THE STORY OF LIVES

CHAPTER-4

With a deep breath, Toby pushed open the cathedral doors, the ancient wood groaning in protest. The interior was dark, the only light coming from faint shafts of moonlight that pierced through the cracked ceiling. Dust hung in the air, thick and suffocating, and the smell of decay was overpowering. Broken pews littered the floor, and the altar at the far end of the hall was draped in cobwebs. But despite the ruin, there was a palpable sense of power here, a lingering energy that made the hair on the back of Toby's neck stand on end. He stepped cautiously inside, every muscle in his body tensed for the inevitable confrontation.

"Who enters my domain?" a voice echoed from the shadows, soft and haunting. It seemed to come from everywhere at once, wrapping around him like a cold breeze. Toby's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but he didn't draw it—yet. His eyes scanned the darkness, searching for the source of the voice, but saw nothing.

"I am Toby," he said, his voice steady. "I seek the Witch of Shadows."

A soft laugh echoed through the hall, low and dangerous. "Many seek me. Few leave this place with their lives intact." The voice grew closer, and Toby's hand tightened on his sword. "But you... you are different, aren't you? I can feel the darkness clinging to you, the weight of your loss."

Toby's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond. The witch already knew too much about him. He had to tread carefully. "I have come for answers," he said, his voice cold and hard. "I need to cross the Veil."

Silence stretched out for a long moment, and then, slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows. The Witch of Shadows was tall and thin, her skin pale as moonlight and her eyes dark as the void. She wore a tattered black cloak that seemed to shift and move of its own accord, as though it were alive. Her hair was long and silver, falling in loose waves around her gaunt face. There was an ageless quality to her, as though she had existed for centuries, untouched by time.

"You wish to cross the Veil?" she said softly, her eyes narrowing. "Many have tried. All have failed."

"I'm not like the others," Toby said, meeting her gaze. "I have nothing left to lose."

The witch smiled, a slow, chilling smile that sent a shiver down Toby's spine. "Oh, I can see that. But the Veil is not something to be taken lightly, Toby. It is a boundary between worlds, a barrier that keeps the horrors of the other realm at bay. Crossing it... will cost you more than you can imagine."

Toby knew the risks. He had known from the moment he had set foot in Dravengarde that there was no turning back. The price of his vengeance would be steep, but he was prepared to pay it. The demon that had destroyed his life was beyond the Veil, and it was only by crossing into the other realm that he could confront it. He had spent years hunting for this moment, and nothing—not even the witch's ominous warnings—would deter him now.

"I don't care about the cost," Toby said, his voice firm. "Tell me how to cross."

The witch tilted her head, her dark eyes studying him intently. "You are determined, I'll give you that," she said softly. "But determination alone will not save you. The Veil is more than just a barrier between worlds. It is a living thing, bound by ancient magic and protected by the guardians of the other realm. If you cross it, you will face them—creatures of unimaginable power, forged from the very essence of the Void."

Toby's heart pounded in his chest, but he refused to show fear. "I've faced worse," he said, though he wasn't entirely sure if it was true.

The witch chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the very walls of the cathedral. "Bravery or foolishness... they are often the same." She turned, gliding across the floor with an unnatural grace, her cloak trailing behind her like smoke. "Come. If you are truly ready to face the Veil, then I will show you the way."

Toby followed her deeper into the cathedral, through a side door that led down into a series of dark, winding corridors. The walls were lined with strange symbols, etched into the stone in a language Toby didn't recognize. The air grew colder with each step, and a sense of foreboding settled over him like a heavy shroud. He knew, instinctively, that they were approaching something ancient, something powerful. The witch led him down a narrow staircase, into the very bowels of the cathedral, until they stood before a massive, iron door.

"This is the gateway to the Veil," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Beyond this door lies the path to the other realm. But be warned, Toby—once you cross, there is no coming back."