The Guardian of the Black Life Light
The massive gem continued developing more and more, its harmony enhancing and becoming deeper and deeper. As the final silhouette being walked into the abyss, the realm quieted. Both Ardyn and Atina tensed as they felt the realm heave and flex with power.
A wide ripple of magic moved from the distant southern region, and they both prepared defensive wards of protection. A vast wall of dark anti-magic moved quickly toward them and suddenly stopped on the far edge of the crater, opposite to them. It rippled and waved like a large tsunami frozen in a moment of time. Both Ardyn and Atina's hearts were pounding within their chests as they looked up at the massive wall of black anti-magic.
And then, slowly and softly, the dark sweet melody began again. It washed out from the crater like a warm summer breeze. The wall of dark anti-magic quivered under the melody, and it moved in slow motion to cover the massive gem. As it did so, a loud clap like thunder was heard, and a rush of magical energy moved across Ardyn and Atina. It was an abrasive thing that scraped across their defensive wards like sandpaper, then across their skin like the softest silk.
The gem changed dramatically and became a large liquid pool of dark, sweet sound embraced by darker anti-magic. The pool—now completely obsidian—rose up into the cold grey sky like a steeple point reaching for a distant truth, and it solidified like a tall, majestic stalagmite. The stalagmite of dark anti-magic glistened before their eyes, and a vast shadow shifted.
Just as the shadow shifted, a small, graceful woman walked from around the base of the stalagmite. Her body was obsidian, and as she moved, the stalagmite seemed to shift with her—as if they were one but existed on separate planes of existence. She smiled, and for a moment, all thoughts vanished from Atina's mind. Ardyn felt her companion's confusion and grabbed her shoulder. They shifted to a different side of the crater, and Ardyn covered Atina's mind and soul with [Song of Wrath].
Ardyn looked to the beautiful obsidian creature with an equally ethereal smile. The creature's obsidian eyes twinkled like dark wells of molten liquid black diamond. There was a timelessness within their depths that Ardyn couldn't penetrate, but it didn't deter her. She stepped forward as she spoke.
"My name is Ardyn, and I am on a quest for the Life Way."
The obsidian creature before her merely looked at her for a long moment. The black stalagmite shifted as if it were a sail in the wind, and in the next breath, the obsidian creature was standing before Ardyn—the stalagmite still part of her, yet still standing tall above the center of the crater. Her obsidian eyes slowly roamed over Ardyn. She could feel dark magic slide over her skin like a slippery oil. Her rainbow soul gem flared to life, and the obsidian creature took a step back.
The gem rose to Ardyn's lips and, as if she had done this millions of times before, she spoke into it like a microphone. Her voice entered and a dark, sweet melody exited. "I just want to finish collecting the components of the Life Way." She looked to the crater. "I believe the final piece is here."
The obsidian creature followed her gaze to the crater and smiled. She began to speak, and Ardyn's arm shot forth. Crystals from her battle robes, darkened by the magic of the realm, flew forward. They pinged and hummed as the dark, sweet melody of the obsidian creature's voice hit them. They flew back to Ardyn, and a reply was heard:
"The Black Life Light is within the crater of black light, but no one can enter. The anti-magic is born there. Only the shades of those before can even step from the edge."
Ardyn digested all that was said and nodded. "And you?" Ardyn looked down at the obsidian creature's feet hovering over the black maw of the crater. "Can you enter?"
A slow smile spread across the beautiful creature's obsidian features. As she began to speak, more crystals flew forward to catch her words. "I am the anti-magic of this realm. It is my heart, the dark is my soul, and what you perceive as sweet is what my thoughts interject. This crater is the shell of what I once was. Do you think I will reach into my womb and give you one of my greatest treasures?"
The two Goddesses stood staring at each other. There was no movement, just the natural flow of ambient power—like the stillness at the center of a vast hurricane.
"I just want to know the Black Life Light. I do not need to possess it."
The beautiful obsidian creature slowly shook her head. "To know it is to possess the Black Life Light. For It, there is no ambiguity." Her eyes roamed over Ardyn again as she cocked her head. "It will choose you. I will not give it up."
"Is there nothing you will take in exchange for it?"
The beautiful obsidian creature took a single step back and was instantly once again hovering at the center of the crater—her back once again pressed to her stalagmite. Her obsidian eyes twinkled as she gave her reply.
"I want your Soul Sea."