A Late Awakening

The cold night wind rustled through the towering trees. The sky was dark without a moon, filled only with dim stars that seemed reluctant to shine. Anya sat leaning against the trunk of an ancient tree, her breath ragged, her mind still consumed by Nasha's words.

"I am a part of you."

The words echoed in her head. It wasn't just an illusion or a trick of the mind—she had truly seen that figure. Herself, yet different. Those golden eyes that gleamed with cunning, the blue flames dancing in her hand, and a smirk that felt both familiar and utterly foreign.

And the most painful part…

"Kaelan knew about this from the beginning."

Anya clenched her knees, her body trembling. Was it true? Had Kaelan known all along who she really was? If so, why had he never told her anything?

Tears welled in her eyes, but she shook her head firmly. No, this was not the time to break down. She had to find the truth herself. She couldn't rely on anyone—not even Kaelan.

With unsteady legs, she pushed herself up, trying to calm her frantic heartbeat. If Nasha was truly inside her, she had to find a way to face her.

But before she could take another step, something moved within the shadows.

The dry leaves rustled.

Anya turned sharply, her eyes alert.

From the darkness, a figure emerged.

A man in a long black cloak, his face hidden beneath a hood. But his eyes—deep, endless black—gleamed in the night.

"Anya," he called in a raspy voice.

Anya stepped back. "Who are you?"

The man didn't answer. Instead, he lifted his hand, revealing a swirl of dark violet energy spinning in his palm.

Anya instinctively reached for her dagger, ready to fight.

But before she could move, a voice echoed in her head.

"Do not fight him. He is not your enemy."

Anya froze.

That voice… it was Nasha.

The hooded man stared at her for a long moment before saying, "You're starting to remember, aren't you?"

Anya frowned. "What do you mean?"

The man sighed softly. "I won't explain everything now. What you need to know is… we don't have much time."

Anya still eyed him with suspicion, but before she could ask more, a deep rumbling sound erupted in the distance.

The ground trembled beneath them.

A bright red explosion lit up the night sky.

Anya held her breath. "What is that?"

The man clenched his fists. "Kaelan."

Anya's heart dropped. "What's happening to him?"

"I don't know for sure, but something has awakened the sealed power. We have to go now."

The man turned, running toward the crimson light, but Anya stood frozen, still uncertain.

"Why should I trust you?"

The man stopped and slightly turned his head.

"You don't have to trust me," he said. "But if you stay here, you'll die."

Anya bit her lip.

Then, without further hesitation, she chased after him.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Kaelan knelt on the ground, his body covered in burns and dripping with blood.

In front of him stood the one person he had feared would return.

Zero.

A tall man in a silver cloak with cold, steel-gray eyes. He smirked, as if enjoying the sight of Kaelan in pain.

"You're too slow, Kaelan," he said in a relaxed tone. "I've been waiting for you."

Kaelan gritted his teeth. "What do you want?"

Zero chuckled. "You know the answer."

Without warning, Zero lifted his hand, and a powerful force slammed into Kaelan's chest. He was flung backward, crashing into a tree.

Kaelan groaned, trying to stand, but his body felt impossibly heavy.

Zero walked toward him, his steps unhurried.

"You failed to protect her once," he whispered. "Do you really think you can protect her this time?"

Kaelan held his breath.

"Anya…"

Zero smirked. "Ah, you still call her that."

Kaelan tensed.

Zero crouched beside him, staring deep into his eyes. "It's time for her to remember who she truly is."

Kaelan tried to fight back, but Zero merely lifted a finger, and Kaelan was thrown once more.

"This time, I won't let you stand in my way."

Kaelan glared at him with hatred, but he was powerless. His body refused to move, and darkness began to consume his vision.

Before everything faded, he could only think of one thing:

"Anya… don't come here."

Anya ran through the forest, following the cloaked man she still wasn't sure she could trust.

But as they reached the top of the hill, her breath caught.

Below, Kaelan lay motionless on the ground.

And beside him stood someone who made her blood run cold.

Zero.

Anya didn't know how, but she recognized him.

Not just recognized—she had been with him before.

Flashes of memory flickered in her mind.

Blinding light, the sound of screams, a raging war… and in the midst of it all, her and Zero.

They were not enemies.

They had once fought side by side.

Anya staggered back, her hands clutching her head as a sharp pain stabbed through her mind.

Zero looked up at her, smiling widely.

"Finally," he said. "You're back."

Anya opened her eyes, and for the first time, she felt something stirring within her.

A darkness, long buried, began to awaken.

Nasha…

She wasn't just a voice in her head.

She was a part of Anya that had been locked away.

And now, the seal was breaking