Reaching the passage, Lein whispered:
"How long will the descent take?"
Kyle thought for a moment, then replied uncertainly:
"Two, maybe three hours... I didn't really count."
Lein nodded.
"Lead on," he said.
Kyle took his hand and guided him downward.
"Mind your head. The passage is narrow," he warned.
As they moved deeper into the cave, Lein covered his nose.
"What's that smell? Is that... blood?"
Kyle frowned.
"Yes..."
A bad feeling crept over Lein.
«Such a strong stench... That's at least dozens of people, maybe more.»
Alongside the smell of blood, Lein heard water dripping.
A cold draft pressed against his back.
He felt the stones he accidentally kicked, and the eerie echo of their footsteps.
Every sound felt louder than it should've been.
"Stay alert. In case any reflections show up..." he warned.
"Okay," came Kyle's tense voice.
«Though, if the cave's pitch black, a reflection probably won't help him.»
Still, Lein didn't want to take chances.
As they continued down, Kyle suddenly stopped.
"Something wrong?"
Silence.
Kyle didn't respond.
A second later, he let go of Lein's hand.
"Kyle?"
Kyle stepped away and finally spoke:
"You know... you're not the only one who can lie."
He looked Lein straight in the eyes.
"I'm worse than you."
Lein waited in silence.
«Did he betray me? Hand me over to the demon? Then why save me in the basement?»
"Relax. I didn't betray you," Kyle said.
Lein still didn't speak.
"You know... I'm aware someone — or something — is helping you."
Lein smirked.
"And what makes you think that?"
Kyle gave a small smile.
"When I asked if you wanted to know my secret, what did you say?"
Lein didn't reply.
"That's right. You said no. Be honest — would you really say that?"
Lein shook his head.
Kyle sighed and continued:
"I figured. There are too many fractures around you. But they're... impossible to track."
Lein frowned.
"So what do you want now?"
Kyle said simply:
"To get rid of the uniqueness."
Lein thought he heard a note of regret.
"You thought I wanted revenge? No... I already got it."
At those words, a chill ran down Lein's spine.
The smell of blood in the cave...
It was likely Kyle's doing.
"Lein, I... can't keep living with this burden. The knowledge I hate... the power I can't control..."
Lein cut him off:
"And how exactly do you plan to get rid of it? I can't..."
"You can. Don't worry. You just have to... take my uniqueness."
Suddenly, Lein heard a familiar whisper, and a window of the Story appeared before him:
[You are one step away from completing the story fragment.]
[Make your choice:]
[Are you ready to take the child's uniqueness?]
[Yes / No]
Lein winced.
"And how am I supposed to do that?" he asked Kyle, hesitating.
Kyle smirked.
"Probably... just press Yes."
Lein froze.
«The Story?.. Can he see it too?»
A moment later, the whisper returned, and a new window appeared beside the choice:
[Hint: Even gods cannot see me.]
"Because they're not connected to you," Kyle added.
Then Lein remembered.
«Right... The Path of Darkness and the Story are governed by a single god...»
"Press Yes, Lein."
Lein pressed his lips together.
"If I do, the demon gets out..."
"No. He'll only be released after I die. And I'll die... once I lose the uniqueness."
Lein gritted his teeth.
"So? It's the same thing — the demon gets out anyway..."
"But you can extend my life — just once — by interacting with a fracture. While I'm still alive, you'll have time to kill the demon. You had a plan, didn't you?"
Lein paused.
«Story... what happens if I pick No? Just give me that hint. That's all I need.»
He heard the whisper again, and one of the windows changed:
[Additional hint: If you press No, the fragment will be completed, and the child will live on.]
"If you press No, I'll just end my life — and the demon will still come back with you," Kyle said.
Lein exhaled.
«He's right... I can't risk my family. I...»
In truth, there was no real choice.
He raised his right hand and pressed... Yes.
In that instant, Lein's sight vanished.
The window of the Story disappeared.
Darkness fell — endless and terrifying.
No feelings, no smell, no senses...
Not even thought.
He couldn't think.
He tried.
«I!» — he shouted inside.
But... he didn't even realize it.
Every thought vanished the moment it formed.
Like it had never existed.
«I!..» — again, gone.
Lein... lost all sense of time.
He didn't know when he got here.
He couldn't recall a single thought.
But still... he tried.
Endlessly.
Fruitlessly.
This was true darkness.
This was the world before existence.
And this... was the path Lein had chosen.
The path of absolute Darkness.
And in that darkness...
A whisper reached him.
"Do you still want this?"
To his surprise, Lein found himself thinking again.
«No... Of course I don't want this. But... I must.»
The whisper came again.
"Lein Edgar. A boy who dreams of protecting his family. A youth whose mind isn't bound by fear.
You've already chosen, but I must warn you: by taking my path, you gain not power — but a curse. This uniqueness is no gift — it's a mark. It will remain with you... even beyond death.
Are you ready to give up a normal life? Are you ready to become... my apostle?"
«What!? A-are you a god?» — Lein asked in shock.
"No. I'm merely a remnant. A will, meant to guide those like you."
«I see... So you're just a god's will. That's... a bit easier to accept. Haah... In any case... I accept this 'curse'. Just promise me — don't touch my family. If you can promise that, I agree.»
"That can be done. But you must let go of your past. When your fragment ends, everyone will forget you. You'll be erased from history. No one will link you to those you love. But if you circle around them again... They'll find your weakness."
«You sound... surprisingly human for a god.»
"I was human. Once. I just lost my emotions long ago.
Lein Edgar... Your world has changed. And so have you.
Only those who adapt will survive. If you want strength, you'll have to give up your human life. That is the cost of power.
For now... enjoy it.
Your life.
And write your story."
After that, there was silence.
Suddenly, Lein dropped to his knees — back in reality. It took several seconds for him to catch his breath.
It felt like he had returned from the dead — after speaking with a god and becoming its apostle.
"Haah... Haah... I nearly... lost my mind..."
He could see again.
Feel.
Sense.
Think.
He was... himself.
In the darkness, a window appeared — followed by the familiar whisper of the Story:
[Congratulations, you are now the bearer of the Symbol of Darkness, Apostle of the Unknown God.]
Lein was about to ask something when he heard ragged breathing...
He quickly pulled off the blindfold and saw Kyle on the ground, clutching his head, gasping for breath.
Lein rushed over.
Kyle seemed on the verge of madness, tearing at his snow-white hair and clawing at his own face.
"Kyle!"
Lein dropped to his knees and looked him straight in the eyes.
Kyle's eyes were no longer clouded...
They reflected the real world.
And in those eyes...
Lein saw his own reflection.