"I confide in you, Hugo." He whispered with a smile across his face.
••••
Back in the council chambers, the members were gathered around the table, their faces grave and solemn. Suddenly, the doors burst open like before, and Moloch strode into the room. The members gasped, as the air crackled with energy.
"I have come to offer my services," Moloch said, his voice booming. "I can help you defeat the darkness that threatens your world." The members of the council looked at each other, unsure of what to do. "Why should we trust you?" one of them asked.
"Because I have nothing to gain from lying to you," Moloch replied. "I am not seeking power or glory. I simply wish to see the darkness defeated, and your world saved." His words hung in the air, and the members of the council felt a shiver run down their spines. Could they really trust this mysterious being?
"What exactly can you do?" another member asked, their voice trembling. Moloch smiled, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.
"I can teach you how to wield the power of the elements," he said. Both Athena and Aria were happy but still nervous thinking its not a better idea to join hands with him.
"I understand your fear," Moloch said, his voice softening. "But I give you my word, on my honor as a being of light, that I will not use this power to harm you. I seek only to help you defeat the darkness, and save your world from destruction." The members of the council looked at each other again, their faces troubled.Finally, one of them spoke. "We need time to consider your offer," they said. Moloch nodded. "Take all the time you need," he replied. "I will be here when you are ready."
As Moloch vanished, leaving only a faint trail of shimmering light behind him, Athena turned to Aria. "What do you think?" she asked. Aria was silent for a moment, her eyes unfocused, as if she was deep in thought.
"I don't know what to think," she said, finally. "On the one hand, this power could help us save our world. But on the other hand, it's a power we don't understand, and we don't know what the consequences could be." Aria was worried.
"But I don't know what's talking about, we are the darkness, though I don't know if Darryl is from the light. We are bound to make things dark." Aria whispered in great excitement.
"I think we need to learn more about this power, and about Moloch," Aria continued. "We need to understand what this means for our world, and for the people in it." Athena nodded."I agree," she said. "But I'm worried that there isn't time. The darkness is growing stronger every day, and we're running out of options." Aria bit her lip, her mind racing. "We have to find a way to buy ourselves some time," she said. "There must be something we can do."
"We need to strengthen our defenses," Aria said, her eyes alight with an idea. "We need to reinforce the wards around our cities, and make them as strong as possible. And we need to gather as much information as we can about the darkness, and the one who controls it." Athena listened to her friend's words, considering the wisdom in them."That could work," she said. "But we will need help. I don't think we can do this alone." Athena felt concerned.
"If we can find allies among the other systems, we might have a chance," Aria said. "I'm sure there are other rulers who are just as worried as we are. If we can band together, we might be able to hold off the darkness long enough for Everett to return." Aria suggested, that was one of the reason why Aria was useful. She's endowed with wisdom.
"You're right," Athena said, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "We need to send out messages to the other cities, and see if we can form an alliance. But who should we send?" She asked worriedly.
As Athena and Aria were discussing their plan, there was a soft knock at the door. They turned to see a young woman standing in the doorway, her dark hair framing her face and her eyes filled with determination.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she said, "but I may be able to help." She continued.
"Sasha!" Athena exclaimed, rising to her feet and crossing the room to embrace the young woman. "It's so good to see you." "You too, Athena," Sasha replied, a smile on her lips. "And you too, Aria." Aria ignored her greetings and she was never interested with anything involved with her.
Sasha was not only Athena's longtime maid, but also a woman of great skill and intelligence. She had been raised in a family of witches, and had inherited some of their power.
In particular, she had the ability to foresee the future, and had often used this ability to help Athena and the system. Her determination and courage were legendary, and she was not afraid to take on dangerous tasks. In short, she was the perfect person to send on this important mission.
After exchanging greetings, the three women sat down to discuss the situation. "As I said, I may be able to help," Sasha said. "As you know, I'm a skilled messenger, and I know how to travel quickly and unseen. I can reach the other systems and bring them your message." She explained thoroughly.
"That's a brilliant idea!" Aria exclaimed.
"You could reach the other cities in half the time it would take us." "But it's dangerous," Athena said, a concerned look on her face. "The roads are not safe, and the darkness grows stronger every day." She uttered trying to warn Sasha, but Sasha was not moved by her creepy words.
