Nyx and Arahnos walked through the empty, stone-paved streets of the city in silence. A dense, oppressive quiet seemed to weigh down on their shoulders, the echo of their footsteps reverberating off the high walls. Nyx, her arms crossed over her chest, turned to Arahnos. Her eyes sparkled with anger, mixed with something subtler—remorse.

– Do you even think about what you’ve done? – she asked sharply, breaking the silence. Her voice, though quiet, cut through the street like a blade. – That man… he was just scared. Maybe he said too much, but did he really have to die?

Arahnos didn’t stop walking, nor did he look her way. His steps were steady, his gaze fixed somewhere ahead of him, as if nothing else mattered.

– He was a threat – he replied coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. – People like him don’t think about the consequences of their actions. His words could have turned the entire city against us. I couldn’t let that happen.

Nyx quickened her pace, stepping into his path. Her face betrayed growing frustration.

– So what now? – she demanded, raising her voice. – You’ll kill everyone who dares to oppose you? Everyone who accuses you? Is that how you plan to live, Arahnos?

He finally looked at her, but his eyes were like twin black abysses—cold and merciless.

– I live as I must, Nyx – he replied slowly, with icy calm. – There’s no room for sentiment when our lives are at stake. If you don’t understand that, maybe you should reconsider whether you should keep walking this path with me.

Those words struck her like a blow. For a moment, she couldn’t respond, staring at him in disbelief. Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought to hide them.

– Is it really that easy for you to say? – she whispered. – After everything we’ve been through together?

Arahnos sighed, as if the entire conversation was merely a waste of his time.

– I’m not trying to be cruel – he said curtly, though his tone belied his words. – But you need to understand, Nyx. This isn’t a world where we have the luxury of regret. That man made his choice.

– And you? – she interrupted sharply, her voice trembling with emotion. – What choice have you made? You’re losing yourself, Arahnos. With every step, more and more. Can’t you see it?

Instead of answering, Arahnos walked past her, his figure radiating indifference.

– It doesn’t matter – he said coldly, without looking back. – There are things I can no longer control. Let’s go, Nyx. We’re wasting time.

Nyx stood still for a moment, stunned by his words. She wanted to say something, to reason with him, but it felt as if an invisible wall had risen between them—something she couldn’t break through. She clenched her fists, feeling a surge of frustration, but eventually followed after him, knowing she couldn’t leave him now.

The silence wrapped around them again, but this time it was heavier, filled with unspoken words and tension that wouldn’t dissipate. Nyx walked behind him, battling the thoughts swirling in her mind. Deep down, she felt that Arahnos was being consumed by something she couldn’t understand—and something she was beginning to fear.

Nyx walked a few steps behind Arahnos, her gaze fixed on his back as if trying to pierce through his icy indifference. The silence between them was almost tangible, broken only by the echo of their footsteps on the wet cobblestones. She wanted to say something, to let out the words that choked her from within, but she knew Arahnos wouldn’t listen. He was locked in his frozen shell, distant and unapproachable like never before.

In the end, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She quickened her pace and stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop.

– I won’t pretend that nothing’s happening, Arahnos – she said sharply, though her voice carried a hint of desperation. – I can’t just… stand by and watch you turn into something you’ve always despised.

Arahnos looked at her with cool detachment. His eyes showed no emotion, no trace of hesitation.

– Whatever you think, Nyx, you have no idea what it’s like – he replied, his voice like steel. – Every step, every decision is just a choice between evil and a greater evil. And I… I don’t have the time to regret what I have to do.

Nyx felt something break inside her. She clenched her hands into fists, trying to control the growing anger.

– But you don’t have to do it all, Arahnos! – she burst out, her voice echoing off the narrow street’s walls. – It’s the Darkness driving you. It’s pushing you to do things that would have terrified you once. And you don’t even see it!

Arahnos raised an eyebrow, his face unmoving, as though her words left no impression on him.

