activating a trap we had placed in this forest, meant to keep evil from crossing its boundaries. But... Kharzael twisted its power, unleashing chaos. A portal to the realm of darkness was opened, and your master, Ian... he was pulled into it."
Ereshkigal's blood boiled. Once again, Kharzael had crossed every line, leaving destruction in his wake. But more shocking was the revelation that Kharzael dared defy the laws laid down by Artheros, the Creator himself.
Looking at Seleneva, Ereshkigal's voice trembled with urgency.
"Where does the portal lead? Where is Ian now?"
Seleneva's eyes reflected her compassion and sorrow as she replied,
"The portal took Ian to Aurelia—a place only accessible through the blooming of the Aurelia Blossom. It is a sanctuary guarded by Ilyrien, a flower sprite of our kin."
Ereshkigal's heart sank at the mention of Ilyrien's name.
"But... what of Ilyrien? What happened to her?"
Seleneva drew a deep breath, her expression heavy with anguish.
"Ilyrien... she is like me, Ereshkigal. She is broken. Corrupted by a darkness even greater than Kharzael's—a darkness brought by his twin sister, Malinaara, the Deceiver."
Ereshkigal froze, his eyes narrowing as memories of ancient tales resurfaced.
"Malinaara..." he whispered, recognizing the name. "So she is the one controlling Ilyrien?"
Seleneva nodded solemnly, her gaze filled with despair.
"Yes. Malinaara has ensnared Ilyrien, who once guarded the Vergathiel Garden, a place of beauty and peace. The garden, too, has fallen to the darkness. That's why Ian was drawn to Aurelia through the portal."
Ereshkigal clenched his fists, the weight of the situation bearing down on him.
"How do I save him? How do I bring Ian back?"
Seleneva hesitated, her eyes lowering to the ground. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice barely audible.
"There is one way, Ereshkigal. Ilyrien's fairy dust—it is the only thing that can awaken the Aurelia Blossom, the key to Ian's return. But..." She looked up at him, her expression clouded with worry. "Fairy dust can only be created through happiness—a pure, untainted joy."
Ereshkigal's chest tightened.
"Happiness? But Ilyrien... she's lost it, hasn't she? Malinaara has taken it from her."
Seleneva nodded grimly.
"Yes. Malinaara has destroyed every trace of joy within Ilyrien's heart. Without it, no fairy dust can be made, and without the dust, the Aurelia Blossom will never bloom."
Ereshkigal stood in silence, his heart aching with the gravity of her words. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Then... is there truly no way to save him?"
Seleneva placed a hand over her chest, her expression softening.
"There is always a way, Ereshkigal," she said gently, though her voice carried the weight of her own doubts. "But it will not be an easy path to walk."
Determined, Ereshkigal nodded. "Tell me where to find Ilyrien."
Seleneva gestured toward the northern edge of the settlement.
"The Vergathiel Garden lies beyond the hill. You are close."
"Thank you, Seleneva," Ereshkigal said, his voice steady with newfound resolve.
As he turned to leave, Seleneva called out to him one last time.
"Ereshkigal... take care. The darkness grows stronger with each passing moment. Do not let it consume you, as it has consumed us."
Ereshkigal didn't respond, though her words stayed with him.
Ian... I'll bring you back. Even if I must face Malinaara herself.