stood atop the highest spire of the kingdom, the biting wind whipping against my face. It was cold, but it couldn't touch the fire smoldering in my chest. First things first—I spent a good ten minutes cursing the 'other half' of me, Night, in the sanctuary of my mind. I let out every ounce of frustration I had bottled up.
Night stayed silent, genuinely shocked by the verbal onslaught.
"Say something! You always have these grand, legendary dialogues, and then you leave me to be used as a literal punching bag!" I roared. When the silence stretched too long, a twinge of guilt hit me.
"Fine... sorry, man," I muttered, my tone softening. "I was just... angry. Truth is, if it weren't for you, Yumi, Hina, and Seraphina wouldn't have made it. Those other girls would be dead too. So... thanks. And sorry for the earful."
A low, dry chuckle echoed in my skull. "It's fine, brat. I'll let it slide this once."
"Night, tell me everything you know about the Heroes. I need to know what I'm up against," I demanded.
Night's voice turned grave. "Honestly, I know about as much as you do. But I do know Sarafina (Rank 5). Stay away from her. The others will break your bones, but she... she plays with your mind. She'll leave you mentally crippled."
"Why do you sound so scared? Is she some kind of mountain?" I mocked.
"When the time is right, I'll tell you my story. For now, just go to hell," Night snapped, and I stepped off the ledge, free-falling into the dark.
"Night, take control!" I yelled. He seized my motor functions, stabilizing the landing. It hurt like a bitch, but for the first time in a long time, I stood upright on my own.
The Princess's Inquisition
I made my way back to the palace. Yumi and Hina were still frantic, but my focus was elsewhere. I entered the grand hall to find the King, the Princess, their High Minister, and the leader of the four Valkyries waiting.
The Princess didn't waste a second. Her eyes locked onto mine like a hawk. To her, I was simply the legendary figure everyone feared and respected. "Night," she began, "how is it that you can wield multiple elements? According to the History Books, you are supposed to be limited to a single element. Yet, I felt a strange Wind magic radiating from your aura. You were using powers that shouldn't exist in one person."
'She's sharp,' I thought. 'She doesn't miss a single detail about this body's aura.'
Suddenly, the leader of the Valkyrie squad sat down right next to me—uncomfortably close. There was gratitude in her eyes, but also a strange, intense attachment. She gripped my hand tightly.
"Thank you, Night... for saving my life," she whispered.
"Thank you too," I replied, looking her in the eye. "You saved mine as well."
The Princess spoke again. "Did you learn anything about the enemy? We lost many soldiers, and worse, we discovered a traitor in our ranks. We are deeply ashamed. Will you continue to help us, Night?"
Before I could answer, one of the girls from the Valkyrie group stepped forward. "We have orders to escort you to the First Kingdom. Rank 5 Sarafina wishes to meet you personally. Our mission is not complete until you are with us. If you wish to go elsewhere first, we will follow, but we cannot leave your side."
I groaned internally. 'Is this their way of keeping an eye on me?'
"I'll give you my answers soon," I told the Princess. "But for now, I don't think they'll attack again. Their losses were massive."
I turned to the Valkyrie leader. "What happened to those monsters and that... creature?"
Her expression darkened. "When you collapsed, I decided to blow the walls and flee. That thing... it was either a Demon Lord or a high-level General. A group of our warriors killed a General recently, but this one was different. He caught my father and... melted him right in front of me. I want his head."
There was terror in her eyes, but her resolve was even stronger. This was the kind of ally I needed.
"The artificial soldiers were likely destroyed," she continued. "They left a 'Switch' behind that triggered a self-destruct. If we're lucky, that whole facility is ash by now."
I looked at the Princess. "They won't strike for a while. Before I passed out, I heard someone screaming about 'years of hard work being ruined.' They've been set back significantly. But I need information. I need to know the truth about this world and its enemies if I'm going to fight. Is there anyone who knows the deepest secrets of this land? I need to meet them."