Albert Demas and the Conflict of Olympus is a fantasy novel that blends ancient myth, history, and magical realism. It follows Albert, a warrior-turned-immortal who has lived through centuries of conflict and loss. As he confronts his true origins a...
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Outside the cavern, the heat of the Black Flame shimmered, creating waves of distortion in the air. As Artekos stood at its edge, he could feel the intense energy radiating from the fire. It was not merely a flame; it pulsed with a life of its own, a magical barrier that promised both peril and transformation. The Lion Lord had made it clear that this trial would reshape him, but the nature of that change was still a mystery.
Artemis sat on the cold, rocky ground nearby, her hands raised to the sky in a silent prayer. The weight of time pressed heavily on her soul as she waited. Hours felt like eons, and she could sense the immense danger that lay within those flames. Five thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye since Artekos had entered the trial, and her heart ached with dread, mingled with a flickering hope that he would emerge victorious.
When Artekos finally appeared, relief surged through her like a flood, a mixture of joy and madness spilling forth as she rushed toward him. "I thought... I thought I had lost you," she wept into his chest, her body shaking.
"Why are you crying like this?" Artekos asked, still dazed from the trial. The question seemed to echo in the silence around them.
"You were gone for so long... I thought the fire had consumed you," Artemis replied, her laughter fading into soft sobs.
As Artekos frowned, glancing back at the now extinguished flames, he felt a gnawing curiosity. "How long was I inside? Where is Qadimus?"
Her face softened, revealing deep sadness. "Five thousand years, Artekos. Five thousand years of waiting for you to return, hoping you'd save my brother from the poison," she said, pausing to wipe her tears. A slight laugh escaped her lips, but it held no joy. "Qadimus left two days ago. He told me you had succeeded in the trial and that I should wait for you here."
Artekos's heart sank. "Five thousand years?" His voice was barely a whisper, the weight of those words crushing him. Panic surged through him, and he turned sharply, sprinting toward the mountainside. "Qadimus! Qadimus!"
His voice echoed through the empty landscape, but there was no response. He ran, calling the name over and over until his throat was raw, but silence greeted him, cold and unyielding. No trace of Qadimus remained.
Exhausted, Artekos dropped to his knees, fists clenched. "He's... gone." Despair coloured his voice, leaving a bitter taste.
Artemis walked over to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "There's no use in searching, Artekos. He told me you'd be alright and that he had to leave." Her voice was soft, laced with understanding. "Come, everyone has been waiting for your return—for centuries now."
Artekos remained silent for a moment, absorbing the reality of how much time had passed. Five thousand years? It felt impossible. Like the time he spent digging the crystalline lake, where days and nights blended into one another, time had slipped away from him without notice. But this time... there was no regret. He bore a greater power. He had returned as the Lion Lord.
