chapter 73

The fortress trembled violently as if protesting their escape. Sylus's grip on Rose's hand was firm but not painful, his movements calculated and deliberate. Each step forward felt like running against the tide of an invisible storm. The air grew heavy, charged with an unnatural energy, as the cries of unseen enemies echoed in the distance.

Rose struggled to keep up, her legs burning with effort. She wasn't used to this kind of adrenaline—not in real life, and not in the game. She glanced at Sylus, whose expression remained a stoic mask of determination.

"Where are we going?" she called out, her voice barely audible over the rumbling destruction.

"To the catacombs," Sylus replied, his voice sharp and steady. "They won't follow us there. Not yet."

The catacombs. The word alone sent a shiver down her spine. It sounded ominous, like a place that carried secrets she wasn't sure she was ready to uncover.

"Why not?" she asked, her curiosity overriding her fear.

Sylus glanced at her briefly, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "Because even they fear what lies beneath."

Rose's heart skipped a beat at his words. She didn't have time to ask further, as Sylus suddenly pulled her sharply to the left, narrowly avoiding a cascade of falling debris.

"Focus," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

They continued their frantic escape, the fortress groaning under the weight of its impending collapse. Finally, they reached a large, ornate door engraved with strange symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint, eerie light. Sylus let go of her hand and pressed his palm against the center of the door.

The symbols flared to life, bathing the room in a cold, blue glow. The door groaned before slowly swinging open, revealing a dark, spiraling staircase that disappeared into the abyss below.

Sylus turned to Rose, his expression serious. "This is your last chance to turn back."

Rose stared at him, her chest heaving from exertion. "And if I do?"

"You'll be safe," he said, his voice quieter now. "But you'll never get the answers you're looking for."

Rose hesitated, her mind racing. Everything about this moment screamed danger, yet she couldn't ignore the pull she felt—to Sylus, to his story, to the truth.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly, stepping closer to him.

Sylus nodded, a flicker of something—respect, perhaps—crossing his face. Without another word, he began descending the staircase, and Rose followed close behind.

The air grew colder with each step, the darkness around them pressing in like a living thing. Rose could barely see, relying on the faint glow of the symbols on Sylus's back to guide her.

"Why do they fear this place?" she asked, breaking the heavy silence.

Sylus's voice echoed softly in the narrow stairwell. "Because it's where the truth is buried. The truth about me, about them... and possibly about you."

Rose's stomach twisted. She had known this game was more than it seemed, but the weight of his words made it feel all too real.

Finally, they reached the bottom of the staircase, stepping into a vast chamber lit by an otherworldly glow. The walls were lined with murals depicting scenes of chaos and betrayal, battles fought by shadowy figures whose faces were obscured.

At the center of the room stood a large stone pedestal, atop which rested a strange, glowing artifact. It pulsed rhythmically, like a beating heart.

Sylus approached it slowly, his steps hesitant for the first time. He stopped a few feet away, his gaze fixed on the artifact.

"This is it," he said softly, more to himself than to her.

Rose stepped closer, her curiosity outweighing her fear. "What is it?"

Sylus turned to her, his expression unreadable. "It's called the Veil of Eylus. It's the key to everything—the past, the present, and the future."

Rose frowned, her eyes flicking between him and the artifact. "What does that mean?"

Sylus hesitated, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "It means that if we activate it, we'll see everything. The truth about who I was, what happened to me... and why you're here."

The weight of his words settled over her like a heavy blanket. This was it—the moment she had been searching for. But with it came the realization that she might not be ready for the answers.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"No," Sylus admitted, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "But I've learned that sometimes, the only way out is through."

Rose took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. "Then let's do it."

Sylus nodded and extended his hand toward the artifact. As his fingers brushed against its surface, the room was engulfed in blinding light.

And then the memories began.