Chapter 37 - Lingering Echoes

Somewhere in the Human Realm-

The candlelight flickered against the cold stone walls of Elara's hidden chamber, casting eerie shadows as she sat cross-legged on the floor.

Her breathing was steady, her mind sharp, yet beneath the surface of her composed expression, unease churned like a rising tide.

She had been practicing the forbidden arts for weeks now, deep in the labyrinthine ruins beneath the city, where even the Blessed Knights of the Divine Order dared not tread.

These ancient tunnels, abandoned and steeped in forgotten magic, had become her sanctuary.

A place where she could push past her limits, embracing the dark arts that had woven their way into her soul.

Elara exhaled, extending her hands before her, summoning the power that had become both her greatest strength and her deepest fear. Shadows coiled around her fingertips, writhing like sentient creatures, responding to her will.

"Control". She reminded herself. I must master this power before it masters me.

The darkness obeyed, taking form in the air, twisting into tangible shapes. But just as she felt the surge of control, a sharp pain jolted through her chest.

Her vision blurred, and for a split second, she felt an overwhelming pull—something deep, far away, something that called to her.

Her body tensed.

The sensation was faint but unmistakable. It was the soul pact.

Lucian.

Her heart clenched involuntarily. It had been weeks since she last felt his presence so strongly.

Was he close? Had something happened to him?

Shaking her head, she pushed away the sudden wave of worry. He was the mighty Lord of the Abyss. Whatever trials he faced, he would overcome them.

Wouldn't he?

Elara swallowed down the uncertainty and steadied herself. She had work to do.

---

Time passed by peacefully. Suddenly-

A chilling breeze swept through the chamber, snuffing out the candles. Darkness swallowed the room.

Elara's muscles tensed. She was alone—or so she thought.

A presence stirred at the far end of the chamber.

Then, a voice sounded, low and unfamiliar.

"The Abyss watches those who dare to call its name."

Elara snapped around, her dagger drawn in an instant.

A figure stood at the entrance of the chamber, half-shrouded in shadows. A long, hooded cloak concealed their features, but through the gaps in the fabric, she glimpsed an unsettling mask—one carved from obsidian, etched with runes that pulsed faintly.

Her grip on the dagger tightened.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "And what do you mean by that?"

The figure didn't move.

"You walk a path that was never meant for mortals," the voice whispered, its cadence almost hypnotic. "You wield powers that are not your own. Do you think the Abyss does not notice?"

A cold shiver ran down Elara's spine. This wasn't just some vagabond lurking in the ruins. Whoever this was—they knew.

Her mind raced through possibilities. A member of the Divine Order? An assassin sent to kill her? No, the Divine Order would strike without warning. This person… was something else entirely.

"I don't recall asking for your opinion," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. "And I certainly don't recall inviting you here."

The figure tilted their head slightly, chuckling as if amused. "You misunderstand, child of darkness. This is not a warning."

Her breath hitched.

"This is..... A reminder."

Before she could react, the figure moved—too fast.

In an instant, they were gone.

The chamber was empty.

Elara's eyes darted around, her senses on high alert. No movement. No sound.

But something had changed.

Lying at her feet was a small sigil, pulsing with faint, eerie light. The same runes that adorned the stranger's mask now glowed across its surface.

Hesitantly, she bent down, picking it up with careful fingers. The moment her skin made contact, a sharp whisper echoed in her mind.

A voice. Ancient. Familiar.

"The pact was never broken."

Elara's breath came in short, uneven gasps.

A presence loomed behind her—one that wasn't there before. She whirled around, but again, she was alone.

Except for the sigil.

It pulsed once more before the glow faded, leaving behind nothing but cold, blackened stone.

Elara clenched her fists, her mind racing.

The pact was never broken?

No—Lucian had told her himself that their bond was incomplete, severed when he was banished from the mortal realm. But if that were true-

Why did she feel his presence tonight? Why did that figure say those words?

Her body trembled, though whether from fear or frustration, she wasn't sure.

She had spent so long convincing herself that she was in control. That she was the one using the abyssal arts. That she wouldn't be consumed by them.

But tonight—tonight changed everything.

Taking a deep breath, she pocketed the sigil and forced herself to leave the chamber. She needed answers.

And she had a feeling that she wasn't going to like them.