Some say time heals all wounds. But what if time itself is the wound?

  I don't know how long I've been drifting.

  Days?

  Years?

  I never really thought about it. Everything had always been a haze to me, but it wasn't always like that.

  I remember.

  I remember the warmth I felt before the haze.

  ‘Will I ever feel such warmth again?’

  "Zandren?"...

  ‘huh?..’

  "Zandren, come on, wake up, please"...

  ‘Someone's calling me.’

  "Please wake up". Nyseria sobbed softly.

  "Hmm? What happened?" I murmured, my eyes flickering as I tried to stand up.

  Nyseria was above me. I quickly realized my head was on her lap. She saw me trying to sit up and immediately wrapped her arms around me and broke into tears.

  A cry of pure relief.

  "Thank goodness." She wept softly. "They saw us.." she added.

  I looked at her, puzzled at first, as it seems I had no recollection of what happened.Then it hit me. I glanced down, hands stretched slightly forward, and I noticed a huge gaping hole in my stomach. It wasn't bleeding or hurting, rather it was healing.

  "I'm really sorry I almost got you killed due to my carelessness. I really am." she sobbed.

  "Oh my, you are such a cry baby." I chuckled. "The only reason why I'm still alive now is because of you. So, Thank you."

  She broke into sobs again.

  For some reason, It hurt me to see her cry. Without thinking, I sat up slowly and gently pulled her into my arms, petting her in hopes of calming her.

  She sniffled and finally quieted down.

  She said something in a language I didn't understand. I didn't ask. I just held her.

  We stayed like that, and she slept off in my arms. She must have been exhausted, after moving us through multiple timelines in a short period of time.

  Being exhausted as well, I soon slept,still holding her in my arms.

  There's no sense of time in the spirit world. All I saw were flashes of Light and Dark. Perhaps the spirit world's way of simulating day and night.

  When I woke up, I had to reposition myself since I couldn't feel half my body. But I didn't mind it. Seeing Nyseria sleeping so peacefully was enough to quench the numbness.

  I stared at her, while stroking her hair. That strange feeling of familiarity still lingered. I couldn't shake it off

  "Mmm" she let out a soft groan.

  I paused to check if she was awake, and it didn't seem like she was.

  Then she nudged a little.

  "I haven't slept like this in centuries—" she said while trying to wrap her arms around me but couldn't since we were still on the ground.

  I adjusted us, her head resting gently against my chest. She finally managed to get her hands around me

  "Mmm... Let us stay like this for a little longer please?" She whispered softly

  I don't know, but something about that request... I couldn't say no. So I held her.

  "EHHHHHH??!!" Nyseria suddenly screamed, jumping up and covering her chest.

  Wondering what made her scream, I looked up. She was flushed red and trembling.

  She turned away from me. "Don't look please-"

  My vision was a little fuzzy, but I could make out what happened. Her clothes had worn off while we slept- she'd basically been sleeping on me almost naked.

  I couldn't help but laugh at the whole situation."hahahaha... I'm sorry"

  "Don't laugh" she cried, unleashing a flurry of baby punches.

  After a bit of joking and teasing her about the whole thing, she walked to the front of the soul tree. There, carved into its trunk, was a symbol I hadn't noticed before.

  At the base of this tree, etched into the bark like a scar older than time, was a faded symbol. Two beings facing each other, locked in silent conflict. Between them, hovered a single word, written in a language I couldn't comprehend— one that pulsed faintly with a strange energy.

  Above them, watching from a higher point in the symbol, loomed a third figure. Unlike the others, this one wasn't shaped like a man, beast, or dragon-its form was uncertain, almost unfinished, yet it radiated dominance. As though it had once ruled them both... or still did.

  Nyseria said something in the unknown language she used earlier, and the tree as if listening replied with a gentle breeze and right after that, her clothes were restored.

  "Wow.. ehh... That's new." I muttered.

  She turned to me,clearly pouting.

  "weeeww.. thets newww" she mocked.

  It was obvious that she didn't like me teasing her. But I had to admit, she looked adorable when she pouted. Beautiful, elegant and graceful, but also a bit childish— it was a perfect balance.

  I walked up to her grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close to me and apologised to her.

  "A-ah..." she got flustered. She turned away trying to say something

  "A-Apology accepted" she replied softly, and rewarded me with the warmest smile.

