As they reached the end of the cavern, there was light. The top of the cave receded, leaving them on a rocky plane. Anita decided to look around, and upon finding a cliff, she smiled.

“Hey princess, I think we’re in the mountains.” Anita stared down at dozens of trees and rock formations, somehow farther down then them. Anita looked over, expecting a smile. Mars instead frowned.

“It's good that we got to the mountains, but now we're just lost in them. Also, who knows how long we were actually in that cave. The darkness may have moved in that time.” Mars explained. “Plus, we haven't really done our daily training, and the darkness has been spreading rapidly. It tricked us before and we fell in there, what if we get tricked again? Then what-” Anita took Mar’s shaking hands into her own.

“We are here, and we are going to defeat the darkness. We have to.” Anita replied softly. “We have to win this, for your people, and your kingdom. And to avenge those who were affected because Of this. We can do this.” Mars nodded, more confident than before.  They turned away from the cliff, wandering the landscape. At first, they were surrounded with soft dirt and a little plantlife, but it slowly started to fade. the deeper they got, the more Anita felt unnerved. The stone they walked on used to be smooth, but now it was rocky and jaded. There used to be small plants sprouting from the cracks, but they have withered to an unnatural black. Suddenly, She felt sick. Mars didn't seem to notice. “I think we’re here.”

“How would you know?” mars questioned.

“I can just feel it. Let's be careful.” They slowly walked past the slab of rock, to see a pit behind it. No life grew in the cavern, the dirt was gray and it seemed to be spreading. The air felt lifeless and still around them, and in the middle sat the Darkness.

“Arkon.” Mars said. Her brows furrowed, her face now filled with anger. The air filled with laughter.

“Princess Maybelle, how lovely to meet you. And our new hero, Anita~. Say, how is your mother doing?” Anita growled.

“I am not your hero and you know nothing of my mother.”

“Oh, don't i?” the darkness reappeared behind Anita. “You truly don't think a collision took them away from you?” Anita’s eyes widened. She gripped her sword. “Whoa, calm down hero. Let's make a deal.'' Mars looked at Anita cautiously.

“What kind of deal?” Anita questioned. 

“Let's make this easy. A one on one battle. Me, the one you call darkness and you, the Hero of Malovora.'' If you win, I'll disappear. If I win.. Well, you’ll find out.” Mars quickly pulled Antia away.

“What are you doing?” Mars whispered. “When people say don't make deals with darkness, this is literally what they mean!-”

“Look, this is the only way to get close enough to hit him, remember?” Anita responded. “We destroy him, we win. I have to do this.”
“You shouldn't do this alone. What happened to defeating him together?”

“This is the only way.”

“Is it? Or is it your way.” Mars scoffed. Anita turned to the darkness.

“I Accept.”
“NO!-” Mars shouted, but it was too late. Anita watched as the darkness took a more human form. An elf form. A long black blade extended from its hand.

“If I win, I will get the girl.”

Arkon swung his sword at Anita, who quickly unsheathed Rune to block. The swords clashed, echoing through the forest.  Anita stayed back trying to pinpoint a weakness, but the darkness was too unstable. She blocked again and again as Arkon charged into the fight. She swung for his side, but the blade cut through the darkness as it morphed into a shadow.  Anita quickly gained her footing. Arkon slashed his blade, Which Anita blocked swiftly. She slashed at Arkon, who stepped back quickly before throwing his sword at anita. She quickly ducked, attempting to kick Arkon’s ankle and knock him down. As she swung her leg, he phased out the way, appearing farther away. As the minutes passed, Anita realized that this was an impossible battle. When she dodged, it attacked. When she attacked, Rune phased through. She had to find a way to end this battle. Anita swung again, which Arkon blocked. His skin cracked as he teleported away. Anita ran towards him, slashing her blade against a shadow. Arkon striked back, slashing Anita’s arm. She yelped in pain.

