A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

It’s time for some answers.

Chapter 22 recap.

She’s had enough rest, I think, watching Lorien’s confused but slowly softening expression. The tension in his body has eased, and his mind is clear again. Time to let her deal with this.

I retreat, pulling back into the recesses of her mind, but not before giving her one last nudge to wake.

Wake up, Artemis. Your boyfriend’s back, and the others are watching.

Her consciousness stirs almost instantly, and I slip into the background, observing as her awareness floods back in.

Chapter 23

I blink as I take back over, and the first thing I feel is warmth. My hand is on Lorien’s cheek, his hand over mine. His eyes are locked on mine, full of relief and something… deeper.

“Lorien?” I murmur, confused.

“Artemis,” he says softly, his voice filled with something raw and tender.

I blink rapidly, glancing around. Kaida is standing nearby, her face redder than I’ve ever seen it. Veyron, meanwhile, has an infuriatingly smug grin plastered on his face.

“What… what happened?” I ask, my voice shaky as I take in the scene.

“You tell us,” Veyron says, leaning against the wall with a smirk. “A second ago he’s blank-faced in some illusion, and the next you’re kissing him like it’s the grand finale of some play.”

My heart skips a beat, and my face flushes so hot I’m sure it’s glowing. “I—what?”

Kaida looks away, her embarrassment almost matching my own. “I mean… it did work…” she mutters, her voice barely audible.

I pull my hand back quickly, realizing how close I am to Lorien. “I—uh…” I stammer, trying to process everything. My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest.

Lorien reaches out, grabbing my hand gently before I can fully retreat. “You saved me,” he says softly, his eyes steady on mine.

I freeze, unsure of how to respond, the memory of what just happened hazy but unmistakable. My lips tingle faintly, and I realize with a start—I kissed him.

Wait, no…

Shade.

“What did you do?” I think, trying to keep my expression neutral as I walk ahead of the others.

“Oh, nothing major,” he says mockingly. “Just your boyfriend disappearing into the castle’s illusions, me keeping him from turning into a mindless husk, Hrothgar vanishing right in front of us, and Kaida nearly being snatched up by whatever the hell this place is. You know, just another day in paradise.”

My breath catches for a second, but I don’t stop walking. “You’re kidding,” I think, though I know he’s not.

“Not even a little,” Shade replies smoothly. “After you blacked out, I took control. Hrothgar was pulled into some vision of his wife, Mia. He wasn’t fighting it. I got us to him, and your friends barely managed to snap him out of it.”

I glance briefly at Hrothgar. His shoulders are tensed, his axe resting on his back, his eyes scanning the corridor as if expecting more trouble. He looks fine now, but the mention of Mia makes my chest tighten.

“What did it show you?” Hrothgar says looking towards Lorien.

“I don’t remember.” He looks away as he says it trying not to make eye contact.

“Then,” Shade continues, “Kaida nearly got taken the same way. She froze mid-step, and I had to tackle her to stop it.”

“Tackle her?” I repeat in my head, and I feel Shade smirk.

“Don’t worry, she’s fine,” he says dismissively. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

I grit my teeth, my mind racing. “And the knight?”

“Ah, yes, our favorite glowing-eyed murder machine,” Shade says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “He showed up, of course, because why not? I slowed him down with traps. Even pinned him to a wall with a spike at one point. He’s still alive, though. Pity.”

“You… you didn’t kill him?” I think, relief and frustration warring inside me.

“No, because you wouldn’t have,” Shade replies, his tone growing sharper. “And I didn’t feel like breaking character. You’re welcome again.”

I clench my fists, my head spinning with everything he’s telling me. Kaida, Hrothgar, Lorien, the knight…

“You really handled all of that?” I think, hesitantly.

“Of course I did,” Shade replies smugly. “You needed rest, and someone had to keep you and your little band of misfits alive.”

I exhale slowly, trying to process it all. “Thank you,” I think reluctantly, though the words feel like they’re sticking in my throat.

Shade chuckles softly. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I shake my head slightly, pushing his voice to the back of my mind. “We’ll deal with this later, I’m just glad I’m back.” I think firmly.

“Oh, speaking of your back,” Shade says, his voice sneaking into my thoughts, smug as ever. “I fixed it.”

I blink, momentarily confused, before I remember the wound from earlier—the dagger, the pain, the blood. I instinctively move my hand to my back, but there’s nothing there now. No pain, no soreness.

I sigh quietly. “Oh… well thanks for that too,” I think, trying not to sound as grudging as I feel.

“No need to thank me,” he says smoothly. “Just doing what I do best—keeping you alive.”

I roll my eyes. “Now we just need to reach the end of this.”

Shade chuckles lightly. “Oh, I’m sure that’ll be a breeze. This castle’s been so generous to us so far, hasn’t it?”

“Let’s keep moving,” I say aloud, glancing back at the others. Kaida nods, her grip tightening on her staff.

I glance at Lorien as we walk, catching his concerned gaze before quickly looking away, my face heating up again. I can’t believe Shade made me make out with him in front of the others, I think furiously, the embarrassment practically burning through me.

Especially in front of Veyron.

My fists clench slightly as I walk, trying to keep my composure. Veyron hasn’t let up, either—he’s been glancing at me with that infuriating smirk, like he’s just waiting to drop another sarcastic comment.

“You’re welcome,” Shade chimes in, his voice far too pleased with himself.

“You are the worst,” I think back sharply.

“Oh, come on,” he replies, his tone dripping with amusement. “It worked, didn’t it? Lorien’s back to normal, and, bonus, you finally started acknowledging your feelings for him publicly—even if it wasn’t exactly voluntary.”

I grit my teeth, glancing back at Veyron, who’s still trailing behind with that stupid grin on his face. “You had to do it in front of them,” I think bitterly.

Shade’s laugh echoes faintly in my mind. “Of course,” he says. “Besides, if anything, I did you a favor. Now you don’t have to dance around the truth anymore.”

“I hate you,” I think flatly, though the heat in my face probably betrays my real feelings.

“No, you don’t,” he says far too smugly.

I exhale sharply, forcing myself to focus on the path ahead. Right now, I need to survive whatever this castle throws at us next—and pray Veyron doesn’t start talking.

We reach another staircase, its spiral seeming to stretch endlessly upward into the dim, flickering light above.

