The Possession Of Xanthos

Chapter 3 : The Shadow's Temptation

As Xanthos stood in the grand hall , facing the shadowy figure that offered him the twisted crown, he felt the weight of the world pressing down on him.

The Eternal Night threatened to consume the kingdom, and the only was to stop it, according to the oracle, was through a sacrifice of royal blood. But the figure before him, cloaked in darkness and mystery, offered a different solution---a path of power, but at a terrible cost.

''i don't know what to do, I don't know what to choose. Lost in the darkness, Trying to find the light.''

The lyrics echoed in Xanthos's mind, mirroring his inner turmoil.

The figure extended the crown closer, its voice a whisper that seemed to seep into his very soul. ''Take the crown, Xanthos. Embrace the darkness within you. With this power, you can rule over the Eternal Night and save your kingdom.''

But Xanthos hesitated. The crown's allure was strong, promising control over the shadows that threatened to engulf everything he held dear. Yet, he knew that accepting it would mean becoming something monstrous, something that could never again walk in the light. The figure's glowing eyes bore into him, sensing his doubt.

''You are already tainted, prince,'' the figure hissed, its voice dripping with malevolence.

''The curse has marked you as its own. Whether you take the crown or not, the darkness within you will grow. The monster inside you hungers, and it will not be denied.''

''The path I walk is full of thorns, but I can't stop, I have to keep going.''

The lyrics surged in his thoughts, pushing him to resist. Xanthos had always known that his return to the kingdom would not be easy, but he never imagined it would come to this. The figure's words struck a cord deep within him, awakening a dormant dear--- a fear that the curse was already taking root, festering inside him like a malignant shadow.

Elara, who had been standing silently, watching the exchange with growing dread, stepped forward. ''Xanthos, don't listen to him. You're stronger than this. You don't need that crown to save the kingdom. We can find another way.''

But the figure laughed, a sound that chilled Xanthos to the bone. ''Another way? Foolish girl. The prince's fate was sealed the moment h returned. The darkness inside him will grow until it consumes him completely. You've already lost him, whether he realizes it or not.''

Xanthos's heart pounded in his chest, the truth of the figure's words resonating within him. He could feel it ---- the darkness, the curse, a lurking presence inside him that he had tried to ignore. It whispered to him in his moments of weakness, filling his mind with thoughts of despair and destruction. The monster within was growing stronger, feeding on his fear and doubt.

''Even in the darkest night, the stars still shine bright.'' But even as the darkness closed in, Xanthos clung to the hope that there was still a way to fight it. The stars still shone, even in the night, and as long as there was light, there was a chance to overcome the curse.

With a surge of determination, Xanthos stepped back from the crown, his voice steady. ''I will not be your puppet. I won't let the darkness consume me.'' The figure's eyes flared with anger, and it lashed out, sending a wave of shadowy energy crashing into Xanthos. The force of it drove him to his knees, pain searing through his body as the curse within him surged to life. He could feel it now, the monster clawing at his insides, trying to break free.

Elara cried out in horror, rushing to his side. ''Xanthos! Fight it! You can fight it!.'' But the pain was overwhelming, and for a moment, Xanthos wasn't sure if he could. The curse was like a black hole, devouring his strength, his will. He felt the monster's hunger, it's desire to take over, to turn him into a creature of darkness. 

''In the end, I'm just a shadow, fading away....''

The lyrics reflected the fear in his heart. He could feel himself slipping away, the darkness closing in, the monster within him growing stronger. But he couldn't let it win. Not when so much was at stake. With a final, desperate effort, Xanthos reached deep within himself, summoning every ounce of strength he had left. ''I will not...... become you!'' he roared, forcing the darkness back, trapping the monster within a cage of light.

The shadowy figure recoiled, its from flickering. ''You're stronger than I expected,'' it hissed. ''But this is not over, Xanthos. The monster within you is not defeated. It is merely waiting. biding its time. And when the time comes, you will fall.''

The figure vanished, leaving Xanthos and Elara alone in the grand hall. The dark crown lay shattered on the floor, its power broken. But the threat remained. Xanthos knew that the curse was still inside him, a monster lurking in the shadows on his soul, waiting for the moment when he would falter.

''If this is the end, I'll accept it with a smile........ because the light has returned." 

The lyrics gave him a silver of hope. The sun had risen again, the Eternal Night pushed back--- for now. But the battle was far from over. Xanthos would have to live with the monster inside him, constantly fighting to keep it at bay. And in the end, he didn't know if he would be strong enough to win.

The light of dawn streamed through the windows, bathing the hall in a golden glow. But even as Xanthos stood in the warmth of the sun, he couldn't shake the cold feeling that the darkness within him was only growing stronger. The monster was waiting, and one day, it would break free.