”Phase 3: The Path of Solitude – Stella Illusion”

The Prisoner of Eternal Light

1. Born as Property – A Life in Darkness

Stella was never born a warrior. She was born as property.

From the moment she saw the light of the world, she belonged to someone else. Her family was once powerful, but when their kingdom fell, she was enslaved along with the few survivors. She grew up in dark dungeons, surrounded by rusty chains and the damp stench of old stones.

The world was nothing more than a black prison to her.

Her tormentors were cruel traders, men whose greed knew no limits. They sold people like goods – but Stella was different from the others.

A radiant light burned inside her.

A divine gift – healing light that could close wounds and drive away darkness.

But they saw no blessing in her – only a tool.

They locked her in an underground dungeon, where she was forced to use her powers again and again in complete isolation.

Until her own body suffered from it.

Until her light burned her from the inside.

Until nothing remained of her – except her power.

The Boy with the Glowing Eyes

There was another prisoner.

A boy with glowing eyes.

He was barely older than her, his voice gentle, full of life – despite the darkness that surrounded them. He told her about the world outside, about freedom and hope. About everything she had never known.

For the first time in her life, she believed in a way out.

And for the first time in her life… she felt something.

She fell in love.

But the traders noticed.

And they did not tolerate hope in their prison.

The Impossible Choice – Life or Death?

As punishment, they brought the boy before her eyes.

They gave her only one choice:

Heal him – or they would kill him with their own hands.

Stella trembled.

It was a trap.

Her powers were too strong, too unstable.

If she tried to save him, her light could just as easily destroy him.

If she did nothing, they would kill him before her eyes.

Her body shook, her heart raced, tears streamed down her face.

She didn't want this.

She didn't want to be responsible for his death.

Itami: "Stella…"

The boy lifted her hand. His fingers were ice-cold, but his grip was firm.

His gaze rested gently on her.

Itami: "If you do nothing, we both die."

Her throat tightened.

Itami: "It's not so bad if I die…" he said quietly. "As long as you live on for me."

His lips trembled, but his gaze was full of determination.

Itami: "Live on for me, Stella."

Then he smiled.

The first and last time.

And Stella let it happen.

She activated her resonance.

And her light exploded.

When She Came to, She Was Alone

The chains lay in ashes.

The dungeon was silent.

And in her hands…

Ash.

Her body felt numb. Her legs trembled as she stood up. Her gaze wandered over the cold floor, searching for the boy – for anything that remained of him.

But there was nothing.

Nothing but ash.

Then –

The clinking of chains.

The sound cut through her.

Stella lifted her head.

And she was there again.

Back in the dungeon.

Back before her tormentors.

Back before the boy.

He stood there. Just like always. The same eyes, the same warmth.

And then he said it again:

"I found you."

But Always the Same Ending

It started over.

Every time.

No matter what she did.

If she tried to heal him – her light burned him. His body turned into radiant ash, his screams echoing in her head.

If she did nothing – he was murdered before her eyes. His blood covered the cold floor, his final gaze full of fear.

If she tried to escape – she returned to the beginning.

Every time.

Again and again.

The Pain Becomes Real – Selene Intervenes

In the real world, Stella began to tremble.

Her breath turned into gasps. Blood seeped from her lips. Her body convulsed as if something was tearing her apart from the inside.

Selene saw it.

Stella: "Damn it!"

Stella was too deep in the illusion.

Selene: "If I don't get her out, she'll die."

But an illusion of this intensity could not simply be broken.

Selene took a deep breath. Then –

Resonance.

Purple light flared around her.

She allowed herself to be pulled into Stella's nightmare.

The Last Rescue – The Price of Freedom

Selene found Stella on her knees, surrounded by ash.

Her gaze was empty.

"Enough of this."

Selene stepped forward, her resonance shining like a shattered starry night.

Stella looked up.

Stella: "No… he needs me."

Selene: "He's not real."

Stella: "Yes, he is!" Her voice cracked. "I can save him! I have to! If I just—"

Selene raised her hand.

The illusion shattered.

And Stella screamed.

Then… she fell.

The Coma – The Silence After

Back in the real world.

Stella's eyes snapped open.

Her body gasped, as if searching for life.

And then?

Nothing.

She breathed. But she was not there.

Selene staggered, exhausted from the power she had used.

She had saved Stella.

But at what price?

Stella fell into a deep coma

Ezryel stood there.

No reaction. Not because he felt nothing – but because there was no place for it now.

"What happens next?" His voice was cold, factual.

The others looked at him in shock.

"Ezryel, seriously?!" Nia snapped at him.

But Ezryel remained calm. "Stella is still here. I want to know how we bring her back."

It wasn't heartlessness.

It was focus.

Because he had no intention of letting Stella go just like that.

Liebe looked at Stella, then at Selene.

"You pulled her out…" His voice was gentle but broken.

He knew that Selene had given everything.

And yet… it hadn't been enough.

He placed a hand on Stella's ice-cold skin.

"We are here, Stella."

A whisper. Almost a prayer.

"And we won't leave you alone."

Rex leaned against the wall, his gaze fixed on Stella.

He was silent. For a moment.

Then:

"Hope is a messed-up thing."

The others looked at him in surprise.

A shrug.

Neo rubbed his temples. No clear answer. He hated that.

"This is damn resonance. She didn't just lose consciousness – she got trapped in it."

He looked at Selene.

"How exactly did you pull her out?"

His voice was sharp, analytical.

He needed to understand.

Because if he understood, he could find a way to bring her back.

Nia covered her mouth with her hand.

Her eyes burned. Her heart raced as if it would shatter.

"Stella…"

She had always been strong.

Why was she just lying there now?

Tears fell – hot and unstoppable.

"I can't do this… I just can't."

But now? Now she couldn't break.

They had to find a way – all of them together.

Kirah stood motionless. But this… this had hit her.

"This is more than a coma." Cool. Analytical. "Her mind is still there."

She looked at Selene.

"How deep is she still in the illusion?"

Waiting? This wasn't waiting. This was a fight.

They had to bring her back.

Kyro clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

"Damn it… that wasn't part of the plan."

His gaze moved to Stella, then to Selene.

"And now?" His voice was tense, almost angry.

But deep inside, it wasn't anger.

They had started this ritual together.

She was one of them.

"We'll bring her back."

No doubt. No question. A damn fact.

Selene

"She is being taken to a safe place – there, we will try to awaken her. But the wolf ritual must continue. Next."