Night crept in slowly, like a sinister veil concealing the last glimmers of the horizon. The wind slipped through the trees, whispering secrets of the forest, while muffled sounds of hunting echoed in the distance—a brutal yet inevitable rhythm of nature.
– Nyx – his voice, laden with fatigue, tore through the silence of the night. – Just because you don’t want to do this doesn’t mean we should stop.
Fatigue, like a delicate spider web, veiled the woman’s face, with clear traces of several days of hardship and sleepless nights etched in her eyes. Every movement betrayed a painful need for rest, yet there was a determination to endure, even under the relentless pressure that seemed to chase them in an unending flight.
– Really? How many days have we been wandering like this? – she asked, a hint of weariness in her voice. Her gaze, resigned and tinged with frustration, settled on the still figure before her. – How much longer will you keep pushing me? I’m not you… I need to rest. – A shadow of a grim smile flickered across her face, only to vanish just as quickly.
The figure before her, seemingly unmoved, lifted its gaze to the sky. An aura of indifference radiated from it, as if considering whether to leave her here, in this wasteland, and continue on alone. There was something unsettling about this figure, something that filled the woman with a vague fear—as if the darkness surrounding them was not merely a backdrop but a part of this being, absorbing light and color. Everything around seemed to pale, to hush in its presence.
She swallowed, trying to regain composure, though she knew she lacked the courage to voice her unease aloud. Deep inside, she sensed that traveling with him was toying with something she didn’t fully understand.
– We have to kill it… – His voice took on an icy tone, fading with each word, as if the very thought of what he intended to say filled him with dread. – You don’t understand. If we don’t do it, it will keep hunting. Others will die. – He uttered the last sentence with a hint of disdain, as if the lives of those who might fall victim were to him nothing more than dust in the wind.
His gaze rested on her, and black eyes, filled with impenetrable darkness, drifted over her figure. – If you lack the strength to go on – he said slowly, emphasizing each word – you can stay here. I’ll manage without you.
For a moment, they remained locked in silent confrontation, the silence so heavy it hung in the air like condensed darkness, capable of unsettling anyone who might witness them.
– Fine! – she burst out, raising her voice as if to mask her growing frustration. – Let’s… just keep going.
Despite her words, it was clear that deep down, she was rebelling against the decision, though she knew she wouldn’t win this fight. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her reluctance, though a subtle shadow of resistance still echoed in her tone.
– But really? Do I have to call you Arahnos? – she added with irony, attempting to lighten the atmosphere, though her smile was laced with sarcasm.
The man merely raised an eyebrow, looking at her with slight condescension that quickly shifted to something closer to irritation. His eyes, like two black abysses, seemed to consume any light they encountered, while his face remained unreadable.
– Arahnos – he repeated in a cold, impassive voice, as if reminding her that it was not a choice but something far deeper, irreversible. – That name is not an ornament, and I didn’t take it for fun.
She rolled her eyes, though a shadow of unease lingered in her gaze. She knew Arahnos had his secrets, mysteries he would never share with her. Sometimes she wondered if she would ever truly know him or if she would merely be a shadow at his side, wandering these endless, hostile lands, forced to follow his dark fate.
– Alright, Arahnos – she began with an ironic smile, drawing out his name with obvious skepticism. – Sometimes I forget you didn’t choose it without reason. Remind me… is it for all those webs you weave around yourself? Or perhaps the ones you stumble into as you walk your path?
The man raised an eyebrow, but his expression remained cold, untouched by even a hint of a smile.
– Webs? – his voice cut through the silence, as if slicing her words into fragments. – That name… it symbolizes bonds that cannot be broken, even if one wished to. It’s a reminder that sometimes we’re forced to live as part of a larger web, one we may have created ourselves but within which we are also prisoners.
Nyx narrowed her eyes, looking at him with a hint of understanding, though she was reluctant to admit, even to herself, that she understood anything about him. In her gaze was a shadow of sympathy, but also curiosity.
