Darkness, like a slowly growing disease, was descending upon Arcadia. The city's chest was torn by the roar of thunder, a cursed wail rising from afar. As the raindrops struck the earth, the ruins of the stone temple echoed with it, blending with the wind into a mournful melody. Ashes swirled in the air; the sharp scent of burnt wood wrapped the night, enveloping everything.
In the midst of it all, within the ruins, a silhouette stood with its knees buried in the earth. Ash fell upon the black cloak, yet the figure remained motionless. Time seemed to have come to a standstill for it. The stones before it were remnants of a once sacred temple. It had sworn an oath here, devoted itself to Arcadia here. But now, it saw everything for what it truly was – a lie. The temple's stones scattered around it like fragments of its own faith. The cold wind whispered the voices of the past in its ear: the promises made to it, the warm smiles of friends, the memories of better days… All reduced to ash.
The sound of a single step... It was heard clearly despite the rain falling around. The figure lifted its head. Eyes narrowed, gaze faint. Silhouettes, once called friends, took shape in the darkness. There was no regret on their faces. They did not even acknowledge the betrayal. Their eyes held no sign of guilt... Not even for a moment. It searched their gazes, but found nothing.
A faint smile curled on its lips. Was it mocking them, or was it the last breath of a hope still struggling deep within? Who knew. But that smile quickly sharpened, turning into a knife-like pain.
"You excluded me... You forgot me..."
Its voice echoed through the ruins. The rain could not erase the pain in its eyes. Arcadia's earth was no longer a mother's embrace, but the judgment of its executioner. It had been judged here, sentenced here. Now, only one thing remained in its eyes: the blinding flame of revenge.
It stood up. The light of the burning temple flickered in its pupils. The sky thundered again, lightning splitting the dark sky. Arcadia was no longer the same. Shadows began to move. Darkness, like a hungry beast, prepared to swallow the land.
A figure stepped forward, circling around. Its eyes, deep and cold, glittered like a star in the darkness. When it spoke, the figure remembered the voice it had once trusted. It was a whisper, but sharp:
"This path brought you here, didn't it?" The figure tilted its head slightly. "You kneel at the grave of your beliefs, but you still resist. Why, my friend?" At that moment, its last tie broke. "Friend…" The word, on the tip of its tongue, left a bitter taste. "They betrayed you. You won't remain indifferent, will you?"
Another step. The moonlight illuminated the figure's face, revealing the cold indifference that had replaced the familiar warmth. "Betrayal... I don't want revenge." The words hissed like a snake. "Won't you let Astrax remain like this? They didn't even bother to prevent your temple's fall. Come, join us, and let's erase your pain..." Though the words seemed ineffective, they had already wormed their way into its mind, controlling its thoughts.
The words struck like a dagger. Rage spread beneath the skin, like poison. A faint smirk appeared on Ridas's lips. "The weak fall. We simply choose to stand with the strong," it said.
Hearing this extinguished the last light within. The figure had become one with the shadows. Or perhaps it always had been, it just refused to see it.
Something inside snapped. From the ashes of the ruined temple rose a new being. First, it closed its eyes and took a deep breath. When it opened them again, its gaze was different. In its eyes, there was only one thing: the cold judgment of annihilation.
"Very well," it whispered softly, its voice blending with the roar of the rain, "You will burn with him."
For the first time, it hesitated. But it was too late. The thunder roared like a beast. Arcadia's fate, dragged into darkness, was sealed.