– Do you really think the Darkness is leading me? – he asked coldly, a note of irony in his voice. – Or maybe I’m just doing what you don’t have the courage to do? Maybe I see the world as it is, and you’re still trying to idealize it?

Nyx turned her gaze away, feeling her arguments shatter against his wall of indifference. Even so, she refused to give up.

– And what if one day you lose control? – she asked quietly, her voice now calmer but full of emotion. – What if the Darkness consumes you completely? What then, Arahnos?

For a moment, silence fell between them. Arahnos looked at her, and for a brief instant, a shadow crossed his eyes—perhaps understanding, perhaps weariness—but it vanished, replaced by his cold stare.

– Then I’ll stop being your problem – he replied icily. – But for now, I’m here. So let’s focus on what’s ahead instead of wasting time on your… sentimentality.

Nyx felt her anger rising again, but she suppressed it with effort. She knew there was no point in arguing further. His cold, calculated logic was like a wall she couldn’t breach. Instead, she turned away and walked ahead, not looking back at him.

– Fine – she said softly, though her voice carried a note of bitterness. – If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you. But remember, Arahnos… one day, you’ll have to face what you’re becoming. And I hope that when that day comes, there’ll still be something worth saving.

Arahnos didn’t reply. His footsteps echoed once more on the cobblestones, and the silence between them grew even heavier, almost suffocating. Nyx felt her words bouncing off his cold indifference, but deep inside, she still hoped that somewhere, buried deep within him, her voice still reached him. Even if only the smallest part.

Nyx walked briskly, struggling to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. Anger mixed with helplessness—Arahnos had become someone she could no longer recognize, yet she couldn’t bring herself to leave him. The Darkness that consumed him seemed increasingly irreversible. And he… he didn’t even seem to fight it.

Arahnos followed behind her, his steps steady, his face cold and unreadable. Though outwardly he appeared in control, her words echoed in his mind. “What if one day you lose control?” The question lingered, even if he refused to let it show. But along with it came an answer—the soft, icy whispers of the Darkness.

– She’s wrong, Arahnos, – the voice of the Darkness was soft, almost soothing, but with a note of condescension. – She doesn’t understand that your strength doesn’t come from resisting me but from accepting me. Do you see how afraid she is? How much she wants you to be the man you used to be? How pathetic…

Arahnos stopped briefly, letting the words settle in his thoughts. He glanced at Nyx, who walked with her head bowed, and for a fleeting moment, he felt something akin to sorrow. But it was a brief, fleeting impulse—quickly replaced by the cold wall he had built around himself.

– Nyx – he said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. – If you have something else to say, say it now. I can’t stand this silent sulking. We don’t have time for it.

Nyx turned abruptly, her eyes shining with anger and the tears she was trying to suppress.

– Do you really not understand anything? – she asked, her voice trembling. – This isn’t about me, Arahnos. It’s about you. It’s about what you’re doing. Who you’re becoming. Can’t you see that this… this Darkness is consuming you?

Arahnos raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk of mockery crossing his face.

– The Darkness is consuming me? – he repeated, as if the words were absurd. – Or maybe it’s strengthening me? Maybe it’s what allows me to do what has to be done? Maybe you’re the one who doesn’t understand, Nyx. The world doesn’t work the way you wish it did. If you can’t see that, you’re more naïve than I thought.

Nyx stepped closer to him, her fists clenched. Her voice was quiet but brimming with anger.

– Don’t call me naïve, Arahnos. I know what I see. I see how, every day, you give more of yourself to it. And what will be left in the end? What will be left of you when the Darkness takes everything? Do you even know who you are anymore?

Arahnos looked at her with his usual calm, but deep inside, he felt a pang—not of pain but of something more unsettling. Doubt. For a moment, he pondered her question, but he let none of it show on his face.

– I am who I have to be – he said coldly. – And you can either accept that or leave. But don’t expect me to change to fit your ideals.

