Aria plunged into darkness. Her body felt weightless, drifting without direction, as whispers surrounded her.Come back... Come back to us…She tried to open her eyes, but the world around her was nothing but thick, impenetrable shadows. Her heart pounded. This wasn’t just an illusion—this was real.A dim light flickered before her, taking the shape of a tall, imposing figure.Vaelin.“There’s no need to be afraid, Aria,” his voice echoed softly. “I’m here to help you.”Aria clenched her fists. “Help me? You kidnapped me!”Vaelin only smiled, lifting his hand. Instantly, the surrounding mist vanished, revealing a vast chamber lined with towering pillars inscribed with ancient symbols.Aria glanced around, searching for an exit. But there was no door. No windows.“You’re in the space between worlds,” Vaelin said, as if reading her thoughts. “This is where you will find the truth.”Aria shook her head firmly. “I don’t need your truth!”Vaelin remained unfazed. “Then why do you feel empt
Aria felt her heart pounding as the darkness summoned by Vaelin began to engulf them. A chilling cold crept over her skin, piercing deep into her bones.Lorian immediately stepped in front of Aria, his sword raised, his eyes burning with restrained fury. Rael stood beside him, even though his wounds had not fully healed."We can’t fight him now," Rael whispered, his voice tense. "He’s too strong."Lorian clenched his jaw. He knew Rael was right. But escaping from Vaelin was not an easy feat.Aria clutched Lorian’s arm tightly. "I don’t want to lose you."Lorian turned, his gaze softening. "You won’t lose us, Aria."Vaelin chuckled lightly. "So much wasted emotion."With a flick of his hand, shadows slithered across the ground, forming black hands that reached for their feet. Aria gasped as something cold wrapped around her ankle.Rael drew his dagger and slashed at the shadowy hands. "RUN!"The three of them leaped back, trying to escape the grasp of darkness. But Vaelin did not remai
The forest still echoed with the remnants of the energy Aria had unleashed. The air felt heavy, as if a battle between two vastly unequal forces had just taken place. Yet, beneath the silence, they all knew—this was far from over.Lorian struggled to steady his breathing. The wounds on his body burned like fire, but he endured them. His gaze never left Aria, who still stood at the center of the faint blue glow.Aria stared at her palms, feeling the lingering pulse of a power she didn’t fully understand. The light gradually faded, leaving a warmth on her skin—but also a creeping sense of fear in her mind.“What just happened to me?” she whispered.Rael exhaled sharply, shifting his stance to stand upright. Pain still coursed through him from the previous blow, but his injuries mattered far less than the situation they now faced."You unleashed something even Vaelin didn’t expect," Rael said quietly. "And now, he’s more interested in you than ever before."Aria swallowed hard. She had a
The towering black shadow pulsed as if it were alive. Its crimson eyes gleamed with savage hunger and unrelenting hatred. Aria swallowed hard, feeling the icy chill prickling her skin, despite the blue energy still surging within her.Lorian stood beside her, sword raised, though they both knew ordinary weapons would do little against creatures like this. Rael gripped his dagger tighter, his jaw clenched as he fixed his gaze on the figure before them.Vaelin.The man still wore that same unsettling smile, as if all of this was nothing more than a game to him. His black cloak billowed in the wind, stirred by the dark energy swirling around him."You really think you can escape me?" Vaelin’s voice was like poison, slithering into their minds.A shiver ran down Aria’s spine. There was something in his tone that made her tremble—not just in fear, but something deeper, more primal.Lorian stepped forward, his body tense. "We’re not handing Aria over to you."Vaelin chuckled softly. "Handin
The atmosphere inside Lumina Fortress was so silent that Aria could hear her own heartbeat. The air was cold—colder than it should be. The flickering light from the altar in the center of the room wavered, as if uncertain whether to remain lit or fade into darkness entirely.Lorian stood beside her, his sharp eyes scanning every corner of the chamber. Meanwhile, Rael leaned against the wall, clutching the wound on his ribs, blood still seeping through his fingers."We can't stay here forever," Rael muttered, tension thick in his voice.Lorian nodded. "I know. But we need time to plan. Vaelin won't give up so easily."Aria remained fixated on the altar. Something inside her felt… awakened.She reached out, touching the cold stone surface once more. And at that moment, a surge of visions crashed into her mind.A flash of blue light.Voices screaming.Blood.And a promise, etched deep within her consciousness, as if it belonged to another life."Aria, you are our last hope. If you fail…
The sky above Lumina Fortress was dark, as if mirroring the tension that loomed over the place. The cold night air swept through the ruins, carrying the scent of blood and lingering magic from the battle that had just ended.Aria stood among the rubble, her fingers still gripping the bluish-silver sword she had just discovered. The glow of the blade dimmed, as if exhausted after driving Vaelin away moments ago. But Aria knew… the battle wasn’t over.“We need to leave before he returns,” Rael said, his voice hoarse and cautious.Lorian, standing beside Aria, nodded in agreement. “Vaelin might have retreated, but that doesn’t mean he’s given up. He’s definitely planning something.”Aria bit her lip. Her whole body still trembled, not from the cold, but from the surge of power that had nearly consumed her. The blue light within her still pulsed, ready to explode at any moment.“I won’t run,” Aria finally said, looking at her two companions with determination. “We have to fight him to the
