The Veil Gate before Kael glowed with a warm, violet light, almost hypnotic, and a sense of inevitable attraction tightened in his stomach. It felt as if something deeply desired was calling out to him. He felt a growing pressure in his head, the pull of a burning longing that could consume him.
It was the Veil of Obsession: the manias, the unattainable desires, the fixations that imprison you.
This was the last, and perhaps the hardest, of the eight Veils of the Keeper. His desire to save Elara had driven him forward, but it could also become his downfall.
"Obsession is a chain you cannot see," Lyra said. "It promises everything, but takes away your freedom. Your desire to save Elara is a powerful flame, Kael, but here it could burn you alive if you're not careful. Remember your true mission, not only to save Elara, but to save everyone's dreams. And the gem that's growing in your dream garden… that's the real hope, a new life, not just a memory."
Anya stepped closer, her face serious. "This Veil is the most deceptive, Kael. It won't attack you with fear or anger, but with the call of what you want most. The Ash will use your obsessions to trap you inside a reality that feels perfect, but is a prison. The key is to distinguish between truth and illusion. Not what you want, but what is real. Your Dormant Fire is your inner clarity. Rely on it."
Kael stepped into the abyss.The air pulled him in,
"Kael!" blurted Master Elian.
Anya and Lyra looked at him, frowning, not understanding what had happened.
"He didn't focus on his dream-garden," Elian told them, "right now, when he is about to face the last Veil of the Soul." He turned toward the Veil Gate, the muscles of his jaw tensing,
This time, what Kael felt was a sweet, intoxicating warmth, a scent he recognized instantly: the glowing lotus flowers Elara loved. It was a perfume that promised happiness, a paradise. His heart felt lighter, every worry fading away.
It was as if his deepest desires were about to be fulfilled.
Kael found himself standing in a place he had known forever, but had only dreamed of: Elara's Dream Garden, fully restored. Not the faded or corrupted version he had seen, but a shining, vibrant place.
The grass was a bright green, and lotus flowers floated on crystal-clear ponds glowing with every color of the rainbow. The air was warm and fragrant, and a gentle sun illuminated everything without a single cloud. The sound was a sweet melody: birdsong and the soft rustling of wind through the leaves.
Kael took a step.
His legs felt light, as if he were walking on clouds. Every touch of the grass was soft, every scent was bliss. There was no trace of the Ash, no darkness. It was the paradise he had always wanted for Elara.
Then he saw her.
At the center of the garden, sitting on a white marble bench, was Elara. Not the sick figure nor the lifeless illusion. She was exactly as Kael remembered her at her best: golden hair falling over her shoulders, bright blue eyes full of life and joy, her smile radiant. She looked completely healed, full of energy, and she looked at him with boundless affection.
"Kael!" she exclaimed. Her voice was clear and musical like a bell, her crystalline laughter filled the air. She stood from the bench and ran to him with open arms.
Kael felt tears fill his eyes.
The desire to hug her, to believe everything was real, was so strong that his body moved on its own. This was everything he had always wanted, his greatest obsession: Elara healthy, happy, alive.He could stay here forever.He could surrender to that happiness.
The embrace was long and intoxicating, an absence of pain and fear Kael hadn't felt in ages. Elara's scent, a mix of jasmine and morning frost, felt completely real.
"I thought… I had lost you forever," Kael murmured into her golden hair, holding her tightly.
Elara pulled back from the hug, her blue eyes clear and joyful. "You're here, Kael! Don't cry anymore. We're home now. No monster can take us here."
Kael held her hands. "I can't believe it. It's like… like the bad things never happened."
"We left them outside. Everything is beautiful here," she answered with infinite sweetness. "Let's play hide and seek between the flowers!"
They spent part of the day sitting on the marble bench. Elara giggled while Kael swung her legs. Her words were simple, focused on colors and sounds.
"It's strange," Kael said, stroking the back of her hand. "I've been so focused on the battle… everything here is so quiet."
"Why do you want noise, Kael? Fighting hurts," Elara replied innocently. "Mother always told me real happiness is this," she said, pointing at the perfect blue sky. "Just peace. And flowers."
Kael leaned his head on hers, his body finally at ease. As the gentle sun set, they fell asleep together on the soft grass. For a moment, Kael felt a sense of completeness.
Kael woke with the sun warming his face. Elara slept beside him. Today, the garden seemed even more vibrant. The colors were richer, the birds' melody louder.
"Good morning, Kael!" Elara whispered as she woke up. "Let's walk to the stream! We can throw the shiny pebbles!"
They stood and walked along a path of white gravel.
"You're thoughtful, Kael. Aren't you happy?" Elara asked, tugging at his arm.
Kael hesitated. "I am happy, sweetheart. But I was wondering… what happened to Lyra and Anya? You know, our friends… will we see them again?"
Elara gave a shallow smile. "They're doing their things. It doesn't matter! When we play, we think only about playing, right? We shouldn't worry about them, they're fine."
"But… the Ash? The darkness. Are they gone?"
"There's no darkness here. That's grown-ups' worry. You found me and brought me somewhere safe. Now you have to rest," she said, squeezing his hand tightly. "There's no mission more important than staying with me."
The answer was childish, yet frighteningly absolute. The real Elara would never ignore suffering.
They stopped by the stream.
"It's so beautiful, Elara. It feels like a dream," Kael said, studying her face.
"It is, Kael! But it's not a dream. This is where we live now. You're just too used to being sad and fighting," she said, tossing a pebble into the water. "Don't you remember how tired you were of fighting? Let's stay here, where no one asks anything from you."
"It's not that I want to fight," Kael replied, feeling anxiety rise. "But… the Keepers must protect dreams. It's our duty. It's my duty!"
Elara pouted. "Duty, duty! So boring! Duty ends when you stay with the one you love! You're so obsessed with what you have to do that you forget about me?"
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