"I'm not be moved by pestilence nor the arrow that will attack me, I have faced many of this and overcame them." She spoke bravely and audibly.
Athena was quiet for a moment, considering what Sasha had said. Finally, she spoke. "You are truly brave and sorceress," she said. "And I know you would do everything in your power to succeed. But I cannot ask you to take on this task alone. I will go with you." Aria gasped, and looked at Athena in shock.
"You can't!" she said. "The danger is too great. What if something happened to you?" Athena smiled, and placed a hand on Aria's shoulder. "I appreciate your concern, my friend," she said.
"But I am not afraid," Athena continued.
"I know that this is something I must do. And with you and Sasha at my side, I believe we can succeed." Aria still looked concerned, but she nodded, understanding the determination in Athena's eyes."I will go too," she said. "I will not let you face this danger alone." Sasha smiled, and a look of relief and gratitude crossed her face. "Thank you both," she said. "I am grateful to have such brave and loyal friends."
Aria went out secretly and called for a bird, she tied a message to its leg and let it soar away. Her eyeballs met with that of Sasha, but Sasha was unfazed.
"You think I'm a betrayer?" Aria asked, her voice breaking. "I would never do anything to harm you."
"No?" Sasha demanded, her tone challenging. "Then what about that message you sent? Who were you trying to contact?" Aria swallowed hard, and steeled herself.
"It was a warning," she said, her voice quavering. She regretted taking the unretrievable wrong, she was determined to attack if she decide on telling Athena.
"Right from when I entered I sensed the aura of betrayer from you, but thinking of how loyal you are I ignored it." "And so you decided to warn someone else about our journey to the outskirt systems?" Sasha asked, her eyes narrowing. "You chose to betray us, Athena must hear this." Sasha muttered angrily, standing firm on her words.
The air hung heavy with tension as Aria and Sasha stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a battle of wills. Finally, Aria looked down, her shoulders sagging. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I was afraid, and I made a mistake." Sasha regarded her for a moment, her expression unreadable. "I forgive you," she said, her voice softening. "But you must understand that trust is something that must be earned." With those words, the tension began to dissipate, and she was able to breathe again.As Sasha, Athena, and Aria set out on their journey, they knew that the road ahead would be difficult and dangerous. But they were determined to succeed, no matter what the cost.The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light casting shadows on the forest floor. A lone figure moved through the trees, their steps silent and swift. The figure was tall and lean, clad in dark robes that blended into the night. Their face was hidden beneath a hood, but their eyes glittered with a fierce intelligence. T
Darryl tried to sit up, but the Sorceress placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back down. "Stay where you are," she said, her voice cold and menacing."You're in no condition to move." Darryl struggled against her grip, but it was no use. He was weak and exhausted, and the Sorceress's power was too great."What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice shaking with fear."I want you to understand the error of your ways," the Sorceress replied, her eyes gleaming with malice.Darryl stared at the Sorceress, his mind racing. "You're wrong," he said, his voice shaky but defiant. "I'm not going let me stop you from destroying this world. There's still hope, and I won't give up on it." The Sorceress let out a cruel laugh, her voice mocking. "You are a fool, to believe that hope can win against the forces of darkness," she said. "But I'll let you keep believing, if it makes you feel better. It won't change the outcome.""I don't believe you," Darryl said, his eyes blazing with defiance
The sorceress chuckled. "Nay, you laid eyes on naught but an enchantment, woven by the fiendish Moloch to crush your resolve. For a millennium, he has held her captive, biding his time until you arrived, intending to manipulate you through her. Should he fail in slaying you, he would twist her into his tool to bring about your ruin." Darryl trembled atop the coarse table, a tempest of dread raging in his mind. Fear coursed through his veins, his heart drumming a panicked beat against his chest, and his thoughts churned in a whirlpool of fright.Darryl's voice quivered as he pleaded, "Have you any knowledge of her whereabouts? Did your very own peepers behold her existence, to confirm her survival?" His hope fluttered like a fragile butterfly in a storm.A sardonic guffaw emanated from the enchantress's pursed lips, stretching into a wicked grin. "I saw her but once, imprisoned in a cave," she taunted. "Her mind seemed adrift, counting stones like a counting machine. Her limbs, shackl
