Regna and the figure stood in silence, their eyes locked in a gaze that felt as though time itself had slowed. Though only a moment passed, it felt to Regna as if an eternity had slipped by, an endless stretch of time where nothing existed but the two of them. The figure’s presence was overwhelming, a crushing weight pressing down on her very soul. It was as though the mere act of standing in their presence required all of her strength.

The figure’s eyes, bright red and unfathomable, closed briefly, and when they opened again, they pierced into Regna’s very core, staring deep into her as though seeing everything she was, everything she had been, and everything she might become. A shiver ran down her spine as her heart raced in her chest. She felt something stir within her, an inexplicable mix of awe and terror. She was mesmerized by the being, yet every instinct screamed at her to run, to escape from the crushing weight of their gaze.

The pressure was suffocating, like an invisible boulder weighing her down, pinning her to the ground beneath the figure’s towering presence. She could hardly breathe, the sheer magnitude of their power washing over her like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her in its wake.

Then, suddenly, the figure’s voice rang out, deep and resonant, carrying with it the weight of eons long forgotten.

"You are granted leave to speak," they intoned, the words reverberating through the air like a command woven into the fabric of reality itself.

With those words, the unbearable pressure lifted, and Regna gasped, drawing in a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her lungs filled with air, and she blinked rapidly, her head spinning as she tried to regain her composure.

She looked up at the figure again, and for the first time, she truly saw them. Their long, flowing strands of hair seemed to defy gravity, floating weightlessly as though untethered by the laws of the world. They swirled gently in the air around the figure, moving with a strange, ethereal grace. The being’s form was both shadow and substance, as if they were not entirely of this world, and yet their presence was undeniable—powerful and ancient.

A subtle shift passed over the figure, and the corner of their mouth curled upward into the faintest hint of a smile. It was not a warm smile, but rather one that hinted at something far more profound, as though they had seen countless lifetimes and found amusement in the fleeting nature of mortal existence.

"You..." the figure spoke again, their voice carrying the weight of ages, deep and echoing with an authority that seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.

"A mere child of flesh and bone... have managed to draw my gaze...?"

Regna’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her ears. She had no idea what this being was, or why they had chosen to speak to her. All she knew was that they were ancient—far beyond anything she had ever imagined. And she, somehow, had captured their attention.

"Impressive," the figure continued, their voice a low rumble, like distant thunder.

"You possess a spark that burns brighter than most of your kind, child of man. A potential... waiting to be awakened."

They paused, their eyes narrowing slightly as they regarded her with a mix of curiosity and amusement, as if they were evaluating her worth. The very air around them seemed to hum with power, vibrating with the energy that radiated from the figure.

"To catch the eye of one such as I," they said, the ancient cadence of their speech rolling off their tongue with a sense of inevitability, "is no small feat. Be grateful, human child, for few of your kind would stand before me and live to tell of it."

Regna felt a shiver of fear run through her, but there was something else beneath it, something almost exhilarating. The being’s words stirred something within her, something she didn’t quite understand, but it felt as though a door had been opened in her soul, revealing a path she had never known existed.

The figure’s smile remained, enigmatic and unnerving, as they continued.

"You stand on the precipice of something far greater than you can comprehend, mortal. Tread carefully."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Their words hung in the air, a chilling reminder of the unknown forces at play. Yet, despite the warning, there was a strange allure to the being’s presence, an intoxicating power that drew Regna in, making her want to understand, to know more.

"Do not squander the gift of my attention," the figure whispered, their voice now softer, though no less commanding.

"For it is both a blessing... and a curse."

The figure extended their hand toward Regna, their long, ethereal fingers reaching out as if to touch her very soul. The motion was deliberate, almost tender, yet there was something ominous in the way the air seemed to still around them, as though the world itself held its breath in anticipation.

"Share my burden," the figure spoke, their voice resonating with a weight that made Regna’s chest tighten.

"And one day, the fruits of your suffering shall nourish the world to its fullest."

The words were both a promise and a curse, a twisted offer that carried within it the heavy weight of something far beyond her understanding. Regna’s heart raced, each beat thunderous in her ears as the figure’s presence loomed over her, a force of nature that could not be denied.

"Now," the figure continued, their tone expectant.

"Tell me, human child... what is it that you desire?"

Regna felt her throat constrict, her body betraying her as she tried to speak. It was as though something inside her resisted the very act of forming the words, as if her soul itself feared to give voice to her deepest wish. She gasped for air, choking on her own breath, and her eyes darted toward Rayne’s body, lying just a short distance away.

Rayne, her friend, her light, her companion through the darkness, even if it was for a moment, was gone, her once pale, yet warm body now cold and still. The sight of her lying there, lifeless, sent a fresh wave of grief and guilt crashing over Regna, threatening to drown her in despair. She couldn’t bear it. She couldn’t leave her there like that, alone in this forsaken field bathed of red.

Without a word, Regna turned away from the figure. She forced her trembling body forward, crawling across the ground toward Rayne. Her hands sank into the blood-soaked earth as she dragged herself closer, each movement fueled by desperation and sorrow. The figure watched her, their expression unreadable, but there was a momentary flicker, something like surprise, dancing in their eyes as they observed her actions.

Regna reached Rayne’s side and, with shaking hands, gently lifted her friend’s body, cradling her against her chest. She embraced her once more, just as she had before, her tears falling freely. But this time, they were not ordinary tears; red droplets of blood streaked down her cheeks, staining her skin.

The figure tilted their head, intrigued by the raw, unfiltered display of emotion before them. They seemed to study Regna as she wept, as though she were a puzzle that had not yet been solved.

Regna looked up at the being, her eyes filled with a desperation so profound it threatened to tear her apart. Her voice trembled, barely more than a whisper as she tried to form the words she so desperately needed to say.

"I wish..." she hesitated.

Her throat felt tight, her breath shallow as she struggled to find the strength to speak. She could feel the figure’s gaze bearing down on her, their power pressing against her, demanding an answer. But this was not for herself; it was for Rayne.

"Please..." she finally managed, her voice cracking with the weight of her grief.

"Bring her back."

A single tear of blood slid down her cheek, splashing onto Rayne’s lifeless body as Regna’s plea hung in the air. Her entire being ached with the enormity of her request, the impossible hope that somehow, this ancient being before her could undo the horror that had unfolded. For a moment, the figure was silent, their expression unreadable as they looked down at her. Then, slowly, they began to chuckle. The sound was soft at first, almost a whisper, but it quickly grew louder, swelling into a deep, mocking laughter that echoed across the field. The sound was inhuman, filled with a terrible, cruel amusement that sent chills down Regna’s spine.

Regna sat frozen on the ground, her heart pounding in her chest as the figure’s laughter surrounded her, suffocating her with its intensity. She clutched Rayne’s body tighter, her hands shaking as the feeling of helplessness washed over her.

The figure’s laughter continued, rising in pitch until it seemed to reverberate through the very earth itself. Finally, it stopped, the sound cutting off abruptly as the figure turned their gaze back to Regna, their eyes gleaming with a twisted form of admiration.

"Your boldness... fascinates me, human child," the figure said, their voice now low and measured, laced with that cruel amusement.

There was something in their tone that chilled Regna to her core, as if the very act of her plea had entertained this ancient being more than anything else in countless ages. They took a step forward, the smile still lingering on their lips, their presence casting a long shadow over her.

"To stand before me and ask for such a gift..." they mused, "Such audacity is rare among your kind."

Regna felt her throat tighten again, her body trembling as the weight of the moment pressed down on her. She had asked for the impossible, and now, she could only wait and see what price would be demanded in return.