7th Dawn

Aloka stood fuming in his chamber, his severed arm still pulsing with dark energy."UGH, pants! That filthy human… how dare he? This arm will take time to heal. I'll have to sever it to speed up the process." He poured a red liquid onto his wound. The pain was sharp, but his resolve was even sharper."I will find him. I will offer the soul inside of him to my lord. Time is not on my side. I will venture to the daylight city once more. Just wait for me, Jeremiah. Your grim reaper will be here soon to harvest your soul." He opened the door and slammed it shut behind him.

I woke up to the searing pain in my chest, the aftermath of the attack still fresh. I screamed, my open wound feeling like it was burning as I tried to look at my own heart. The sight made me gag, the blood rising in my throat.Faintly, I heard a voice—soothing yet distant."Bear with me, Jeremiah. This will be over soon."Before I could respond, the pain intensified as I felt a needle pierce my skin. The moments stretched, each second filled with agony. Eventually, my eyelids grew heavy, and everything faded into a dark sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, the pain in my chest had dulled, but a sharp sting remained. The old man's voice greeted me."Finally awake, Jeremiah."

I blinked, my foggy mind struggling to process the situation. I had almost died, hadn't I? If it weren't for the old man… I couldn't understand why he had saved me, but I managed to whisper, "Thank you."He nodded, but there was little warmth in his eyes."You're welcome, Michael," he said, but his tone shifted. "We've got other problems to worry about now. First, how did you end up fighting one of the Ten Abominations? And why can't I see the shape of your destiny anymore? I can no longer guide you with certainty.""Aloka?" I croaked. "The Ten Abominations… what is that?"

The old man sighed, leaning back."I don't know much about the Ten Abominations. They're immensely strong, mysterious beings that isolate themselves. No one who's fought them has ever survived. One of them is Aloka, the Ruler of Shadows. His true name is known far and wide, but no one dares to curse him. To do so would mean certain death."

My heart sank. "But… Maya is still there. I can't abandon her."

The old man looked at me solemnly, shaking his head."Even if she's alive, there's nothing you can do. You're out of your depth, boy."His words felt like a punch to the gut. I wanted to argue, to prove him wrong, but the crushing weight of his words nearly overwhelmed me. Still, I couldn't abandon Maya. I refused to believe there was no hope.

I was lost in thought when the old man pulled out an orb. His eyes closed, and his hands began to move around it, without touching it. The air grew thick with tension, and then suddenly, an invisible force pushed him away from the orb. I jumped to my feet, my body reacting instinctively to the danger.

The old man looked up at me, his face pale with terror."The Abomination is coming here. We're doomed."

I helped him to the bed where I had just been lying. His body trembled as I moved quickly to his cupboard, searching for something—anything—that could help. I found a small box labeled with herbs and medicine and fed him one of the tablets. After a few moments, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. I placed my hand over his chest, listening for the steady rhythm of his heart. The sound was a small relief.

I slumped against the wall, my thoughts spiraling. I was alone. Helpless. The fear of what could be happening to Maya consumed me, but the old man's words kept echoing in my mind—Aloka is coming. Why? What did I have to do with any of this?

I turned inward, reaching for Hildegarde."Hildegarde, do you know why Aloka is after my life?" I asked quietly.

Her voice was filled with hesitation."Yes… he's after my soul."I was speechless. All of this… it was because of her. But there was no time to blame her. The reality was far worse than that.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice small and regretful.

I exhaled, pushing the anger aside. "It's fine. Our souls are bound together. Your burden is now my burden." It was the truth, even if I didn't like it. I wasn't about to abandon her, not after everything that had happened.

"Is there a way to defeat Aloka?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

She was quiet for a moment, her voice tinged with sorrow."No… He's much stronger than you. In fact, you're lucky to be alive. It seems the old man has taken a liking to you."

I clenched my fists. "Fine. I'll figure it out on my own."

I couldn't rely on anyone else. It was up to me now.

I grabbed my coat and wallet, preparing to leave. As I reached for the door, the old man's voice rang out."Where are you going, Jeremiah?"