Chapter 20: what the people saw

The mind of Umbra was numb, and he felt himself standing amidst the dark void, not knowing where or what had just happened. He could only see a blur in front of him-a great expanse of nothingness. His body was cold and lifeless, and the feeling of hollowness within seemed to stretch to infinity.

He had died, once again.

It had become a spiral he knew only too well: an endless downward spiral of misery and sorrow that once had threatened to drive him insane. He had sworn to protect Selene, and yet, despite all his strength, all his efforts, she had been torn from him in the most brutal way possible.

And now… now he was here.

"You're an idiot, Umbra," the voice cut through the silence, and he jerked his head up in alarm. Before him stood a figure bathed in cold, ethereal light, one he had never seen. It was overwhelming, like a figure of light and shadow, neither fully nor not.