The morning air still carried the remnants of the night’s chill as Aria, Lorian, and Rael stood among the ruins of the castle where Vaelin had been defeated. The rising sun cast its golden light over the last traces of darkness that had shrouded the place overnight.Yet, despite their victory, none of them felt truly relieved.Aria stared at the sword in her hand—the weapon that had absorbed Vaelin’s power and sealed the darkness within its glowing blue blade. But something felt... off.“We should leave,” Lorian broke the silence. “No one knows if any of Vaelin’s followers remain.”Rael nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Aria. “Are you alright?”Aria let out a slow breath. “I don’t know.”Lorian and Rael exchanged glances. They could sense the change in her. Since last night’s battle, something in her aura had shifted.“What do you feel?” Lorian asked, his voice softer than usual.Aria bit her lip before answering, “Ever since I killed Vaelin, something has been echoing in my mind
Rael stared blankly at the spot where Aria had disappeared. The air around him felt colder, as if all warmth had vanished along with her departure.“No…” he whispered.Lorian slammed his sword into the ground, his breath heavy with rage. “Damn it! I knew this wasn’t over!”Rael lifted his head, his eyes filled with both confusion and fear. “What do we do now?”Lorian remained silent for a moment before responding in a firm voice, “We take this to the Tower of Light. If anyone can help her, they’re there.”The two of them ran through the tower’s massive gates, which swung open as they approached. The long corridor they entered was illuminated by floating magical lights, casting an almost ethereal glow.At the end of the hallway, an elderly man in white robes awaited them. His silver hair and sharp gaze marked him as someone of great importance.“We need help!” Rael called out.The old man—Grandmaster Elroth—studied them with keen interest. “I’ve been expecting you.”Lorian was taken ab
Aria stood frozen on the balcony, her heart pounding violently in her chest. The cold night wind bit at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the fear coursing through her veins.Down below, an army of hooded figures stormed the castle gates with overwhelming force. The guards fought back, but they were clearly outnumbered.Amid the chaos, a woman stepped forward with effortless grace.Seraphina.The Goddess of Darkness—who was supposed to exist only in legends—now stood before her, real and undeniable.Seraphina’s golden eyes gleamed in the darkness, her lips curling into a faint smile.“Aria…” Her voice reached Aria’s ears despite the distance between them.A shiver ran down Aria’s spine.Rael, standing beside her, grabbed her hand. “We have to go! She’s here for you!”Aria snapped out of her daze and rushed after Rael. They hurried down the staircase, heading toward the great hall, where the royal knights were already preparing for battle.Lorian and Elroth were there, along wit
Aria remained silent, her mind consumed by the name she had just heard.Seraphina.The Goddess of Darkness.How could she have seen a figure that was supposed to exist only in legends?Rael watched her with concern. "Aria, are you alright?"Aria nodded slowly, though her mind was filled with confusion. "I... I saw her. She spoke to me."Lorian frowned. "What did she say?"Aria tried to recall Seraphina's words. "She said she had been waiting for me for a long time."Elroth let out a heavy sigh. "That doesn’t make sense. If Seraphina is real and has been waiting for you… that means you have some connection to her."A chill ran down Aria’s spine. "That’s impossible. I’m no one.""But you can wield the power of Light," Rael pointed out. "And now… the Goddess of Darkness has come to you?"Lorian looked at the altar before them. "This stone might be the key to everything."Elroth stepped closer, staring at the black stone that still pulsed with energy. "I can feel the power within it. This
The darkness was supposed to be gone.Aria could still feel the lingering warmth of light energy coursing through her body, yet deep inside, something felt off. Like a faint whisper in the air, an elusive presence trying to break into her thoughts.Rael still held her hand, making sure she remained steady. "How do you feel?"Aria let out a heavy breath. "I'm fine. Just a little… empty."Lorian gazed at the altar where Vaelin had vanished. "Then we need to make sure he's truly gone."Elroth frowned. "He's not completely erased. I can still sense traces of his presence."Aria turned to him, eyes filled with concern. "What do you mean?"Elroth looked down at the cracked temple floor. "His energy hasn't disappeared. It has only moved. He might still be searching for a new vessel."Rael clicked his tongue. "Unbelievable. So, we can never really kill him, can we?"Lorian sighed. "He's not an ordinary being. He has surpassed death itself."Silence settled over them.Aria clenched her fists.
