Is everything over now?

"Where is the princess?" I shout.

"Look closely at the altar," the mage says, grinning.

The princess lies on the altar. It looks like she is sleeping, as she isn't moving after all.

"Don't worry, she's just sleeping. At least for now. But why are you always so defiant and won't finally give in? You're making everything so much more complicated for me."

"My decision remains the same. Stop haunting me and give up!" I say confidently.

"What happens here?" Caspian asks.

"Poor humans. You didn't know that you were fooled. What do you call yourself again, Aria? Let's introduce you to them with your real name. Uriel the witch!"

Now the cat is out of the bag!

"You are a witch?" Knox asks, looking at me irritated.

"Are you even on our side?" Caspian asks, shocked.

"Of course!" I shout.

"Stop being dumb. Aria is Aria, and she helped us all the time, even now." Sili says.

"You are not surprised. Did you know?" Caspian asks.

"I am a Kodama! My eyes see more than that of a mere human. I knew from the beginning, but I didn't care."

"Lionel, you are a bit too silent. Did you know as well?" Caspian asks.

"Regardless of who you are, you can choose the way you live and who you want to be. I learned that from Aria. But why should we allow our true enemy to incite us against our teammate? I trust her!"

Since when did Lionel know?

"I changed myself in the past. So I also believe in her." Knox says.

"You are right. I also believe that she has a good heart! But you have to admit that this is a bit overwhelming," Caspian says.

"A witch has no heart. So now stop the nonsense and fight for your life," the mage shouts.

Then the battle begins. The golem from the previous level was teleported here as well. So Sisli can use him now. The golem stands up and runs to the mage, who starts to shoot dark energy balls at us, which explode upon any contact.

But then shadow-like creatures rise up from the ground. We plunge into the battle. Caspian shoots his arrows at the shadow creatures, while Lionel, Knox, and Sisli with her golem run in the mage's direction.

"Sisli and Knox give me backup. I will try to attack the mage. Aria? Will you help me attack?" Lionel shouts.

"Of course!" I say and also run in the mage's direction.

I don't know if it is because of the critical situation, but they don't hate me. Even if it's just for the moment. It makes me happy, and I'll fight by their side until the end. My mana is a bit low. because of the healing. But using my destruction magic is not a big deal.

Lionel swings his sword and attacks the mage with swift blows from various angles. However, the mage dodges or blocks with magic. Meanwhile, I throw my purple-looking magic at the mage. But my attacks are blocked by his own magic and end in explosions. Knox tries to get closer to the mage, but the shadow creatures block his way.

"Enough playing!" says the mage with a grin and unleashes a powerful blast of magic that pushes us all backwards. Now the mage goes to the altar. He's going to the unconscious princess Irene.

Caspian shoots arrows at the mage, but he just blocks them. Then he is grabbed by a shadow creature, which he barely manages to fend off with his hunting knife.

"Lionel, stop him!" Caspian shouts, who is too far away to help himself.

Lionel runs to Irene, while the mage forms a knife made of dark magic in his hand and prepares to stab it into Irene's chest. I also run nearer and shoot several purple flames at him. He blocks them, but one hits him, and he is pushed back to the ground. The swirling dirt settles, and the magician stands up again. At this point, Lionel already has the princess in his arms.

Slowly Irene opens her eyes and looks at Lionel with reddish eyes. Her eyes should be blue. She must be under the control of the mage. But too late.

"Lionel..." Irene says, and then she stabs him in the chest. He slowly sinks to the ground.

And let go of Irene, who is now unconscious again.

"Noo!" we all shout, while the mage starts to laugh.

Sisli and her golem manage to fight their way to the mage, but he pushes her back several meters with a magical blast. The golem shatters into pieces. Slowly it begins to reassemble itself. Sisli seems to be fine. Thank God.

I have to do something. I should use my last mana, or Lionel will die. I run closer to Lionel and grab Irene with my magic.

"Caspian, catch!" I shout and throw the unconscious princess backwards into Caspian's arms.

Caspian runs around nervously until, with great effort, he catches the princess.

At the same moment, I push the mage backwards with a blast of energy. Now I bend over Lionel, whose blood is already running across the floor of the altar.

The mage starts laughing again as the altar begins to glow. No, that can't be. He must not be freed.

"Did you really think I needed the princess? No, the blood of a hero is the key to free me. And your beloved king has handed it over to me!" says the magician smugly.

"So it is true!" Lionel says with a weak voice.

"Don't speak, I say!" and begin to heal his wounds.

But the dagger he was stabbed with seems to have been imbued with dark magic. The healing is very weak.

"Your king sold his daughter and the hero just to gain more power. What a fool! The kingdom will burn anyway. For sealing me for centuries!" the magician says amusedly.

Knox and Sisli rush at the magician. They manage to land a hit, but the mage is stronger and pushes them away easily. His true form is now revealed.

The magician takes physical form and is enveloped in a powerful magical aura. He removes the hood of his dark robe and long dark blue hair, and a young male face covered with seals and symbols appears.

I have failed! What am I supposed to do?

"Uriel! Now, my final offer. Come to my side or be destroyed too," the mage says.

"Never! I won't let my friends die!" I shout out, exhausted.

"So be it. Your friends talked about your kind heart, didn't they? Too bad that witches don't have hearts. I took your heart when I made you a witch, but since you don't want to be mine, I'll take it all from you," says the magician.

In his hands, a glowing purple heart suddenly appears.

He squeezes slowly. At the same moment, everything in my chest tightens. A stabbing pain shoots through my chest, and it's hard for me to breathe. I sink to the ground and interrupt Lionel's healing. I clutch my chest.

"Aria!" cries Sisli.

I should attack the magician, but I can't interrupt Lionel's healing, or he'll die.

I turn to Lionel and pull myself together. I place both hands over his wound and channel all my magical power into his healing. More than my body can bear. But it seems like it won't matter anymore anyway.

I'm coughing, and blood is running out of my mouth!

"Aria, stop!" Lionel says.

Then the magician crushes the heart completely, and an indescribable pain spreads through my body. I feel cold, and my eyes grow heavy.

A tear runs down my cheek.

"Please live and save everyone!" I say with my last bit of strength and sink to the ground.

At least Lionel's healing is complete. Now it's dark around me, and I can still hear the others scream until suddenly everything around me falls silent. Is everything over now?