Chapter 32

I drift in the depths of my consciousness, submerged in endless water, curled up like a child lost in the dark. The silence is vast, pressing in from all sides—until a voice echoes through the void.

"Do you want to end this all, child?"

My breath catches. The voice is neither kind nor cruel, but it carries an undeniable weight, as if it has always been there, waiting.

"Who are you?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper.

"I am you. And you are me," the being responds, its tone steady, unwavering.

A shiver runs down my spine. "Why am I here? Where is this place?"

"You are inside your own consciousness, devoured by your rage and desires," the being explains. "But tell me, child… what do you truly desire?"

The words reverberate around me, sinking deep into the storm of emotions within my soul.

"Who are you exactly, and why are you in my consciousness?" I demand, my voice steady despite the uncertainty creeping into my chest.

A deep chuckle vibrates through the darkness. "Don't be insolent, child. Speaking to me in such a manner..." the being replies, its voice laced with amusement but also warning.

I clench my fists. "Answer me."

The presence shifts, surrounding me like an overwhelming force pressing down on my very existence. "If you continue to wield my power—one you are neither ready to unleash nor capable of controlling—it will lead to your own ruin. Not that I care," it states indifferently.

A cold sensation crawls up my spine. "What are you saying?"

"I am the Eminence of Shadow," the voice declares. "And if you lose yourself completely... I will take over your body. That, child, is inevitable."

"I became one of your personas? What does that even mean?" I ask, my voice echoing in the vast emptiness surrounding me.

The being chuckles darkly. "The moment you held the Pandora's Box of power, our fates intertwined. You are now the embodiment of either hope or destruction."

My breath catches. "Hope or... destruction?"

"Do you understand, child, the weight of those words?"the being continues, its tone unreadable. "Your very existence will shape the fate of this world. Will you be its savior? Or will you bring about its end?"

A cold realization settles over me. This isn't just about me anymore. The choice I make will determine everything.

The being's cold fingers grip my chin, forcing me to look into her eyes—endless, dark, and all-consuming, like a black hole ready to swallow me whole.

"So tell me, child," she murmurs, her voice a terrifying blend of thunder and whispers, reverberating through my very soul. "What do you want?"

My throat tightens. The weight of her gaze crushes down on me, stripping me bare, leaving no room for lies or hesitation.

What do I want?

The power surging within me threatens to spiral out of control, my emotions a chaotic storm. Do I want revenge? Justice? Salvation?

Or do I just want to be free?

Milena suddenly appears beside me, her presence cutting through the suffocating darkness like a sharp blade.

The being narrows her eyes at her, displeased. "What are you doing here, Keeper?" she asks, her voice laced with irritation.

Milena stands firm, meeting the being's gaze without fear. "I should be asking you that," she replies coldly. "Conceal your power. Do not let it leak so recklessly that it endangers her. I will not allow it."

"Keeper?" The word rings in my mind, confusion tightening its grip on me. "Milena… who exactly are you?"

The being scoffs, her hold on my chin loosening. "I did nothing. I was in slumber until this child summoned me." Her gaze flickers toward Milena. "You knew this would happen the moment you bestowed that core power upon her. I merged with her the second she accepted it—right, Keeper?"

I stare at them both, realization creeping in. What am I caught up in? And what have they done to me?

"Undo the power now," Milena orders, her voice firm and unwavering.

The being smirks, unimpressed. "If I do that now, this child will be in danger," she replies smoothly. "Do you really believe she can fight toe to toe with her enemies on her own strength?"

I clench my fists, frustration boiling inside me. They speak as if I'm not even here, as if my own will doesn't matter. "I don't need either of you deciding for me," I snap. "Tell me the truth—what exactly is this power? What did you do to me?"

The being chuckles, her dark eyes gleaming. "The moment you accepted Pandora's Core, you became more than human. You are now a transcendent being. It is up to you which path you walk will you be despair or hope."

Milena glares at her. "She is not ready."

"Then she will either break… or she will ascend."

"That is not for you to decide," Milena declares, her voice echoing with authority.

Before I can react, she raises her hand, and something within me stirs. The core inside me pulses violently, responding to whatever she's doing. A force lifts me from the depths, pulling me away from the dark abyss of my consciousness.

The scenery shifts. The suffocating water disappears, replaced by an endless expanse of pure white—a calm, quiet plane untouched by chaos. For a brief moment, everything feels weightless. Then, with a sudden gasp, I awaken.

I feel arms wrapped around me. My body is weak, trembling, but the warmth holding me is familiar. I blink, my vision clearing to see Ivanna's face filled with worry.

"Big Sis, are you alright?" she asks urgently, gripping me tightly.

I struggle to steady my breath, my mind still reeling from what just happened. But before I can answer, I hear the clash of battle. A fierce fight rages in the distance—someone is taking on Overseer.

A man stands between us and that monster, facing him without hesitation. Even in my dazed state, I can sense his strength, his determination.

Who… is he?

Who is the being inside me?

There is alot of question left unanswered