“Have you finally realized that there is no winning?” Arkon taunted. Anita scoffed in response.

“I'm not out of the running yet.” Anita charged back in. Mars watched from the sideline, in horror. Arkon stabbed Anita, who stumbled out of the way. She swung, missing again. Arkon kicked Anita in the stomach, who groaned as she stumbled back. Gasping for air, Anita kept her distance. Anita had to somehow defeat Arkon, but she could see no true weaknesses. That's when she studied him. His muscles were small, most likely fatigued. He was switching between forms, which must be exhausting his magic. The more magic he uses, the more it burns the body out. Anita’s eyes rest on the cracks on his face. Rising from the cheek, were clear cracks in the skin. They slowly seem to be disintegrating. Anita finally got an idea.  For the last time Anita charged towards the darkness. She missed, and it teleported behind her, colliding with another slash from her blade. Arkon screeched as the sword sliced up his body, through his face. He started to disintegrate before her eyes. Before his face disappeared, he smiled.  Mars ran into Anita, causing them both to crash on the ground.

“Anita! You did it, we did it!” They smiled. “The darkness is gone. Without a vessel, it can't survive.” Mars noticed Anita wasn't happy. “What's wrong?”

“I.. I don't know. Something is wrong, that was too easy.”

“You got beat up alot, it wasn't that easy.” Mars replied, but Anita shook her head.

“I destroyed the vessel, it may not translate unless I hit the darkness itself. Worst case scenario, it comes back. but It doesn't have a human body.” Mars turned away, eyes wide. Anita continued. “it's been like this before, it just needs-” a chill spread  through her spine. Anita thought over the day’s events. Them landing in the ruins, the unnecessary bet, the smile. It didn't add up. “Mars, i don't think we-”

“Anita, LOOK OUT!'' Mars shouted, as Anita turned too late. Something collided with her and she fell hard, hitting her head on the ground. Looking up, Mars was on top of her.

“Mars? Mars, are you okay?” Mars gripped her head. They smiled. 

“I'm great. I'm better than great!” A voice came, but it wasn't right. It wasn't Mars.  Mars got up and stood in front of Anita. There was a different aura surrounding her.

“Mars?” Anita questioned. When Mars turned around, she was clutching her head. Anita got closer, only to be shoved away.

“Sta-y Away Anita.” Mars growled. Anita didn't understand, or at least she refused to. 

“Mars, what's wrong?-'' Mars lifted her head, tears spilling down her face. Their eyes were dark and cold. Their normal orange was now black, and she smiled wickedly. Mar started to laugh.

“Game over hero! This wasn't my first choice, but it will do.” The voice was cold and grating, not like Mars at all. Something in her lead told her it wasn't. Anita’s fear was replaced with rage.

“Leave her alone.” Anita growled, grabbing her sword. The Darkness stepped on her wrist, leaving Anita biting her lip.

“You lost, Hero. I'm just taking what was owed. I couldn't let her go even if I wanted to. You know why?~” Anita thought back to the parchment. Arkon was getting stuck in his vessels until they died. His current vessel was-

“No.. No no, you're lying. This isn't over, I won! I beat you fair and square!” “tears spilled down Anita's face. Arkon just laughed some more.

“You should've listened, when you make a deal with darkness, make sure you read the fine print.”  With this, Arkon teleported away. That's when it hit Anita. Arkon was last seen decades ago, and his ears were pointed. Elves havent been around for centuries, meaning that it had been trapped in a dying body for centuries. Without a new vessel, he would die with the old one.

The only way for him to escape and survive was for him to be separated. The sword was the light that could separate the darkness. When she hit him with the sword, it drew him out, leaving the body to its original state. Arkon didn't want to trade, he wanted to be free from his vessel. Which meant that Anita was lied to, and she fell for it. It meant they lost, and she lost more than she was willing. Now because of her, the world was doomed. Anita curled up, pulling her knees to her chest, and cried.