The deeper they went,the louder it screamed.
Not outside—inside.
Vael's head pulsed.His thoughts split.
"You wear me," it hissed."But you do not use me."
Nyra clutched his arm."You're bleeding."
He looked down.Blood dripped from his eyes.
"Stop," Reylen said."This is madness."
"It's truth," Vael replied.And walked into the dark.
The path narrowed.Roots slithered across the stone.
Symbols lined the walls.Languages dead to time.
Ahead, a chamber—round, breathing.It pulsed like a heart.
Inside: a throne.Carved from bone and sorrow.
On it—no one.But the crown pulsed.
It floated.An echo of the one he wore.
Then the air trembled.
A figure stepped from the wall.Not shadow. Not flesh.
A mirror of Vael.But eyes pitch black.
"I am the you that gave in," it said."I killed them all. I felt nothing."
Vael gritted his teeth."I'm not you."
"You will be. You already are."It smiled. "The crown makes us whole."
It rushed him—fast.Blades of darkness in its hands.
Vael met it head on.Steel screamed.
Memories flared.His village. His mother. Fire.
Each blow stole more.Each strike bled meaning.
Nyra tried to help—pushed back.Reylen was on one knee, holding her.
Vael and his shadow danced in rage.Until the mirror broke his guard.
The dark blade pierced his side.
"You are already empty," the shadow whispered."Let go. Let me reign."
Vael staggered—grabbed the thing's wrist.And shoved his forehead against its own.
The crown flared.
One crown. Two minds.A battlefield unseen.
Inside—Vael stood on ash.
And across from him,the shadow Vael smiled.
"I chose to feel pain," Vael said."You ran from it."
The shadow paused.Cracks ran through its body.
Vael stepped forward."I'm not whole. But I'm not you."
He clenched a fist.And struck.
The shadow shattered.Screaming into light.
Vael gasped—eyes wide—back in his body.
The chamber dimmed.The floating crown turned to dust.
Silence returned.But something had changed.
The whispers were quieter.But deeper. Hungrier.
Reylen helped him up.Nyra's hands glowed, healing him.
Vael looked at the broken throne.And turned away.
But as they walked out—something opened behind them.
A door. Hidden.
Marked with a single word:"Tenebris."