  After a while of talking, we decided it was time for us to revisit the memory timeline.

  ****

  Chaos was already brewing in the growing kingdom of Ardor.

  "Galden" had arrived at the palace.

  "State your business, Captain Galden," a guard demanded. His tone was stern, suspicious.

  Something about Galden felt... off.

  "I came to report directly to the king. We've uncovered a great danger," Galden replied flatly. Head bowed.

  The urgency in his voice stirred the guard. Not wanting to delay something severe, he allowed Galden through.

  Nyseria and I followed behind him, hidden by her spirit concealment. She tugged on my sleeve, her eyes glimmering with dread.

  "This is it... this is where it all burns to ashes" She whispered, her voice cracking as tears welled up again..

  We followed Galden as he made his way through the grand halls of the palace. With each step he took, shadows leaked out from his feet in all directions, slithering into the bodies of guards and attendants. Possession spread like a plague

  The grand chamber was filled with high-ranking officials from the nations across Caramien. The moment Galden stepped inside,the room fell silent. His footsteps echoed as he approached the king's throne

  But then he stopped. Not out of fear— but because of the overwhelming presence of someone else.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Mar'gareth.

  Even here, his sheer power commanded attention.

  I was amazed by the power Mar'gareth held, and the king being stronger than him makes Ardor more of an impressive force.

  "You must be Captain Galden..." Aethon spoke, his eyes piercing."You led the Ardorian mining team, correct?"

  "Yes my liege," Galden replied. "And I have come to report a Great danger".

  Aethon leaned forward."Go on"

  Galden inhaled slowly. "Deep in the mines, my team uncovered a unique stone."

  "You see..."

  His body began to slowly distort and whispers of a legion echoed in the chamber.

  "It turned out that stone was a prison used by Ignisia, to seal away the high ranking demons that almost took over Nymirel."

  Gasps erupted from the officials present in the room. I turned to look at Aethon and for the first time I saw fear in his expression.

  "That's Impossible" Mar'gareth shouted, his voice thunderous. "You dare utter such in this hall?"

  "It's alright Mar, let's hear what he has to say...." Aethon said, raising a hand. "Let him finish"

  At that moment, the warmth of the palace vanished. In the very seat of fire, a chilling cold swept the room.

  Galden's form began to warp. His eyes turned onyx-black, his mouth twisting into a cruel grin. The shadows that leaked out earlier, erupted violently, taking over every guest present in the hall.

  The door to the throne room burst open behind us. Elite Ardorian guards— once loyal defenders— stormed in, but now they had been taken over by the demons.

  Three other great figures walked in. Two male and a female. One of them was large and wielded two scythes. While the female clinged to the other like they were lovers.

  "The great danger..." Galden continued with a voice layered in malice, "...is us. We who loathe the Dragon of light— and those who carry their essence. You wretched spawns of Lorien"

  Aethon stood, his hand moving subtly toward his sword."Who are You?”

  Galden's mouth widened unnaturally.

  "I... Am... Zyrakar. The Higher Authority."

  He cackled, and the possessed officials echoed his laughter. Some tore at their own faces, crying in agony as they were consumed.

  It looked like Hell.

  No.

  It was hell.

  One of the lead demons lunged at Aethon. A large massive brute clad in Flame and Lava. His dual scythes, chained at the hilts, hissed with poison and blasphemy.

  But Aethon didn't Move

  Margareth intercepted in a flash, raising a shield crafted from his elemental blessing.

  With a roar, he swung his massive greatsword— which increased in length and width as his rage rose— and launched Malgrith across the hall.

  Zyrakar snapped his fingers. Instantly, hordes of possessed officials surged towards Aethon and Mar'gareth.

  Aethon stood tall, and raised his sword overhead.

  "As Darkness comes, I remain untouched, For I alone, am the embodiment of Ignisia, the Dragon of Ardor and the Nexus of Emberia."

  His sword ignited in flames with a tremendous force, he then slashed at the hordes of demons, sending out a wave of fire through the throne room. They screamed as the flames consumed them.

  The possessed officials and lesser demons burnt to ashes. Only the Higher demons remained, badly burned, but regenerating.

  "I see why you are the king," Zyrakar grunts. "but that isn't enough to stop my advance."