I glance up, the faint flicker of torches lighting marking the way forward. The sooner we reach the top, the sooner we find out what’s waiting for us—and the sooner we get out of here.

Kaida walks beside me, her grip on her staff tight as her eyes dart around nervously. “This place just keeps going,” she mutters, her voice barely above a whisper.

“We’re close,” I say firmly, trying to keep everyone’s spirits up, even as my own nerves tangle in my chest. “Whatever’s at the top—it has to be important. We wouldn’t have been pushed this far otherwise.”

“You’ve got a lot of faith in this death trap having a grand prize,” Veyron says from behind, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “For all we know, there’s just another knight up there waiting to chop us to bits.”

“Then we’ll deal with it,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intended.

Hrothgar nods solemnly, his heavy footsteps echoing against the stone steps. “Answers or danger, it doesn’t matter. We need to see this through.”

Kaida glances at me briefly, her expression a mix of worry and determination. “Artemis… you’re sure about this?”

I pause, looking back at her, then at the others. “No,” I admit quietly, surprising even myself. “But we’ve come too far to stop now. Whatever’s at the top—it’s something we need to face.”

They all nod, even Veyron, who seems to suppress another sarcastic comment for once.

As we climb, my thoughts drift against my will, back to that illusion—the meadow, the cabin, the life it showed me. My chest tightens as the images flood my mind: Lorien’s warm smile, the laughter of Kaida and Veyron, Hrothgar reunited with Mia… and me, holding a child, a ring on my finger.

I shake my head, trying to push it away, but the question lingers like a thorn: Why had I wanted to believe it so badly?

I grip the railing of the stairs tightly, my knuckles white against the cold stone. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. But a part of me—no matter how much I hate to admit it—wanted it to be.

The laughter, the smiles, the sense of belonging… it felt so real. So… right.

“You’re finally asking the right questions,” Shade’s voice cuts in, quiet but amused.

“Not now,” I think back, gritting my teeth.

“Oh, come on,” he says, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. “You’re wondering why you wanted to stay in that little fantasy, aren’t you? Let me help you out: it’s because it’s what you want, even if you won’t admit it to yourself.”

“I don’t want that,” I think sharply, but even I can feel the hesitation behind the words.

Shade chuckles softly. “Sure you don’t. But think about it. Why did the castle show you that life, specifically? Because deep down, you crave something like it. Stability. Belonging. A future with people you care about—especially him.”

I bite my lip, my chest tightening as I glance at Lorien walking ahead of me. “It doesn’t matter,” I think. “It’s not real. I won’t let myself get trapped in something fake.”

“True,” Shade says, his tone softening slightly. “But maybe, just maybe, it’s showing you what’s possible. If you’d stop fighting yourself, you might find that out.”

I don’t respond, forcing my focus back on the staircase, the present, and the task ahead. But the images of that illusion linger at the edges of my mind, refusing to fade.

Why had I wanted to believe it so badly? Because maybe—just maybe—some part of me hoped it could be real.

I sigh quietly as we finally reach the top of the stairs. The others pause behind me, catching their breath as we step into the room.

It’s massive, stretching out farther than I expected, with high vaulted ceilings that disappear into shadows. At first glance, it looks empty, but then I see them.

Rows upon rows of suits of armor, all kneeling on the stone floor. Each one clutches a sword planted into the ground, their heads bowed like silent sentinels.

I move closer to one, hesitating slightly as I peer into the hollow helmet. My breath catches in my throat.

Bones.

Beneath the armor, skeletal remains rest where a body once was. The bones are brittle and gray, worn with age but disturbingly intact. The hands still grip the sword tightly, like they were frozen in place.

“What… what is this?” Kaida whispers, her voice trembling as she steps up beside me.

“They’re… dead,” I murmur, my voice barely audible.

Veyron lets out a low whistle, his dagger flipping idly in his hand as he scans the room. “Well, this is charming. I don’t suppose they’re just decorative?”

Kaida grimaces slightly. “Definitely not.”

I take a step back from the suit of armor, my stomach churning as the sheer scale of the room sinks in. There must be dozens—no, hundreds—of them, all kneeling in perfect, eerie silence.

I swallow hard, forcing myself to take another step forward. “Stay close,” I say firmly, my voice steady despite the unease twisting in my chest. “We’ll move together.”

I take another hesitant step forward, my boots echoing faintly in the massive chamber.

“Do you think…” I start, my voice barely above a whisper, “this is what happened to everyone? Why this place is so empty?”

Kaida glances around nervously, her eyes flicking between the suits of armor. “You mean… someone or something killed everyone?”

“That’s what it looks like,” I say, my voice tightening. “These skeletons—they weren’t just left here. They were put here, in formation. Like they were punished, or… or sacrifices.”

Veyron scoffs, though even his usual smirk seems forced. “Great. So not only do we have to deal with knights trying to kill us, but now we’ve got a graveyard of dead ones to worry about too.”

Hrothgar’s grip on his axe tightens, his gaze fixed on the far door. “If this is what happened to the people here, then whatever did this might still be waiting for us,” he says gravely. “We need to be prepared.”

Kaida shivers, clutching her staff like it’s the only thing grounding her. “This place… it’s like it’s cursed. All of it.”

I nod slowly, my eyes scanning the room again. “Whatever happened here, it wasn’t natural. And if this is what’s waiting for us at the top…” I trail off, the weight of the room pressing down on me like a physical force.

“We don’t have a choice,” I say after a moment, forcing my voice to steady. “Answers are behind that door. And we’re going to get them.”

Even as I say it, my stomach churns. What if this is what’s waiting for us too? To end up like them—nothing but bones, forever trapped in this cursed place?

But I shove the thought aside. Not us. Not today.

As we stride cautiously between the suits of armor, the eerie silence shatters. The faint sound of metal scraping against metal echoes through the room, and my heart sinks as I glance around.

The knights are standing up.

One by one, the suits of armor rise from their kneeling positions, their swords dragging along the ground before they lift them. Hollow helmets tilt toward us, empty sockets glowing faintly with an unnatural light.

“I told you!” Kaida shouts, panic lacing her voice. “They’re gonna try and kill us!”

“Everyone, circle up!” Lorien barks, raising his spear and positioning himself at the ready.

Hrothgar steps forward, his axe gleaming as he plants himself beside Lorien, his broad frame ready to take the brunt of the fight. Veyron flips a dagger into each hand, his his eyes scanning every movement.

