Aria didn't speak.
She couldn't.
The Hall of Origins felt too small, too silent, too heavy with the truth that had just been carved into her bones. The monolith pulsed faintly behind her, its runes dimming like a heartbeat slowing after a sprint.
She will try to destroy you first.
The Demon King's words echoed through her mind, cold and steady.
The fragment's voice followed, sharp as a blade.
You cannot destroy me.
Aria pressed a hand to her chest. "I can."
You cannot.
"I can."
You are weak.
"I'm still here."
Silence.
But not absence.
Never absence.
The Demon King watched her, his expression unreadable. His cloak whispered softly around him, the shadows bending subtly toward him like loyal creatures.
"You understand now," he said.
Aria swallowed hard. "I understand nothing."
"You understand enough."
Aria shook her head. "No. I don't. I don't understand why I exist. I don't understand why she's inside me. I don't understand why I was made to destroy something I didn't even know existed."
"You were created for balance."
Aria laughed—short, bitter. "Balance? I'm not balance. I'm a weapon."
"No."
"I'm a vessel."
"No."
"I'm—"
"You are a counterforce."
Aria pressed her palms to her eyes. "I don't want to be."
"You must."
"No."
"You must."
Aria glared at him. "Stop saying that."
He didn't.
He simply stepped closer, his presence cold and steady. "You cannot change what you are."
Aria looked away. "I don't want this."
"You have no choice."
Aria's voice cracked. "I didn't ask for this."
"No one asks for destiny."
Aria groaned. "You keep saying that."
"Because it remains true."
She pushed herself off the monolith, her legs trembling. "What now?"
"Now," he said, "you learn to survive her."
Aria stiffened. "Survive her?"
"Yes."
"She's already trying to destroy me."
"Yes."
"She's inside me."
"Yes."
"She knows everything I think."
"Yes."
Aria pressed a hand to her chest. "How am I supposed to survive that?"
"By becoming stronger than her."
Aria shook her head. "That's impossible."
"It is necessary."
Aria glared at him. "You're impossible."
"So I have been told."
He gestured for her to follow.
They left the Hall of Origins, the door closing behind them with a soft thud. The corridor outside was dim, lit only by faint silver runes that pulsed in time with her heartbeat.
Or the fragment's.
She wasn't sure anymore.
They walked in silence, descending deeper into the Citadel. The air grew colder, the shadows thicker, the runes dimmer. The walls here were older—rough stone etched with symbols that pulsed faintly like dying embers.
Aria shivered. "Where are we going?"
"To the Abyssal Gate."
Aria stopped. "That sounds… horrifying."
"It is."
"Of course it is."
He didn't react.
He simply continued walking.
When they reached the Abyssal Gate, Aria froze.
The doors were massive—towering slabs of black stone carved with runes that glowed faintly like dying stars. The air around them hummed with ancient power, cold and sharp enough to sting her skin.
Aria stepped back. "This feels wrong."
"It is necessary."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it remains true."
He placed a hand on the door.
The runes flared.
The doors opened.
Cold air rushed out, carrying the scent of old magic and something darker—something that made Aria's skin crawl.
She hesitated. "What's inside?"
"Your trial."
Aria blinked. "My what?"
"Your trial."
"That's vague."
"It is also accurate."
Aria stepped inside.
The Abyssal Gate chamber was vast—larger than any chamber she had seen. The ceiling arched high above, disappearing into swirling darkness. The floor was smooth stone, etched with runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
In the center of the room was a pit.
A deep, yawning pit filled with swirling shadows.
Aria approached slowly. "What is this?"
"The Abyss."
Aria blinked. "That's not helpful."
"It is where you will face her."
Aria's breath caught. "Face her? How?"
"Directly."
Aria shook her head. "No. No. Absolutely not."
"You must."
"I can't."
"You must."
Aria pressed a hand to her chest. "She'll kill me."
"Yes."
Aria stared at him. "That's not reassuring."
"It is not meant to be."
Aria stepped back. "I'm not going in there."
"You must."
"No."
"You must."
Aria glared at him. "Stop saying that!"
He didn't.
He simply stepped closer, his voice low. "She will come for you. Whether you face her here or elsewhere, she will come."
Aria swallowed hard. "So I should… what? Jump into a pit?"
"Yes."
Aria stared at him. "You're insane."
"No."
"You're reckless."
"No."
"You're—"
"Correct."
Aria groaned. "Fine. Whatever. Let's get this over with."
She stepped toward the pit.
The shadows swirled.
The fragment pulsed.
Do not enter.
Aria clenched her jaw. "Be silent."
You cannot command me.
"I can."
You cannot—
"Be silent."
The fragment screamed.
Aria stepped into the pit.
Darkness swallowed her.
She fell.
Fell.
Fell.
The air rushed past her, cold and sharp. The shadows wrapped around her, pulling at her, clawing at her, whispering in voices she didn't recognize.
And then—
She stopped.
Suspended in darkness.
A voice echoed through the void.
You dare enter my domain.
Aria's breath caught. "This isn't your domain."
It is.
"No."
It is.
"No."
You are mine.
"I am not."
You belong to me.
"I do not."
You cannot destroy me.
Aria clenched her fists. "I can."
The darkness trembled.
A figure emerged.
The woman of shadow.
Her eyes glowed silver.
Her presence was cold, ancient, overwhelming.
You cannot defeat me.
Aria stepped forward.
"I wasn't made for you."
The woman's eyes narrowed.
Lies.
"No."
Lies.
"No."
You were shaped for me.
"I was shaped against you."
The darkness shook.
The woman's voice sharpened.
You cannot destroy me.
Aria lifted her chin.
"I can."
The woman stepped closer.
Then try.
Aria's breath trembled.
Her heart pounded.
The fragment pulsed.
And Aria whispered—
"I will."
The darkness exploded.