  He said as he waved his hand, signaling for the Higher demons to attack. He began to leave the throne room as his companions charged Aethon and Mar’gareth

  He looked back."This is fate, and there is no stopping fate."

  Then he exited the throne room, the exit that led to the family of Aethon.

  "No! We must stop him!" I shouted, looking at Nyseria.

  "What can we do? This already happened, remember? Just watch." She replied.

  "Worry not my liege" Mar'gareth said, as he blocked two attacks from the lead demons with ease. "I'll handle them. You go after that bastard."

  He then let out a roar and a taunt which shook the ground. He raised his hand and invoked a powerful skill, Gigantification.

  His body surged with energy as his frame and weapon expanded, breaking his armour.

  The two remaining higher demons came in, charging along with Malgrith. A wall of flame from Aethon blocked their path. Using this, Mar'gareth infused his sword with the flames of Aethon as he struck down two out of the three that charged at him, cleaving one in half and completely destroying more than half of the throne room in a single blow.

  He stood tall in his Giant form. That sight was terrifying. He nodded at Aethon. Aethon nodded back and chased after Zyrakar.

  "Such great power." I was in awe.

  "Seraveth!!" One of the surviving demons cried, rushing to the fallen.

  "They feel pain?" I asked.

  "You will understand when it's time.” Nyseria whispered beside me.

  "Death is not your fate, Seraveth," The demon named Devorakh said. "Rise and fight again, Whispering Widow".

  A screech erupted. Seraveth rose with a bone-chilling screech that made even Mar'gareth clutch his ears. The scream was so powerful that Nyseria had to shield us.

  Malgrith lunged with his scythe, targeting Mar'gareth who was stunned by the screech.

  Mar'gareth managed to move at the last moment, taking a deep but less critical blow.

  Blood poured from his side.

  Mar'gareth fell on his knee, as cursed runes spread all through his body. I thought it was over for him, but I suddenly felt his blessing increase.

  "I am the last line of Defence for the Kingdom of Ardor-" Margareth said, kneeling and clutching his massive sword. "I am the shield of Ardor, and I shall not falter". He rose slowly, blood dripping down his lips. His blessings spiralled with overwhelming force.

  "Oh Great Theron, Dragon of Terraka, Fortify me."

  Behind Margareth, the colossal form of the Dragon of Terraka, Theron, emerged— a titan wreathed in ancient power.

  As the ground trembled, shards of earth and debris were drawn to Margareth's body, fusing into a massive, jagged knight's armor that encased his towering frame. Gripping his claymore with one hand, its blade pulsing with elemental force, Margareth's eyes blazed gold.

  With a thunderous roar that echoed through the battle torn throne room, he surged forward, charging the three lead demons, each step shaking the very earth, empowered by the will of Terraka itself.

  ****

  Nyseria and I left, trying to find Aethon. A trail of fire was left behind by him which made tracing him much easier. We managed to catch up to him, but we were met with Aethon, frozen and shocked and in front of him was a bloody mess. The crying of the twins could be heard and also the dripping of blood.

  We got closer. Ahead of him, Nixara, his queen, lay slain. Her blood painted the walls. Yet... she died shielding her babies.

  "She was strong... " Zyrakar groaned slightly. "Such a pity to see a good warrior die like this. I could've brought her into the Seven Thrones of Ruin, but she was stubborn."

  "NOOOOOOO!!!! NOOOO!!! NOOO!!" Aethon's scream tore the air. "Nixara.... Nooo..." He fell to his knees.

  Zyrakar kicked Nixara's lifeless body toward him. It landed softly before Aethon with a soft thud.

  "I could have made her body a vessel for Seraveth at least, but a good warrior deserves a good rest. Bury her well." He added as he turned to the crying twins.

  Tears streamed down Aethon's face. He leaned over, brushing her eyes closed.

  "What did we ever do to you?" he whispered "I know nothing of your origin nor did I take something that belongs to you... So why!?"

  Zyrakar turned slowly. "Ignisia did take something that belonged to me, she took my chance of revenge, and I just paid her back. Though you were the one to suffer." He continued his approach towards the twins. "How sad. Truly"

  Nyseria and I watched in silence.

  Aethon rose.

  His red hair ignited. His robes turned to flame. His eyes— pure fire.

  "You stand at the brink of a king's sorrow." He said.

  "My heart is gone. And my heaven follows."

  He drew his blade. Living fire breathed along its edge.

