A litany of blood curdling and agonized screams echoed throughout the illuminated cavern.
Xaryus and Zadius writhed in pain, their bodies convulsing wildly as their eyes rolled to the back of their heads.
It felt as if a blazing flame had ignited beneath their skin. They were trained to endure torture, but the pain they experienced was far beyond torture; it was torment… Endless, torment.
Suddenly, their convulsing bodies simultaneously flashed with a pale blue light for a moment before quickly fading; giving way to another wave of excruciatingly, daunting pain.
Zadius fell onto his knees as he writhed in unimaginable anguish, each breath he took was strained and his consciousness was quickly fading; yet it still held firm.
Stigma Trait: [Ensnared Soul]
Trait Description: Your soul has been ensnared, devoured and born anew by ■■■■■'s will. Your resistance to mental and soul attacks have greatly increased.
Because of the traits embedded within his stigma, even if Zadius wanted to fall unconscious from the blinding pain, his soul would not allow it.
"Damn it!" He cursed inwardly.
Unbeknownst to him, a band-like, light blue marking appeared at the top of his shoulder, moving down the sides of his arms before finally ending in a circular ring at the back of his hand.
Two bands with a similar glow ran from his hairline over his pain filled eyes, stopping just below them.
Zadius clenched his teeth, trying to bear the pain as best he could.
His indomitable soul refused to buckle under the sudden attack but then a third wave of pain ran through his body, threatening to sunder his stalwart soul.
Throwing his head back, he wailed in pure agony.
It was so excruciating that Zadius pondered biting off his own tongue, but he couldn't bring himself to such a decision.
How could he leave his brother to suffer alone?
Releasing another echoing scream, Zadius slammed his fist into the ground, cracking it beneath the force of his blow.
His knuckles split and blood began to flow from between them. Whilst he raised his fist into the air again, a faint familiar voice whispered to him.
[Congratulations Zadius! You have removed a seal of fate!]
[Your stigma has awakened.]
[Seals: 1/3]
But his mind had already gone blank; his stubborn mind and soul finally faltered.
***
Xaryus released a guttural groan, unable to discern his surroundings. The wave of pain that washed over his body almost made his knees buckle but he stood tall.
Not of his own strength but because the sheer amount of pain had sent Xaryus into shock; his muscles locked and his veins began to press against his skin.
As he roared in pain, pale blue markings began to glow across his body.
A single, thick, curved line flowed from beneath each of his eyes and down to his chin and two rings appeared within his palms.
Tears slowly began to flow down Xaryus' face in tandem with the strange glowing mark. The pain was becoming too much; he didn't know if he could take it anymore.
Then, another wave of disgustingly dreadful pain shot through his body.
Reflexively, his body curled backwards, flipping his head back and revealing his tightly clenched teeth.
He could feel his consciousness leaving him but amongst that feeling he felt as if a strange entity was consoling him.
Then, he heard a familiar voice speak within his mind.
[Congratulations Xaryus! You have removed a seal of fate!]
[Your soul grows brighter]
[Your stigma has awakened]
[Seals: 1/3]
Finally, Xaryus fell over to the ground behind the now unconscious Zadius.
As the two brothers fell to the ground unconscious, the illuminated cavern fell into silence. The cold woman stood beside them and spoke as if they could still hear her.
"I have unsealed one of many shackles placed upon your souls. Your rate of growth will now increase greatly but your demise has also been hastened. "She paused for a moment before continuing.
"This is my final form of payment; I am no longer in debt to you."
Her last sentence was not directed towards Xaryus or Zadius, but someone she held a deep renown and respect for.
She had long forgotten the man's face, but she always remembered his stoic aura and the wide toothy grin he always wore.
Just reminiscing on the lost memories of that man the pale woman couldn't help but feel comforted. So much so that she didn't realize that she was wearing a genuine soft smile.