The Daring Choice

The reality is now and here, a way forward is all I can only think of, I careless about myself, but for those who have journeyed with up on till now, Vardy spoke to himself in silence, I can't put them down, I can't give up on them, he said to himself.

Vardy's heart raced, the weight of Aziel's words pressing down on him like a thousand stones. The very idea that the darkness, something he had fought so desperately to escape, was a part of him was too much to comprehend. His mind reeled, struggling to understand how he could possibly be connected to the very force he had always seen as an enemy.

Aziel's gaze held steady, watching him closely, almost as if he were savoring Vardy's internal conflict. "You're torn; I can see it. You want to deny it, push it away, but you can't. You'll come to understand, eventually. We all do."

Vardy shook his head, trying to clear the fog clouding his thoughts. "You're lying. I'm not like you."

Aziel's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You think you're different, but deep down, you know you aren't. The darkness runs through all of us, Vardy. It's not something you can fight; I tell you it's something you must embrace. You'll see, in time."

Ferah's voice broke through the tension, sharp and commanding. "Enough! Vardy don't listen to him. He's manipulating you, he sure is, Luthor spoke out."

Luthor stepped forward as well, his hand still on the edge of his sword. "We won't let him twist your mind, Vardy. We're your family now. You have us, no one else but us."

Aziel's eyes flicked briefly to Luthor and Ferah, an amused glint in his silver gaze. "Such loyalty," he said with mock admiration. But it's a futile effort. None of you can change what is destined to be. He will surely see himself doing exactly what he never will do.

Vardy's mind was a storm of emotions filled with pain and trouble, the Oracle's words echoing in his ears. The darkness… It grows. It is alive. And there is a price. Was Aziel, right? Was he already bound to this dark fate, whether he accepted it or not? Could he fight something that lived within him? Or was it truly inevitable?

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His companions were watching him, waiting for his decision. And yet, there was a part of him, an undeniable part, that felt a strange pull toward Aziel, toward the darkness that the other man seemed to wield so easily, so turning to its fate, that it got accepted in no little order.

"You don't have to make a decision now," Aziel continued, his voice smoother now, coaxing. "But you will, sooner or later I tell you, Vardy. You can't run forever, Vardy. You can't hide from what you are, you can't dismiss the true nature of who you already are, this is you, it's what you're being created with."

Vardy's grip on his staff tightened. His thoughts were scattered, and messed with, but one truth remained clear: the choice before him wasn't just about choosing sides, it was about understanding who he truly was. Was he a man of light and hope, or was he, deep down, something darker? And could he ever be both?

"I'm not like you, Aziel," Vardy said, his voice steadying. "I'll never be like you."

Aziel's expression hardened, the amusement fading into a dangerous stillness. "We shall see then."

For a long moment, the world seemed to stand still. Then, with a flick of his wrist, Aziel turned his back on them, his dark cloak swirling around him like a shadow. "Remember what I said, do not forget this," he called over his shoulder, his voice colder than ever. "The choice is yours, Vardy. And when the time comes, you'll know what to do."

Vardy stood there, staring at Aziel's retreating figure, his heart a battleground of emotions. He wanted to chase after him, demanding answers, but something held him back. Something told him that he wasn't ready to face Aziel yet, not now. He needed a break from everything.

As the last traces of the strange man's presence faded into the darkness, Vardy slowly turned to face his companions. Ferah and Luthor were both watching him with concern, they felt pity for him, though neither said anything for a long time. The weight of the silence pressed down on them all.

Finally, it was Ferah who spoke. "What now, Vardy? Are we still moving forward? Or are we stopping to try to figure this out?"

Vardy took a deep breath, feeling the pull of uncertainty, the growing darkness that seemed to whisper in his mind. "We move forward," he said, his voice firm. "We have to keep going. We'll find the others. And we'll stop this before it's too late.", it's getting more dangerous than I ever thought, letting go of all these thoughts, but not at once, they were all still kept in his memory like a store pack.

Luthor nodded, his expression resolute. "Then let's move, stop wasting time, we are all in this together Vardy. We're with you. No matter what."

Vardy's gaze lingered on the horizon, his thoughts still a whirlwind, but in that moment, he knew one thing for certain, the darkness was coming for him. And he would face it heads-on, no matter the cost.

The journey continued, but each step felt heavier than the last. Vardy's mind was consumed by the knowledge of the darkness within him, and the growing tension in the air was palpable. The world seemed to tremble with anticipation, as if it, too, could feel the impending storm.

Each day, Vardy could feel the pull growing stronger, an insistent whisper at the edge of his consciousness. It was as though the darkness was waiting for him to give in, to embrace it. But he wasn't ready to surrender. Not yet, he whispered to himself.

As they approached the next city on their journey, a dark, looming shadow cast against the atmosphere, Vardy knew they were about to face something far more dangerous than anything they had encountered before, he knew he had to force himself, to keep working, he is so tired and willing to give up at all cost, but what would be the end of it, what would happen after then, how is it going to turn out, where would he put his company, 

Luthor and Ferah, looked at each other like all was well, caring less about the whole situation, they just needed Vardy to survive, it was obvious he was already quitting the whole situation from the beginning, 

but something still kept on pushing him, felt like something was just bringing the whole situation out in one torn to just get him down, who would help us now, what are we going to do, were all the questions they could ever ask, but. Nevertheless, they need to be ready, ready for what is coming, ready to take it down, no matter the. Circumstances, Vardy knew he could only ask for more, for just a last chase to take a break from all the terrible things around him, And now…

The storm was coming. And they were walking right into its eye.