Thirty years had passed, but sometimes, in the stillness of his office, the memories returned with haunting clarity.
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The emperor closed his eyes, and the shadows of Willow Forest unfurled in his mind. A younger version of himself stumbled through the underbrush, dirt-streaked and bruised, a thick rusted chain clinking around his neck.
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His bare, bleeding feet pounded against the forest floor as he fled, clinging to the delicate Queen of the Night flower, the only fragment of hope he had left. The monster pursued him, a grotesque specter with sickly yellow eyes, gliding silently through the trees.
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“Foolish child,” it had whispered, “beauty in the dark always comes with a cost... Are you willing to pay it?”
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The boy’s desperate voice still echoed in the emperor's mind: “If it means saving her... then yes.”
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A heavy knock pulled him back to the present, shattering the dark recollection. The emperor opened his eyes, his heart still pounding as if he had just escaped the nightmare all over again.
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“The door swung open, and his secretary, Knoxville Tennessee, stumbled inside. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, his face pale and his hair disheveled, as if he had just witnessed something terrifying.
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“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
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"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
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The door swung open, and his secretary, Knoxville Tennessee, stumbled inside. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, his face pale and his hair disheveled, as if he had just witnessed something terrifying.
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“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
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"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
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Knoxville nodded quickly, composing himself as he backed out of the room to fulfill the command.
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_______
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In the hallway of the main palace, where the priestess was walking, she saw Queen Saraphina. The priestess offered a formal bow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
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“Your Majesty,” the priestess said, “what a delightful honor to be in the presence of such... unparalleled grace.”
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Queen Saraphina’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, Priestess,” she replied, her tone equally mocking, “how fortunate I am to receive such glowing admiration from someone so… spiritually enlightened.”
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The priestess tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I do my best, Your Majesty. After all, with such divine inspiration around me, how could I not?”
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Saraphina folded her arms, her voice dropping to a sharper edge. “And yet,” she mused, “with all this divine inspiration, I can’t help but notice a rather unsettling aura. Surely it isn’t coming from you?”
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The priestess let out a soft, humorless chuckle. “Perish the thought, Your Majesty,” she said smoothly. “It must be the air reacting to your… overwhelming presence.”
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Queen Saraphina’s eyes narrowed, and her smile grew colder. “Overwhelming, is it?” she said, her voice deceptively calm. “How fascinating that even the air knows how to show proper respect. Perhaps I should take notes from it.”
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The priestess’s lips twitched, her amusement barely concealed. “Or perhaps,” she retorted lightly, “the air is simply trying to make room for the immense power you so effortlessly exude.”
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Saraphina took a deliberate step forward, her gaze fixed on the priestess. “Power is a curious thing, Priestess,” she said, her voice low. “It can protect, or it can destroy. Which would you prefer to witness today?”
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The priestess’s smile faltered for a split second before she composed herself. “I’m sure destruction would be... quite the spectacle,” she replied, keeping her tone airy. “But I have faith that your grace knows when to wield such power wisely.”
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Saraphina’s eyes glinted dangerously. “Faith, you say? How charming. Let’s hope that your faith isn’t misplaced.” She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Because once it is… even the gods may not save you.”
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The priestess met her gaze, a spark of defiance flickering in her eyes. “Then I suppose,” she murmured, “it’s a good thing I have my own connections to the divine.”
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The tension hung thick in the air, both women locked in a silent battle of wills. Finally, Saraphina pulled back, a slow, calculated smile curving her lips.
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“Be sure to use them wisely,” she said, her voice lilting with a final note of mockery. “You never know when a simple hallway encounter could become something... far more entertaining.”
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With that, she turned and walked away, her presence lingering like a shadow. The priestess exhaled slowly, the weight of the queen’s words pressing on her heart. Yet her own smile returned, sharper than before.
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“Entertaining, indeed,” she whispered to herself. “Let’s see who finds the next performance more amusing.”
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____
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Meanwhile, the emperor was already waiting for the priestess at La Maison Fleur, where Lethyxia stood by, her expression unreadable. When the priestess arrived, she greeted them both, but the emperor did not acknowledge her greeting. Instead, he spoke coldly.
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"Priestess," he commanded, "examine Lethyxia at once."