Nyx felt her throat tighten with emotion. For a moment, she wanted to strike him, to unleash all her frustration, but instead, she stepped back, averting her gaze.

– I never wanted you to change for me, Arahnos – she said quietly. – I just wanted you not to forget who you really are. But maybe… maybe that doesn’t matter anymore.

Arahnos didn’t reply. He simply started walking again, as if her words meant nothing to him. Yet deep inside, amidst the whispers of the Darkness, her words echoed—an uncomfortable reminder he couldn’t silence.

– You see, Arahnos? – the Darkness whispered again, this time with a hint of satisfaction. – She’s already doubting. They always doubt. You’re stronger without her. Without any of them. Let them break while you rise. Isn’t that what you’ve always known deep down?

Nyx stood still for a moment, watching his retreating figure. She felt like she was losing him—piece by piece, step by step. But she still couldn’t bring herself to leave him. Finally, she followed, though her steps were heavy, and her heart weighed down with sorrow.

Nyx caught up with Arahnos, though every step grew harder for her. For a moment, they walked side by side in silence, the atmosphere so heavy it felt as if the surrounding shadows were beginning to move. Even the street they traversed seemed to retreat into the darkness, as if the city itself wanted to isolate them from the rest of the world.

Finally, Nyx decided to break the silence again, knowing it was like throwing a stone at a wall.

– What’s next, Arahnos? – she asked, her voice quiet, almost cautious. – What will you do if they truly believe you’re a monster? If the entire city turns against you, and their fear becomes open hatred?

Arahnos didn’t pause for a second, his gaze fixed ahead as though the question had nothing to do with him.

– It doesn’t matter what they think of me – he replied coldly. – What matters is that they stop getting in my way. If their fear drives them to fight, then let them fight. I don’t have time to convince people who don’t want to be saved.

Nyx felt anger rising within her. She quickened her pace and stepped in front of him, forcing him to meet her gaze.

– This isn’t just about saving them, Arahnos – she said sharply. – It’s about who you’re becoming in their eyes. Every action you take, every step into the Darkness… it all confirms their belief that they’re right. And if they believe you’re truly a monster, one day you’ll believe it too.

Arahnos stared at her with his usual calm, his face betraying no emotion, yet his expression seemed tense, as if her every word grated on him.

– I don’t care what they think of me, Nyx – he said, his voice now sharper. – And I certainly won’t waste time proving I’m not someone they fear. If fear gives their lives meaning, let them have it. I have other priorities.

Nyx crossed her arms, trying to mask her growing frustration.

– And what priorities are those, Arahnos? – she asked with a note of challenge in her voice. – Fully immersing yourself in the Darkness? Proving to yourself you can survive without anything left that resembles a human? Or maybe… pushing me away before you lose yourself entirely?

Arahnos hesitated for the briefest of moments, just long enough for Nyx to notice. His face remained stoic, but a shadow flickered in his eyes—something deeply buried that refused to surface.

– You always make things complicated, Nyx – he finally said, his voice sharp, almost lashing. – This isn’t a game of moral dilemmas. It’s a fight for survival. The Darkness… it’s a tool, nothing more. If you don’t understand that, it’s not my fault.

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Nyx took a step back as though his words had physically struck her. She stared at him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and anger.

– A tool? – she repeated, disbelief coloring her voice. – You really don’t see it anymore… It’s controlling you, Arahnos. And you think you’re the one in control. But you know what? Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m not complicating anything anymore. Maybe I’m just… done trying.

She turned abruptly and walked away in the opposite direction, not looking back at him for even a moment. Her steps were quick, almost furious, but deep down, she felt as if each one weighed more than the last.

Arahnos watched her retreating figure, his face betraying no emotion, but inside… something was breaking. The Darkness, which had always been his strength, now seemed to laugh, reveling in his silent pain.

– She’ll leave, Arahnos, and you know there’s no point in stopping her, – the Darkness whispered, its voice sweet as poison. – This is your path, not hers. The sooner she understands that, the less she’ll suffer. And you… you don’t need anyone. You have me.