– So it’s not just your game after all – she said quietly, almost in a whisper. – Everything you weave around yourself touches you too… Have you ever wondered if all of this is worth the price you’re paying?
Arahnos looked at her, and in his eyes appeared a flicker of pain, which vanished as quickly as it had come.
– That price… was paid long ago – he replied impassively. – And I am merely the one who must bear it.
Arahnos stood motionless, and the silence stretched between them like a taut string. Somewhere deep in his mind, a familiar, icy whisper crawled forth, wrapping around him like an invisible web.
– Will you really endure this? – The Darkness spoke, its voice barely audible, quiet and ominous, yet all the more penetrating. – Why do you let her waste your time? End this. Break off this pointless conversation… Move forward.
For a moment, Arahnos stared at Nyx, as if not truly seeing her, but something that extended far beyond her silhouette. The Darkness pulsed within him, reminding him of the promise he had made that night when he accepted its terms. With each passing second, its whisper grew more insistent, spreading through his thoughts like a shadow that sought to shroud his decisions.
– Have you forgotten? She only delays you on your path. – The Darkness laughed softly, sweetly, maliciously. – Silence her. Show her what you’ve become.
For a brief moment, Arahnos’s hands trembled, as if he sensed within himself a dark energy urging him to immediate action. His gaze pierced Nyx from head to toe, and he continued to hear the Darkness summoning him to abandon everything that wasn’t a part of it.
Nyx, though unaware, sensed a shift in his gaze and frowned. He saw fear in her, but also something that held him back from taking the next step.
– Go on – the Darkness’s words sounded like a command. – If you are truly the one who bears this price, do not hesitate.
Arahnos closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, as if fighting the voice echoing within him. He took a deep breath, restraining the chill penetrating him, and looked at Nyx one last time before addressing her in a cool, unyielding voice.
– Let’s move on.
----------------------------------------
They walked through the dense forest, where the trees seemed darker than usual, and every branch, every leaf, seemed to watch them with silent curiosity. The silence was almost unnatural, with only the sound of Arahnos and Nyx’s footsteps breaking it—soft, cautious, as if both instinctively understood that any noise in this space might awaken something slumbering.
As the trees finally began to thin out, the shoreline of a lake appeared before them. The water was almost still, smooth as glass, its mirrored surface reflecting the somber sky, illuminated only by the pale light of the moon hovering above the tree line. The lake seemed bottomless, its dark waters concealing secrets no one with any sense would dare to explore.
Nyx stood at the edge, gazing into the tranquil expanse that seemed almost to beckon her to cross. The air was thick with moisture, permeated with cold, and a delicate mist drifted over the water's surface as if it possessed a life of its own.
– Is this the place? – she asked quietly, not really expecting an answer. She felt that Arahnos had led her here for a reason, though she wasn’t sure what it was.
Arahnos, standing a bit farther back, gazed at the water as if it were something beyond the ordinary landscape. His face, usually impassive, showed a hint of tension, as if he sensed that the lake—or rather, what lay within its depths—was another challenge, another obstacle he had to overcome.
– There, on the other side, is something we’re looking for – he finally said, pointing toward the mist-covered horizon. – But you must be ready. This place is… different. Like a boundary, beyond which the world becomes more… susceptible to what hides in the shadows.
Nyx raised an eyebrow, looking at the dark waters that seemed to pulse in response to his words.
– Always so vague… – she muttered, casting him a brief, probing look. – But I know you won’t turn away from this. Nor will you let me.
Arahnos remained silent, but his eyes focused on the lake’s surface, where small ripples appeared suddenly, as if something invisible had disturbed the waters. The darkness within him spoke again, as if this place awakened its dormant power. The whisper from the depths seemed to lure, to invite them to step forward, to plunge into whatever the water concealed.
– Let’s go – he said softly but firmly, as if he knew that retreat was no longer an option.
They slowly stepped onto the damp shore, their shadows stretching, as though merging with the mist, becoming part of the mystery waiting on the other side of the lake.
