𝕾𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖘 [𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻]

★[𝐜𝐩𝐭.𝟎𝟒]★

𝐑𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕...

The rumors had spread through my realm like a soft whisper. Magic, forgotten for years, seemed to have awakened once again. One of my guards brought it to my attention, and I couldn't ignore that my past with Ora, the Soul Guardian of Ionia, was resurfacing. Memories of her powerful influence in my life filled me with a burning desire for revenge. Back then, Ora believed she could get rid of me in the underworld, but now I would show her that she was mistaken.

I had already dispatched numerous search parties into the forests of Ionia to find Ora. However, the further they penetrated into the woods, the denser the thorn bushes became, and whoever touched them caught fire – just as I had experienced many years ago. The people I sent proved to be useless.

Yet, I couldn't penetrate the forest alone. My kingdom demanded my attention, which I had conquered about 200 years ago. Now, as the sole ruler of the land, I had duties to fulfill. There were rumors of a witch in the forest, but whether it was Ora or her successor, I couldn't say for certain. Ora herself had grown too old to prevail in a fight. A strange feeling surrounded me since the onset of night as I wandered through my castle.

Silently, I moved past the soldiers, who barely spared a glance for my shadow. These useless creatures I paid seemed more preoccupied with themselves. A figure leaned against the wall as I walked on. "Where are you going, King?" echoed the voice of my half-brother Adonis. "What concern is it of yours? Go back to your library," I instructed him. But his next words caught my attention: "A peasant girl is in the cell and spoke with Eros." He brushed past me, and a breeze moved my hair. A peasant girl? Those beings were forbidden here. Without further addressing Adonis's words, I continued on my way. My destination was Eros, who stood just before the steel door to the dungeon. As the only samurai I trusted, he would handle the matter. Upon seeing me, he bowed respectfully and asked, "Evening, King. Is there a problem?" "You can bring the peasant girl back. She's just wasting space in the dungeon. Another soldier will replace you. I'll send someone." Eros nodded, bowed again, and made his way to the dungeon.

I headed towards Gaia, whom I had taken in as a small child 19 years ago. I taught her dark magic, but she had not yet mastered it completely. I only allowed her freedom when she was near me. When she slept, I sat by her bed and ran my fingers through her brown hair. "Soon, you will have to fight against Ora. Just a little more patience," I whispered into her ear. She began to smile, and one could sense her sinister aura.

The room was filled with a tense atmosphere as I rose from Gaia's bed. Outside, the wind howled through the treetops, and the crackling of darkness surrounded me. Gaia slept peacefully, but her aura betrayed the restless shadows stirring within her. I knew she had much to learn about black magic before she could stand against Ora.

A soft whisper permeated the room as I distanced myself from Gaia with a touch of concern. The dark powers I had taught her were like a double-edged sword. Gaia could not only use these forces to exploit evil but also to succumb to it. I felt a responsibility to guide her on her path before the darkness consumed her.

With a determined gaze out the window, I observed the clear night sky. Ora would soon sense that in the depths of darkness, a new student was emerging – a student ready to wield the power of black magic for his own goals.

The forest around the castle seemed to come alive, as if nature itself was responding to the impending confrontation. The rustling of leaves and the cracking of branches merged into a mysterious symphony. I turned away from the window and left the room to focus on my own preparations.

While Gaia continued to linger in her sleep, I delved into my studies of ancient texts and dark rituals.