Arahnos turned his gaze away from Nyx’s disappearing silhouette and continued forward, into the shadow that always awaited him. In his mind, the same icy whisper echoed, and he… began to wonder if he would ever silence it.

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Nyx moved quickly, trying to silence the growing pain in her heart, but each step felt heavier than the last. She was angry—at him, at herself, and at everything that had brought them to this moment. She knew Arahnos had been battling something she could never fully understand. But what she had seen in his eyes—coldness, detachment, rejection—felt like a knife driven into her soul.

She stopped when she reached another dead-end alley. Leaning her back against the cold stone wall, she tried to steady her breathing. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

– Why, Arahnos? – she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. – Why do you always have to destroy everything? Why do you let the good in you die?

Meanwhile, Arahnos kept walking, his steps steady, though something inside him screamed to turn back. The Darkness was close, wrapping around him, its whispers growing louder.

– Do you see how easily she left? – the Darkness hissed, its voice spreading through his mind like a sinister chorus. – She abandoned you because she couldn’t bear the truth. She didn’t fight for you. She couldn’t accept who you’re becoming.

Arahnos stopped in the middle of an empty square, drawing in a deep breath of icy air.

– Maybe it’s for the best, – he said quietly, though he wasn’t sure if the words were meant for himself or for her. – I’m not someone who can be saved.

The Darkness laughed softly, triumphantly.

– Exactly, Arahnos. She never understood that. You don’t need her. Not her pity, not her guilt. You have me, and I will never leave you. We are one. You and I.

The cold in his chest seemed to grow, yet some part of his soul couldn’t rid itself of the image of Nyx—her gaze, filled with disappointment, pain, and something else he couldn’t name now. The way she had stood before him, trying to break through the walls he had built around himself.

At last, he reached one of the dark alleyways where no one waited for him. He dropped to one knee, as if the weight of the moment had suddenly become too much, even for him. For a moment, silence reigned in his mind, but then the Darkness spoke again, softer this time, its whisper almost tender.

– Stop fighting, Arahnos. This struggle is pointless. Your path has always led here. Let me guide you… to a place where nothing will hurt anymore.

He took a deep breath, feeling the cold mist coil around his body. At that moment, the world around him seemed to freeze, and the only sound he could hear was the ceaseless whisper of the Darkness. Yet even now, in this solitude, thoughts of Nyx lingered.

– I don’t need anyone, – he said quietly, as if trying to convince himself. – What I do, I do for myself. For survival.

But even those words, spoken with such conviction, felt hollow. Deep down, Arahnos knew he had lost something—something he would never get back. And though the Darkness was with him, surrounding him and promising strength, he felt more alone than ever.

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Nyx sat on a bench in a narrow, dark alley. Her head rested in her hands, hair falling over her face. Silence enveloped the surroundings, broken only by the distant echo of footsteps or the occasional clatter of shutters, as if the city itself held its breath. A growing helplessness welled within her, the weight of recent events pressing down, threatening to overwhelm her.

“This makes no sense…” she thought, staring at the cobblestone street ahead. She knew Arahnos was somewhere out there, but his cold demeanor and relentless nature seemed to push him further away from her. “Do I really have to fix everything on my own?”

Suddenly, sharp, panicked screams shattered the quiet. Nyx’s head snapped up, and her hand instinctively reached for the dagger at her belt. The sound came from one of the main streets, only a few blocks away. Without hesitation, she leapt to her feet, her footsteps echoing through the narrow alleys as she ran.

When she reached the source of the commotion, she found a crowd gathered around something on the ground. A few knelt down, while the rest kept their distance, as though afraid to come any closer. A young man, his face twisted with anger, pointed directly at her.

– It’s her! – he shouted. – She’s the one who did this!

Nyx froze, her gaze falling to the figure lying motionless on the cobblestones. A young woman, barely an adult, her face etched with terror, lay still. Her hands were clenched, as if she had fought against something invisible, and her skin bore dark marks that resembled burns.