Let Them Go! Shera knelt before Moloch's throne, head bowed in deference. "Master," he murmured, "your enemies have been uncovered. They are cunning and resourceful, but they cannot match your might." Moloch's crimson eyes narrowed, their malevolent gaze boring into Shera's cowering form. "Fools," he growled, his voice like the rumble of a volcanic eruption. "No one challenges my dominion and lives to tell the tale." Moloch's eyes glinted with a predatory gleam. "I sense a thirst for knowledge, my faithful servant. Enlighten me - who dares to challenge me?" He leaned forward in anticipation, his voice dripping with ominous promise."Darryl, the one whom was foretold to be reincarnated thousand years ago." Shera announced, Moloch couldn't help but chuckle.Moloch chortled, his laughter echoing through the chamber. "Ah, Darryl... the fabled chosen one, returned from the mists of time. Spare me the histrionics, Shera. This Darryl is nothing more than a nuisance - a fly buzzing around
"Moloch's territory was impenetrable," Darryl said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I had searched high and low for my wife, using my brain and every technological resource I had at my disposal, but I hadn't been able to get a single clue. I couldn't even get close. But then, as we ventured deeper into the heart of his territory, something changed. A subtle shift in the air, a tingle at the back of my neck." He looked at Moran, his eyes full of hope. "What do you think it means?""I did mention it to you, didn't I?" she said, an amused smirk spreading across her face. She sat down and picked up her robe, which had pooled at her feet. "Although I can understand if you didn't quite catch the memo, since you were preoccupied with other matters." "It's hard to believe that you're one of us now, Moran," Darryl said, his eyes locked on hers. There was an unspoken question in his gaze, as if he were trying to gauge her sincerity."I've proved more than I can to you, that I'm no longer h
"Calm down, child," she said, her voice dismissive. "He'll be fine. This is for his own good. He needs to be cleansed and purified. Just for the days would do, and he would be as powerful as Darryl, trust me." "I would never trust you, but you've got to believe me, if Everett doesn't return in the given range time, you would not live to see the next sunrise." Aria threatened her, her face was bloody red. It was flustered with trouble. Athena smirked as Aria walked past her, hitting her with her tiny shoulders. Even though Aria's powers can never match with hers, still, his heart kept pounding in fear. "That little bitch can't pose as a threat to me," She tried to calm herself down. But she knew what Aria can do, she's never to be trusted. "Everett would surely resurrect, so there's nothing to be afraid for.""I can't just standby and watch that selfish lady get what she wants. She wants to use Everett for her own gain, she wants the system all to herself. I'll stop her, by all mean
The rain pounded on the roof of the hut, creating a deafening roar that drowned out all other sounds. Darryl struggled against the ropes that bound him, screaming as he watched a hooded figure dance around a large, ornate drum. The drumbeat grew louder and louder, until it was all Darryl could hear. The figure stopped dancing and turned to face Darryl, his expression hidden by the hood. Then, with a single swift motion, the figure drew a curved knife and brought it down on Darryl's wife, who was kneeling before him.As Darryl watched in horror, the hooded figure beheaded his wife with a single clean stroke of the knife. The sound of the blade slicing through flesh was sickening, but not nearly as sickening as the sight of his wife's lifeless body falling to the ground.In a rage, Darryl threw himself against the ropes that bound him, desperate to break free and avenge his wife. But the ropes were too strong, and he could only watch helplessly as the hooded figure walked away, leaving
As the thunder rolled across the sky, a brilliant flash of lightning struck the earth. A small crater appeared, and from it rose a figure, his clothes in tatters and his hair wild. Darryl stood, looking around at the world that had changed so much since he had last seen it. The air was still and the sun beat down, but not a single drop of rain fell. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what Darryl would do next.Darryl looked around, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar world around him. The buildings were strange and foreign, the people dressed in clothing he had never seen before. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. No one seemed to recognize him, or even notice that he was there. He was like a ghost, invisible to the people who lived in this strange new world. A sense of unease settled over Darryl, as he realized just how much he had lost.As Darryl wandered through the city, he caught glimpses of the people around him. They