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The priestess swallowed her irritation, stepping forward. She raised her hands, preparing to call upon her divine power. As she invoked the spell, a radiant light glowed brighter than she anticipated, flooding the room with an intense brilliance.
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Suddenly, the light swallowed her whole, and she was wrenched away, dragged into a chaotic battlefield. Warriors surrounded her on all sides, their expressions frozen in a mix of rage and desperation.
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The ground was littered with broken weapons, shattered shields, and skeletal remains, the rotten stench of death filling the air. Skulls lay scattered across the landscape, and a dreadful, heavy atmosphere pressed down on her.
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The priestess's heart raced as she took in the scene, her pulse pounding in her ears. “Where… am I?” she whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by the ghostly echoes of past battles.
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The weapons glinted menacingly in the dim, unnatural light, and the air crackled with remnants of ancient curses and unfulfilled oaths.
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“The follower of the gods who dropped my existence has followed a demon like me. What a twisted soul,” a horrific voice echoed across the land, chilling the priestess to her core.
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She spun around, her eyes landing on a small figure standing amidst the scattered skulls and decaying remnants. The girl was petite, her silver hair cascading in shimmering waves down to her shoulders.
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Her gray eyes glinted with an unnatural intensity, and though she appeared no older than five, her presence was overwhelming, brimming with a sinister energy far beyond her youthful form.
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The priestess instinctively took a step back, her pulse racing. “Who… are you?” she demanded, her voice wavering despite her attempt to sound confident.
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The girl tilted her head, a wicked smile curling her lips. “Names are such trifles, don’t you think?” she said, her tone deceptively sweet. Her aura pulsed, sending ripples of dread through the air. “But for you, Priestess, you may call me…. Or,” she added with a giggle that sent shivers down the priestess’s spine,
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The priestess felt a trembling aura same as what she felt what talking to the mother of demons as she gasp "m-mother? Your the great mother of demons!!' her eyes field with joy.
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The girl tilted her head further, her wicked smile never faltering. “Mother of demons?” she echoed, her gray eyes gleaming with curiosity and mischief. “How fascinating that you would recognize me so readily, little priestess.” Her deceptively innocent giggle cut through the dreadful air, each sound laced with a bone-chilling menace.
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The priestess’s eyes widened, and a mix of awe and disbelief flooded her face. She felt the familiar aura, ancient and overpowering, the same one she had sensed in the presence of the mother of demons. Her breath caught in her throat. “M-Mother?” she stammered, her voice breaking. “You’re… the great mother of demons!” Tears of joy welled up in her eyes, her body trembling with reverence.
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The girl’s expression shifted ever so slightly, amusement dancing in her gaze. “Ah, so you do remember,” she said, her voice dripping with mock affection. “How delightful. Tell me, Priestess, do you still cling to the gods you serve, or have you finally realized the beauty of what you call corruption?”
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The priestess’s heart raced. She had long prepared herself for this moment, but standing before the being who commanded the darkest of forces, she felt both exhilarated and consumed.
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“I—I am your chosen one and your devoted daughter!” she proclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of joy and desperation.
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The devotion she had once felt for the gods wavered under the intoxicating pull of the great demon mother’s presence.
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Her lips curled into a wicked smile, her gray eyes glinting with approval. “Ah, how delightful! To hear such fervor from one so lost in the light. Tell me, little priestess, what does it mean to be a devoted daughter in a world that has forsaken you?”
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The priestess felt a rush of warmth flood her chest, an overwhelming sense of belonging she had never experienced among the gods.
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“I will do anything for you!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in fervor. “You are the embodiment of power, and I can feel your strength calling to me. I was meant to serve you!”
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She leaned closer, the air thick with her dark energy. “Serve me, you say? What do you seek in serving me? Is it power? Acceptance? Or perhaps the thrill of embracing the darkness that others fear?”
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The priestess’s heart thudded in her chest. “All of it! I want to shed the chains of the gods and become one with you. I’ve always felt the stirrings of something greater within me, something that longs to break free. With you, I can be truly alive!”
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A low, melodic chuckle escaped her lips, sending shivers down the priestess’s spine. “Oh, sweet child, how intoxicating your devotion is. You could wield unimaginable power by my side. The gods have given you nothing but empty promises. They care not for your pain or your struggles.”