– What are you talking about? – Nyx asked, striving to maintain her composure despite her racing heart. – I have nothing to do with this.

An older woman in the crowd, dressed in a plain gown, looked at Nyx with a mix of fear and hatred.

– You were here! We saw the shadows around you. You and that… that demon of yours!

Nyx felt her breath quicken. She glanced at the body, then at the crowd, searching for anything to prove her innocence. Deep down, however, she knew this wasn’t a coincidence. Someone was stirring them up.

– We are not monsters, – she said, keeping her tone firm. – We came here to help. Whatever’s happening here is…

– Lies! – another voice from the crowd interrupted her. A broad-shouldered man stepped forward, his fists clenched. – Since you arrived, people have been dying. Do you think we don’t see it? You’ve brought something upon us—something we don’t even understand!

Nyx took a step back as the crowd began closing in on her. She wasn’t sure how to defuse the situation when a familiar voice suddenly cut through the tension from behind her.

– What’s going on here?

It was Arahnos. His cold, commanding tone washed over the gathered crowd like icy water. People hesitated, stepping back as if his very presence was a warning. Nyx looked at him with relief, though she couldn’t ignore the expression on his face—icy calm, almost indifference.

– You again, – said the young man who had first accused Nyx. – You’re the one behind all this. You and her. You’re trying to scare us, and then, one by one… people disappear.

Arahnos glanced at the body on the ground, then at the crowd. He didn’t speak immediately, letting the silence stretch and deepen the tension.

– If you truly believe it’s us, then why haven’t you tried to stop us? – he asked at last, his voice dripping with icy challenge.

Nyx felt her chest tighten. Why was he doing this? She knew his words would only escalate the situation.

– Arahnos… – she began softly, trying to intervene, but he raised a hand, silencing her.

– We won’t justify ourselves to a crowd blinded by fear and unable to see the truth, – he added, his gaze piercing as it moved from one face to the next. – If you want answers, look beyond your own prejudices.

The crowd hesitated, uncertain whether to back away or attack. Finally, the older woman who had accused Nyx turned her gaze back to the body.

– You’ll always have your excuses… but the truth will come out, – she said coldly. – And when it does, no one will protect you.

The crowd began to disperse, though their hateful glares lingered on the two travelers. As the last figure disappeared around the corner, Nyx exhaled deeply, trying to steady her thoughts.

– Why did you do that? – she asked, looking at Arahnos. – That approach only makes things worse. They already hate us, and now…

– Didn’t you see their eyes? – he interrupted, his tone cold as ice. – Do you think apologies will change anything? To them, we’re guilty no matter what we say. The only difference now is that they’re afraid to act.

Nyx shook her head, frustration bubbling within her. She couldn’t believe how easily Arahnos dismissed any chance of resolving the situation.

– Fear shouldn’t be what holds them back, – she said quietly. – It should be the truth.

Arahnos looked at her, his gaze cutting through her like a blade.

– Truth… – he murmured, a bitter smile playing on his lips. – Truth, Nyx, is a luxury we can’t afford.

Nyx glared at Arahnos with a mix of anger and helplessness. His words, sharp and endless, pierced her thoughts like blades, each icy remark deepening her frustration. She stood before him, fists clenched, struggling to muster the patience that was rapidly slipping away.

– Don’t you understand? – she said at last, her voice sharp but laced with exhaustion. – Every moment, you’re digging us in deeper. They might fear us, but fear isn’t everything. Fear makes them dangerous.

Arahnos raised an eyebrow, as though her words were little more than an amusing jest.

– And what would you have me do, Nyx? – he asked coolly. – Let them throw accusations at us, wait until they organize and attack? Tell me, what’s your plan? Talk to them? Make tea and convince them we’re here to help?

