God Kaelvor took me to the Dark Realm with him, and the journey itself was an experience beyond imagination. His realm-traveling ship was unlike anything I had ever seen-crafted from gleaming obsidian and etched with silver runes that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow. The air inside was thick with power, a hum of energy that sent shivers down my spine.
As we entered the dark realm, I braced myself for an endless void, for a world without light. But instead, we were greeted by a strange sight-there was illumination here, a soft glow from the swirling skies above that bathed the land in hues of violet and deep red. The terrain was rich with bizarre, otherworldly flora that seemed to thrive in the strange light. It wasn’t a barren wasteland, as I’d imagined, but a place that seemed… too alive.
The people who walked the cobblestone streets looked anything but normal. They moved with mechanical precision, eyes fixed forward, faces cold and emotionless, as though bound by some unseen force. It was as if the life had been drained from them. Forced servitude, I realized. They were prisoners of this world, whether they knew it or not. Perhaps that was why the realm was also known as the realm of death.
We approached a castle made entirely of black stone-so dark it absorbed the light around it, giving it an ethereal, almost terrifying presence. The walls seemed to pulse as if breathing in sync with the land itself.
As the ship slowed to a stop, two figures emerged from the shadows of the castle. They were draped in elaborate royal black robes, their silhouettes striking against the glow of the dark realm.
Kaelvor stepped forward, his deep voice breaking the silence.
“This is Vaelrik, my right hand,” he said, gesturing to the man on the left. His features were sharp, his dark eyes piercing like daggers. There was no need for embellishments or titles-his very presence screamed authority.
“And this is Eryndor, one of my most loyal men.” Kaelvor’s gaze shifted to the second figure, whose demeanor was just as unnerving. Eryndor’s expression remained unreadable, but something about him felt even more dangerous-like a blade hidden beneath a velvet sheath.
They both bowed their heads slightly in acknowledgment, their eyes studying me with quiet intensity.
“Welcome to the Dark Realm, Queen Selena!” Vaelrik said, his voice smooth yet carrying an edge of something unreadable.
I gave a slight nod. “Thank you,” I replied, though the air here felt heavier than I had anticipated, thick with an unseen force pressing down on me.
Turning to God Kaelvor, I asked, “So when will we start the process?”
“Now,” he declared without hesitation, his tone absolute. Without another word, he strode forward, his black robes flowing behind him like living shadows.
I followed as he led me inside the grand castle. But instead of being taken to a guest chamber or any kind of formal space, Kaelvor led me straight through a narrow underground passage. The deeper we went, the colder the air became. A dim glow flickered from torches embedded in the walls, casting long, eerie shadows that danced like wraiths.
Arena, my wolf, stirred uneasily in my mind.
‘Something isn’t right,’ she warned, her voice a low growl.
I felt it too. A gnawing sense of unease crept over me. But we had come this far. There was no turning back now. Whatever fate awaited me, I had no choice but to see it through.
Then, without warning, a thick, swirling smoke burst from the left, curling around me like a living entity. It wrapped around my body before I could react, seeping into my lungs and clouding my vision. A sharp sensation of vertigo overtook me, and when my sight cleared, I found myself bound in the far corner of a massive, dimly lit hall.
“What the hell is going on?” I snarled, struggling against the restraints. The bindings pulsed with dark energy, tightening the more I fought.
Across the hall, Kaelvor stood in the center of an ancient ritual circle, strange symbols glowing beneath his feet. His men were positioned around him, chanting in a language I didn’t recognize. A black mist swirled around them, thickening by the second.
Arena fought alongside me, trying to break free, but we couldn’t. The magic was too strong, too unnatural.
‘Selena… this is demonic magic fused with godly power!’ Arena’s voice was panicked, her usual strength dimmed by fear.
I clenched my teeth.
What?!
“Kaelvor,” I commanded, my voice laced with fury. “Release me instantly!”
He let out a low, wicked chuckle, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “And who do you think you are, that I should obey your command?”
My rage burned hotter. I had expected treachery from many, but not from a god. “I never thought a deity could be this filthy,” I snarled.
Kaelvor smirked as he rose from his seated position, his movements slow and arrogant. The power radiating from him made the very air around us crackle with energy. He approached me, his smirk widening as he studied my helpless form.
“After all,” he mused, “a god can crave power just as much as mortals do.”
I glared at him with disgust, my stomach twisting with revulsion. “So you lied about helping my realm?” It wasn’t even a question anymore-his intentions were crystal clear now.
“Ah,” he exhaled in pleasure, “I do love watching people crumble into desperation before they fall straight into my traps.” He tilted his head mockingly. “That’s how I’ve used countless others like you over the ages-to fuel my power. And it will all end with me acquiring the strength of the Ancient Wolf.”
His filthy grin sent ice-cold dread through my veins.
No, not Arena! My wolf. My other half. I couldn’t let her suffer because of my mistake.
Desperation surged through me, and I called upon every ounce of power granted to me by the goddess. The dark magic binding me pulsed violently as I pushed against it, the pain searing through my wrists like molten iron. But I refused to stop. With a final, agonizing surge, the ties snapped, the force of my release sending a shockwave across the room.
Kaelvor barely reacted. He watched me with mild amusement, completely unfazed. “Impressive,” he remarked, as if observing an entertaining trick.
Before I could move, his men rushed forward, their hands moving in a synchronized motion as they chanted in an ancient tongue. A fine, glittering powder rained over me, the scent bitter and metallic.
My body seized.
A horrifying sensation spread through my core, an unnatural force severing something vital within me.
‘What the hell is happening?!’ Arena howled in agony.
Our bond-our sacred connection-was weakening.
I was losing her.