Arahnos waded further into the icy water in silence, unaffected by the moisture or the chill that seemed not merely to pierce his body but to merge with it, forming a unity. A quiet, dark whisper echoed in his mind, barely audible yet relentless, slipping into his consciousness like a cold stream.
– See how easy it is? How they yield to you and your power? Why do you hesitate? Why resist what is inevitable? Keep going, without hesitation.
Each word from the Darkness resonated through his thoughts, and Arahnos felt the chill of that whisper tighten pleasantly around his insides. His eyes, black and deep, seemed to absorb more and more shadow, as if the dark lake attracted not only his body but his very soul. The darkness enveloped him like a second skin, forming an invisible aura that seemed to live its own life, adjusting to his steps and filling every gap between him and the water.
Nyx walked a few steps behind him, feeling the icy mist wrap around her body. The water grew deeper, the cold almost taking her breath away, but she didn’t have the courage to turn back. For a moment, she watched Arahnos, trying to understand his determination. He looked as if he had lost himself in the darkness, as if something were pulling him further, toward the somber depths.
– Arahnos… – she whispered, unsure if he would even hear her. His gaze seemed distant, his face even more expressionless, as if the darkness surrounding him was consuming every trace of humanity.
The whisper in his head intensified, sending a shiver through his entire being.
– Go on… You know what you’re searching for. There’s no turning back.
The last words sounded like a command, and before Nyx could ask another question, Arahnos moved forward, taking a determined step into deeper waters. The darkness around him pulsed, as if the lake were responding to his presence, and shadows began to swirl around, drawn by an invisible force. Nyx felt as though she was treading a fine line between safety and the abyss, each step risking being pulled into whatever lay within, yet she couldn’t bring herself to turn back.
She tread carefully, feeling the icy water rise higher, nearly reaching her waist. The piercing cold seeped deep under her skin, sending chills through her, and the mist around them seemed to thicken, forming a menacing shroud that enveloped them like a living entity. Every step was heavy, as if the lake itself were trying to hold them, forcing them to remain in this dark, silent depth for eternity.
Arahnos walked ahead, never once looking back, and his figure seemed unnaturally dark, almost merging with the surroundings. Shadows gathered around him, as if the air itself absorbed any light that dared to touch him. Nyx felt as though the darkness around him had a life of its own, enveloping him like a protective cloak, though to her, it looked more like a warning.
At one point, Arahnos stopped, and a quiet, cold voice echoed in his mind, more intense and demanding this time.
– You’re close now… Reach out and feel the darkness embrace you.
Nyx noticed his hand raised toward the dense fog, beginning to tremble, as if he were fighting something invisible. She watched, trying to understand what drove him, feeling a growing unease. A sudden urge rose within her to stop him, to shout at him to turn back from this abyss, but something held her back, as if an echo of the voice in the air whispered that this was his path, one without return.
Suddenly, the lake’s surface around Arahnos began to change. The once still and calm waters started swirling around his feet, forming small, dark whirlpools that disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared. They looked like hands trying to grasp him, pulling him deeper. Nyx watched in horror, feeling that the lake, the darkness, and Arahnos himself were now inseparably bound.
– Look, Nyx, – he finally said, his voice sounding strange, almost distant. – This place… Here, the boundaries between worlds are at their thinnest. You can feel how the darkness permeates everything, opening gateways to what lies hidden.
Nyx lifted her hand, as if to reach for him, but she stopped, feeling an icy chill penetrating her from within. The lake seemed alive, responding to their presence, engulfing them both in a silence that was as terrifying as it was fascinating.
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Then she saw it—in the depths of the water, just below the surface, shadows began to appear. They looked like formless entities, as if souls of those who had once crossed this boundary and never returned. She stared, both fascinated and horrified, feeling as though something much older and darker than the lake itself was watching them.
Arahnos, oblivious or indifferent to what was happening beneath the surface, took a deep breath and stepped forward again. The darkness around him thickened, as if waiting to consume him completely.
