Chapter 3: Apostle of the Night – Part 1

«She was no longer Helena».

I had accepted it.

And yet… something in my chest was still reluctant to let her go completely.

The mist that surrounded us was dense.

My hands, numb, still trembled around the empty space where my sword had once been.

My body, already exhausted, refused to obey me — but my eyes… they never left her. Not for a single moment.

Not out of love.

Not out of hope.

None of that made sense anymore.

She had already made sure to bury it the moment she raised her blade against me.

I just wanted answers.

In front of me, she — if you could still call her that — didn't move.

Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.

The same face.

The same body.

But no longer the same eyes.

And then, I heard it.

— …Daven.

Her voice.

Not the saintess.

Not my wife's.

It was her voice. The other one. The one I hated most.

The sound faded like an echo among the shadows, her voice was heartbreaking, delicate, and at the same time carried a warmth and innocence that struck the deepest part of my soul.

A shiver ran through my entire body; time seemed to stop right then.

Helena had never said my name like that.

Not with that tone, not with that… childlike air.

And yet, it was her mouth.

Her lips that spoke it.

I felt sick for an instant. For a few seconds, I didn't know whether to laugh or rage.

Because it couldn't be.

But it was.

I knew it instantly.

She had descended.

— At last… you show yourself… — I murmured, with a mix of disgust and relief.

She smiled at me.

Not Helena.

The shadow that had taken over her body.

The presence behind her eyes.

.

.

.

The sky was unusually clear that afternoon.

Helena ran between the trees, her boots already soaked by the snow, laughing sweetly while the wind played with her blonde hair.

— Faster, Daven! — she shouted, turning to look at the boy who followed her, holding a branch like it was some knight's sword.

— I told you that path is dangerous! — I replied, somewhat annoyed, afraid she might hurt herself.

But she didn't listen. She almost never did.

She'd been a free spirit from the moment we met — fragile in body, but more stubborn than anyone.

From the moment our eyes met, Helena had changed my world completely.

Each day felt brighter, more exciting.

That very afternoon she had convinced me — after much nagging — to go beyond the stream, where the stones frozen by winter were sharp and the trees seemed taller and glassier.

She was excited because she'd heard from my grandmother about the beauty of the fish beneath the ice.

I was reluctant to go out; I only agreed after many complaints… and a sweet little threat.

But agreeing that day… I'd regret it for the rest of my life.

A roar shook the surroundings.

The ground vibrated under my feet. From the bushes, a huge figure emerged: a bear with red fur, bloodshot eyes, and claws like giants.

Helena froze.

— Run! — I shouted, pushing her hard.

She fell onto the snow, rolling several meters before lying still.

From there, I saw her trying to get up, eyes wide, fixed on me.

And I…

I stood there buying time in front of the bear, trembling with fear, holding an imaginary sword in my hands.

The beast growled, taking a step closer.

I could already feel its icy breath against my skin.

— No! — Helena screamed behind me, tears covering her eyes. — Please, someone...

Nothing.

No answer.

Only the sound of a roar tearing through the air.

That was when she couldn't help it.

— Daven!

With her body trembling, Helena ran, screaming my name.

Her boots slipped on the snow but she didn't stop.

She threw herself toward me, sacrificing her body.

— NOOO! — I shouted, but it was already too late.

The monster's claw came down.

And then… the world stopped.

The snow hung frozen in the air.

The bear's roar, halted midway.

Even my breath caught in my throat.

Everything fell into absolute silence.

I didn't understand what was happening, I just… felt it.

A strange pressure, like something immense — beyond what my mind could comprehend — was approaching.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't think.

I could only watch.

Then, the sound of broken bells echoed, filling the forest with a resonance that seemed to come from the depths of the soul.

The sky darkened in an instant, and a spiral of dark light — denser than night, brighter than gold — descended upon Helena.

— Well done, my child — whispered a soft, childish, warm voice.

But… it chilled my blood at once.

That voice didn't come from the sky or the earth; it slipped into my mind. As if it had always been waiting there.

It was then I realized.

The glow surrounding her slowly faded, revealing Helena, but…

Her face was still the same. Proud. Beautiful.

But her eyes — deep as the abyss, full of lights that seemed to contain entire galaxies — there was no trace of the girl I knew.

Her blonde hair turned as black as night.

Her already pale skin now gleamed like silk.

Above her head floated a halo as vast as the universe… a miniature Milky Way spinning majestically at its whim.

The air around her changed, became heavier. Reverent, as if the whole forest held its breath.

The bear felt it instinctively, whimpering.

It backed away, its body trembling violently burned into my memory…

and then without a single touch, its form crumbled into black dust by the mere presence that had just manifested.

.

.

.

— Long time no see, Daven — she said casually, breaking my thoughts.

The expression on her face was cheerful, like she'd just reunited with an old lover.

— Finally showing yourself, bitch — I said.

Almost immediately, the cheerful expression on her face began to distort.

Her smile cracked, her nearly perfect features started to crumble, like the human mask she wore was about to shatter.

Her eyes flashed again, and for an instant — I swear it — behind her I saw another form.

A shadow with wings wrapped in darkness.

Her lips twisted instantly, revealing her displeasure.

But even so, she didn't attack me.

She waited, patient.

I didn't know what her game was, I had so many questions, so many doubts, but in this moment…

Only one truly mattered.

— Why? Why did you do it?

...( silence.)

— WHY DID YOU DO IT?! DAMN IT — I roared, my voice breaking.

The pain and rage I'd carried for years finally spilled out.

For a second.

...( silence.)

...( silence.)

Then…

"Ha, ha ,ha..."

A laugh.

Low.

Subtle.

Like a whisper born in the throat of someone who cared about nothing but themselves.

And then it burst.

— AHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHA... HNHEHEHEHEEE…!

A hysterical, overflowing laugh that reverberated through the ruins of the place as if the whole world was laughing with her.