"Come here." Valroth gestured.
Taking the collar from her, he fastened it around her neck once more. It was a symbol of what, she did not know. Love? No. Not in Valroth's heart. He no longer had the capacity to love. Trust? Perhaps. Aeris trusted him unconditionally. She would live for him, die for him. And Valroth? He trusted her devotion. This was the twisted bond he had crafted with his own hands. And Aeris willingly sank deeper into it.
"It's mine. Of course, I would find it." Valroth smoothed her hair, admiring his handiwork.
"And you, you are mine, too." He tapped her forehead with his finger. "I won't lose you."
Aeris's face blossomed into a radiant smile, unrestrained and full of joy. She wanted the whole world to know how much she loved hearing him say that she was his. But then, her gaze flickered to Valroth's torn armor, particularly the damaged plating on his right shoulder. She remembered the pain she had felt earlier.
Her smile froze. She held her breath.
"What… happened?" Her eyes scanned him frantically, desperate to find no further wounds. But deep down, she knew—her body knew. After all, they shared the same pain.
"Do you remember Morvena?" Valroth's voice turned cold. Aeris nodded, recalling the image of the woman entwined with him in a kiss.
"She has ties to Lucifer. And she bears my mark. I assume that's why Lucifer decided to act against me. He sent several people after me—three of them were spellcasters. One struck me down with lightning, another used spiders to drain my power. Then, you appeared. You saved me."
Lucifer? She had heard Morvena mention that name before.
Spellcasters? What were those?
I… saved Master?
"I… saved you…? No, I didn't… I didn't disobey your order… I wanted to save you because I could feel your pain and weakness… but you told me to leave… I heard your voice telling me to go… I wanted to find you, but I didn't want to disobey… you said…" Aeris stammered, struggling to piece her thoughts together.
"You don't need to explain. I know. You followed my order. Nyssara, on the other hand, did what you wished you could do."
"Nyssara…? Nyssara…?" That name triggered something in Aeris. Fleeting images flashed through her mind, memories clawing their way to the surface. But she refused to acknowledge them. She shook her head. "I don't remember."
"She's inside you. Another version of you. I believe, at some point, you split yourself apart, creating her to bear the pain you couldn't endure. That's why you remember nothing. That's why you became the way you were."
"Another me?" A gruesome image of mangled flesh and blood flashed in her mind. Aeris let out a piercing scream.