Siya had fought herself countless times before.
Did Darkness truly believe it was unaware of that?
The realization had come to her later than she would have liked—but by then, it no longer mattered. She had already discovered exactly what she had come to find.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
To Darkness, that smile felt like the beginning of despair.
She slowly raised her eyes.
"So..." she said calmly, "you believed imprisoning me inside my own mind would become the perfect prison."
She shook her head.
"Then you misunderstood me."
"I entered this prison of my own will."
"I remained here because I chose to... while uncovering everything I needed to know."
"And now..."
"...I will walk out of it by my own choice."
"In front of your very eyes."
The moment her final words echoed through the chamber—
A blinding burst of divine radiance exploded outward.
Light swallowed every shadow.
The walls of illusion cracked apart.
The endless darkness that had surrounded Siya for so long began dissolving into fragments of fading black mist.
For a brief instant, Siya glanced back at the collapsing void.
She smiled.
Then—
A furious roar shook the entire dimension.
"This game isn't over so quickly, Siya!"
"You will bow before me!"
"I will return..."
"...and when I do, I will bring devastation itself!"
The voice faded.
The illusion collapsed completely.
Darkness vanished.
Without wasting a single heartbeat, Siya sprinted toward a massive glowing container standing at the center of the chamber.
Its brilliance was almost unbearable.
The white light was so intense that it blinded everything around it.
Nothing inside could be seen.
Siya placed her hand on the sealed mechanism.
The container unlocked.
The heavy doors slowly slid apart.
As they opened...
the overwhelming radiance gradually dimmed.
And with it...
the truth finally emerged.
Siya had been right.
She was alive.
Standing before her—
weak...
motionless...
but alive—
was Clara.
A wave of relief crossed Siya's face.
She rushed forward and caught Clara before her fragile body could collapse.
Holding her carefully, Siya whispered,
"Open your eyes, Clara."
"It's me."
"Try to recognize me."
Clara's lips trembled.
A broken, barely audible voice escaped them.
"How... could... I ever... forget... you..."
"...Siya..."
Her eyes closed once again.
She slipped back into unconsciousness.
There was no time to lose.
Siya lifted Clara into her arms.
The next instant—
space folded.
Light bent.
Both of them vanished.
Moments later...
they appeared inside Kashi.
Without hesitation, Siya carried Clara directly to Hanuman.
She respectfully bowed.
"O Revered Son of Kesari..."
"I seek your grace."
"Please save Clara."
Hanuman slowly opened his eyes.
A gentle smile spread across his face.
"Devi..."
"How could I ever refuse your request?"
He placed his divine palm above Clara.
A stream of golden celestial light flowed from his hand and enveloped her entire body.
The wounds that could not be seen...
the exhaustion buried deep within her soul...
began healing.
After a few moments, Hanuman withdrew his hand.
"She is completely safe."
"Her body has simply become extremely weak."
"She needs rest."
"She will remain asleep for some time."
Relief finally settled over Siya's heart.
Closing her eyes, Siya reached out through spiritual communication.
"Andy."
"Ali."
Her voice echoed inside their minds.
The two immediately recognized it.
Without asking a single question, they rushed toward Hanuman's cave.
The moment Andy arrived—
he froze.
His eyes fell upon Clara.
Alive.
Safe.
Resting peacefully in Siya's arms.
For several seconds...
he couldn't breathe.
Then every wall inside him shattered.
He hurried forward and gently took Clara into his own arms.
Holding her tightly against his chest, tears streamed silently down his face.
Siya placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"She's alright, Andy."
"She's only sleeping."
"Take her somewhere peaceful."
"Let her rest."
"She has endured more than anyone should."
Andy nodded silently.
Unable to speak.
He carefully carried Clara away.
Hanuman watched everything with a warm smile.
Then he turned toward Siya.
"So..."
"How did you discover Clara's location, Devi?"
Siya looked at him.
A playful smile appeared on her face.
"O Omniscient One..."
"You already know the answer."
"Yet you wish to hear it from me?"
Hanuman smiled without replying.
Siya closed her eyes.
And her memories returned.
Flashback
Siya's voice echoed through the endless darkness.
"A single ray of light..."
"...is enough to erase your entire kingdom."
"And that very ray..."
"...is what you fear."
Darkness laughed.
"You believe I fear light?"
"I can step into light."
"I can consume it."
"I can even make light my slave."
"But I simply do not wish to reveal myself to you so soon."
"I want you to understand me slowly, Siya."
"As much darkness exists in this universe..."
"...so does light."
"And sometimes..."
"...darkness hides itself behind light."
For a moment...
Siya remained silent.
Then suddenly—
she laughed.
A loud, confident laugh.
"Oh..."
"So that's it."
"You've been using light itself as your shield."
"I spent all this time searching through darkness..."
"When the answer was hidden inside the light."
She smiled confidently.
"I entered this prison willingly."
"And now..."
"I will leave it willingly."
The voice echoed one final time.
"I will return, Siya..."
Present
The memory faded.
Hanuman smiled with quiet admiration.
"That..."
"...is your greatest strength, Devi."
"You never force answers."
"You weave questions so carefully..."
"...that your opponent unknowingly reveals every clue himself."
"Your methods are unlike anyone else's."
"And that..."
"...is precisely what makes you extraordinary."
Siya smiled softly.
She had rescued Clara.
But deep within her heart...
she knew this victory was only the beginning.
The one hiding behind the shadows...
had finally realized—
Siya was no longer searching blindly.
Now...
she was hunting him.