When Liffel and Arizmerz arrived in the city in search of the Altar of Veztuo, they noticed a strange and charged atmosphere. Mist hung heavily over the deserted streets, and in the distance, the altar loomed shrouded in an immense darkness that seemed to absorb the light itself.

Arimerz looked around, uneasy.

-We seem to have come at a bad time,” he muttered, breaking the silence.

-The Witch of Ashes has passed this way,” Liffel said quietly, studying the place carefully. I also sense the presence of someone else.

Arizmerz arched an eyebrow, intrigued.

-Who is the Witch of the Ashes?

Liffel looked away from the altar and looked at him seriously.

-I heard rumors when I was little. They said that wherever she passed, everything turned to ashes. Even what I touched perished.

Arimerz let out a tense laugh.

-It looks dangerous, indeed.

He looked at her, weighing his options.

-So, Liffel, shall we go deeper or find another way?

She looked at him with determination.

-Let's go in and see what's going on. After all, we came here to look for information.

Arizmerz nodded.

-You are right.

Liffel and Arizmerz walked deeper into the city, and with each step the fog grew thicker and darker, almost impenetrable.

-Hey, Liffel, I don't like this at all,” muttered Arizmerz, looking around uneasily. You can't see the road anymore. It's as if it were an illusion created by someone.

"Relax," Liffel replied, advancing confidently. "I am one of the strongest witches."

Arizmerz looked at her sideways and frowned.

-Don't be overconfident, it will kill you.

-I know. For the moment, our presence is hidden. Let's go on.

Suddenly, Arimerz pointed to the altar.

-Look, there's a witch.

Liffel squinted, staring at the figure in the distance.

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-No, there are two of them.

-Where's the other one?

-There are witches who cannot be seen because they are dead,” Liffel explained in a low voice, ”but some, like the Witch of Ashes, remain in this world in special ways. Only a witch, or someone with an advanced spell or artifact, could perceive them.

Arizmerz looked at her, impressed.

-Do you know these witches?

Liffel continued speaking in a low voice

-The one you can't see is the Witch of Ashes. The other one I don't know who she is, but she seems powerful.

While Liffel and Arimerz kept watching, the red-haired witch became aware of their presence. Without turning around, she spoke to her companion in a low but firm tone.

-Witch of Ashes, go away. I'll take care of the intruders.

The Ash Witch vanished silently, and with her disappeared the fog and oppressive darkness that shrouded the city. The red-haired witch approached, studying them with a disdainful expression.

-Well, well... If it isn't Liffel, the daughter of Marak Lem,” she said with an icy smile. If I'm not mistaken, your family is known as the family of reputable assassins for their bloody works.

Liffel looked at her with a mixture of contempt and hatred.

-I don't know such a family. In fact, it doesn't even exist for me,” she said, with hatred in her eyes.

The witch smiled, satisfied.

-Oh, are you angry? Your past will follow you everywhere, Liffel. You can't hide from who you are.

Arizmerz looked at Liffel, as if seeing her for the first time.

-What a cold girl... I didn't expect this,” he said, his tone crumbling into a shade of sadness. But I'm sorry, Liffel. I can no longer continue this journey with you. Marak Lem killed my daughter, and I cannot forgive your family. May the best one win.

Liffel looked at him, surprised by his determination.

-I am not the same as my family.

-No more excuses. I will not forgive my daughter's murderers. So you will pay for their sins,” Arimerz raised his voice, blinded by anger.

Liffel sighed with bitter resignation in her voice.

-Just like that? What a sad fate.

-I'd rather die on my face than on my knees,” Arimerz replied firmly.

The red-haired witch pulled out a staff with a spear-shaped tip, wrapped in fire, and advanced towards Arimerz with a determined look. But at that moment, Arimerz's right arm began to transform, twisting and warping into a monstrous and powerful limb. With a swift movement, he pulled out an extendable halberd hidden in his clothing. In the blink of an eye, he decapitated the witch with inhuman speed.

Liffel stared at him, impressed.

-What are you? -she asked, unable to hide her astonishment.

Arimerz looked at her with a bitter expression.

Your mother left me a curse that transformed me into a half-monster. Thanks to that, I can no longer talk to humans, not even to my own friends. What would they think if they saw me like this? -He asked, his gaze fixed on Liffel, resentment etched on his face.

He paused and looked at his monstrous arm, resigned.

-You could say I'm half immortal, and this curse gives me incredible abilities. But every time I use this power, it shortens my life... So this is the perfect situation for my revenge.

Liffel looked down, contemplative.

-We could have found another way to resolve this. If your daughter died recently, maybe I can revive her.....

Arizmerz gave a bitter laugh, his eyes full of hatred.

The dead cannot be brought back to life, and even if it were true, I would come back as a monster,” he replied, his voice cracking with rage. I don't want him to end up with a fate as cruel as this curse.

Liffel watched his transformation, realizing that there was no turning back.

-I can't seem to convince you,” said Liffel, looking at him sadly. As soon as he finished speaking, thick raindrops began to fall, as if the sky itself foreshadowed the inevitable.

Liffel and Arizmerz threw themselves into battle. A tremendous energy began to emanate from Liffel, causing the city to shake and the old structures to begin to crumble. With a shout of determination, Liffel cast a lightning spell; Arizmerz raised a magic shield to block it, but the impact was so strong that it knocked him back a few steps.

Arizmerz wielded his halberd and lunged toward her with surprising speed. But Liffel teleported right behind him and, without hesitation, pierced him with a sword made of pure magic. Arizmerz began to bleed out, blood staining his lips as he laughed with a bitter tone.

-Just like that, huh? -he said, between coughs and chuckles. I can tell you inherited your mother's terrible power...”.

Liffel hugged him as they floated in the air, feeling the weight of his guilt.

-I'm sorry... for the death of your daughter, because of my family,” Liffel murmured, in tears. With a spell, she gently lowered Arizmerz's body to the ground.

Arizmerz smiled slightly, weakened but surprised by Liffel's warmth.

-It seems... that the cold girl has feelings... Maybe you are different after all,” he murmured, while stroking her hair, in a final gesture of encouragement.

image [https://i.ibb.co/VDTCsDC/abrazo-arizmerz-y-liffel.png]

The rain stopped, and the first ray of sunshine illuminated Liffel's face, framing her red hair as Arizmerz closed his eyes for the last time.

As Arizmerz breathed his last, Liffel felt a pang of loneliness. She gave him a dignified farewell, digging a grave and dedicating to him the tears she had held back all her life.

-Rest in peace...” she murmured, falling to her knees in exhaustion. Her strength was leaving her, and the effects of her magic seal were beginning to make her feel the weight of the restriction on her powers.

When the city fell silent again, and finding no other trace at the Altar of Veztuo, Liffel set out on her way to the forest of Malix. After hours of walking, her body, weakened, stopped as she saw two figures on the path: a young man dressed in tattered clothes and an older man wrapped in magical robes, both of whom radiated a dark and elegant presence.

Before she could say a word, Liffel felt her strength leave her and she collapsed to the ground, falling into a deep sleep. The strangers picked her up and carried her to a nearby hut, where they began to tend to her.

In her dreams, Liffel returned to her past, trapped among memories and feelings she had tried to leave behind.