Chapter 12 – The Darkness Within
Kareos and Clara are holding Kravons, who is wounded after being struck by an arrow.
"Your Majesty… Wake up. Your Majesty," says Clara, distressed.
Jack and Soleya watch the forest and run over to them.
"Guys, we need to get out of here!" Jack warns.
Clara and Kareos glance toward the forest. A battalion of dark elves mounted on beasts approaches rapidly. At the front line, Nelan holds a bow, her eyes locked on them.
"Help me get the king on the horse," Kareos says to Clara.
They lift Kravons, still bleeding, onto the horse. Flaming arrows fly toward them. Kareos presses his palms together, gathers energy, and releases a magical blast that destroys the arrows.
A sharp pain pierces his head. Visions of the artifact invade his mind.
"You need to go! We'll catch up with you later!" Clara shouts.
"Okay! Don't get yourselves hurt, alright?" Jack replies.
"We'll be fine. Now go!"
The dark elves close in. Nelan, standing at the front, gives the order:
"Kill everyone... except the sorcerer."
The creatures charge with roars and arrows. Kareos closes his eyes, rubs his hands together, and channels magic into his arms. He kneels and slams his palms into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that knocks down many enemies.
His eyes turn black, like those of a dark elf.
Clara runs to him and grabs him.
"We need to go! Now!"
Kareos suddenly turns and grabs Clara by the neck, lifting her off the ground.
"What are you doing, Kareos?!" she gasps.
His eyes return to normal. He lets her go, horrified by what he's done.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
"This isn't the time. We have to get out of here!"
They mount the horse and flee. Behind them, dust rises. Nelan watches them escape and comments:
"It doesn't matter what Over says... We can't disappoint Father. Find the sorcerer."
An elf beside her responds:
"Don't worry, sister. We will find him."
---
Malonia – Forest
Clara and Kareos catch up to Jack and Soleya. They dismount and lay Kravons on the ground.
"We have to do something... He can't die!" Soleya cries, in tears.
Soleya stares at Kareos.
"Do something already! What are you waiting for?!"
"You need to step back," Kareos tells Soleya.
Jack gently grabs Clara's shoulders.
"Hey, it's going to be okay... He's going to be fine."
Kareos kneels beside Kravons, places his hands over the wounds, and tries to heal him. His eyes darken. Once again, he sees the artifact.
He lets go of Kravons' body.
"I can't... I can't do it..."
"What do you think you're doing?! Heal him now!" Clara yells, furious.
"You idiot! Heal him! He can't die!" Soleya screams.
"I'm sorry... But I can't..."
Time passes. Kravons takes his final breath.
Soleya walks away, crying by the river. Jack follows her.
"You've been out here a long time... You'll catch a cold if you don't cover up."
"To you, he was just a king... But to me, he was more."
"What do you mean?"
"He was my father. My mother told me, but I never wanted to believe it. Every time he tried to get close, I pushed him away. I didn't want to accept he was my dad. I kept pretending I didn't know... But I wanted to give him a chance. To see him as a father. Now I can't anymore. I didn't even tell him I wanted that..."
"I'm so sorry. But he always knew you were his daughter, didn't he? So you don't have to blame yourself."
"Jack... Can you hold me?"
"Of course I can..."
"Thank you..."
---
Malonia – Forest
Kareos buries Kravons' body. Once finished, he sits, exhausted. Clara approaches.
"I'm leaving at dawn. And you... you don't have to come with us anymore."
"Aren't you going to ask?"
"Ask what? Why you left me? Why you let the king die? Or why you nearly killed me? I don't have anything to ask you!"
"I couldn't save him. Because I can't use too much of my power. The more I use it, the more it consumes me. Inside and out..."
"I don't want to hear excuses! You abandoned me when I needed you the most! Our son died because of you! I lost our baby... because you weren't there! I had to go through it all alone!"
"You don't understand what it's like to be controlled by that! To feel like you're dying inside and something else is being born... something you can't even understand!"
"I'm leaving tomorrow with the children. I hope you'll be okay..."
Clara walks away. Kareos remains frozen.
He screams and punches a tree.
"Damn it!"
---
Cut to: North of Gíria – 18 years ago
Max rides to a cave, where several shapeshifter sorcerers are waiting. He dismounts. Kareos appears.
"Your mother told me you'd come. Let's begin."
"Alright. Let's begin."
"She said you're very talented. Must've gotten that from her, huh?"
"She's the only one who thinks that. I bet you're six times better than me."
"I highly doubt that... Come on."
They enter the cave and reach a magical circle with ancient symbols. Two shapeshifters bring Karips to the center of the symbol. Everyone takes their positions.
Kareos and Max extend their arms, gather energy, and release it over Karips to seal her. Even asleep, the entity radiates a red aura.
They continue the ritual. The shapeshifters around them begin to faint. Karips emits a burst of energy that breaks the barrier and kills some of the shapeshifters in their animal forms.
Max and Kareos fall on top of the entity, wounded in the arms. Their blood drips onto Karips. Despite their injuries, they keep channeling energy... until they finally seal her.
Their wounds heal, leaving only dark bruises.
"You okay?" Max asks, breathing heavily.
"Yeah... That was close."
---
Present – North of Gíria
Max tosses in his sleep.
"Karips... I want Karips... I want Karips..."
Lion tries to wake him.
"Hey, hey! Wake up!"
Max's eyes are as black as a dark elf's. He keeps repeating:
"I want Karips..."
Lion holds him, but a voice echoes in his mind:
"You must stop him... Guenorl has been reborn..."
To be continued...