Everything seemed to fall silent for a moment. Seinal's body was gushing blood, leaves dripping with the red of his life. Kareos stood still, unmoving, showing no remorse or any visible emotion—just watching. Morfios and Victor rushed toward him, their eyes filled with hatred, pure fury at seeing Seinal dead.
Victor raised his bow and fired an arrow at Kareos, while Morfios threw one of his swords with deadly precision.
Kareos raised his arms and, with a sudden motion, brought them together, unleashing a devastating shockwave that hurled them violently against a tree. Even Seinal's body was thrown against a trunk.
Morfios and Victor hit the ground. A sharp ringing echoed in their heads, everything around them blurred. Kareos's figure seemed to dissolve into shadows until both their visions plunged into complete darkness. Seinal's body kept bleeding, staining the forest floor.
Minutes later...
Morfios opened his eyes and dragged himself to Seinal's body. He held him in his arms, tears falling uncontrollably as he screamed in pain and despair. His hand was soaked in his comrade's blood. With a hoarse, hate-filled voice, he murmured:
— You can't... you can't die, you hear me? So wake up! You can't die!
Victor also came to, seeing Morfios crying uncontrollably. But Kareos was no longer there.
Victor approached Morfios, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said, a tear falling down his face:
— You have to stop... He's gone. There's nothing we can do...
Morfios shoved Victor forcefully. He stood up in a burst of rage and hurled his sword at a tree. The blade embedded itself violently, swaying slightly. Morfios dropped to his knees, screaming even louder:
— NO! NO! NO!
The forest was silent once again. Leaves danced in the wind, arrows lodged in trees. Seinal's bow lay on the ground. (North of Gíria – forest)
Sasha and Alex were sitting, leaning against a tree, kissing.
Amélia's voice echoed through the woods, calling for Alex.
Amélia walked through the forest looking for Alex, calling his name:
— Alex? Where are you? Where did you go?
Still holding Sasha's chin, Alex heard the voice and slowly pulled away, ending the kiss.
Sasha looked at him and asked:
— What is it? Don't tell me you didn't like it. Because if you want, I can make you like it even more...
Alex replied:
— No... it's not that, it's just...
Before he could finish, Sasha cut in:
— It's because the little princess is calling you, right?
Alex gave a slight smile.
— Yeah... something like that. But if you want, you can come too. No need to stay here alone.
Sasha tied her hair and said:
— I'll catch up with you. Go ahead.
— Alright then, I'll wait for you with the others, said Alex, walking away.
On his way to Amélia, Alex suddenly stopped. A searing pain in his head dropped him to his knees. His eyes rolled back, and he had a vision.
Everything was dark. Confused and frightened, Alex asked himself:
— What is this? Where am I?
Suddenly, an artifact and a black sword appeared above him, glowing with red light.
A dark voice called his name:
— ALEX... ALEX...
Back in reality, Sasha saw Alex on the ground, screaming in pain. She ran to him and held him.
— Alex! Are you okay? Hey! Wake up!
Sasha slapped his face. Alex woke up, gasping for breath.
Sasha asked:
— What the hell is going on with you?
— It's nothing. Just a headache, Alex replied.
— You really think I'm going to believe that? This isn't the first time it's happened. You're not okay, Alex. Why won't you just tell me what's going on? I can help you.
— I already told you! I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about. I'll be okay.
— Fine... I won't push.
— Good.
Alex kept walking and looked up at the sky, murmuring to himself:
— What's happening to me? What the hell was that...?
---
North of Gíria – Mountains
Near a mountain, with falling waters and cooler air, Soleya was washing her face and swimming, lost in thoughts about Kravons.
She dove and, as she surfaced, shook her hair. She was startled to see Jack in the water.
— Damn it, Jack! You scared me!
Jack replied, his hands touching the water:
— Actually, I wanted to talk to you.
— About what exactly?
— About Max... your brother.
Soleya stared at him, firm:
— What about him? If you like him, you don't need my permission to be with him.
Jack looked around, checking if Max was nearby.
— It's not that... It's just that today, when he was watching the trees up on the mountain, I got close, and he started saying disturbing things...
— What kind of things?
— He talked about purifying the world. Said humans and other races were impure. His eyes were dark. There's something wrong with your brother.
Soleya narrowed her eyes, staring at Jack arrogantly:
— Stop talking nonsense. You're just like this because I found my brother and you didn't find that Lion guy. Max is fine. Maybe you're the strange one here.
She left the water, heading toward Clara without looking back.
Jack watched her and murmured bitterly:
— I would never envy you for finding your brother.
---
Max was walking with his horse. The burn mark on his arm was slowly spreading across his body, turning his eyes increasingly black.
He gripped the reins tightly, and the horse neighed in pain. Max wouldn't let go.
Clara approached, shouting:
— You're hurting the horse, Max!
Max looked at her:
— I... I didn't know. Sorry.
— What's going on with you? You're... different.
— It's nothing. I was just thinking about how our mom must be doing right now...
Clara noticed his darkened eyes.
— Are you sure you're okay? Your eyes look weird...
— Oh, that? Just a speck of dust, nothing serious. Don't worry. I'm fine.
---
North of Gíria – Ancient Transmorph Village
Horse-like creatures, ridden by dark elves, crossed the forest. The air was heavy, filled with the energy of Karips, sealed inside the cave.
Kareos watched the cave entrance. The dark elves arrived. Nelan dismounted and knelt, saying:
— I can feel her. She's here... Karips is here.
All the elves and their mounts knelt in reverence to the artifact and its energy.
Nelan looked at Kareos and said:
— What are you waiting for? Take Karips out of there!
— It's not that simple, Kareos replied. I didn't seal her alone. To break the seal and retrieve her, we need the sorcerer who sealed her with me.
— And who is this sorcerer?
Kareos turned to the soldiers:
— We need to find Max. Bring him to me.
The elves hesitated. It was Nelan who gave the command:
— You heard him! Find the sorcerer!
The elves mounted again and rode off swiftly in search of Max.
---
North of Gíria – Forest
Birds flew overhead. A sword remained embedded in a tree. Victor and Morfios watched the ashes and steam rising from the flames consuming Seinal's body.
Tears streamed down Morfios's face.
Victor spoke, staring at the fire:
— Whoever that Kareos was... Seinal knew him. But even so... he killed him. Why? Why did he do it?
Crying, Morfios replied with a trembling voice, full of determination:
— Whoever Kareos is... I'll find him. And he'll pay. I swear on my friend's life... Seinal.
---
North of Gíria – Forest
Zury and Nicia stood before Lion. Nicia asked:
— You said he kept repeating the same words? What name did he say?
— Karips, Lion answered. But that's not all... he talked about purifying, exterminating... and kept saying he needed Karips. When I touched him, I heard a voice saying Guenorl had returned... and that I had to stop him.
Zury shouted arrogantly:
— Stop with that nonsense! Max is fine! He's fine, you hear me?!
Nicia held Zury's shoulders, trying to calm her:
— Zury, think. When you tried to reach Lion with your mind, you felt a strange and powerful presence. You said you couldn't see him clearly. You said he was in danger.
— Are you saying that presence was Max?! Zury yelled, in denial.
— Yes, Nicia continued. Lion heard him repeating Karips's name, speaking strange words. And when he touched him, a voice—probably from the dragon—said Guenorl had returned.
— STOP! I told you to stop! Zury cried, frustrated.
— What if Guenorl is being reborn in your son...? Nicia whispered. What if Guenorl is being reborn in Max...?
To be continued