In a Room at the Temple of Light
The door closed softly behind Emily.
Only then did the three priests allow some of the tension they had maintained in front of her to fade.
They walked through the inner corridors of the temple until they reached a large chamber illuminated by dozens of golden lamps.
At the far end, standing before an enormous mural of the Goddess of Light, the Herald was waiting for them.
The priests bowed.
—An heir with Epsilon affinity... —one of them murmured. —That is too much power for a noble.
—And his affinity is natural —another added. —He has had it since birth.
The third remained silent for several seconds.
—If he were to receive a divine blessing...
The sentence hung in the air.
The Herald did not turn immediately.
—He will not.
The three priests looked up.
—Are you certain, Master?
—To receive one, he would have to go to the Empire. And if we are talking about a blessing related to his affinity...
The Herald finally turned his head.
—The Goddess of Darkness would not grant him one.
One of the priests frowned slightly.
—But his affinity is Darkness.
—That does not mean he is worthy of a blessing.
—Then it is not a matter of compatibility?
A calm smile appeared on the Herald's face.
—No.
He slowly approached the mural.
—It is a matter of purpose.
The priests fell silent.
The Herald raised a hand and placed it against the golden figure of the goddess.
—Nobles are born into a world that already belongs to them. They inherit lands, titles, armies... even the right to decide over the lives of others.
His voice remained calm.
—They believe the world exists to preserve what their ancestors built.
His fingers traced the surface of the mural.
—But the gods do not protect the structures created by men forever.
One of the priests swallowed.
—Then... what will happen to him?
The Herald gazed at the figure of the goddess.
—The same thing that will happen to everyone who stands in the way of the new cycle.
A pause.
—The heroine will be the light that reveals the shadows of this kingdom.
His eyes hardened.
—And when the time comes, she will know whom she must face.
No one spoke Lusian's name.
There was no need.
They were all thinking of him.
Days Later, Near the Capital
The air smelled of burnt iron and wet earth.
There was no storm.
No wind.
Only an unnatural silence.
Emily walked alongside the priests as the four heroes advanced across the devastated terrain.
They had discovered the first signs several hours earlier.
Strange markings covered the ground.
Incomplete circles.
Ancient symbols.
Remnants of warped chains.
And several areas where the earth appeared to have been disturbed from beneath.
One of the priests crouched down.
He ran his fingers near one of the markings without actually touching it.
—This isn't natural.
Emily approached.
—What happened?
The priest slowly shook his head.
—I don't know.
He looked across the field.
—But someone is altering these creatures.
Emily frowned.
—Altering them?
—Their behavior has changed.
The priest pointed at the markings.
—They don't attack like they used to. They seem to be responding to something.
Alejandro rested a hand on his sword.
—Then we'll find out what's controlling them.
Leonardo smiled.
—And when we find it, I'll take care of it.
Kara glanced at him.
—You don't even know what we're looking for.
—I don't need to know.
Leonardo raised a hand.
Small bolts of lightning began running across his fingers.
—I just need to find something I can hit.
Emily sighed.
—Try not to separate.
Alejandro smiled.
—We're not children.
Emily looked at him.
—That doesn't mean you know how to work together.
Alejandro opened his mouth to respond.
A creature emerged from among the ruins.
It was small.
Barely larger than a dog.
Alejandro didn't even wait.
He drew his sword.
Flames covered the blade.
—I'll handle it.
He advanced.
One strike.
The creature fell in two.
Alejandro raised his sword.
—See?
Leonardo laughed.
—That was way too easy.
—Then do it better.
—Gladly.
Leonardo extended both hands.
Lightning exploded forward.
BOOM!
Three creatures were struck at the same time.
Leonardo grinned.
—Did you see that?
Emily closed her eyes for a moment.
—Leonardo.
—What?
—Control your attacks.
—I didn't even hit anyone.
—This time.
Leonardo grimaced.
—I'm just doing my job.
—Your job also includes making sure no one gets hurt by your attacks.
Kara watched the two of them.
—You're wasting time.
Alejandro looked at her.
—And what do you suggest?
Kara pointed toward the field.
—Look.
