I shut my eyes as a sudden wave of sunlight pierced the air, its intensity flaring sharply and deepening the throb in my skull.

“What… what’s the meaning of this?” Thalor’s voice rang out, sharp with confusion.

The little elf—Fena—was still in the palm of my hand. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing luminous, bright blue eyes that locked onto mine—not with fear, but with a strange, almost unsettling confidence.

“Fe…na,” I murmured, my knees buckling as I collapsed onto the layered ground.

“Selyrae vothira,” Fena whispered, her voice like the chime of distant bells as she rose into the air, hovering before my eyes.

I didn’t understand what she was saying, yet something stirred within me. As if compelled, I opened my eyes and met her gaze.

She was smiling.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Was this a trap all along?

Questions flooded my mind like a broken dam, thoughts spiraling into chaos. My headache worsened, adding a blinding pressure that made it hard to breathe—let alone think.

I turned to my right to check on Thalor. He writhed in pain, clutching his temples with his claws as he rolled on the ground. His eyes were tightly shut, his face twisted in torment. The agony radiated from him like a dark storm—raw and unbearable.

“Agh!” he screamed, his voice tearing through the thick air.

“Fena! What is going on? Stop this—please!” I shouted, panic rising in my chest.

Suddenly, two familiar shadows loomed above me—Asher and Alba. They had broken free from within me, now standing there, their eyes fixed on me—but hollow, empty of life.

At that moment, I prayed that Thalor wouldn’t open his eyes. Not now.

“How did you…” I muttered, coughing blood.

They didn’t move—not an inch. They stood frozen like statues, their blank stares locked onto me, devoid of any emotion.

Fena landed softly on my chest, her delicate wings shimmering like stained glass, catching and fracturing the harsh sunlight into dazzling hues.

“It would be a problem if your friend opened his eyes now, wouldn’t it?” she said coldly, as if reading my mind.

I tried to respond, but no sound came out—my throat felt tight and parched.

I reached out to catch her, but Alba and Asher stood firmly on each of my arms, pinning them down. Yet strangely, I felt no pain—only a heavy, numbing stillness that seeped into my bones.

Was this all her doing?

A bitter weariness settled over me. I just hoped that this misadventure would be my last… I was so tired of betrayal…

Or was it my fault for trusting a tiny, seemingly helpless creature like her?

“Mia! Get off her, you Narcis bastard!” Thalor shouted.

Why didn’t he mention Alba? Couldn’t he see her? Ah, maybe he didn’t recognize her from behind… or perhaps he simply couldn’t believe meeting his legendary partner here.

“Fena, if I catch you, I swear I’ll—” he growled furiously.

“Silence!” she commanded. “I could’ve warned you about this mist, but how could you understand my blabbering?” she added, her tone as lifeless as her stare.

“You —”

“But there is a way out of this mess,” she continued. “If you’re willing to cooperate, you might walk away unscathed.”

“Speak!” he demanded impatiently.

“This miasma nullifies all kinds of external magic. No spell, no array, can work here. You two were both under spells, or even hosted Syr Energy—that is why you’re suffering. Only pure beings can enter our village.”

She turned her gaze to me. “You, on the other hand, are quite interesting. These two are not willing to let you go as you are the perfect vessel for them. So, in order to enter the village, sacrifices must be made. Your pure nature is worthy of praise, human. Had you not been so unique, hosting these two would’ve been impossible.”

“Say something stupid, and I’ll kill you!” Thalor roared, veins bulging as his rage boiled over.

“I want nothing from you, Nauvaryn! Your worthless shell is not even complete!” she snapped. “Look at you—the so-called king of the Velmorr Sea—unable to move or even save your friend! Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Fifteen years ago, Alba vanished without a trace leaving you behind. Or so, that’s what she made you believe...” She circled Thalor, her movements taunting. “She fell into a trap while trying to meet him—her secret lover…” she said pointing at Asher. “And you like a fool, abandoned your own people, only to fail protecting both! What would you call that? Even ‘failure’ doesn’t do it justice. Don’t you agree, human?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Capturing us was one thing—but these cruel words, said so casually, cut deeper.

