Artemis Unveiled:The Descent

Untitled Part 68: The Road to Redemption

Neven led the way, his steps heavy and quick, as if pursued by an invisible force. Alexander followed closely behind, his gaze intense, each step seemingly calculating every possibility ahead. Aria trailed behind, feeling a growing sense of pressure from all sides. Her steps grew more hesitant in the dimly lit corridor. Her mind churned with doubts: Had they truly changed anything? Or was everything inexorably sliding towards the abyss?

The unease was inescapable, gnawing at her like a persistent thorn. It weighed down each of her steps, making them feel increasingly burdensome. The faces of prisoners in the cells along the way flickered in and out of view, their eyes ghostly and fleeting amidst the interplay of firelight and darkness. The despair in those eyes seemed to have long surrendered any hope for freedom, leaving only a numb resignation to pain.

At the end of the corridor, two guards stood rigidly, their expressions tinged with doubt and confusion. Instinctively, they tightened their grip on their weapons, their demeanor alert, clearly unprepared for anyone to silently breach this restricted zone.

"Commander, what are you doing here?" one of the guards asked quietly, his eyes wary.

"Ordered to interrogate a key traitor; you were changing shifts when we arrived," Neven's voice was deep and even, as if this lie came as naturally to him as breathing. "Where is Sage Solon?"

The guards exchanged skeptical glances but said nothing further, deterred by Neven's calm demeanor. One of them hesitated before responding, "Sage Solon is in the Great Hall, discussing the situation at Voidmarsh with the Lunar King."

Neven nodded, his face impassive as if everything were proceeding as expected. He signaled Aria and Alexander to follow, and the three of them moved swiftly towards the stairs, leaving the dimly lit cells behind.

As the shadows of the corridor receded, the doubts in their minds grew sharper. Alexander let out a long sigh and asked in a lowered voice, "Where are we going now?"

"We need to see Sage Solon," Neven replied, urgency tinged in his voice. "He might be able to tell us if we have truly altered the course of history."

Alexander frowned, his tone subdued, "Sage Solon is with the Lunar King discussing an urgent matter at Voidmarsh. If we interrupt..."

"Then we'll wait outside," Neven cut him off, his eyes betraying an unspoken anxiety.

Just as they were about to continue, Aria suddenly stopped. Her voice was cold, slicing through the chill in the air. "Hold on, Neven."

Neven's steps faltered slightly as he turned to look at her, his gaze sharp as a blade. The firelight in the corridor flickered in his eyes, deep and inscrutable. "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice low, hiding a well of suppressed emotion.

Aria stood her ground, staring at Neven, her questioning eyes piercing through his silence. "Before we see Sage Solon, I want to know how you restored your Essence Power."

Her words struck like a hammer on the silence that had reigned for so long. Neven's expression darkened abruptly, the air growing colder with his silence. His voice came out heavy and unyielding. "This isn't the time for that discussion."

"Don't try to brush me off, Neven." Aria pressed on, her determination clear. Each of her words was like a flame, seeking to burn through his concealed secrets. "I can sense you're hiding something."

Neven's gaze flickered with a hint of anger, a flash of unmasked emotion in his eyes. He turned to Alexander, his tone icy. "Did you tell her?"

Alexander met his gaze steadily, his voice calm. "She has the right to know the truth. We visited that place."