Time for Revenge

"Nathan, dost thou agree to wed Mira?"

A solemn voice echoed through the chamber. A woman stood between me and Mira, her gaze steady.

"I agree," I said, my eyes locking onto Mira's.

There was no elaborate dress, no gilded veil—only the same worn robe she had always worn. And yet, her beauty remained undeniable, untouched by extravagance.

The arrangements had been swift. Too swift. There was no celebration, no drawn-out ceremony, just a few hushed words exchanged before the binding took place.

"Mira, dost thou agree to wed Nathan?"

Mira lifted her gaze to mine, her violet eyes unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, she whispered, "I agree."

The crowd erupted in cheers below us—twisted, feverish, almost manic in their elation.

The officiant raised her arms. "By the will of the heavens and the whispers of the earth, let these two be bound as one. Through joy and sorrow, through fire and storm, their souls entwined shall endure, steadfast, till the end of days."

She presented a ring to Mira. It pulsed faintly with a soft green glow, radiating an energy I couldn't quite place.

Mira took my hand, her touch cool against my skin, and slid the ring onto my finger.

Drussera, standing close, watched intently. "'Tis a ring passed down through our lineage. Keep it well, and guard it with care."

I nodded. A family heirloom… or perhaps something more? I'd need to learn its true purpose later.

Taking Mira's hand in return, I placed the matching ring onto her finger. The crowd roared again, their voices a mix of euphoria and something unsettling—laughter that curled at the edges with a hint of madness.

It all felt like a fever dream.

Hand in hand, we descended the throne platform.

"So, how do we leave this place?" I asked as we walked.

Mira kept her gaze forward. "The Verdant Core Chamber… we may only access it at midnight."

Ah. That must be how they pulled me here in the first place.

I glanced around. "And what time is it now?"

Mira closed her eyes for a moment, her pupils shifting beneath her eyelids as if reading something unseen.

"It is almost time," she murmured, her eyes snapping open.

Before us, a shimmering field of blue energy crackled into existence.

Mira turned to face the gathered crowd. "I shall return anon!" Her voice rang with conviction. "Vengeance lieth within our grasp!"

A deafening chorus rose in response. The cavern trembled under the weight of their collective fervor.

Drussera met my gaze and gave a slow, knowing nod. No words were needed. I returned the gesture.

Then, without hesitation, we stepped into the portal.

Szooop.

The world blurred.

In an instant, the air changed. The scent of damp stone and decay returned. My boots met cold, bloodstained ground.

We were back in the Verdant Core Chamber.

I scanned my surroundings. The pedestal stood empty, the core missing. My own dried blood was still smeared across the floor where I had fallen.

A sharp pulse of anger flared in my chest. That healer… I had been a fool to trust his kindness. And Koala—was she part of the deception, or just another pawn? She had seemed too innocent, but I knew better than to trust appearances.

And Selene…

The last thing I remembered was her voice. If I knew her at all, she would have abandoned me without a second thought.

My hands clenched into fists, rage simmering beneath my skin.

I hadn't realized I was gripping Mira's hand too tightly until I felt a slight movement from her fingers. The small shift snapped me from my thoughts.

She turned to me, her lips curving into a slow, knowing smile.

"Do you seek revenge?" she asked, her smile widening.

Something about her expression—sharp, twisted, almost playful.

She wasn't normal.

Then again, I doubt I can call myself normal anymore.

A slow, uncontrollable grin crept onto my face, mirroring hers.

"How can you speak normally?" I asked, the question gnawing at me for some time.

Mira tilted her head, amused. "I have spent countless years watching fools stumble into this forest, seeking our relics, only to perish like insects."

I stiffened. The Eldermoon Forest was vast—nearly the size of a region. If she could truly see everything within it...

"You… Are you saying you can see everything that happens here?"

She gave a casual shrug. "The forest shows me."

"The forest shows you?" I asked, confusion lacing my voice.