Everyone fell silent.
In the distance, several creatures were moving among the ruins.
They didn't seem to have noticed them.
Kara narrowed her eyes.
—They're not running.
Emily watched more carefully.
—You're right.
—They're not attacking either.
Alejandro raised his sword.
—Then let's finish them.
Kara shook her head.
—Wait.
Too late.
Alejandro charged forward.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
—What...?
A huge creature burst out from beneath the earth.
Alejandro barely had time to raise his sword.
CRASH!
The impact sent him flying several meters.
—Alejandro!
Emily took a step toward him.
Kara had already moved.
She jumped.
Her sword came down.
Slash!
The creature fell in two.
Kara landed in front of Alejandro.
—Get up.
Alejandro slowly stood.
—I could handle it.
Kara looked at him.
—No.
Alejandro clenched his teeth.
—Yes, I could.
—Then tell me why I ended up saving you.
Alejandro said nothing.
Leonardo let out a small laugh.
—That had to hurt.
Alejandro glared at him.
—Shut up.
Emily raised a hand.
—Enough.
Then they heard a sound.
First one.
Then another.
And another.
The ground began to move.
Emily looked toward the horizon.
—What...?
Dozens of creatures began emerging from among the ruins.
Some crawled out of the earth.
Others appeared between the rocks.
Several descended from the hills.
But something was strange.
They weren't attacking.
They were gathering.
Kara slowly raised her sword.
—Now this is more like it.
The creatures began advancing.
All at once.
Alejandro smiled.
—Perfect.
Flames covered his sword.
—Now I can have some fun.
Emily positioned herself in front of the priests.
—Maintain formation.
Leonardo raised both hands.
—Let's go!
Kara took a deep breath.
—Don't separate.
Alejandro looked at her.
—Was that an order?
—Yes.
Alejandro smiled.
—Then try to keep up.
And he took off running.
Kara gritted her teeth.
—Idiot...
The battle began.
The creatures came like a tidal wave.
Alejandro opened the front with an enormous wave of fire.
BOOM!
Several creatures were sent flying.
—One down!
Leonardo appeared on the flank.
A bolt of lightning pierced three creatures.
CRACK!
—Three!
Alejandro shouted from the front.
—Don't steal my kills!
—Kill them faster!
Emily maintained shields around the priests while small wounds began closing under her magic.
Kara moved among them.
One strike.
A creature fell.
Another strike.
Another creature fell.
She wasted no movement.
But then something changed.
The creatures stopped attacking directly.
One began circling Alejandro.
Another headed toward Leonardo.
Two broke away from the main group.
Emily saw them.
—Kara!
Kara turned.
The creatures weren't coming toward her.
They were heading for the priests.
—Emily, shield!
Emily extended both hands.
A barrier of light appeared in front of the priests.
BOOM!
The creatures slammed into it.
Emily staggered backward.
—I can't hold it for long!
Kara ran toward them.
But then she heard a shout.
—Kara!
Alejandro was surrounded.
He had kept advancing.
Too far.
Kara looked at the priests.
Then at Alejandro.
For the first time, she hesitated.
She couldn't be in both places.
—Emily!
—Go!
Kara shot forward.
She reached Alejandro just as a creature was about to strike him.
CLANG!
Her sword blocked the attack.
—I told you not to separate.
Alejandro shoved the creature back.
—I didn't need help!
—Then stop needing to be saved!
Kara pierced the creature.
But another appeared behind her.
Alejandro saw it.
—To your right!
Kara ducked.
The attack passed over her head.
She rose and struck.
The creature fell.
They looked at each other for a moment.
Alejandro smiled.
—Nice warning.
Kara nodded.
—Nice attack.
It was the first time neither of them argued.
Then Leonardo shouted.
—Guys!
Everyone looked.
A massive creature had appeared behind him.
Leonardo turned too late.
The creature raised a claw.
Emily extended her hand.
—Leonardo!
A shield appeared.
BOOM!
The claw struck the barrier.
Emily staggered backward.
—I can't hold it!
Leonardo looked at the creature.
Then at Emily.
And for the first time, he didn't try to prove anything.