I instinctively reach for my bow—only to realize I don’t have it. My hand freezes mid-air, panic bubbling in my chest. No weapon. Of course I don’t have a weapon.

“What the hell am I supposed to do?” I mutter under my breath.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Shade chimes in, his tone dripping with amusement. “Maybe stop pretending you’re helpless and let me handle this.”

“Not now!” I snap back in my head.

“Suit yourself,” he replies smoothly. “But unless you plan to take down an army of undead knights with your fists, you might want to reconsider.”

I glance around desperately, noting the first few knights moving toward us, their movements slow.

Great. Guess I’ll punch them.

“Artemis!” Lorien calls out, his voice sharp and commanding. “Stay back! We’ll cover you!”

I grit my teeth, frustration boiling inside me. I’m not going to just stand here and let them fight for me.

Even without a weapon, I take a step forward, my fists clenching as I prepare for the inevitable.

Fine, I think, bracing myself. Let’s see how this goes.

One of the knights at the front suddenly lifts its helmet’s faceplate, revealing a hollow skull with glowing eyes. It lets out a bone-chilling roar, the sound echoing through the massive chamber like a war cry.

And then they charge.

The sheer number of them is overwhelming, a wave of skeletal knights barreling toward us with unnerving speed. Their swords gleam as they move, the clatter of metal on stone and the sound of bones rattling filling the air.

“Hold the line!” Hrothgar bellows, swinging his massive axe in a wide arc. The blade connects with two knights at once, shattering bone and sending them crumpling to the ground.

Kaida plants her staff into the ground, her voice rising as she casts a spell. Thick roots burst from the stone floor, tangling around the legs of several knights and slowing their advance. “I can’t hold all of them back!” she shouts.

Lorien stands firm beside Hrothgar, his spear thrusting forward with precision, skewering one knight through its chest and parrying another’s blade. “Stay together!” he shouts, his voice commanding as he fights to keep the group from being overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, Veyron is darting between the chaos, his daggers flashing as he cuts down one knight after another. “You’d think they’d fall apart faster!” he shouts, grinning despite the chaos.

I try to stay calm, but the sheer number of knights closing in on us is enough to make my heart race. One of them charges directly at me, its glowing eyes locked onto mine. I duck low, grabbing a discarded sword from a fallen knight.

The blade is heavier than I’m used to, but I grip it tightly, swinging wildly as the knight closes the gap. The strike lands, and the skeleton staggers back, but another one takes its place immediately.

“We’re surrounded!” I shout, panic creeping into my voice as I swing the sword again, barely holding the knights at bay.

“We need a plan!” Kaida yells, her roots starting to falter under the pressure of the advancing horde.

I grit my teeth, my muscles burning as I keep fighting. This isn’t sustainable. We can’t take them all on like this.

“Shade,” I think desperately. “I could really use your help right about now.”

“Unless you want your secret revealed, you’re on your own here,” Shade says, his voice calm and maddeningly smug. “They’d definitely notice anything I could do.”

I hate it, but he’s right. If I let him loose, there’s no way the others wouldn’t notice. I’d have to explain… everything.

“I’m on my own, then,” I think back bitterly, dodging a swing from a knight’s blade.

Shade chuckles softly in the back of my mind. “Not completely. You’ve got your merry little band. Good luck, fearless leader.”

I swing the sword again, the blade connecting with another knight. Its armor clatters to the ground as it collapses into a heap of bones and metal. But for every one I take down, another steps in to take its place.

Kaida’s magic flares again, a burst of flame lighting up the room and sending several knights staggering back. “There’s no end to them!” she shouts, her voice frantic.

Hrothgar roars as he swings his axe in a wide arc, taking down three knights in one powerful blow. “Keep fighting!” he barks, his voice booming. “We hold this line!”

Lorien is a blur of movement beside me, his spear darting out to pierce through the joints of the knights’ armor with precision. “Artemis, stay close!” he shouts, glancing back at me briefly before turning to deflect another blade.

Veyron, as usual, seems to be enjoying himself a little too much, weaving between the chaos with an almost casual ease. “If anyone has a bright idea, now’s the time!” he yells, slicing through a knight’s legs and ducking under another’s swing.

I swing again, knocking another knight back, but the horde just keeps coming. The clattering of bones and metal grows louder, the wave of knights pressing closer.

We can’t keep this up forever, I think, my chest tightening as I glance around at the others. We need a way out—or something to turn the tide.

“Kaida!” I shout, swinging the sword and knocking another knight to the ground. “I don’t suppose you know any sort of necromancer spells?!”

She glances at me, her face a mix of panic and exasperation as she summons another burst of roots to slow the advancing knights. “What? Necromancy?! Are you serious?!”

“I don’t know!” I yell back, barely ducking a swing from another knight. “Maybe you could, like, turn them against each other or something?!”

Kaida growls, frustration bubbling in her voice. “That’s not how magic works, Artemis!” She casts another fireball, the explosion sending a handful of knights clattering to the ground. “You think I’ve been secretly studying the dark arts this whole time?!”

“Would’ve been nice!” I snap, cutting down another knight as more pour in from the shadows.

“Guess I’ll put it on my to-do list!” she yells back, her staff glowing with another spell.

Behind her, Hrothgar slams his axe into the ground, shattering the legs of several knights at once. “Focus, both of you!” he bellows, his voice like a thunderclap. “We don’t need necromancy—just a way to stop them!”

“Still open to ideas!” Veyron calls out, flipping over a knight’s sword and driving his dagger into its neck joint. “Any bright ideas from our fearless leader?”

I grit my teeth, my mind racing as I glance around the room. The knights are relentless, the sound of clattering bones and screeching metal filling the air. There has to be something—anything—we can use to turn this around.

“Kaida!” I shout again. “Just keep them off us as best you can! Everyone else, hold the line!”

I swing the sword again, trying to buy time for something—anything—to come to mind.

I’ve got no clue what to do here.

Everyone’s looking to me for some brilliant idea, but my mind is blank. We’re surrounded, completely overwhelmed, and every time I think we’re holding our ground, more of them show up—way more than were here at the start.

I grit my teeth, swinging my stolen sword at the nearest skeleton. Its head flies off, the bones clattering to the ground, but it doesn’t feel like a victory.