  "What you feared… was mercy. What comes now is judgement. My Judgement."

  Mar'gareth charged in, assessed the situation and instantly went to rescue the twins.

  Zyrakar, seeing this, immediately retaliated but Mar'gareth managed to get one of the twins. He immediately charged back out as there was no time to rescue the second prince.

  Aethon looks to the heavens, voice trembling, a tear of flame slid down from his cheek

  "I have failed you Ignisia... Forgive me but just this once, see me through to the end."

  Then, eyes fixed on Zyrakar, he whispered:

  "We shall burn in my hell together."

  The ground pulsed.

  Nyseria gasped- her hands instantly wrapped around Zandren's wrist.

  "We have to go... NOW!!"

  A circle of light burst around us and in a flash we vanished.

  We reappeared far above, suspended in the sky by Nyseria's power. The soul tree glowed faintly in the far horizon, as if weeping as it watched the great kingdom of Ardor fall.

  Below us... Ardor wept flames. Pillars of liquid flame tore from the ground, erupting skyward.

  From its core, a divine inferno spiraled outward from the palace— a dragon of flaming wraith answering its call with a mighty roar.

  The palace melted into light. Towers shattered. Shadows screamed. Those who didn't manage to evacuate stood in place and bowed to the dragon, offering their lives to their king, understanding— “his judgement” .

  Aethon stood at the heart of it all, wreathed in fire like a fallen star.

  The great kingdom of Ardor, known as the spear of all four nations, had fallen.

  "He chose to burn, rather than letting the demons spread." I said softly as I and Nyseria landed on a far ahead cliff watching as Ardor burned to the ground.

  "That... Was the last flame of Ardor" Nyseria said, closing her eyes. She started crying as she witnessed a beautiful kingdom burn to the ground.

  A loud cry was heard, I turned to see what it was and it was the flames crying.

  "What's that?" I asked out of shock

  "That's Ignisia, mourning the death of her chosen flame" Nyseria answered, wiping her tears

  "Come on let's go" she took my hand.

  I took one final look at Ardor before Nyseria took us out.

  ****

  "I still don't understand why Aethon chose to do that" I said baffled by what I just witnessed

  "You will understand soon enough Zandren." Nyseria replied

  "But what about Mar'gareth and the twin he took. What about the other twin that was with the high authority?" I asked, a bit worried.

  Nyseria looked at me from head to toe.

  "well you are still here... Sort of. As for the twin with the Higher Authority, I'm sure you are going to find out."

  "You keep saying I'd find out, why can't you just fucking tell me!" I yelled.

  Seeing the shock on her face I instantly apologised. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

  She lowered her head. "It's not that I don't want to tell you. I just can't. Please understand."

  "Hmm.." I nodded in agreement and took a seat on the ground.

  Nyseria walked around a bit and came to where I sat. She sat down near me and sighed, placing her head on my shoulder.

  "What's wrong?" I asked

  She sighed."Well, since I've shown you all that I was meant to, it's time for you to return back to the physical world and face your destiny."

  "Oh"

  Loneliness crept in. I had grown fond of her presence. Her kindness. Her warmth.

  Being trapped here alone sucks, and the one person that you finally got to talk to is leaving, that sucks even more.

  "We aren't going to be apart for too long..." She said while looking at me. Her blue eyes, so beautiful and serene, staring straight into mine as if trying to tell me something with them.

  "W-what do you mean?" I asked

  "She is cold, but all she's going to need is your warmth, which I'm sure you'd provide" she said with a smile.

  "Come on it's time, lay down and sleep and when you wake up, you will be back to your world" she said while gently pushing me down. She laid beside me and closely too.

  She started tearing up "We are going to meet again, but I'm still going to miss you" she said as she placed her hand on my head.

  I started feeling sleepy even though I was sure I wasn't feeling that way earlier.

  As I began to drift out of consciousness, Nyseria came in closer, held my face, and gave me a kiss.

  "We will be together again Zuri, I love you" She said in her language which I strangely understood now.

  ****

  "Hey—"

  "Hey are you alive?"

  "I think... He is opening his eyes."

  My eyes opened slightly and... I saw them

  Blue eyes. Cold expression.

  'It looked so much like Nyseria's. I thought to myself and began to fall unconscious again.

  With a weak smile, I whispered,

  "Good to see you again Nyseria".