Mist swirled above the stone floor, chilling her skin to the bone. The shadows that had bound her were torn apart, fading into a pale haze—and from within it, a tall figure emerged in silence.
Light clung faintly to him, fragile as a candle flame in endless dark. His eyes gleamed with sorrow and longing, fixed upon her as though he had waited for this moment across countless ages.
"At last… we meet again," his deep voice whispered, gentle yet trembling.
Her heart lurched. A strange warmth bloomed inside her chest. She did not know him—yet his gaze felt achingly familiar. "Who… are you?"
He stepped closer, reaching out with a hand that shimmered faintly, his fingers trembling as if they might vanish at any moment. "I… am but a remnant left behind—to guard you."
Before the words could sink in, the darkness roared once more. Black mist surged like a tide, refusing to release its prey.
The glow around him flickered, but his eyes grew resolute. "If they want you… they must go through me."
In an instant, a silver blade flared into being within his grasp. Steel clashed with emptiness, a sound sharp enough to shake the temple. Shadows shrieked in defiance—while the battle between light and darkness began before her eyes.