Where the hell are they all coming from?

Suddenly, I feel a sharp pain. A slice across my shoulder. I gasp, stumbling back as warm blood seeps down my arm. I barely manage to swing my blade in time, cutting down the skeleton that struck me.

“Artemis!” Lorien’s voice cuts through the chaos as he stabs another knight, his eyes darting toward me. “Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine!” I yell back, though the stinging pain in my shoulder says otherwise. I don’t have time to focus on it. Not now.

Hrothgar swings his axe in a wide arc, taking down another group of knights. “We’re being overrun!” he shouts, his voice strained. “We need a way out!”

“I know!” I shout, frustration bubbling over as I glance around the room again. There’s no end to them, no clear source, no strategy that seems to work.

The sheer chaos of it all is dizzying, the clatter of bones and metal like a deafening storm.

This is definitely the physical challenge the castle promised, I think bitterly, dodging another swing as I barely keep myself upright. But how the hell are we supposed to survive it?

The knights keep pouring in, their numbers endless, the sound of their armor clattering like a storm around us. I can barely think, but one idea flickers through my mind—desperate, reckless, but maybe the only chance we’ve got.

I glance toward the massive door at the other end of the room, the intricate carvings seeming to almost glow faintly in the chaos.

The door.

“Only thing I can think of,” I shout, barely dodging another swing, “is to make it to that door!” I point toward it with my bloodied arm. “Maybe we can get inside and hold them off from there!”

Lorien stabs another knight, his spear glowing faintly as he shouts back, “It’s better than staying here and being overwhelmed!”

Kaida’s flames flicker out for a moment as she glances at me, panic in her eyes. “What if it’s locked?!”

“Then we break it down!” Veyron quips, leaping over a skeleton’s blade and landing another hit. “Or die trying!”

“Come on!” Hrothgar roars, his axe cleaving through another wave of knights. “We move! Now!”

I nod, gritting my teeth as I force myself to focus. “Kaida, cover us with whatever spells you can! Veyron, stick close and pick off anyone that gets too close! Hrothgar, Lorien—take the lead and clear the way!”

“And what about you?” Lorien asks sharply, his eyes locking onto mine.

“I’ll cover the rear!” I shout back, gripping the heavy sword tighter despite the pain in my shoulder.

Lorien hesitates for a moment, his concern evident, but he nods. “Stay close!”

With that, we break formation, pushing toward the massive door as fast as we can. Kaida’s staff glows brightly, bursts of flame and roots holding back the advancing horde as Veyron darts between them, his daggers flashing.

Hrothgar and Lorien carve a path forward, their weapons cutting through the sea of knights like battering rams. I follow close behind, slashing at anything that tries to flank us, my shoulder throbbing with every swing.

The door looms closer, but the knights don’t let up, their glowing eyes fixed on us with unrelenting purpose.

“Almost there!” I shout, my voice strained. Please don’t be locked. Please don’t be locked.

Finally, we reach the massive door. The knights are still right behind us, their glowing eyes unrelenting as they close in.

“Kaida, cover us!” I shout, my voice desperate as I slam my free hand against the door.

Kaida plants her staff firmly into the ground, summoning another burst of flame that erupts behind us, creating a temporary wall between us and the horde. “That’s not gonna last long!” she yells, her voice trembling with strain.

Hrothgar steps up beside me, his axe ready. “Is it locked?” he asks, his deep voice steady despite the chaos.

I shove against the door, my bloodied hands slipping on the cold surface. “I don’t know! It’s not moving!”

Veyron darts up to it. “Move,” he says quickly, his tone sharp as he starts inspecting the edges of the door. “Let me see if there’s a mechanism or something.”

Lorien stands in front of us, his spear raised as he stares down the advancing horde. “Hurry!” he shouts, thrusting his weapon into an approaching knight and sending it sprawling back into the crowd.

Veyron grins faintly, his hands running over the carvings. “Got it! There’s a release here!”

“Then open it!” Kaida screams, her voice strained as the flames behind us flicker dangerously low.

Veyron presses against the carved surface, and with a low, echoing groan, the massive door begins to creak open.

“Inside, now!” I yell, waving the others through as the door slowly swings inward.

Hrothgar grabs Kaida, pulling her through the opening as Veyron follows close behind. Lorien lingers for a moment, his eyes on me.

“Go!” I shout at him, slashing at another skeleton that gets too close.

He nods reluctantly, stepping inside just as I follow, gripping the sword tightly.

The moment we’re through, I throw my weight against the door, Hrothgar and Lorien joining me to force it shut as the skeletons reach it.

“Come on!” I grit out, pushing with everything I have.

With a final, deafening thud, the door slams shut, sealing us inside.

For a moment, the only sound is our ragged breathing as we collapse against the cold stone, the muffled clatter of the skeletons just barely audible on the other side.

“We… made it,” Kaida says between gasps, her voice trembling.

I nod, my chest heaving as I glance around the new room. It’s dark, silent, and unnervingly still. But we’re alive. For now.

I take a moment to catch my breath, leaning heavily against the door as my chest rises and falls. The muffled clatter of the skeletons beyond it slowly fades, and silence settles over us.

Turning to the group, I quickly glance at each of them, surveying for injuries. Kaida’s hands are trembling slightly, a small cut on her cheek, but otherwise, she seems fine. Veyron has a gash on his forearm, though he’s already wrapping it with a piece of fabric, his face set in that cocky smirk of his. Hrothgar’s armor is dented in a few places, but his sturdy frame doesn’t seem any worse for wear.

And then there’s Lorien. He’s breathing hard, blood staining the edge of his tunic from a shallow cut on his side, but he’s standing tall, his spear still in hand.

It could’ve been worse. Much worse.

“You’re all okay?” I ask, my voice quieter than I expected.

Kaida nods quickly, wiping the sweat from her brow. “Yeah. Just… shaken.”

“Same,” Veyron says, flexing his hand as he finishes tying off his wound. “Could’ve used a heads-up about how insanely outnumbered we’d be, though.”

Hrothgar grunts, his deep voice steady. “We survived. That’s what matters.”

I look at Lorien, his gaze meeting mine. “I’m fine,” he says before I can even ask. His voice is calm, but his eyes flicker down to my shoulder. “What about you? You’re hurt.”

I glance down at the cut on my shoulder, the blood staining my tunic. It stings, but it’s nothing compared to what could’ve happened out there.