—Kara!
Kara understood.
—Alejandro!
Alejandro raised his sword.
The flames grew.
—I'm coming!
Alejandro unleashed a wave of fire.
The creature staggered backward.
Leonardo took advantage of the opening.
Lightning surged through his entire body.
—Now!
Kara appeared from the side.
Her sword pierced one of the creature's legs.
The creature dropped to its knees.
Leonardo released all his power.
BOOOOOOM!
The creature was engulfed by lightning.
It fell.
Silence.
Leonardo was breathing heavily.
He looked at his hands.
He had spent far more mana than he expected.
Emily approached.
—Are you okay?
Leonardo nodded.
—Yeah.
Alejandro walked over.
—Good attack.
Leonardo smiled.
—Yours wasn't bad either.
Kara watched them.
She said nothing.
But this time, she didn't walk away either.
The remaining creatures began to retreat.
Emily watched them.
—Wait.
Alejandro raised his sword.
—What's wrong?
—They're not running.
Kara looked across the field.
The creatures had stopped.
All at once.
Then they turned.
And began retreating.
Not in every direction.
In a single direction.
North.
Leonardo frowned.
—Are they escaping?
Kara shook her head.
—No.
Emily understood.
—They're returning.
Alejandro tightened his grip on his sword.
—Returning where?
No one answered.
The four of them watched as the creatures disappeared into the distance.
Then the priest accompanying them spoke.
—This confirms our suspicions.
Emily turned.
—What does?
The priest looked at the markings on the ground.
—We aren't fighting monsters that have simply become more violent.
He pointed toward the creatures disappearing on the horizon.
—We're fighting something that is learning how to use them.
Silence fell over the field again.
Emily looked at her companions.
Alejandro was still holding his sword.
Leonardo was breathing heavily.
Kara remained motionless.
They had won.
But none of them felt victorious.
They had discovered something far worse.
The creatures hadn't been attacking at random.
They had been testing them.
And whoever was behind them...
had learned something from this battle.
That Same Night
The meeting in the capital was tense.
The reports about the attack had arrived before the heroes.
And among all the names mentioned during the meeting, one ended up causing more discussion than any other.
Lusian Douglas.
Emily was the first to speak.
—While we were fighting here, he was protecting the lands of the duchy.
Alejandro slammed his hand against the table.
—Protecting?
Emily looked at him.
—Yes.
—While others are bleeding.
Alejandro stood.
—Monsters are appearing throughout the kingdom, and he remains behind his walls.
—Because he has thousands of people under his responsibility.
—That's no excuse.
—It's his duty.
The argument began to grow louder.
Leonardo remained seated, listening.
But his hands were clenched.
Finally, he murmured:
—Lusian...
Emily looked at him.
Leonardo lowered his gaze.
—Before, I couldn't do anything.
A small spark of electricity ran across his fingers.
—Now I can.
His eyes hardened.
—Everything is going to change.
He said nothing else.
But another name appeared in his mind.
Isabella.
And then...
the throne.
Kara remained apart from the others.
She didn't participate in the argument.
She simply watched.
She had learned something during that battle.
The monsters were changing.
Her companions were changing too.
And none of them seemed to realize it.
Later, the heroes left the room.
Alejandro walked ahead.
Leonardo followed behind, still lost in thought.
Emily stayed behind for a few minutes with the wounded priests.
Kara was the last to leave.
Before crossing the doorway, she looked back.
For a moment, she remembered the battlefield.
The creatures.
Their coordination.
The way they had begun anticipating their movements.
And an uneasy feeling ran through her.
She didn't know what was happening.
But she was certain of one thing.
This was only the beginning.
Far away, in a place where no torch illuminated the darkness...
something opened its eyes.
Its existence was reaching its limit.
The body that had once belonged to a powerful creature could barely keep itself alive.
But it was still breathing.
Still thinking.
Still resisting.
It had reached the point where disappearing seemed inevitable.
Then it remembered the deal.
A possibility.
One last chance.
And it accepted.
Because some creatures did not simply disappear when their time came.
Some were willing to pay any price...
just to prolong it.