I had just uncovered a new truth about Alba, but seeing Thalor’s morbid and broken expression, it was clear he carried only one desperate wish—to die and be freed from his crushing guilt.

Without warning, tears pearled at the corners of my eyes, then spilled over, tracing warm trails down my cheeks.

Alba didn’t flinch. She stood there like a phantom, as if she were nothing more than an illusion holding me down. Her long hair flowed through the breeze, shading my face from the burning sun’s rays.

“Now, now. Don’t cry, human,” Fena cooed, her voice deceptively gentle. “Your tears are precious. Believe me, you truly are special. You don’t need those two or anyone else.”

She wiped them away with her tiny hands, her touch disturbingly delicate.

Then, she leaned in closer, brushing strands of my hair away from my ear. Her fingertips were cold, almost icy, and each touch sent a shiver crawling down my spine.

 “So, who is it?” she whispered, her tone a haunting mix of sweetness and malice.

I still couldn’t speak. She kept stroking my hair like I was some fragile thing she owned, her smile unreadable.

“The man or the woman… or perhaps him?” she mused softly, glancing at Thalor being consumed by moving leaves. “Don’t look at me like that. Remember… the darkness is your kingdom, the light is your salvation…” she sang.  

Then her tone darkened, the melody in her voice vanishing.

“Had you sided with us two hundred years ago, you’d be safe now.”

“Two hundred… years,” I mumbled.

“You can’t leave this island unless you get through our village. That’s the price curious intruders pay for venturing too deep into the forest,” Fena declared. “Now then, let’s make this more interesting, shall we?”

Suddenly, the pressure on my arms lessened. The weight that held me down began to fade.

“How about you killing each other?” Fena smirked. “Now that would be one amusing display!”

Alba moved towards Thalor with eerie grace, silent as a shadow. In her hand, a gleaming scythe had appeared, its blade black as obsidian, humming softly with restrained power.

“Alba… It’s you! I’ve finally found you! But—what are you doing here?” Thalor said.

At his words, Alba swung her scythe, its dark arc slicing through the air, aiming for Thalor’s exposed chest.

“Agh!”

He caught the blade just in time, clutching it with both hands, blood trickling between his fingers.

“If this makes you feel better, I won’t mind you killing me, Alba,” he said through gritted teeth. “But you see… I won’t die until we’ve had a nice little chitchat!”

Thalor was so consumed by his past that all he could see was Alba before him. Judging by his sorrowful eyes, he must be reliving the day he lost her.

I had to do something.

Now that one of my arms was free, I could at least—

Asher suddenly stepped back from me. His face was no longer void of expression. His purple eyes were vivid and full of determination.

An arrow, sleek and finely crafted, formed in his hand. Near the nock, the symbol of a Narcis flower was glowing, similar to the one on my neck. With steady hands, he aimed the arrow directly at Fena.

Wait—wasn’t he under her control a moment ago?

Then… was he free now?

Should I help, or stay down and let this unfold?

Killing Fena would end this nightmare.

But then—something glinted in the corner of my vision.

There, hidden in the shifting shadows, were several more elves. Silent. Watching. Waiting. Their eyes gleamed, and weapons shimmered in their hands.

They were ready to strike.

Damn it… even if Asher manages to shoot Fena, her allies will swarm us and tear us apart.

“You have three seconds to choose who dies, Mia,” Fena snarled. “If you choose me, I’ll let him shoot. But you should’ve realized by now that it would be a fatal mistake. Only one person shall perish to end this…A sacrifice is needed to purify the rest, and finally leave this forest.”

“Why me?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Why should I decide who lives or who dies? I am no god, I am no saint.”

“One…”

I could say myself. That would end everything. Right?

Or… Alba? Eliminating her would make Thalor my enemy.

Asher? Haven’t I done enough by failing to save his sister?

What a cruel fate… Truly I am cursed.

“Two…”