“I’ll live,” I say, brushing it off. “We all made it through. That’s what matters.”

For a moment, there’s silence as we all take in the weight of what just happened. The tension in my chest eases slightly, but I can’t ignore the unease lingering in the air.

“We should figure out what’s in here,” I say finally, looking toward the room ahead. “We didn’t fight through that just to sit around.”

Kaida nods, stepping forward cautiously, her staff glowing faintly. “Let’s see what this place is hiding.”

I follow her, my shoulder throbbing faintly as I grip the heavy sword in my hand. Answers better be close, or we just survived all of that for nothing.

Kaida’s staff casts a faint glow ahead, lighting the way as she cautiously moves forward. The room is vast, the darkness stretching out far beyond what her magic can illuminate. Stone pillars rise up on either side, carved with intricate patterns that almost seem to shift when I glance at them too long.

Hrothgar walks beside her, his axe at the ready, while Veyron lingers a bit behind, his daggers glinting faintly in the soft light. Lorien falls into step beside me, his spear still in his grip, though his eyes keep darting toward me.

As we move deeper into the room, the faint sound of something—wind? whispers?—echoes around us. It’s distant, almost imperceptible, but it sends a chill down my spine.

“What is this place?” Kaida mutters, her voice trembling slightly as she glances around.

“No idea,” Veyron says, though there’s a rare hint of unease in his tone. “But I’m guessing it’s not just some random room.”

“Stay sharp,” Hrothgar rumbles, his deep voice steady.

I tighten my grip on the sword in my hand, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of movement. The battle with the knights might be over, but I can’t shake the feeling that something else is waiting for us.

The carvings on the pillars seem to twist and ripple in the faint glow of Kaida’s staff, and the whispers in the air grow louder, though I can’t tell if they’re real or just in my head.

I glance around at the others, my grip tightening on the sword. I just hope we’re alone in here.

“This has to be it,” I say softly, breaking the tense silence. “This is where we’ll find out what this place is hiding.”

Kaida nods, her eyes darting around nervously. “It feels… different. Like it’s waiting for us.”

“Let’s hope it’s waiting quietly,” Veyron mutters, though his daggers are ready, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness.

Hrothgar grunts, his axe resting on his shoulder. “Answers or not, we need to be prepared. This place hasn’t given us anything without a fight.”

Lorien walks close beside me, his eyes flickering toward me briefly before focusing back on the room ahead. “Stay close,” he says quietly, his voice low but protective.

I nod, my heart pounding as we approach the center of the room. A faint glow begins to appear in the distance, pulsing softly like a… heartbeat.

As we move closer to the faint glow, the whispers grow louder, clearer. They’re not just a sound anymore—they’re words, fragments of voices overlapping one another. Some are calm, others urgent, but none of them make any sense.

“Do you hear that?” Kaida asks, her voice shaky as she clutches her staff tighter.

“We all hear it,” Hrothgar says, his tone low and steady. “Stay focused.”

The glow becomes brighter, illuminating a large, circular platform in the center of the room. Strange symbols are carved into the stone floor, pulsating faintly with light. At the center of the platform, something hovers—a sphere of shifting energy, dark and light swirling together like a storm trapped in glass.

“What the hell is that?” Veyron mutters, his voice quieter than usual.

“I don’t know,” I admit, stepping forward slowly. The energy feels alive, radiating heat and cold at the same time, pulling at something deep inside me.

Lorien moves beside me, his spear at the ready. “Careful,” he says, his voice firm. “This place hasn’t exactly been friendly.”

I nod, swallowing hard as I approach the platform. The glow from the sphere casts strange shadows across the room, making the carvings on the pillars seem to writhe and move.

“This has to be it,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “This is what we’ve been looking for.”

Kaida steps up beside me, her eyes wide as she stares at the sphere. “It’s… beautiful,” she says softly, though there’s fear in her voice.

“It’s also probably dangerous,” Veyron says, staying a few steps back.

Hrothgar plants his axe into the ground, his gaze locked on the sphere. “What do we do with it?”

I hesitate, staring at the swirling energy. What do we do?

The whispers grow louder, almost deafening now, as if the sphere is reacting to our presence.

“Artemis,” Lorien says, his voice breaking through the noise. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” I say, my voice trembling. “It’s like… it’s pulling at me.”

“Artemis,” Kaida says, her voice shaking as she reaches for my arm. “We shouldn’t get any closer. Something’s not right.”

But I can’t look away from the sphere, the pull growing stronger with every passing second. This is it, I think, my breath hitching. This is what we came for.

A voice cuts through the whispers, clear and commanding.

“Artemis, step closer.”

I stop in my tracks, staring at the swirling sphere. The pull is stronger now, almost impossible to resist, like invisible threads are wrapping around me, pulling me forward.

“Artemis?” Lorien says, his voice sharp and full of concern.

I swallow hard, glancing back at him. “It… it wants me to step closer.”

Kaida shakes her head quickly, her staff glowing faintly. “This doesn’t feel right, Artemis.”

“She’s right,” Hrothgar says, his grip on his axe tightening. “Everything in this castle has been trying to destroy us. Why would this be any different?”

The voice booms again, louder this time, almost impatient.

“Step closer, Artemis. You seek answers. They are here.”

I feel my hands trembling as I grip the sword tighter. This is what we came for, isn’t it? The answers we’ve been chasing, the reason this castle pulled us here.

Lorien steps beside me, his spear raised defensively. “If you’re doing this, I’m not letting you do it alone.”

“Neither are we,” Kaida says, her voice trembling but firm.

I nod slowly, taking a deep breath. My heart is pounding, but I force my feet to move. “Alright,” I say, stepping toward the sphere with the others close behind.

The glow intensifies with every step, and the whispers shift, becoming clearer—like voices overlapping, fragments of sentences that I can almost understand.

The sphere pulses once, the light flickering out momentarily before roaring back to life, casting strange, twisting shadows across the room.

Whatever this is, I think, my stomach twisting with both fear and anticipation, it’s waiting for us.

I step closer.

“Together,” I say softly, my voice trembling but resolute.

The others nod, moving with me, their eyes locked on the swirling sphere. My hand trembles as I reach toward it, the energy radiating from the orb like a physical force against my skin.

