The Lost Mage's Journey

Chapter 50: The Descent of Darkness

Scene 1: A Night Shattered by Shadows

It was a quiet night in the palace, the hallways filled with a peaceful silence that had lulled most of the inhabitants to sleep. Lyka sat alone in her room, her thoughts heavy with worry over Mira. Something about her friend's behavior in recent days felt wrong—a hollowness in her eyes, the coldness in her words. The faint rune on the floor of Mira's room lingered in Lyka's mind, casting a shadow over her heart.

She tried to reassure herself that everything would be fine, that maybe Mira was just exhausted from everything they had been through. But the worry wouldn't leave her. Her heart felt heavy, as if sensing the tragedy about to unfold.

A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Her heart leapt with a spark of hope—it was Mira. Maybe she'd come to talk things out, to ease the growing distance between them.

Lyka (rising, smiling softly):
"Mira! I was just—"

But her words froze on her lips as she looked into Mira's eyes. The familiar warmth and kindness she knew so well had vanished, replaced by an eerie, dark glow. Mira's once-bright eyes had turned a deep crimson, a color that glowed like embers of hatred.

Lyka's heart sank, a chill running down her spine as she took a step back, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Lyka (voice trembling):
"M-Mira? What's happening to you...?"

Mira's expression was blank, devoid of the gentle compassion she usually held. A sinister smile twisted her lips, and her voice, once soft and filled with love, now carried an edge of malice.

Mira (coldly):
"Lyka... the light you carry... I despise it."

Lyka's heart shattered at the words. This wasn't her Mira. This was something twisted and dark, a shadowy reflection of the friend she loved. She could feel her heart pounding, her pulse quickening with fear and disbelief.

Lyka (desperately, voice breaking):
"No... Mira, please! This isn't you! Fight it!"

But Mira only laughed, a low, hollow sound that sent a chill through Lyka's soul. The room darkened, shadows creeping across the walls, filling every corner with an inky blackness that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.

The transformation was complete. Before Lyka stood the God of Darkness, the hatred and malice of the world embodied in the figure of the person she cherished most.

Mira (her voice echoing with a dark resonance):
"I am no longer the Mira you knew. The shadows have claimed me, and I will destroy every last flicker of light in this world."

Lyka's knees felt weak as she looked into Mira's cold, unfeeling eyes. She tried to steady herself, her voice trembling as she called out, desperately trying to reach the friend she loved.

Lyka (pleading, tears streaming down her face):
"Mira, please! I know you're still in there. Remember... remember everything we've been through! I know you're still my big sis... please, come back to me!"

Scene 2: The Battle of Light and Darkness

But Mira's face remained impassive, her crimson eyes narrowing with disdain. In a flash, she extended her hand, and a swirling mass of dark energy shot toward Lyka, crackling with power.