The Eyes of the Sealed One

The door groaned as it swung inward, revealing a vast chamber bathed in an eerie, bluish glow. The air inside was thick—almost alive—pressing against Viole's skin like unseen hands. His breath hitched.

Something was waiting in the dark.

The others hesitated at the threshold. Ha-eun's grip on her sword tightened. Kairos shifted uneasily, eyes darting around. Even Azael, unreadable as ever, stood tense.

Then, in the center of the chamber, something moved.

A slow, deliberate inhale.

A pair of eyes flickered open—silver, luminous, burning with ancient knowledge.

Viole felt the Hunger inside him react violently, surging to the surface as if trying to tear itself free. He staggered, gripping his chest.

The presence inside the chamber noticed.

A voice, deep and resonant, filled the room.

"So... you've come."

A figure stepped into the light.

Tall. Clad in tattered robes that had once been regal. Their long hair, ashen white, cascaded over sharp shoulders. Silver chains adorned their wrists, their movements fluid yet restrained. But it was their face—serene yet inhuman—that sent a chill down Viole's spine.

This was no ordinary prisoner.

This was something far more dangerous.

The Sealed One.

---

The Bargain

The air in the chamber grew heavier, thick with an unseen force. The Sealed One regarded them in silence for a long moment before finally speaking again.

"It has been... a long time since I've had visitors."

Kairos let out a low breath. "Yeah, I can see why. Great place you've got here. Love what you've done with the chains and the eternal darkness."

Ha-eun shot him a look, but the Sealed One merely smiled.

"Sarcasm. How quaint." Their gaze shifted to Viole. "But you... you are different."

Viole felt his muscles lock in place, as if unseen threads had tightened around him. The Hunger inside him stirred wildly, clawing at his mind.

"You..." The Sealed One tilted their head. "You carry something... incomplete."

Azael took a step forward. "We need your help."

The Sealed One's silver eyes flicked toward them. "Help?" Their voice was amused. "Tell me, child of the moonlight, what could possibly convince you that I would offer help?"

Azael's expression didn't change. "Because Viole is losing control. And we both know what that means."

The Sealed One exhaled, their gaze drifting back to Viole.

"Ah. I see now."

Viole clenched his fists. "If you know, then fix it."

A deep chuckle echoed through the chamber. "Fix it? You misunderstand, little warrior. I am not a healer." They raised a hand, and for a split second, Viole felt something pull at the Hunger inside him—like invisible fingers testing the edges of a wound.

He gasped as pain lanced through his skull.

The Sealed One withdrew their hand. "Fascinating... It is still forming. A half-bound curse. A power without a master." They smiled. "Tell me, how long do you think you have before it devours you?"

Viole's jaw tightened. "I don't care. I just need to control it."

The Sealed One studied him for a long moment. Then, slowly, they turned, walking toward a massive, circular stone in the center of the chamber.

"There is only one way to control a thing like this," they mused, brushing their fingers over the stone's surface. "You must own it. Dominate it. Make it submit to you."

They turned back, silver eyes glinting. "Or it will consume you."

Viole met their gaze. "Then tell me how."

A slow smile spread across their lips. "Very well. But nothing comes without a price."

---

The Trial

The moment the words left their lips, the chamber trembled. The air turned sharp, crackling with unseen energy.

Azael's eyes darkened. "Viole—"

Too late.

The Sealed One moved—or rather, the space around them shifted. In an instant, they were standing directly in front of Viole, mere inches away. Their presence was overwhelming, pressing against his mind like a storm.

"Let us see if you are worthy."

Before Viole could react, they touched his forehead.

A rush of something—heat, cold, raw power—exploded through him.

And then—

Darkness.

Viole opened his eyes.

The others were gone.

He stood in an endless void, the floor beneath him nothing but an infinite black surface stretching in all directions.

And across from him—

Another version of himself.

But it wasn't him.

Its eyes were entirely black, veins darkening the pale skin of its face. Its lips curled into a smirk, revealing jagged, inhuman teeth.

Viole exhaled sharply. "Of course."

The thing tilted its head. "What's wrong, Viole?" Its voice was smooth, almost teasing. "Don't recognize yourself?"

Viole reached for his sword—except he had no sword. No weapon at all.

The Hunger inside him surged.

His doppelgänger stepped forward. "You're afraid," it whispered. "You know what's happening. You're breaking, piece by piece. And you like it, don't you?"

Viole clenched his fists. "Shut up."

The doppelgänger's grin widened.

Then it lunged.

---

The Fight For Control

Viole barely dodged as the creature's claws slashed through the air, leaving streaks of black energy in their wake. He stumbled back, but it was already moving again—fast, too fast.

A fist crashed into his stomach.

Pain exploded through him. He hit the ground hard, gasping for breath.

The doppelgänger loomed over him, eyes burning. "Weak."

Viole gritted his teeth. "I'm not—"

Another blow.

Viole spat blood.

The Hunger inside him roared, demanding release.

The doppelgänger crouched beside him, gripping his chin. "You don't fight me," it whispered. "You are me."

Viole's vision blurred. He could feel himself slipping, his body shaking from exhaustion.

Then—

A voice.

"Own it."

His breath hitched.

The Sealed One's words.

Viole exhaled.

Then he stopped fighting.

He let the Hunger in.

And for the first time, he reached for it on purpose.

A surge of raw power rushed through him. His veins burned, his muscles tightened. The doppelgänger's eyes widened in shock—

And Viole moved.

Faster than thought.

His fist connected with its chest, sending it flying across the void.

The Hunger wasn't fighting him anymore.

It was his.

The doppelgänger struggled to stand, but Viole was already there. He grabbed it by the throat, his grip tightening.

"You're not me," he said coldly.

The creature's eyes flickered—fear, for the first time.

Then Viole crushed its throat.

The doppelgänger let out a final, choked gasp—before dissolving into black mist.

And just like that—

Viole woke up.