One by one, the others do the same. Lorien steps to my side, his hand outstretched, the tension in his face clear as he glances at me. Kaida follows, gripping her staff tightly in her other hand, her breath shallow but steady. Hrothgar places his massive hand beside mine, his jaw set in determination, while Veyron hesitates briefly, his smirk replaced with a wary grimace, before reaching out with a muttered curse.

The sphere pulses again, brighter and stronger than before, as though it’s reacting to us. The air hums with energy, the whispers growing louder and clearer, overlapping into something that almost sounds like words.

“Are we sure about this?” Veyron mutters, his voice strained as his fingers hover just inches from the orb.

“No,” I admit, my voice shaking. “But we’ve come this far. We can’t stop now.”

Lorien’s hand brushes against mine, and I glance at him briefly. He gives me a small, steady nod. “Together,” he echoes.

I take a deep breath and close the gap, my fingers grazing the surface of the orb. The moment I do, a shockwave of energy pulses out, the light engulfing us completely.

The room disappears. The whispers become deafening.

And then… nothing.

Just silence.

I open my eyes—or maybe I never closed them—and find myself standing in an endless void. The others are there, too, each of them floating in the darkness, their forms outlined by a faint glow.

“What… is this?” Kaida whispers, her voice trembling.

Before any of us can respond, a deep, echoing voice surrounds us, cutting through the silence.

“You seek answers,” it says, powerful and omnipresent. “But are you prepared for the cost?”

“What cost?” I say, my voice echoing in the void. My hands clench into fists as I glance around, trying to find the source of the voice.

“You seek freedom,” the voice says again, low and steady, resonating in a way that makes my chest tighten. “But to leave this place, you must give up something in return. There is no escape without sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice?” Kaida’s voice wavers as she looks at me, her grip on her staff tightening. “What does that mean? What are we supposed to give up?”

The voice doesn’t respond immediately, and I feel a chill run down my spine as the void shifts around us, the faint glow outlining each of us flickering.

“You have already lost much,” the voice continues. “To survive, you will lose more. But the choice is yours: remain here, bound by the rules of this place… or pay the price to escape.”

“What kind of price?” Lorien asks sharply, stepping closer to me. “What are you asking for?”

The voice grows louder, more commanding. “A piece of yourselves. That which you hold dear. Your bonds, your memories, your very essence. Freedom comes at a cost. Decide.”

I glance at the others, their faces filled with confusion and fear. My heart pounds as the weight of the words sinks in. A piece of ourselves? Our memories? Our bonds? What does it want from us?

“This can’t be right,” Veyron mutters, his voice unusually tense. “There has to be another way.”

“No,” Hrothgar says, his voice firm. “This is the way forward. But the question is… what are we willing to give up?”

I swallow hard, my mind racing. “What if we refuse?” I ask, my voice barely steady.

The void grows darker, the glow around us dimming further.

“If you refuse,” the voice says, a sharp edge of finality to its tone, “then you will remain here. Trapped. Bound to this world for eternity.”

“What about Lyra?” I ask, my voice trembling as I stare into the void. “We aren’t leaving without her.”

The silence stretches for a moment, heavy and cold, before the voice responds.

“Your friend cannot leave this world,” it says, its tone steady and absolute. “She has transcended her former self and become permanently bonded to this place. Its life flows through her, and hers through it. To separate her would mean destruction.”

I feel my stomach drop, the weight of the words sinking in like a stone. “No… no, there has to be a way!” I shout, stepping forward as if I can argue with whatever this entity is.

“Artemis,” Kaida says softly, her voice breaking. “If it’s telling the truth…”

“No,” I snap, shaking my head. “There has to be a way! We can’t just leave her behind!”

Lorien puts a hand on my arm, his grip firm but gentle. “If what it’s saying is true, then she’s not trapped like we are. She’s… something else now.”

“That doesn’t mean we abandon her!” I yell, my voice echoing in the endless void.

“Her path is no longer your own,” the voice continues, unyielding. “She is part of this world now, woven into its fabric. To take her from it would unravel existence entirely.”

I bite my lip, my heart racing. How am I supposed to just accept that? How can I leave her behind, knowing she’s stuck here forever?

Tears sting at the corners of my eyes, but I clench my fists, forcing myself to breathe. I glance at the others, their faces mirroring my own pain and doubt.

I turn back toward the void, my voice shaking but firm. “If she’s part of this world… can we at least see her again? Speak to her? Know she’s okay?”

The voice pauses, the silence almost unbearable before it finally answers.

“That is possible,” it says, its tone softer now, almost… sympathetic. “But she is not the one you knew. What she has become may not be what you hope to find.”

I feel Lorien’s hand squeeze mine gently, grounding me. “We’ll figure this out,” he says softly, his eyes steady on mine. “Together.”

“Where is she? Where is Lyra?” I ask again, my voice desperate as I take another step forward.

The voice answers, calm and heavy, its tone carrying a weight that seems to press down on me. “She resides within the center of this world,” it says. “In the place where the boundaries of life, death, and transcendence converge. To find her, you must go to the source of the world’s power—deep beneath its surface.”

Kaida gasps softly, stepping closer to me, her staff clutched tightly. “The source? What… what does that mean? Where exactly is she?”

“The root of this world lies in the Nexus,” the voice continues, its words reverberating through the void like the toll of a distant bell. “A place where light does not reach. That is where she is bound.”

“The Nexus?” Lorien says, his brow furrowing as he glances at me. “That’s… what this world is called, isn’t it? Eidolon Nexus. The heart of it all.”

Hrothgar lets out a low rumble, his expression grim. “So, to find her, we’d have to go deeper. To the center of the world itself.”

Kaida shivers, her eyes wide. “And what happens if we do? The voice said it’s where light doesn’t reach. What does that even mean?”

“It means it’s not going to be easy,” Veyron mutters, his tone sharper than usual. “If this Nexus is what’s keeping her here, it’s not going to just let us walk in and say hi.”

The voice cuts through again, colder this time. “To reach the Nexus, you will face great danger.”

I stare into the endless void, my heart pounding.

“We don’t leave her,” I say firmly, my voice trembling but resolute. “No matter what it takes, we go to the Nexus and bring her back.”

Lorien places a hand on my shoulder, his expression conflicted but steady. “Then we’ll do it. Together.”

Kaida hesitates, glancing at Veyron and Hrothgar before nodding. “If it’s the only way… then we’ll figure it out.”