– Maybe! – she snapped, unable to hold back her emotions any longer. – Maybe you could at least try not to act like someone giving them every reason to hate us! You’re making it easier for them, Arahnos!

His gaze grew colder, impossibly so.

– Nyx, – he began slowly, his voice so icy she could almost feel the chill around her. – If you think words can win anything in this world, you’re more naive than I thought.

Nyx stepped closer to him, locking eyes with his.

– It’s not about winning, Arahnos! – she cried out. – It’s about not becoming what they think we are. It’s about not losing ourselves in all of this!

For a moment, Arahnos said nothing. His gaze swept over her face, searching for meaning in her words—meaning he either couldn’t grasp or refused to see.

– Maybe you still have something left to lose, – he said finally, his tone almost a whisper, yet it struck her like a thunderclap. – I don’t.

The words fell between them like a chasm opening at their feet. Nyx felt something inside her crack, the weight of his response crushing her spirit. She couldn’t reply. She simply stood there, searching his face for traces of the man he once was, but all she could see was a distant, cold shadow.

In the distance, behind them, the sound of footsteps broke the silence. Faint at first, but growing louder with each moment. Nyx turned sharply, her hand instinctively gripping the hilt of her dagger. From the darkness emerged a group of figures—four men carrying torches, their faces concealed by hoods. Nyx’s heart quickened as one of them raised his hand and pointed.

– There they are! – one of the men shouted. – They’re the ones who brought the Darkness!

Nyx took a step back, glancing at Arahnos. His face remained unmoved, as though the sight of an angry mob was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

– Perfect, – he muttered under his breath. – Here we go.

– Arahnos, no! – Nyx grabbed his arm, trying to stop him. – It’s a trap. We can’t do this. If you fight, you’ll only prove their suspicions.

For a moment, his eyes rested on her, before he gently pulled his arm free of her grasp.

– It doesn’t matter anymore, Nyx, – he replied coldly. – They didn’t come here to talk.

The men approached steadily, their steps deliberate and heavy, their faces filled with grim determination. Nyx felt adrenaline flood her veins, but a voice inside her whispered that Arahnos was right—none of them had come to negotiate. There was no hesitation in their eyes, only anger.

– Leave us alone, – she tried once more, raising her hands in a placating gesture. – You don’t have to do this.

– We don’t have to, but you have to pay, – one of the men said, drawing a knife from his belt. – For everyone your Darkness has taken.

Arahnos smirked, his eyes darkening with a familiar, unsettling shadow.

– Then I’ll show you what the Darkness truly is, since you’re so eager to meet it.

Nyx’s heart sank as she looked at him, desperation filling her voice. – Arahnos, stop! This will push them further away—from you, from me—forever!

But her plea went unheard. Arahnos stepped forward, and the shadows around him began to writhe and twist, answering his silent command.

The shadows around Arahnos thickened, coiling around him like a living, malevolent aura. The crowd hesitated, their torches faltering mid-air as fear began to overtake their anger. Their eyes reflected not just rage but pure, primal terror.

– Don’t do this, Arahnos! – Nyx shouted, stepping between him and the mob. Her arms spread wide, as if trying to form a barrier that could hold back the inevitable. – If you attack them, we’ll never get out of this!

Arahnos paused for a moment, his dark, nearly empty gaze locking onto her. For an instant, it seemed her words might have reached him. But then, his voice came, cold and unyielding:

– They’ve already made their choice, Nyx. Now I’ll make mine.

Nyx gritted her teeth, a surge of anger and despair mixing within her. She knew she couldn’t reason with him. At that moment, one of the men stepped forward, his voice rising in a fervent cry:

– It’s a demon! Can’t you see what it’s doing? We can’t let it escape! This is our last chance!

The others caught onto his cry, their anger reigniting like a spark to dry tinder. They surged forward, their torches casting flickering, trembling light over the narrow street.

Nyx turned to Arahnos, her heart pounding wildly. Then she faced the crowd, desperation lacing her voice. – Stop! We’re not your enemy! – she yelled, trying to cut through the rising chaos. – Someone’s been manipulating you! Someone wants you to believe we’re the threat!

