The Voice in the Shadows

The celebration at the castle lasted three days. The halls echoed with music, the gardens were filled with lanterns, and the kitchens never rested for a moment. For many, it was a miracle: the princess had recovered what was thought irretrievable. Every smile, every cheer, every raised cup was proof that the sacrifice had been worth it.
But inside me, things were different. With each passing day, the emptiness within me became more palpable. It wasn’t physical pain, but a feeling that a part of my being had stayed behind in that sanctuary, with the Heart of Aeterion.
The first time I noticed something strange was on the second day. I was training in the courtyard, trying to resume my routines. I swung my sword with force, releasing a cut infused with dark energy. The air tore more than expected, and a black bolt shot toward the wall, splitting it as if it were butter.
The knights watching me stepped back in horror. I froze too. I hadn’t put that much strength into the strike, and yet… it was as if my power had multiplied uncontrollably.
“Kaoru…” Lysbeth approached, frowning. “That attack… you’ve never done that before.”
“I… didn’t plan it,” I replied, sheathing my sword. “It just happened.”
That night, while sleeping, I felt it for the first time. A voice.
"You have taken a step into the void… and now, I walk with you."
I woke up startled, sweating. I looked around the room, but I was alone. The whisper faded, like an echo deep in my mind.

---
On the third day, during dinner, the echo returned. We were all gathered in the great dining hall. Aria smiled, practicing with her newly restored arm, lifting cups awkwardly. Rei, surprisingly, teased her about how slow she was with holding a sword again. Even Nara laughed heartily, enjoying the occasion.
But amidst the laughter, I heard the whisper again.
"They laugh… but you know the truth. Nothing lasts. Everything will be taken away again."
My hand trembled, and the cup fell to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces. Everyone looked at me immediately.
“Kaoru, are you okay?” Aria asked, concerned.
I quickly nodded, feigning calm. “Yes… I’m just tired.”
But inside me, the echo continued whispering.

---
That night, I decided to train alone, seeking answers. The courtyard was empty, lit by the moon. I drew my sword and closed my eyes, focusing. The dark power flowed again, more intense, more wild than ever. Every movement unleashed waves of energy that cracked the ground.
Suddenly, the voice spoke clearly.
"Your sacrifice opened a door. I am what remained in the void. And together… we will be unstoppable."
“Who are you?” I whispered, breathing heavily.
"I am the shadow that has always been in you, waiting for the moment. The Heart of Aeterion not only restored, it also released what slept."
A sharp pain shot through my chest, forcing me to my knees. The sword fell to the ground, vibrating with dark energy that spread like roots into the earth. I saw visions: a throne of darkness, a god chained in a sea of stars, and my own reflection with eyes that were not mine.
“Kaoru!” Aria’s real voice pulled me from the trance. She ran toward me, Rei and Lysbeth behind her.
I tried to stand, but the power exploded around me, sending a shockwave that forced them back. My hands burned, covered in black energy I couldn’t control.
“Stay back!” I shouted, fearing I would hurt them.
“No!” Aria forced her way through, ignoring the pressure. Her eyes shone with determination. “No matter what happens, I won’t leave you alone!”
Her voice pierced the chaos. For a moment, the darkness retreated, and the energy vanished like smoke dispersed by the wind. I fell to the ground, gasping.
Aria held me in her arms. “What’s happening to you?”
I couldn’t hide it anymore. “It’s the price… the Heart took part of my soul, but it also released something else. A voice… a power I can’t control.”
Rei frowned. “That doesn’t sound like a simple sacrifice.”
Lysbeth tightened her grip on her sword. “If the Heart was tied to a forgotten god, you might have been marked by it.”
Nara, arriving late, looked at us incredulously. “Are you telling me Kaoru’s possessed now? Great, just what we needed!”
“I’m not possessed,” I growled, though inside I doubted my own words. “It’s something inside me… something that’s always been there and is now awake.”
Aria stroked my face, her eyes full of pain. “Then we’ll face it together, like everything else.”
The echo in my mind laughed softly, as if enjoying my resistance.
"You can try to fight… but sooner or later, you will accept me."
I shivered. I knew that voice would not disappear easily. The price of the Heart had not been mine alone: it would affect everyone, because what dwelled within me threatened to consume them too.

---
That same night, Cicilia gathered us in the castle library. She had been reviewing ancient manuscripts, and upon hearing what was happening to me, she paled.
“I feared this…” she said gravely. “The Heart of Aeterion is linked to the god who once defied the others. It is said that its essence remained fragmented, waiting for a vessel. Kaoru… I fear that vessel is you.”
Silence fell over everyone.
I clenched my fists. “Then we’ll find a way to resist it. I won’t surrender to any shadow, not even if it is a god.”
Aria stood beside me, firm. “And we won’t let you face it alone.”
Lysbeth, Rei, and Nara nodded silently, accepting the weight of the truth.
The path ahead was darker than we imagined. But it didn’t matter. It was no longer just about restoring what was lost. Now, we had to defy fate itself.