The Lost Mage's Journey

Chapter 45: Guilt and Shadows

Scene 1: Haunted by the Past

It had been three days since the incident in the desert. Three agonizing, sleepless days for Lyka. She hadn't left Mira's side since they returned to the Royal Magic Academy. The soft beeps of the medical devices in the room were the only sounds that kept her company.

The doctors had stabilized Mira, but she remained in a coma, her body struggling to recover from the powerful magic blast inflicted by Marcellus. Lyka sat by the bedside, her fingers clutching Mira's hand as if she could somehow will her to wake up. Tears filled her eyes as the guilt weighed heavily on her heart.

Lyka (whispering, voice trembling):
"I'm so sorry, Mira... I should've listened to you. I shouldn't have trusted him."

The room was dimly lit, casting soft shadows that seemed to flicker and dance along the walls. But to Lyka, they felt suffocating. The darkness reminded her too much of Carina, the dark god that now lurked within her, feeding off her despair.

Lyka's eyes were red and swollen from crying. She hadn't slept, hadn't eaten much either. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the moment Marcellus shot Mira, the light leaving her eyes as she collapsed in the desert. And every time she thought of it, the guilt twisted like a knife in her chest.

Lyka (whispering to herself, tears falling):
"This is all my fault... I should've been stronger. I should've protected you."

Mira lay motionless in the bed, her breathing steady but shallow. Lyka squeezed her hand tighter, her tears dropping onto the sheets as she bent over, her forehead resting on their intertwined fingers. She felt like she was falling apart.

Lyka (broken, sobbing):
"Please, wake up... Please, Mira... I need you."

Scene 2: The Weight of Regret

Hours passed, and still, Mira did not stir. Lyka sat motionless, her heart heavy with guilt. She replayed the events of that night over and over in her mind—the moment she trusted Marcellus, the moment she ignored Mira's warnings. Her foolish obedience to her uncle had cost her dearly.

Her heart ached, not just for Mira, but for her own shattered sense of trust. Marcellus had always been someone she admired, someone she believed had her best interests at heart. Now, she felt like a puppet, used and discarded. How could she have been so blind?

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in her mind—a voice she had come to dread.

Carina (whispering, inside her mind):
"This guilt will destroy you, Lyka. You trusted the wrong person, and look what happened. But it's not too late... You can still be strong. I can give you that strength."

Lyka flinched, her breath catching in her throat. The room felt colder, darker, as Carina's presence filled her mind. The dark god was always there, lurking in the back of her thoughts, waiting for moments of weakness to push her deeper into the shadows.

But Lyka was too broken, too tired to fight back. Her voice trembled as she responded, feeling the pull of the darkness.

Lyka (whispering, conflicted):
"I don't want your power... I don't want to hurt anyone else."

Carina (persuasive, calm):
"Hurt? No, Lyka. With me, you'll never have to fear losing anyone again. You'll have the strength to protect those you care about—no more weakness. You won't fail them like you did with Mira."