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The priestess swallowed hard, her eyes wide with yearning. “I understand now! They used me, while you— you would embrace me, wouldn’t you? You see my potential! I can be the vessel of your greatness, the spark that ignites your dominion!”
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Her gaze darkened, her smile widening as she reveled in the priestess’s fervor. “Yes, my little flame. Join me, and together we will rewrite the rules of this world. They will bow before us, and the light will tremble at our feet.”
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The priestess felt a fire ignite within her, a consuming obsession that drove her closer to her.
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As she opened her eyes, she found herself back in the original space, her heart still racing from the dark encounter.
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She glanced down and realized Lethyxia was holding her hands, their connection pulsating with an energy that sent shivers of exhilaration through her.
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When she looked at Lethyxia, a knowing smile played on the demon mother’s lips. The priestess felt an overwhelming sense of purpose wash over her. She had glimpsed the depths of her potential, and there was no turning back..
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“The princess is all healed, Your Majesty there’s nothing to worry about,” the priestess said, her voice sweet and honeyed, masking the chaotic excitement brewing within her.
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"That's good to hear" the emperor said. And looked at lethyxia. "You will stay at this place from now on."
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Lethyxia nodded, her expression softening, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice low and cunning, like a cat that had just caught its prey.
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“Your Majesty, if it’s okay with you,” the priestess interjected, her voice smooth and persuasive, “I would like to invite the princess to the temple. I have sensed some strong divinity within her, and I believe her presence would greatly enhance our prayer rituals for the entire empire.”
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The emperor narrowed his eyes, contemplating the implication. "I'll think about it.”
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“Oh, but think of the benefits!” the priestess pressed, sensing his hesitation. “The rituals could strengthen the bond between the divine and our people. It would also showcase the princess’s potential as a beacon of hope in these trying times.”
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Lethyxia smiled sweetly, masking her ulterior motives.
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The emperor remained silent for a moment, weighing his options. “Very well,” he finally said, though suspicion lingered in his voice. “But, I will send so notice for my final decision."
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“Of course, Your Majesty,” The priestess replied, her smile widening. “Your concerns are understood. We shall take every precaution.”
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The priestess felt a thrill run through her. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This will be a pivotal moment for our empire.”
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As the emperor nodded, the tension in the air shifted, and he quietly left with the priestess, leaving Lethyxia alone in the grand hall.
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The dark aura that surrounded her seemed to swell in the absence of the emperor’s presence, making the air thick with anticipation.
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Meanwhile, the emperor retreated to his office, deep in thought, while Mr. Knoxville, his trusted advisor, guided the priestess to her carriage. “Remember, Priestess,” he warned softly, “the emperor is watching closely. Be cautious with your words.”
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“Of course, Mr. Knoxville,” she replied, her excitement bubbling beneath the surface. “I only seek to serve the empire.”
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As they made their way, Lethyxia settled into a heavy silence, her mind racing with possibilities. But she was not alone for long. Queen Saraphina entered Lethyxia’s room, her expression a storm of displeasure.
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“What are you scheming you devil!” the queen demanded, her voice cold and clipped. “Do you think you can charm your way into my family’s good graces?”
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Lethyxia met the queen’s gaze, with a curious expression."wh-what do you mean your majesty?"
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The queen crossed her arms, a look of skepticism plastered across her face. “Nurture? Or manipulate? I see through your games, Lethyxia. You’re not here to help us; you’re here to serve your own interests. No, you’re not the real Lethyxia.”
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At that moment, Lethyxia’s expression suddenly became emotionless, and her eyes turned pitch black, dark tattoos spiraling across her body, glowing with an eerie light.
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The atmosphere in the room shifted, heavy with a sinister energy. Her voice transformed, deep and resonant, dripping with menace. “Long. Time. No. See. Saraphina.”
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The queen's eyes widened, her heart racing. “What have you done?” she demanded, trying to mask her fear. “You’ve deceived us all!”
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Lethyxia no longer the innocent princess but a vessel of darkness stepped closer, the air thickening with power. “Deceived? Oh no, dear queen. I’ve merely revealed what lies beneath the surface. The true Lethyxia was never meant to exist in this world.”
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“What did you do to her!?” the queen asked, her voice steady despite the dread clawing at her chest.
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Lethyxia’s lips curled into a chilling smile, her voice a whisper now, laced with dark amusement. “Soul for a soul.”
