Aria's mind was reeling with the implications of the woman's words. She was a part of Aria's past, a part of her own identity. But how was that possible?
The woman's eyes seemed to gleam with triumph, as if she knew that Aria was struggling to understand. "You don't remember, do you?" she said, her voice dripping with malice. "You don't remember who you really are."
Aria's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. What did the woman mean? And what secrets was she hiding?
Suddenly, the woman reached out and grabbed Aria's wrist. Aria felt a surge of pain as the woman's magic coursed through her veins. She tried to pull away, but the woman's grip was too strong.
And then, everything went black.
Aria's world went dark, her senses overwhelmed by the sheer force of the woman's magic. She felt herself being lifted off the ground, her body suspended in mid-air as the woman's energy coursed through her veins.
As she hung there, helpless and immobile, Aria saw visions of the past. She saw herself as a child, playing in a sun-drenched field. She saw her parents, smiling and happy, their faces filled with love and adoration.
But as the visions progressed, Aria saw something that made her blood run cold. She saw her parents, their faces twisted in fear and pain. She saw herself, her eyes black as coal, her soul consumed by a darkness that threatened to destroy her.
And then, Aria saw the woman. She saw her standing over Aria's parents, her eyes blazing with a fierce and malevolent energy. She saw her raise her hand, and Aria's parents disappeared in a flash of light.
Aria's world went dark, her senses reeling from the sheer intensity of the vision. She felt herself being lowered to the ground, the woman's grip on her wrist relaxing.
As she looked up at the woman, Aria saw something that made her heart skip a beat. She saw a glimmer of tears in the woman's eyes, a spark of sadness that seemed to connect them on a deep and fundamental level.
"Why?" Aria asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The woman's eyes seemed to flash with pain, and for a moment, Aria thought she saw a glimmer of the person she once was. "I did it to protect you," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I did it to save you from the darkness that was consuming you."
Aria's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. What darkness was the woman talking about? And how had she saved Aria from it?
As she looked at the woman, Aria saw something that made her blood run cold. She saw a glimmer of recognition, a spark of familiarity that seemed to connect them on a deep and fundamental level.
And in that moment, Aria knew the truth. She knew that the woman was not just a stranger, but a part of her own past, a part of her own identity.
The woman's eyes seemed to gleam with triumph, as if she knew that Aria had finally understood. And in that moment, Aria knew that she was in grave danger. She knew that the woman would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and that Aria was the only one who could stop her.
With a fierce determination, Aria launched herself at the woman. The two of them clashed, their magic swirling and colliding in a spectacular display of power and energy.
As they fought, Aria felt a surge of power flow through her. She felt the ancient magic rising up to defend her, a wild and untamed energy that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
The woman's eyes seemed to flash with fear, and for a moment, Aria thought she saw a glimmer of the person she once was. But it was too late. Aria's magic was too strong, and the woman was no match for her.
With a final, decisive blow, Aria struck the woman down. She felt a surge of power flow through her, a sense of triumph and victory that seemed to echo through the very fabric of the universe itself.
And as she stood there, her chest heaving with exhaustion, Aria knew that she had finally found the truth. She knew that she was not just a hero, but a pawn in a much larger game. And she knew that she would stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of her past, and to claim her rightful place in the world.