Kael's heartbeat thudded in his chest, a relentless rhythm of adrenaline. The air between him and Celestia seemed to crackle with the raw energy of their proximity, as if the universe itself held its breath. He had never felt anything like this before—like every part of him was drawn toward her, like they were two halves of something ancient, something destined.
But he couldn't ignore the gnawing truth in the pit of his stomach—the deeper he got into her world, the darker it became. The more he knew about her, the more dangerous it was. And yet, all he wanted was to break down the walls she had built around herself. The walls of ice, of rage, of fear.
But now… now there was only silence. Celestia stood before him, her gaze distant, lost in her own thoughts. She hadn't said a word since he had made his promise. Her lips barely moved as she spoke, but when she did, her voice was colder than Kael had ever heard before.
"You think you can save me?" Celestia asked, her voice low and thick with disbelief. "You think that by some miracle, you can undo what's been done to me?"
Kael took a step closer, determined not to back down. "I believe in us. I believe in you."
She scoffed bitterly, turning her back on him. "You don't understand. This curse, Kael—it's not just a spell. It's my fate. A pact made long before you came to this planet. There's no escaping it."
His heart ached as he reached out to her, his fingers brushing against the cool metal of her gauntlet. "What pact?"
Celestia froze, her eyes flickering with an emotion Kael couldn't quite place. Pain? Regret? "A deal with a power much darker than anything you can imagine. A power that's bound me to this throne. A power that—"
Before she could finish, the air around them seemed to shift. The ground beneath their feet trembled as though the very earth was reacting to her words. Kael's pulse quickened, and he instinctively reached for the magic that resided within him.
"Celestia, what are you talking about?" His voice trembled as the realization struck him. "What deal? What power?"
She turned to face him then, her eyes cold and empty. "You wouldn't understand. But soon you will. You'll see just how deep the shadows go."
Kael opened his mouth to protest, but the air grew heavy with a dark presence, something ancient and malevolent. The temperature dropped, and he felt a wave of dark energy pulse through him—a power that was not of this world. It was a force he had never encountered before, something primal, twisted.
And then, a voice—a cold, haunting voice—echoed through the silence.
"Ah, Kael Zephyr, you've finally found her, haven't you?"
Kael spun around, his heart racing. But no one was there.
"I've been waiting for this moment," the voice continued, its tone dripping with malice. "You've come too far, boy. There's no turning back now."
The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, surrounding them both like a suffocating fog. Kael's grip on his magic tightened as he searched for the source of the voice, his mind racing.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded, his voice fierce, though fear clawed at the edges of his mind.
The voice chuckled, the sound like the scrape of bone on stone. "You'll find out soon enough. But don't think you can save her. She's already mine."
Kael's breath hitched. He turned to Celestia, his gaze locking onto her. "Who's there, Celestia?" His voice was softer now, desperate. "Who are we dealing with?"
Her expression had shifted, the mask of coldness now replaced with something else—something darker, more fearful. "You shouldn't have come," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Not into this world… not into this curse."
The ground trembled again, and Kael felt the ominous presence grow stronger. A low, guttural laugh echoed in the distance, growing louder, closer. It was a sound that chilled him to the core.
And then, as if summoned by the darkness itself, a figure materialized in the doorway. A tall, shadowed figure, draped in a cloak of tattered black fabric. The figure moved with unnatural speed, stepping into the room with a confidence that made Kael's skin crawl.
"I see you've met the girl who will be your undoing," the figure said, its voice smooth and cold.
Kael's heart sank as the figure drew closer. The figure was cloaked in shadows, but he could see a glint of red eyes beneath the hood—eyes that gleamed with malevolent intent.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded again, but the figure only laughed, a sound that echoed in his bones.
"I am the one who holds the chains, boy. I am the one who holds her soul."
Kael's breath caught in his throat. This was the power Celestia had warned him about—the dark force that had bound her to this cursed world. He had known it wouldn't be easy, but this? This was a nightmare beyond his worst fears.
And then the figure spoke again, its voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"The pact is already sealed. And now, it's time for you to make yours."