What is happening ?
The white stone shine as brightly as the sun, the light tearing through everything. Aron eyes couldn't open no matter how hard he tried, the pain forcing tears that burned as they escaped. His vision was swallowed by white, not warm, not gentle, but violent, like the world itself was screaming. Aron ran towards Ray, his heart pounding harder than his chest could contain, every step heavier than the last, as if the ground itself resisted him.
Boom.
A white beam raged with flames, exploding outward like a broken star. The air cracked, the ground shattered, and the flames twisted around the beam like living things. It lasted for eleven seconds, eleven endless seconds where time felt frozen, stretched thin like it was about to snap. The sound was deafening, a roar mixed with silence, until everything began to normalize, slowly, painfully.
Ray wasn't there.
Only emptiness remained. Aron stood alone, frozen, his body refusing to move. The whole castle began to melt, stone dripping like wax, walls collapsing into flames. The floor beneath him burned yet didn't consume him, as if rejecting his presence. The fire climbed higher, swallowing towers, banners, memories, everything. The air became thick, suffocating. Aron tried to scream but no sound came out.
And then—
Ahhhhh!
Aron woke up panicked, his body jerking forward, his breath uneven. His heart felt like it was tearing through his ribs. He saw no one.
He was laying on the bed. The ceiling above him was familiar, cracked in places, real. He touched his face, his hands trembling, skin warm, alive. What was that. His fingers traced his cheeks, his eyes, as if confirming his own existence.
The door opened suddenly. Balrad rushed in without hesitation and hugged Aron tightly, his arms shaking.
"Aron—"
Aron what is happening balrad ?
Balrad worried : You have been asleep for 2 days son, just what happened to you.
Aron eyes widened. Two days. The words echoed in his mind like a curse. He felt tired, deeper than exhaustion, like something had been taken from him. Everything was normal and it changed so quickly. The memory of the white stone burned in his thoughts. What was that white stone for ?
Balrad looked at him carefully, his voice softer now. "You may be tired, son…"
Aron : Yes, he said slowly. I am very hungry. His stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence.
Balrad gave a weak smile. "Yes, I have prepared food don't worry. Eat it and get better."
After they had eaten, the warmth of the food slowly returned some strength to Aron's body, but his mind remained distant. Balrad gradually ask Aron what happened to him.
Aron : I don't know too. It was a dream or reality, what was it, a dimension ?
Aron confused. His hands clenched slightly as he spoke, his eyes staring into nothing.
Balrad placed a hand on his shoulder. "Aron, it's okay. You feel tired. I guess you rest. By the way, if you feel better, there is a order of swords and spears. Please help me with it okay."
Aron : Yes, I will. I am fine. Lets go to the blacksmith room.
But even as he said it, something inside him felt wrong.
When I touched the stone, it felt like I was coming out of water, purifying myself. My eyes stretched as possible, my breath leaving me. The white stone did something, something not for me. I was surrounded by the dark. The white stone shined brightly and the dark turned white.
It wasn't light defeating darkness.
It was erasing it.
,,,,,,,,
The darkness felt the power.
Inside the kingdom of hell, Lyoth and Reaper felt the energy of something mysterious, a pressure that crushed the air itself. The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet. Along with Zeiris, they stood in silence, sensing the disturbance spreading across existence.
"It's nothing more than the white stone," said Zeiris, his voice calm but sharp. "But why the successor put it so early."
White stone was a artifact, that burns with the flames of hope. For millions of years it was created, forged through sacrifice and despair. At the time only one person in existence carried and put it along with the flames. But not this time. Right now it was being place again.
That means the swords of the entire world, outside of continents, far from the sea, everywhere, had changed. The power it gives was to slay the darkness and erase it, so that it cannot be regenerated. All the swords will have the spirit to cut down darkness.
Reaper angered : That was just the stone. Though they can erase the darkness doesn't mean they can win. Remember there population is low. They aren't like the darkness carrying millions of soldiers.
Zeiris narrowed his eyes. "Indeed, something mischevious is going around. The white stone has been put once again. Brother you know about this right ?"
Lyoth send a pressure gripping across the room, his presence alone bending reality. "I certainly know who did this. But it isn't really a problem for us. Though anybody in this world can kill the soldiers with just there swords, they can't regenerate now."
A cruel smile formed.
"I did like to send some soldiers down the villages. It's been time since I heard some screams and pain. Kill everyone in the mountains." He whistled softly.
Zeiris : We will need a leader to take them and who will do it.
Lyoth closed his eyes briefly, sensing. "I guess… Rogard will go. He will be much better option."
Rogard felt enormous amount of killing stench and pressure flood his body. His grin widened.
"Yes. I will lead the army infront."
Lyoth : Good… good. Now you may go and show us your capablesness. His eyes glared, eager to kill, hunger burning within them.
,,,,,,,,
The eternal flames, the hope of humanity. How long will it take you to realize. The suffering hasn't hinted you about your future. What will be your own eyes to see them perish but indeed cast a good omen around it. It's neither fate or future that is written for you. Indeed that will be your own choices that will guide you.
But don't be humble. Otherwise evil will surely take you over and grant you itself. And we will be abandoned and surrounded by the bad omen.
The possibilities were many but we choose you to protect. We accomplished you a task which will be a benefit for your kind. The shadow of the darkness hunts the good and protects the bad. So don't turn bad, because there will be no benefits from it. Only destruction and losing hope.
The sparkles was infront of him.
Who is talking ?
Aron was surrounded by nothing. No ground, no sky, no body. Only a voice hunts him. It was emptiness.