Her words, however, were drowned in the roar of the crowd. Their decision had already been made.

Arahnos stepped forward, his voice reverberating like the hollow echo of an abyss:

– You don’t need to save them, Nyx. They’ve chosen their path. Now they’ll know what true fear is.

Nyx lunged toward him, grabbing his arm in a desperate attempt to stop him. Her eyes pleaded with his.

– Don’t do this, Arahnos. Don’t become what they believe you are. – Her voice was soft, but it carried the weight of everything they had been through together.

For a fleeting moment, a flicker of doubt crossed Arahnos’s face. His eyes held a hesitation that made her hope. But before he could respond, one of the men lunged forward, torch raised. Nyx reacted instinctively, pushing the man away, narrowly avoiding the flames. She didn’t see the second blow coming—a blunt strike to her head that sent her sprawling to the ground. The world blurred and dissolved into darkness.

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When she awoke, the chill of the cobblestones pressed against her skin. The faint sound of retreating footsteps echoed through the street. The air was heavy with the scent of burnt wood and something else—something metallic and acrid.

She opened her eyes to see Arahnos standing over her, his silhouette cloaked in shadows that seemed alive, writhing and pulsing with their own dark intent.

– Are you alright? – he asked, his tone devoid of concern, more like he was assessing the situation than checking on her well-being.

Nyx propped herself up on her elbows, a sharp pain throbbing in her skull. Her gaze drifted to the street around them. The crowd was gone, but several figures lay sprawled on the ground, some groaning in pain. The evidence of a brutal skirmish was everywhere.

– What… what did you do? – she asked, though deep down, she already knew.

Arahnos shrugged, the gesture nonchalant, as if the carnage around them was of no importance.

– I convinced them it’s better to stay away.

Nyx staggered to her feet, fury blazing in her eyes.

– That wasn’t convincing, that was a massacre! They were scared, Arahnos, and you just gave them a reason to hunt us down!

Arahnos regarded her with the same unshaken calm.

– Don’t worry, Nyx. Now they know where the line is.

Nyx felt something within her shatter. She realized that Arahnos had crossed a threshold, one from which there might be no return. The Darkness he carried had consumed him, twisting his judgment and blinding him to any path but destruction.

But she also knew one thing for certain: unless she uncovered who was behind the plot to frame them both, Arahnos would become exactly what the city feared. And she would be left to carry that weight alone.

– Who are you really? – Arahnos demanded, his voice deep and laden with cold authority.

The man’s face twisted into a grotesque expression, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

– This is only the beginning, – he rasped, his voice rough, almost inhuman. – You can’t stop it. You can’t run. It’s all been planned.

A cold shiver ran down Nyx’s spine. She glanced at Arahnos and then back at the man.

– Planned by whom? Who’s behind this? – she pressed, trying to extract more information.

But before the man could answer, his body began to dissolve. Shadows engulfed him entirely, swallowing him until nothing remained, as though he had never been there.

Nyx stared at the spot where he had stood moments before, then turned to Arahnos.

– This is a trap, Arahnos. Their fear isn’t random. Someone’s pulling the strings, and we’re the target.

Arahnos exhaled heavily, his gaze cold and impassive.

– Whatever it is, I’ll find it. And I’ll end this farce.

Nyx shook her head, her frustration boiling over.

– You’re not listening. If we don’t stop and figure out who’s behind this, they’ll have us exactly where they want us. You’ll become the monster they think you are, and I… I’ll lose you for good.

Arahnos held her gaze for a long moment but said nothing. He simply turned and began walking back the way they had come, leaving Nyx alone with her thoughts.

“I can’t let this end like this,” she thought, clenching her fists. “If he won’t search for the truth, I’ll do it myself.”

She headed in the opposite direction, determined to find the answers—no matter if it meant falling into another trap.