The voice grows quieter now, its presence still heavy but fading into the distance. “The path to the Nexus lies within the depths of the unknown. Seek it, and you shall find her… if you survive.”

“When you said we had to sacrifice part of ourselves to leave this world,” I ask, my voice sharp and unyielding, “what does that mean? What part of ourselves?”

The void feels heavier for a moment, like the weight of the voice itself is pressing down on us.

“To escape this world,” it says, each word slow and deliberate, “you must give up that which defines you. Your bonds. Your memories. Your purpose. Each of you carries something within that ties you here. To sever that tie, you must surrender it entirely.”

My chest tightens as I glance back at the others, their faces reflecting the same shock and confusion I feel.

“Our bonds?” Kaida whispers, her voice trembling. “You mean… we’d have to forget each other?”

The voice doesn’t respond immediately, and the silence is crushing. Finally, it speaks again.

“For some, it may be the bonds you share. For others, memories. A part of your soul, your essence, your identity. To leave this world is to leave a piece of yourself behind.”

“That’s insane,” Veyron snaps, his voice tense. “You’re saying we’d have to give up who we are just to escape?”

“That is the cost,” the voice says, unyielding. “To reclaim your freedom, you must be willing. The choice is yours to make.”

I swallow hard, my mind racing. Our memories? Our bonds? Our purpose? The thought of losing even a piece of myself—of forgetting the people I’ve fought beside, the friendships we’ve built—it twists something deep inside me.

“What if we don’t pay the price?” Hrothgar rumbles, his voice steady but heavy.

“Then you remain here,” the voice replies simply. “Bound to this world, forever tied to its rules. There is no freedom without sacrifice.”

“How is that fair?” I shout into the void, my voice trembling with frustration and fear. “We don’t even know what we’d be giving up! Are we forgetting this place? Forgetting each other? Our whole lives? What are we even sacrificing?”

The voice remains silent for a moment, the weight of the stillness almost suffocating.

“Fairness does not govern this world,” it finally replies, its tone calm and absolute. “You entered this place without understanding its rules. You seek to leave it without understanding the cost. This is the nature of it.”

“That’s not an answer!” Kaida yells, her grip on her staff tightening as her eyes dart toward me. “We deserve to know! How can we even make this choice if we don’t know what it means?”

The void seems to shudder slightly, the faint glow around us flickering. “The cost is different for each of you,” it says, its voice colder now, almost dismissive. “You will not know what you are giving up until the choice is made.”

“What?” Lorien’s voice cuts through the tension, anger rising in his tone. “You’re telling us to make this… choice this sacrifice without even knowing what we’re losing? That’s not a choice—that’s a gamble!”

Veyron mutters something under his breath, pacing a few steps away before glaring into the emptiness. “So, what? We roll the dice and hope we don’t lose something that makes us want to stay dead? Great system you’ve got here.”

Hrothgar stands silent, his expression grim. “what do we do? Do we take that risk?”

“How are we supposed to decide?” I whisper, my voice breaking. How can I lead them through this when I don’t even know what’s right?

The silence that follows is deafening. The voice offers no more guidance. It’s up to us now.

“Where do we make this choice?” I demand, my voice echoing in the endless void. “How do we even decide something like this? What do we have to do?”

The void shifts slightly, the faint glow flickering as the voice responds, calm but unrelenting.

“The choice lies before you now,” it says. “You are already within the threshold of decision. Each of you must confront your own truth and surrender what is asked.”

“What does that mean?” Kaida asks, her voice shaking as she steps closer to me. “Confront our truths? Surrender what’s asked? That’s not an answer!”

The voice remains steady, unaffected by her outburst. “The truth of who you are, of what binds you, will be revealed to you through its loss.”

“Fantastic,” Veyron mutters, pacing again.

“Enough,” Hrothgar rumbles, his voice cutting through the tension. “Complaining won’t change anything. If this is what we have to do, then we face it.”

I glance around at the others, their faces a mix of fear, anger, and determination. My chest tightens as I think of Lyra—of the sacrifices we’ve already made just to get this far.

The voice speaks again, softer this time, almost as if it’s trying to offer reassurance. “Step forward.”

“No,” I say suddenly, stopping in my tracks. “We can’t make this decision. Not without Lyra.”

“She’s right,” Kaida says softly, stepping closer. “If we’re going to make a decision like this… we have to find her first. We owe her that much.”

Hrothgar nods, his expression grim. “She deserves more than to be left without a fight.”

Veyron sighs, crossing his arms. “Great. So now we’re going on a rescue mission to the literal center of the world? Because that’s not insane or anything.”

I glance at him, narrowing my eyes. “If you want to leave her, then fine. But the rest of us aren’t giving up on her.”

His smirk fades slightly, and he looks away. “I didn’t say I’m leaving her,” he mutters.

The voice cuts through the tension, calm but sharp. “You cannot delay this decision forever. Time in this place bends, but it is not infinite.”

“Then we’ll face it when we’re ready,” I say firmly, lifting my chin. “But not until we find Lyra. You said she’s in the center of this world—then that’s where we’re going first. We’re not leaving without her.”

The void seems to hum faintly, as though considering my words.

“Very well,” the voice says finally. “If this is your path, then you must descend to the Nexus. There, you will find her.”

“And how do we get there?” I ask sharply, my heart pounding.

The voice answers, its tone heavy with finality. “The way will be revealed… if you are ready to face it.”

“Then we go to the Nexus,” I say, gripping my sword tightly. “And we find Lyra.”

The voice booms again, sharp and absolute, cutting through my resolve.

“If you even attempt to leave the Nexus with Lyra,” it warns, “the realm will be shattered, and all life within it could cease. Say your goodbyes to her if you wish, but she must remain.”

The words hit like a hammer to my chest, knocking the air out of me. My fists clench at my sides, and I glance at the others, their faces frozen in shock.

“That’s not fair!” I yell into the void, my voice trembling. “She didn’t ask for this—none of us did! Why does she have to stay?!”

“She is bound to this place,” the voice replies, calm but unrelenting. “She has transcended the mortal boundaries you cling to. Her existence is now intertwined with the Nexus itself. To remove her would unravel the balance and destroy all.”

I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes. “We didn’t come this far to just leave her behind! There has to be another way!”

