Presage

Chapter 13.5 ♚ Good Or Evil

A/N: The castle of Ludivics.

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"Did you enjoyed it?" the woman asked.

The moment darkness consumed her, Zoe was brought back here, in front of the towering cell surrounded by endless stairs. The more she stared at the silhouette inside the cell the more she got used to it. Still, uneasiness crawled inside her.

"For now, I can only lend you a small portion of my power, but in time, when you are ready--"

"What exactly do you want from me?" Zoe interjected, but her words never reached her own ears.

The figure remained silent for a moment and tilted her head. "Your help," she said. "I am asking for your help."

"Why me? You're clearly from the enemy's side, so why would I even help you?"

"Because they are also after you, Zoe."

The way she pronounced her name sent goosebumps through her body. It sounded so weird and at the same time, familiar.

Zoe opened her mouth and closed it again, knitting her brows as she processed her words. "And who exactly are your enemies?" She licked her lips, shifting in her bare feet. "You must be getting this wrong. I am not an ally of darkness and will never be."

"Mhm," she drawled in a sing song tone and paced the cell, tracing the iron bars with her fingers, creating a sharp echo when her nails hit them. "Young Zoe, do you actually believe that all descendants of light are good and all descendants of darkness are evil?"

The woman stopped and whirled to face her. "Can you really distinguish good from evil?"

"I..." Zoe trailed off, clutching her white dress as she averted her gaze.

She knew there was no such thing as good and bad person, she had read a lot of books and mangas about them. It was as simple as the concept of Yin and Yang. And it was also one of the reasons why the word 'imperfection' existed.

"Being born as a spawn of darkness doesn't mean you can only do evil things," the woman continued. "We always have a choice, whether to do good or bad."

Zoe moved her attention to her, raising her brow to shadows. "So, are you telling me that you're from the dark side, yet you chose to do good things?"

"I am simply asking for your help to save this world."

"And why would you even do that?"

"I will tell you, but now is not the right time."

"Yeah right!" She rolled her eyes. "Then you expect me to believe you?"

"You're still too weak," the figure countered, making her frown deeper. "Not only in body but in mind, heart and... soul."

"You are in no position to tell me that. I know myself better than anyone else!"

"Are you now?" she asked. "Why exactly do you want to be the Heroine, Zoe?"

She flinched and was taken aback, the temperature around them suddenly felt like the middle of winter. Being reminded of her illegibility to be the Heroine made her feel that the world betrayed her. However, it was too grand of a dream and she knew, deep down inside that, she was not ready for such thing. Sacrificing her life for the world she never knew even existed sounds like a work of a martyr.

And she was not one.

"Was it Ego?" Her pale hands slowly snaked around the iron bars. "Is it simply because you wanted to have a meaningful life? Or maybe because you are a caged bird, hungry for freedom? Or..."