FROM A FORGOTTEN PAST, AND THE CALL OF DESTINY (Part 1)
The wind blew with a cold, heavy air, as if the earth itself sensed the coming storm about to break loose. The camp awoke slowly, but the tension still lingered. No one could forget what had happened the previous night.
Zyrion, still trapped behind the white iron mask, sat leaning against a dry log, his wrists tied as a precaution. He didn't speak, barely moved, but his mere presence stirred unease throughout the group.
Caelithra, who had been closer to him than anyone else, pretended not to care, but her eyes drifted toward him every now and then, as if searching for a sign that he was still himself.
Velkran and Quindarion kept their guard up, ready to intervene if anything went wrong. Karion, on the other hand, had grown quieter than usual—his usual joking attitude seemed to have vanished with time.
Taliena watched everyone from a safe distance, her thoughts as unreadable as ever.
The tension was almost unbearable.
Velkran spun his sword between his fingers, glancing at Quindarion with a serious expression.
"How long do you think we can keep him like this?" he asked quietly, referring to Zyrion.
Quindarion crossed his arms. "I don't know. Whatever they did to him… it's not just a simple curse. His energy is distorted."
"Which means he could turn on us any moment," Velkran muttered.
Quindarion sighed. "Yes… but it also means there's still something of him inside that mask. If we wanted to get rid of him, we would've done it already. But Zyrion is more than just an ally… he's the key to all of this."
Velkran gritted his teeth. "Then we need to find a way to bring him back before it's too late."
Kyrahna approached Caelithra, who was sharpening her dagger without real focus.
"You've been staring at him all morning," Kyrahna remarked, crossing her arms.
Caelithra clicked her tongue. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kyrahna raised a brow. "I'm not stupid, Caelithra. Neither are you. Something inside you changed when you saw him with that mask, didn't it?"
Caelithra stopped sharpening her dagger and looked at her coldly. "Don't be ridiculous."
Kyrahna smiled calmly. "Relax. I won't say anything. I just want to know… what are you planning to do about it?"
Caelithra tightened her grip on the dagger. "Whatever it takes."
Karion was kicking a small rock absentmindedly when Taliena approached him.
"You've changed," she said bluntly.
Karion didn't even look at her. "We all change."
"Yes, but you used to be the one who kept everyone's spirits up. The one cracking jokes even when everything was falling apart. Now you hardly speak."
Karion sighed and finally looked at her. "Because I'm tired, Taliena. Tired of watching everything crumble. Tired of not having answers. Tired of losing people."
Taliena tilted her head. "Then why are you still here?"
Karion gave a sad smile. "Because I haven't lost the most important thing yet."
Taliena studied him silently, as if trying to read his soul.
"Well," she said at last. "I hope that reason is strong enough when the time comes to choose."
Karion frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Taliena only gave a mysterious smile and walked away.
The group had gathered around the campfire when suddenly, Zyrion moved.
Everyone went on high alert instantly.
"Zyrion," Quindarion said cautiously. "Can you hear us?"
Zyrion tilted his head slowly, as if trying to recognize the voices.
"Where… am I?" he murmured, his voice rough.
Caelithra stepped forward. "You're still with us. But… something was done to you."
Zyrion flexed his fingers slowly, as if awakening from a long sleep.
But then, his body tensed, and a painful growl escaped his throat.
"Back!" Velkran shouted, putting himself between Zyrion and the group.
Zyrion reached for the mask, as if trying to remove it. But the moment he touched it, an unbearable pain shot through him, and he let out a scream that tore through the camp.
The group watched in horror as the mask reacted—alive, conscious, sinister.
"Zyrion!" Caelithra cried, stepping toward him.
But at that instant, the mask burst with dark light, releasing a blast of energy that forced everyone back.
When the dust settled, Zyrion stood tall.
But he was different.
His posture.His aura.Everything.
And as he lifted his head, the white mask reflected the moonlight with a cold, terrifying glow.
Caelithra felt a shiver crawl down her spine.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
The silence following the explosion of energy was suffocating.
The group stood frozen, watching Zyrion with a mix of fear and uncertainty. The white mask on his face pulsed faintly, as if alive—like a prison forged from darkness itself.
Caelithra's heartbeat quickened.
"Zyrion," she whispered.
Zyrion didn't respond.
His body was rigid, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles seemed to crack. The energy around him was dense… heavy… suffocating.
Velkran drew his sword at once. "Everyone, fall back. We have no idea what's happening."
"No!" Caelithra snapped, turning toward him with fury. "We can't just—"
She didn't finish.
Zyrion moved.
So fast that nearly no one saw it.
In an instant, he was at the center of the camp, breathing heavily. The air around him grew colder.
Quindarion noticed it first.
"Something… is controlling him," he murmured, analyzing the flow of energy.
Taliena frowned. "Are you certain?"
"Completely."
Karion narrowed his eyes. "Then if it's not him… what exactly are we looking at right now?"
Zyrion tilted his head slowly, as if listening to voices no one else could hear.
Then he spoke.
But not with his own voice.
Something deeper.Darker.Ancient.
"The fragments… must be reunited."
His voice echoed unnaturally.
A chill ran through the group.
Velkran scowled. "What the hell is he talking about?"
Without thinking, Caelithra walked toward him. "Zyrion, listen to me. You don't have to do this. Whatever's happening, we'll fix it together."
But when she reached out to touch him, Zyrion's head snapped toward her with chilling speed.
Before she could react, an invisible force hurled her backwards.
"Caelithra!" Kyrahna shouted, running to her.
Velkran didn't hesitate.
He charged Zyrion, sword glowing with golden light.
But Zyrion moved with inhuman speed, dodging effortlessly.
Quindarion conjured a barrier just in time to block a blast of energy from Zyrion—an attack so powerful it forced everyone back.
"Damn it," Velkran spat blood, dropping to one knee.
Zyrion stood completely still, the mask glowing faintly.
"Time… is running out," he murmured, that eerie echo still present.
Caelithra pushed herself up, breathing heavily.
"Enough," she said, her voice unshakable.
Zyrion turned his head toward her.
Caelithra stepped toward him—fearless.
"If something is controlling you… then fight it. Fight back."
Zyrion didn't move.
Caelithra clenched her fists.
"Do you remember what you told me the first time we fought together? You said you'd never let the darkness consume you. You said we'd always find a way to win."
Zyrion trembled.
Just for a moment.
But it was enough.
The echo in his voice faltered.
Caelithra took another step. "I won't let you disappear inside that mask, Zyrion. If you can't break free… then I will break it for you."
A faint spark flickered across the mask.
And then—for the first time—a weak, trembling voice escaped it.
"Caelithra…"
It was enough.
With a burst of energy, the mask's glow faded, and Zyrion collapsed to his knees.
The entire group froze in astonishment.
Caelithra ran to him and wrapped her arms around him without hesitation.
"I told you," she whispered into his chest. "I'll never let you go."
Zyrion struggled to breathe, but his trembling arms managed to hold her.
The battle wasn't over.
But for the first time in a long time… there was hope.
TO BE CONTINUED…