Nyx trudged through the icy water, feeling the thickening mist wrap around her like a damp, clinging web. The cold penetrated her to the bone, but she knew their mission left no room for hesitation. The beast they had to slay lurked somewhere in this murky depth. It was too powerful, too cunning to await them in full light—it fed on the darkness and the fear of those who weren’t strong enough to confront it.
Arahnos stopped, staring into the blackness of the lake, his figure almost blending with the shadows surrounding him. His face bore a look of concentration, and a silent, dangerous determination flashed in his eyes.
– She’s here, somewhere in the depths – he finally said. His voice was low, almost a whisper, as if the darkness itself was listening intently. – She’s waiting for us. She’s patient… but she will hunt the moment she senses our weakness.
Nyx listened to his words, wondering how much of this was his own intuition and how much was the whisper of the Darkness that seemed to bind itself ever closer to him. She saw the shadows around him thickening, as though they were growing into his skin, becoming part of him. He looked as if he were drawing strength from the lake’s darkness, yet at the same time teetering on the edge between control and surrender.
– What if she senses that it’s a trap? – she asked quietly, trying not to reveal the fear tightening her heart.
Arahnos looked at her with an unreadable expression, and something unsettling flashed in his eyes—a depth that seemed to devour any light.
– That’s why we need bait – he replied, his voice filled with a cold calm. – The darkness will protect me, but you… – his gaze settled on her, tinged with something akin to warning. – You need to play the role. If she senses you as prey, she’ll eventually reveal herself.
Nyx bit her lip, aware that her life was at stake, but so was their mission. She knew Arahnos was becoming increasingly entwined with the darkness, yet she had no other choice if they were to defeat the beast.
– Agreed – she whispered, ready to take the risk. – But make sure you don’t leave me at this beast’s mercy.
Arahnos nodded, and in his gaze, there was something that might have been a shadow of understanding or perhaps uncertainty, but he revealed nothing. The water around their feet began to stir strangely, as though something beneath the lake’s surface had just awakened, sensing the approaching prey.
Nyx felt the water around her legs begin to tremble, almost as if the lake itself was responding to their presence, awaiting her slightest movement. Arahnos kept his gaze fixed on her, his stare heavy and impenetrable, as though the darkness was pulling him in deeper, making him into something like a silent guide, shadowed and connected to this dark place.
Nyx tried to steady her breathing, attempting to ignore the fear hanging in the air. She understood her role—to be the bait, the weak point the beast couldn’t ignore. Silence surrounded them, yet she felt something beneath the water beginning to move, drawn by their presence. Every slight movement caused the water to swirl more intensely, creating circles that spread into the darkness, vanishing in the thick mist.
Arahnos raised his hand and placed it on the water’s surface. The shadows around him thickened as if summoned, and his words echoed in the air, deep and carrying something ancient.
– We’re here to end your hunt – he said in a low, ominous voice that seemed to carry through the mist like the very whisper of darkness itself.
Moments later, the lake’s surface shifted, and a gurgling sound rose from the depths, as if something massive and heavy was beginning to stir from the bottom. Nyx watched tensely, fighting her growing terror, yet she didn’t retreat a step. She stared into the dark water, knowing that in any moment she would see something that could end her life.
Suddenly, in the pale moonlight, she saw movement—first a single shadow, then several, merging to form a dark, indistinct shape. Long, twisted tendrils began to emerge from the water, almost like tree roots, but their surface was slick, covered in dark slime that dripped from them like blood.
The beast they sought finally rose from the depths, its form both fascinating and terrifying—black, almost bottomless eyes gleamed in their direction, and its body, covered in dark scales, resembled a nightmarish echo of ancient creatures, too dangerous to exist in reality.
Nyx felt her heart race, and all her instincts screamed for her to flee. But Arahnos stood motionless, and the darkness around him seemed to resonate with the beast as if they were now one. He looked at Nyx and nodded, signaling her to begin playing her role.