Their footsteps echoed through the dark, cold stone corridor. The flickering light from the torch Elroth carried barely illuminated a few steps ahead, casting long, shifting shadows along the walls.Aria could feel the air here was different. It was heavier, as if filled with an unseen presence. With every step she took, a cold shiver crept down her spine.“This temple has been abandoned for a long time,” Lorian whispered, tracing the ancient carvings on the walls. “But I can still feel the old energy flowing through it.”Elroth nodded slowly. “This place was once a temple of light, but after Vaelin's influence seeped in, it became something much darker.”Rael let out a heavy sigh. “Why do we always end up in places filled with dark energy? Can’t we, just once, fight in a more pleasant setting?”Lorian shot him a look. “Since when has battling darkness ever been pleasant?”Rael shrugged but then stopped short, his expression shifting as he spotted something ahead.“Oh, great. That’s n
Rael could still feel the warmth of Aria’s hand in his grasp. They had just returned from the battle inside Aria’s consciousness, successfully driving Vaelin out of her mind. But the victory felt bitter.Because they all knew—this wasn’t truly over.Elroth stepped forward, his gaze sharp. “You need to get ready. Vaelin isn’t the type to give up so easily.”Aria took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her body still felt weak, as if the battle had drained every last bit of her strength.Rael turned to Lorian. “We need to make sure he never comes back. Is there a way to seal him away forever?”Elroth shook his head. “Vaelin is an ancient spirit. As long as darkness exists in this world, he will always find a way back.”Lorian clenched his fists. “So we just wait for him to attack again?”Elroth’s expression was grave. “No. We strike first.”The room tensed.Rael frowned. “What do you mean?”Elroth pulled a thick book from the shelf and flipped it open. “Vaelin may have lost Aria’s
Rael stared blankly at the spot where Aria had disappeared. The air around him felt colder, as if all warmth had vanished along with her departure.“No…” he whispered.Lorian slammed his sword into the ground, his breath heavy with rage. “Damn it! I knew this wasn’t over!”Rael lifted his head, his eyes filled with both confusion and fear. “What do we do now?”Lorian remained silent for a moment before responding in a firm voice, “We take this to the Tower of Light. If anyone can help her, they’re there.”The two of them ran through the tower’s massive gates, which swung open as they approached. The long corridor they entered was illuminated by floating magical lights, casting an almost ethereal glow.At the end of the hallway, an elderly man in white robes awaited them. His silver hair and sharp gaze marked him as someone of great importance.“We need help!” Rael called out.The old man—Grandmaster Elroth—studied them with keen interest. “I’ve been expecting you.”Lorian was taken ab
The morning air still carried the remnants of the night’s chill as Aria, Lorian, and Rael stood among the ruins of the castle where Vaelin had been defeated. The rising sun cast its golden light over the last traces of darkness that had shrouded the place overnight.Yet, despite their victory, none of them felt truly relieved.Aria stared at the sword in her hand—the weapon that had absorbed Vaelin’s power and sealed the darkness within its glowing blue blade. But something felt... off.“We should leave,” Lorian broke the silence. “No one knows if any of Vaelin’s followers remain.”Rael nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Aria. “Are you alright?”Aria let out a slow breath. “I don’t know.”Lorian and Rael exchanged glances. They could sense the change in her. Since last night’s battle, something in her aura had shifted.“What do you feel?” Lorian asked, his voice softer than usual.Aria bit her lip before answering, “Ever since I killed Vaelin, something has been echoing in my mind
The sky above Lumina Fortress was dark, as if mirroring the tension that loomed over the place. The cold night air swept through the ruins, carrying the scent of blood and lingering magic from the battle that had just ended.Aria stood among the rubble, her fingers still gripping the bluish-silver sword she had just discovered. The glow of the blade dimmed, as if exhausted after driving Vaelin away moments ago. But Aria knew… the battle wasn’t over.“We need to leave before he returns,” Rael said, his voice hoarse and cautious.Lorian, standing beside Aria, nodded in agreement. “Vaelin might have retreated, but that doesn’t mean he’s given up. He’s definitely planning something.”Aria bit her lip. Her whole body still trembled, not from the cold, but from the surge of power that had nearly consumed her. The blue light within her still pulsed, ready to explode at any moment.“I won’t run,” Aria finally said, looking at her two companions with determination. “We have to fight him to the
The atmosphere inside Lumina Fortress was so silent that Aria could hear her own heartbeat. The air was cold—colder than it should be. The flickering light from the altar in the center of the room wavered, as if uncertain whether to remain lit or fade into darkness entirely.Lorian stood beside her, his sharp eyes scanning every corner of the chamber. Meanwhile, Rael leaned against the wall, clutching the wound on his ribs, blood still seeping through his fingers."We can't stay here forever," Rael muttered, tension thick in his voice.Lorian nodded. "I know. But we need time to plan. Vaelin won't give up so easily."Aria remained fixated on the altar. Something inside her felt… awakened.She reached out, touching the cold stone surface once more. And at that moment, a surge of visions crashed into her mind.A flash of blue light.Voices screaming.Blood.And a promise, etched deep within her consciousness, as if it belonged to another life."Aria, you are our last hope. If you fail…