The darkness in the room seems to deepen as the Heart's pulse quickens, its energy reverberating through Li Wei's chest like a distant drumbeat. Every breath she takes feels heavy, as if the very air is thick with the weight of the curse that binds her. The whispers have intensified, now a cacophony of voices, each one calling to her, urging her to succumb to the power within her.
Li Wei…
You cannot resist forever…
Embrace the power… and all will be revealed.
Her fingers tremble as they brush against the Heart's stone surface. The moment her skin makes contact with the cold, polished surface, a rush of memories floods her mind—memories of a time long before this one, a time when the Heart was but a seed, waiting to awaken.
She sees a figure standing before the Heart—its face obscured by a veil of shadows. The figure reaches out, its hand touching the Heart's core, and the world shifts. It's as if time itself bends, twisting and contorting, pulling her into a vision of the past. She sees the Heart's creation, the rituals performed to bind its power, and the blood sacrifices made to keep it dormant.
The whispers intensify, and she hears the name of the woman from her previous vision.
Yue Xin.
The name resonates in her mind, like an echo from the depths of the abyss. Li Wei gasps, trying to shake the vision from her mind, but it's no use. The memories flood her, overwhelming her senses. She sees Yue Xin—her eyes empty, devoid of hope, as she stands before the Heart, her body drained of life, her soul consumed by the very power Li Wei now carries.
This is your fate, Li Wei. The voice is low, distant, but unmistakable. It is the same voice that had whispered to her earlier. The Heart's voice.
Li Wei's heart races in her chest. Is this what awaits me? Will I end up like her?
She forces herself to step back, her breath ragged, her mind spinning. Jian is by her side in an instant, his hand gripping her arm with an almost painful urgency. His presence is a lifeline in the chaos that threatens to engulf her.
"Li Wei, are you alright?" Jian's voice is sharp with concern, but she can hear the fear beneath it. He knows that something is happening, something beyond their control.
She shakes her head, trying to clear the fog in her mind. The vision of Yue Xin lingers, her face twisted in agony, a silent warning of what might befall her if she succumbs to the Heart.
"I saw her again," Li Wei whispers, her voice trembling. "Yue Xin… she was consumed by the Heart. It took everything from her. Her life… her soul."
Jian's expression hardens with resolve. "We won't let that happen to you."
Li Wei looks up at him, her eyes filled with doubt. "I don't know if I can stop it, Jian. The Heart is… it's too powerful. It's already inside me. I can feel it, hear it."
He tightens his grip on her arm, his touch grounding her. "Then we fight it. Together. We'll find a way to break this curse."
She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The weight of the power inside her is unbearable, but Jian's words bring a spark of hope. Maybe there is a way out. Maybe together, they can destroy the Heart once and for all.
But even as she thinks it, the whispers return—louder this time, overwhelming her thoughts.
You cannot escape. You belong to the Heart now.
The room grows colder, the shadows deepening as the Heart pulses in time with her racing heart. Li Wei's vision blurs, her senses spinning. The pressure in her chest intensifies, and she feels herself losing control, her body trembling under the weight of the curse.
Jian holds her tighter, his voice urgent. "Li Wei, stay with me. You have to fight it."
She blinks, struggling to focus on his face. His expression is etched with worry, but beneath that, there's a fierce determination—a promise to protect her, no matter what.
"I can't… I can't…" Her voice breaks, and she feels herself slipping further, her mind teetering on the edge of madness.
Let go, Li Wei. Embrace the power…
The words come not from the Heart's voice, but from the depths of her own mind. It's as if the Heart's influence is crawling through her thoughts, turning them against her. The pulse inside her chest beats louder, faster, until it drowns out everything else.
And then, for a fleeting moment, she feels it—an overwhelming surge of power, raw and untamed. It's calling to her, urging her to give in. The world around her blurs, the whispers growing louder until they consume her entire being.
But then—something changes.
A sharp, clear thought cuts through the fog. It's Jian's voice. His words, like a lifeline in the storm, break through the madness.
"Li Wei, remember who you are."
Her mind snaps back into focus, and she suddenly realizes—he's right. She's not just the Heart. She's not just the power that courses through her veins. She is Li Wei. She has fought too hard to let it consume her now.
With a fierce cry, she clenches her fists, focusing all her willpower on blocking out the Heart's influence. The power inside her writhes, fighting against her resistance, but she doesn't back down.
"I will not be your puppet," Li Wei growls, her voice filled with defiance. "I will not let you take me."
The Heart's pulse falters for a moment, a hesitation that sends a tremor through the room. For the first time since its awakening, it feels like the power within her is under her control, not the other way around.
Jian's eyes widen with hope. "You're doing it, Li Wei. You're fighting back!"
The Heart pulses again, more violently this time, as though in anger. The shadows around them grow thicker, the air colder, but Li Wei doesn't falter. She stands her ground, her chest rising and falling with every breath, her determination burning brighter than the Heart's power.
"I am not yours to command," Li Wei says, her voice steady. "I will end this, or die trying."
And with that, she feels a surge of energy—a power unlike anything she's ever known—rising up from deep within her. The Heart is no longer in control. She is.