– Nyx, now – he whispered, his voice like an echo of the Darkness.
She took a deep breath, trying to control her fear, and stepped forward, extending her hand as though inviting the beast toward her. She was aware that this illusion of weakness might be their only chance, yet she felt as though she stood at the edge of an abyss too vast to comprehend.
The beast let out a low, guttural growl, and its tendrils quivered, sensing the approaching prey. Its shadowy body shifted violently, and its eyes fixed on Nyx, slowly moving toward her with a chilling certainty.
Arahnos, sensing the approaching moment of confrontation, focused all the darkness’s energy around him, preparing for the strike.
As the beast drew close enough that he could feel its vile, damp breath, Arahnos launched his attack, as though the power of the Darkness guided his movements. With an extraordinary, almost superhuman speed, he lunged at the creature, his hand, shrouded in shadow, plunging deep into its body. The darkness around him pulsed, flowing through his arm into the creature like a poison, spreading rapidly, tearing it apart from within.
The beast let out a horrifying, agonized roar, but it had no chance to defend itself. Its massive tendrils fell limply into the water, and the body that had only moments ago dominated the lake began to tremble, as if the dark energy was consuming it piece by piece.
– Yes… more… Surrender to my power, the Darkness whispered to him, as if reveling in the brutality and intensity of the scene. – This is true strength, Arahnos. You are my creation. Show the world what real power is.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Arahnos plunged his hand deeper, and the dark energy filled the beast’s entire body, which in an instant disintegrated, dissolving into a black, slimy sludge that floated on the lake's surface. Its agony was brief, brutal, and final.
The lake’s water stilled, and Nyx watched in shock as Arahnos lowered his hand, around which the darkness still trembled, slowly quieting as if it had fed off the life of the beast. He breathed heavily, yet there was something more on his face—a look of cold, unchecked power that he now fully commanded. The whisper of the Darkness faded, and silence returned around him.
– It’s over – he said dispassionately, his voice low, filled with cool calm. The beast was dead, and the lake regained its dead silence, as if its demise had become part of it for eternity.
Nyx looked at Arahnos with unconcealed unease, seeing how the darkness around him slowly dispersed but still clung to his body like a shadow ready to respond to his every command. She felt the chilling aura left behind by the brutal annihilation of the beast, and Arahnos’s presence now seemed almost inhuman.
She gathered her courage, staring at him with a mix of fear and defiance.
– What you did… – she began, her voice calm, though a spark of criticism gleamed in her eyes. – This power you’re using might help us now. But you know that one day it will be the very thing that destroys you.
Arahnos looked at her impassively, as if her words had left no mark on him. Yet, for a brief moment, something flickered in his gaze—a shadow of cold certainty disturbed by a fleeting trace of doubt.
– This power is the only thing that can stop what’s chasing us – he replied dully, disregarding her warning. – Without it, the beast would still live. And what’s coming is worse.
Nyx sighed, rolling her eyes as if tired of his lack of self-reflection.
– Everything can be justified when it’s about survival – she muttered ironically, slowly wading out of the icy water onto the shore. She felt the cold still seeping into her skin but was determined to rest for a moment. – But sometimes I wonder if you know where the line is. Because eventually, there won’t be anything left to distinguish you from what you’ve destroyed.
Arahnos followed her, casting a final glance at the still waters of the lake now cloaked once more in mist. He was silent for a moment, then nodded, as if acknowledging her words while simultaneously ignoring their weight.
– My line is the goal – he replied curtly. – Whatever is needed to reach it is permissible.
Nyx only sighed, not trying to convince him further. She sat on the damp ground, feeling exhaustion and the persistent chill. She pulled a fire striker from her bag and began arranging dry twigs she had gathered before entering the lake.
Arahnos, still silent, sat across from her and began helping, placing larger pieces of wood onto the small pile. When Nyx finally sparked a flame, a small fire flickered, illuminating their tired faces and dispersing the darkness around them, though Arahnos’s shadow seemed slightly longer than before.
