Chapter 41: A Light in the Darkness

The blinding light that burst from the shadows cut through the oppressive dark like a sword through mist, forcing the creatures to reel back, hissing in pain. Eryx shielded his eyes for a moment, stunned by the intensity. As the shadows recoiled, the figures standing in the glow stepped forward, their forms radiating power unlike anything he had felt before.

Ophis lowered her blade, her expression unreadable, but Eryx could tell she recognized these newcomers. "It's them," she muttered under her breath, her tone both tense and relieved.

Eryx blinked, still struggling to regain his bearings. "Who are they?"

"The others," Ophis replied, her voice steadier now. "I told you we weren't the only ones."

As the light dimmed slightly, revealing more of the figures, Eryx took a closer look. There were four of them, each distinct in appearance but united by an aura of strength and ancient knowledge. They were warriors, not unlike himself and Ophis, but they carried with them an air of mystery—like they had walked these lands for centuries, watching, waiting for the right moment to intervene.

The leader, a tall woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward. She wore a cloak of shimmering fabric that seemed to catch the fading light, her movements graceful yet deadly. Her gaze locked onto Ophis, and for a brief moment, the tension in the air thickened.

"Ophis," the woman said, her voice calm yet commanding. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Ophis straightened, her face expressionless. "We've been walking the same path for longer than you realize."

Eryx glanced between them, confused. "Who are they?"

The silver-haired woman shifted her gaze to Eryx, her eyes narrowing slightly as if assessing him. "We are what remains of the First Circle," she explained, her voice carrying the weight of ancient authority. "The first beings to touch the Void and live to tell the tale."

Eryx's heart skipped a beat. The First Circle. He had heard whispers of them before—beings who had unlocked the secrets of the Void long before the Tower was built, long before the Outer Gods claimed dominion over the realms.

The woman continued, her gaze still piercing. "You've drawn the attention of the Outer Gods, just as we once did. They don't take kindly to mortals meddling in their affairs."

"We didn't exactly have a choice," Eryx replied, his tone harder than he intended. The memory of the gods' attacks was still fresh, the pressure of their gaze lingering even now.

The woman raised an eyebrow but said nothing. One of the other figures stepped forward, a man with a lean build and dark, calculating eyes. "It's been a long time since someone's challenged the gods directly," he said, his voice low. "Most don't survive the first encounter."

Ophis's gaze hardened. "We're not most people."

The man smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "Clearly."

Eryx couldn't shake the feeling that, despite their words, these figures were not entirely allies. They had their own agenda—he could feel it in the way they looked at him and Ophis, as if they were measuring their worth, calculating whether they were useful or expendable.

"What do you want from us?" Eryx asked, his voice steady but laced with suspicion.

The silver-haired woman turned back to him, her expression unreadable. "We're not your enemies, if that's what you're wondering. But we've seen what the gods can do, and we know the cost of standing against them."

Ophis stepped forward, her tone sharp. "We're not looking for guidance. We're here to stop the gods, nothing more."

The woman smiled faintly, but there was a sadness in her eyes. "You can't stop them. Not like this. You've barely begun to understand the Void's true nature. The gods you've faced are nothing compared to what's coming."

Eryx felt a chill run down his spine. He knew the Outer Gods were powerful, but the idea that there were even greater forces waiting in the shadows was more than unsettling—it was terrifying.

"Then why are you here?" Eryx asked. "If we can't stop them, why show up now?"

The woman's smile faded. "Because we've been waiting. Watching. There are only a few paths left to walk, and yours is one of them. Whether you survive or fall, we'll be here. The First Circle doesn't interfere lightly, but when the time comes, we will act."

Her words hung in the air, a cryptic promise that left Eryx more uneasy than reassured. He could feel the weight of their presence, the ancient power they wielded, but he still didn't fully trust them. They were too detached, too removed from the immediate danger he and Ophis faced.

Ophis, however, seemed unfazed. She nodded once, her gaze cold and determined. "We'll find our own way."

The woman didn't argue. Instead, she stepped back, her gaze lingering on Eryx for a moment longer. "You have potential," she said quietly. "But potential isn't enough. The Void is alive, and it will demand more from you than you can imagine."

Eryx swallowed hard, the gravity of her words sinking in. He could feel it—the Void's pull, the way it seemed to be watching him, waiting for something. But what that was, he still didn't know.

Without another word, the First Circle turned and disappeared into the shadows, their forms dissolving into the night like ghosts. Eryx watched them go, the weight of their presence lingering even after they were gone.

For a long moment, there was only silence. Then Ophis spoke, her voice soft but firm. "We don't need them."

Eryx glanced at her, unsure. "You don't think we could use their help?"

"They'll only help when it suits them," Ophis replied, her eyes hard. "They're waiting for something. Watching us, just like the gods."

Eryx nodded slowly, though doubt gnawed at him. The First Circle had seen the gods' power firsthand. They had survived what he and Ophis were only beginning to face. Could they really afford to ignore their knowledge?

"We keep moving," Ophis said, turning away. "There's still much to learn."

Eryx followed her, his mind racing with thoughts of the First Circle, the Outer Gods, and the Void itself. He could feel the pressure building, the weight of the journey ahead pressing down on him like a storm on the horizon.

They had allies now—of a sort. But the road ahead was darker and more dangerous than ever. And the gods weren't done with them yet.