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“Where is she? Where is the real daughter of Mooniegale?” the queen cried, her voice breaking as she held back tears, her body trembling with fear and despair.
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Lethyxia went silent for a moment, her eyes gleaming with malevolence as she regarded Saraphina. Then, she gave the queen an eerie smile, one that promised nothing but darkness.
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As realization dawned on Saraphina, she gasped, covering her mouth in horror. “No… it can’t be…”
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Before she could comprehend the full weight of Lethyxia's words, panic surged through her, and she turned to flee.
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She ran down the hallway, her heart racing, the sounds of her footsteps echoing ominously against the stone walls.
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Each step felt heavy, as if the very air around her was trying to hold her back, to keep her from escaping the truth.
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Almost stumbling, she skidded to a halt, bracing herself against the cold stone wall for support. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her mind racing as she fought against the terror that threatened to consume her.
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In her heart, she feared what "Lethyxia"had truly done to her step daughter, the innocent girl who had once brought joy and light into mooniegale's life.
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“I will find your daughter...” she whispered fiercely to herself, steeling her resolve. “I will rescue your daughter moon, no matter the cost.”
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With a deep breath, she pushed herself away from the wall, her tears stinging her eyes. There had to be a way to fight this darkness, to reclaim her daughter from the abyss that Lethyxia had cast her into.
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As she moved forward, her heart was filled with determination.
___
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Meanwhile, the carriage carrying the priestess arrived at the Sere of Hope orphanage. Inside the manager's office, the atmosphere was tense as the priestess sat across from Kila, the manager, her demeanor commanding and assertive.
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“Show me where the child is,” the priestess demanded, her voice laced with authority as if she were already one of the VIPs at the orphanage.
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Kila nodded, a hint of apprehension flickering in her eyes. She stood up, gesturing for the priestess to follow her.
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As they walked through the orphanage, the cheerful sounds of children playing faded into a heavy silence, replaced by an unsettling aura that hung in the air.
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They descended a narrow staircase, the walls damp and cold, leading them to a darkened corridor.
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Kila hesitated for a moment before pushing open a creaking door that led into a room that resembled a dungeon more than a sanctuary.
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The room was dimly lit, shadows clinging to the corners where the flickering torchlight barely reached.
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The walls were made of rough stone, cold to the touch, and the floor was hard and unyielding. In the center stood a heavy iron cage, rusted and ominous, casting a long shadow across the floor.
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Chains hung from the ceiling, clanking slightly as they swayed with an unseen draft, adding to the atmosphere of confinement.
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The air was thick with the scent of mold and despair, a stark contrast to the warm, nurturing environment the orphanage claimed to provide.
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Kila stepped inside, her expression somber. “This is where we keep... Her,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid that the walls themselves would hear her. “It’s for their protection, but...”
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The priestess's eyes narrowed as she took in the grim sight before her. “Where is she?”
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Kila pointed towards a corner of the room, where a small figure huddled in the darkness, clutching her knees to her chest. “There,” she said, her voice trembling. “But she’s been... different since she arrived.”
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The priestess approached the cage, her heart pounding with joy to get a closer look.
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Through the dim light, she could see the child—a girl with silver hair pink and Striking silver-white eyes, her expression hauntingly vacant.
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The aura surrounding her pulsed with a dark energy that sent a shiver down the the child's spine.
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“xia,” the priestess whispered, her voice filled with a mix of horror. “this time, I'm taking her.” she said with authority.
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Meanwhile, inside the underground arena of the orphanage, Ermis fought fiercely, his every movement a calculated struggle for survival, and for the entertainment of the nobles who cheered with wild abandon. The air was thick with dust and the metallic scent of blood, the clash of weapons echoing in the vast space.
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As Ermis narrowly dodged an incoming attack, his focus was briefly interrupted. A whisper of shadow flickered at his side, relaying an urgent message the shadows he had tasked with guarding Xia had grave news. The priestess had taken Xia once more.
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Ermis’s grip on his weapon tightened, rage flaring in his eyes. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the fury that surged within him. "Not again," he thought.
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The priestess's interference had pushed Xia to the edge before, and Ermis knew he couldn't let it continue.
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Determined, he forced his mind to refocus on the battle at hand, plotting his next steps. He needed to win, escape, and reach Xia before it was too late.
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