– You know, I won’t always be here to remind you of that line – she said quietly, staring into the flames. – One day, the darkness will come for what it’s owed, and then there may be no lines left. Only it and you.
Arahnos looked at her without responding, his gaze heavy, as if he was wrestling with a thought he wanted to keep silent. Finally, as he stared into the fire, he spoke calmly.
– If that day comes, I’ll face it as I have everything else. But for now… there’s more than just darkness. – His voice sounded as if he himself wasn’t certain of his words, yet the shadow of determination did not leave his gaze.
The fire crackled softly, offering them a moment of rest. Nyx stared into it, trying to chase away the chill that still lingered within her, though she knew it didn’t come only from the lake.
Warmed by the fire and exhausted from the battle, Nyx slowly sank to the ground, letting her eyelids fall under the weight of sleep. Her breathing steadied, and the gentle crackling of the flames soon lulled her. The fire’s warmth enveloped her like a shield, as if it could protect her from the darkness lurking just beyond.
Arahnos sat motionless, staring into the flames, but he felt no solace in their light as Nyx did. Since the moment he had embraced the Darkness within him, sleep had become a distant memory, and every attempt at rest was merely an invitation to the voice that filled his mind. Whenever he closed his eyes, the Darkness spoke louder, depriving him of peace.
– Arahnos… – a quiet, almost soothing whisper slipped into his mind like a cold, penetrating stream. – Do you see? It is you who stands watch while others sleep. You are strong, beyond such human frailties. The fire is but a fleeting glow… You are something more, a part of something greater.
His hand, unconsciously tightening around a piece of wood, trembled as a shadow crossed his face. Though the words of the Darkness seemed meant to bolster him, they carried a subtle note of manipulation, a reminder of the price of his power. In his mind, the whisper resounded with quiet intensity, from which he could not escape.
– Do you remember why I chose this name for you? – the voice grew deeper, colder, laced with satisfaction. – Arahnos. Like a spider, you weave your web. You surround yourself and others with threads of fate that you bind, yet which also ensnare you. This web is inevitable—a bond that offers no escape.
Arahnos felt the words seep into his thoughts like a cold current. His name, meant to symbolize power and control, had become a warning. The Darkness reminded him that every step, every action, wove new bonds, tightening around him, drawing him ever deeper.
– You don’t need them, Arahnos, – continued the voice, gentle yet piercing, with a note of palpable triumph. – Those around you only slow you down, restrain your true potential. You are destined for something far greater. This is your fate—your inescapable path.
He glanced at Nyx, lost in peaceful sleep, shielded from the burden he bore. The Darkness still whispered, reminding him that his choices, his decisions, had led him here and that now there was no turning back. Somewhere deep down, he felt a quiet, aching longing for sleep, for the comfort he would never know again.
Gazing into the dwindling flames, Arahnos lingered in sleepless silence, aware that as the fire dimmed, the darkness would once more reclaim its rights, and he could no longer count on redemption.
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Dawn arrived slowly, as if reluctantly peering through the mist that blanketed the forest. A soft light filtered through twisted branches, and dew glistened on leaves like silver droplets, lending the area an almost unnatural calm. Nyx awoke reluctantly, yawning and rubbing her sleepy eyes. She looked at Arahnos, who hadn’t closed his eyes all night, still sitting motionless by the dying fire.
– Ready? – she asked drowsily, but with a note of vigilance, as if aware of his night’s silence.
Arahnos nodded, avoiding her gaze. He felt the weight of the cold touch of darkness that enveloped him from within. Rising, he brushed the damp soil from himself and followed Nyx. Their destination was a city a day’s journey away—a place that promised a brief respite, though he knew that for him, no place would ever be a true refuge again.
As they walked, Arahnos’s thoughts drifted back to the day he first accepted the Darkness into himself. He remembered the intense pain, as if his entire body was being torn from within, each cell seared with an icy fire that he couldn’t extinguish. His hands trembled, as if his own skin had become alien, and his breath came in ragged gasps, filled with the darkness that seemed to choke him.