She held my gaze, unblinking. "The whole forest is a single living being."

My breath hitched.

"When we fled into this forest to escape our betrayers, the trees moved of their own accord, guiding our path. And after the demon took us in, the forest began to speak to me," she said, her voice oddly reverent.

I frowned. "It can also speak?"

"Yes. But only to me—not even to my mother." She smirked, pride flickering in her eyes.

I recalled the demon mentioning that this forest was created from the remnants of a fallen god. If that were true…

Curiosity burned inside me. I shut my eyes and focused.

"Hey, are you even listening?" Mira huffed. "Even my mother couldn't hear it, and her power is immeasurable—"

Her voice faded into the background as I concentrated.

Stillness settled over me. The world around me dimmed.

Then, like a whisper carried on the wind, a voice stirred.

**Mss...t...r...**

The sound wavered, distant and unclear.

I focused harder. The murmurs sharpened.

**Mast...r...**

**Master.**

My eyes snapped open.

Mira's expression softened, mistaking my reaction for unease. "No need to worry. Not everything needs to make sense—"

"I heard it," I cut in.

She blinked, her smug expression faltering. "What?"

"Eldermoon forest. It spoke to me. The voice was faint, but I heard it."

Her lips parted slightly, but her expression darkened with something close to disappointment.

"Oh…" she muttered, crossing her arms. "Good for you."

I almost laughed. She liked being the only one who could hear the forest's voice, didn't she?

Still, now wasn't the time for distractions.

"Let's get out of here first," I said. "How do I break the seal on you?"

Mira sighed, extending her hand toward me. "Take my hand and move toward that crack."

I grasped her hand, its warmth grounding me as we stepped forward.

"Now, push that violent energy inside you and guide it into my hand!" she commanded.

I gritted my teeth. Easier said than done. It felt like trying to force blood through my veins in reverse—unnatural, chaotic. My body resisted, but I focused, channeling the energy toward her.

The moment it touched her skin, Mira's grip tightened. A surge of power wrapped around her like a storm, crackling, wild.

"Now—move forward, fast!" she urged.

I obeyed, pushing us through the crack.

Darkness swallowed us whole. I clenched her hand tighter and took a step forward.

Then—light.

A vast hall unfolded before us.

Broken statues. Rotting corpses of knights. Severed limbs strewn across the floor. The stench of decay clung to the air, thick and suffocating. These bodies had been decomposing for at least a week.

"What the hell happened here?" I muttered, glancing at Mira for an answer.

But she wasn't looking at the carnage.

Her eyes widened, her lips trembled, and unshed tears glistened in her eyes.

She was free.

For the first time in thousands of years.

I let her have that moment, stepping ahead to clear my mind.

Then, it came.

**Master.**

Huh? This time, the voice was clearer.

"Are you the Eldermoon Forest?" I asked, my heart pounding.

**Yes, Master.**

Master? Was it because of the demon's power? But if that were true, then what about the Verdant Core?

"Can you function without the core?" I asked. In the game, the Verdant Core was said to be the forest's very heart.

**Yes. The Verdant Core was created to grant the Noctharis access to my functions. But you… you are different.**

My breath hitched. My heart raced.

"Can I try it now?"

**Your wish.**

Whoosh.

A rush of sensation flooded my mind.

My consciousness expanded, stretching across the entire forest. I could see everything—all at once, yet none at all. I felt the trees, the creatures lurking within, the whisper of the wind through the leaves.

Suddenly, my heart pounded hard as I stared at the forest. My blood burned, my hands clenched into fists.

A group of people moved into the trees, their armor emblazoned with the Volteris family sigil. And at the front, leading them, was a man holding a gem—a teardrop-shaped crystal pulsing with an eerie green glow.

The Verdant Core.

With a smirk, he disarmed the traps effortlessly, stepping forward as if he owned the land.

I reached up, touching my face.

Why… why was I smiling?