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