In that moment, overwhelmed by unimaginable suffering, he was certain he couldn’t endure it. He reached for his magical blade, the only thing that still felt real amidst the nightmare of Darkness. He wanted to end the pain, to escape what he thought was an irreversible trap. The sharp, luminous blade, always pulsing with a faint blue glow, was to be his final salvation.
But as he pressed the blade to his skin, he noticed something changing. The blade, which usually emitted a gentle light, began to darken, as if the Darkness were absorbing it. The glow faded, and the blade took on a deep, tar-like hue until it became as black as night, tiny, almost imperceptible shadows swirling within it like smoke.
It was then, when the steel blade had transformed into shadow, that he heard the voice—a whisper filled with cold satisfaction:
– Do you think you’ll leave so easily, Arahnos? That you’ll escape without me? My power fills you completely. Now we are entwined, inseparable. Every pain you feel is mine, and every weakness a challenge you must overcome. You have no choice.
The Darkness didn’t let him go, filling him with a sense of helplessness he couldn’t shake. The magic of the blade vanished, replaced by a dark glow that infused the blade with a black, almost slimy sheen. It was cold and foreign, steeped in the weight of his new fate. That was when he understood—there was no escape. The only path left led deeper into the darkness.
Now, walking through the forest toward the city, the memory of that moment pulsed in his mind, like an echo of a choice he couldn’t undo. Darkness was not just a power—it was a part of him, a reminder that the life he led no longer belonged solely to him.
As they neared the city, the landscape around them gradually changed. The dense trees gave way to fields and groves, and the worn path became wider and more compacted. Mist hung around them, thick and cold, a reminder to Arahnos of the shadow that trailed him constantly. He felt the weight of the Darkness pulsing somewhere deep inside, in every thought, with every step, a constant reminder of its presence.
When they finally saw the outline of the city walls, he felt a mixture of relief and reluctance. His body craved rest, but he knew that here, in the closeness of others, there would be no escape from his thoughts, much less from the voice that resided within him. Nyx, walking a few paces ahead, looked at the walls with hope. They were exhausted—the past days of travel and the battle with the beast had pushed them to the limits of endurance.
As they passed through the gate, the city seemed to bear down upon them. People hurried past, absorbed in their daily lives, casting furtive glances at them. Despite his exhaustion, Arahnos felt uneasy—it was as if each step attracted unwanted attention, as if the shadow of Darkness around him instilled unease even in strangers.
Nyx tugged him by the arm, pointing to a tavern across the cobblestone street.
– Come on, let’s find a place to rest – she said, glancing at his tired face.
They headed toward the tavern’s entrance, its sign creaking in the wind, carrying the scent of smoke and baked bread. When they crossed the threshold, warmth and the hum of conversation washed over them like a wave. Nyx sighed with relief, quickly spotting an empty table by the fireplace, whose warmth seemed to promise respite.
Arahnos sat beside her, his gaze drawn to the flame dancing in the hearth. The light was almost painful, a reminder of something distant and nearly forgotten. In his mind, the familiar whisper sounded.
– Do you really think you’ll find peace here? – the voice of the Darkness was quiet yet clear, tinged with mockery. – This time, it’s not your rest… just another step on my path.
A wave of cold washed over his body, despite the warmth of the fire. He knew that even in the city, among the bustle and warmth, he couldn’t escape the presence that held him captive. He looked at Nyx, her face illuminated by the fire’s glow. She had no idea how deeply that darkness had taken root in him, nor did she know the nightmares and whispers that had become his daily reality.
Nyx lifted her gaze, as if sensing his absence. Her look was questioning, filled with concern, but Arahnos turned away, unwilling to reveal even a word.
– Rest – she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. – You need to regain your strength. The path we’ve chosen demands more than we anticipated.
Arahnos only nodded, yet the words of the Darkness still echoed in his mind, reminding him that each step, even in the light of day, was a step further into the depths of shadow.