“There is no other way,” the voice says, its tone softening slightly. “Her path is not yours. You may see her, speak to her, but she must remain. You must accept this.”

Kaida steps closer, placing a hand on my arm. “Artemis…” she whispers, her voice trembling. “Maybe… maybe we can’t save her, but we can still say goodbye.”

“No,” I say, my voice cracking as I turn toward her. “We’ve already lost so much. How can we just leave her like this? How can we just… walk away?”

Hrothgar speaks, his voice steady but heavy with sorrow. “Sometimes… sometimes we have to let go, even when it hurts. If we don’t… we might lose everything. Including ourselves.”

I feel my chest tighten, the weight of their words pressing down on me. Say goodbye to her? Just leave her here? After everything we’ve been through together?

I swallow hard, forcing myself to look forward. “Fine,” I say quietly, my voice trembling. “If that’s the only way… then we find her. We see her. We say goodbye.”

The voice hums faintly, as though acknowledging my words. “Then descend,” it says. “And face the Nexus. There, you will find her.”

The ground beneath us begins to tremble again, the faint glow flickering before cracks of light appear, forming a spiral path downward into the darkness.

“Are you sure about this guys?” Veyron asks, his voice unusually serious.

“No,” I admit, gripping my sword tightly. “But I’m not leaving her without saying goodbye.”

With that, I take the first step onto the glowing path, the others following close behind. Whatever waits for us… we face it together.

Suddenly, the endless void vanishes, and the familiar walls of the castle snap back into view. I stagger for a moment, my boots clicking against the polished stone floor of the same ornate corridor lined with portraits. The abrupt shift leaves me disoriented, my mind spinning from the weight of everything the voice said.

In my hand, I notice something new—a glowing map. The light it emits is soft, but it pulses faintly, almost as if alive.

“What the…?” I murmur, staring down at it.

The others look around, equally stunned by the sudden change. Kaida reaches out to steady herself against the wall, her wide eyes darting to the map in my hand. “What… just happened? Are we back in the castle?”

“It looks like it,” Hrothgar rumbles, his voice cautious as he scans the corridor. “But why? And what’s that?” He nods toward the map.

I lift it up, inspecting it closely. The surface of the map seems to shift and swirl, as though the paths and markings are constantly moving. In the center, glowing faintly, is a symbol that I don’t recognize—something that looks like a spiral, radiating outward.

“It’s… a map,” I say slowly, my voice uncertain. “But it’s like it’s alive. The lines keep moving.”

Lorien steps closer, his hand brushing against my arm as he peers at it. “Is it showing us where to go?”

“I certainly can’t tell,” Veyron mutters, leaning in with a raised eyebrow.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say firmly, lowering the map. “If this is how we find Lyra, then we figure out how to follow it. No more waiting.”

Hrothgar nods. “Agreed. But we’ll need to be ready for whatever this throws at us.”

I glance at the others, their faces still etched with worry, but there’s a quiet determination in their eyes. This is it. Whatever happens next, we’re getting to the Nexus—and to Lyra.

I hold the map tightly and turn toward the direction it seems to be pointing. “Let’s move,”

As we begin to move forward, the old man’s voice stops us in our tracks.

“Might I suggest resting for the night,” he says, his tone calm but firm, “before making such an arduous journey? This floor is protected from intruders… unless I choose to let them in.”

I stop and turn to face him, narrowing my eyes. “You mean you let us up here?”

“Yes,” the old man replies simply, leaning slightly on his cane. “I sensed your resolve and allowed you to pass. But I do not control all of the castle.”

Frustration flares in my chest, and I step closer to him. “Then how did the knight get up there?” I demand, my voice rising slightly. “If this floor is protected!”

The old man lets out a weary sigh, his gaze softening. “He entered through a higher floor,” he explains. “I was only granted the power for this level of the castle. The other floors are controlled fully by the castle itself, bound by its own rules.”

I bite my lip, trying to push back the frustration boiling in me. “So, what? The castle just let him in?”

“The castle has its own will,” the old man says, his tone grave. “And its own sense of purpose. It allows those with strength—and those with darkness in their hearts—to traverse its halls. The knight is one such individual.”

Hrothgar crosses his arms, his brow furrowed. “So he could still be in the castle somewhere, waiting for us.”

“Perhaps,” the old man admits. “But he cannot reach you here tonight. You are safe on this floor, as long as you remain here.”

Kaida exhales sharply, clutching her staff. “Safe or not, we need the rest,” she says, her voice heavy with exhaustion. “I don’t think any of us are ready for another fight right now.”

I glance at the others, their weary faces and battered bodies telling me all I need to know. As much as I hate to stop, the truth is I know she’s right.

“Fine,” I say reluctantly, turning back to the old man. “We’ll stay here tonight. But if anything happens—”

“Nothing will happen,” he interrupts gently, but firmly. “Rest. You will need your strength for what lies ahead.”

The others start moving to find a place to rest, and I grip the glowing map tightly in my hand, my mind still racing. A knight who answers to no one, a castle with its own will, and a journey to the heart of this world. What else could this place possibly throw at us?

I sigh, forcing myself to push the thoughts away for now. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.

Lorien touches my arm lightly, his voice soft but serious. “Artemis, can we talk? Privately?”

I blink, caught off guard. “Uh… sure,” I say hesitantly, glancing at the others as they continue down the hall. Kaida is already claiming her room, and Veyron is muttering something sarcastic to Hrothgar about snoring.

Lorien nods toward an empty doorway further down. “In here?”

“Yeah, okay,” I say, still holding the glowing map tightly in one hand as I follow him into the dimly lit room.

The space is small but cozy, a simple bed against one wall with a chair and desk tucked in the corner. The air feels heavy between us as he closes the door gently, and I feel my pulse quicken, unsure of what he’s about to say.

“What’s going on?” I ask, leaning against the edge of the desk, trying to keep my voice steady.

He doesn’t answer right away, his gaze dropping to the floor as he runs a hand through his hair. When he looks up at me, there’s a mixture of worry and something I can’t quite place in his eyes.

“I just…” He hesitates, taking a step closer. “I’ve been trying to say this for a while now, but everything’s been so… chaotic. With the knight, the trials, the illusions… I didn’t want to make things harder for you.”

“But?” I ask cautiously, watching his face closely.

He exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair again. “I lied,” he says bluntly, meeting my eyes. “When I said I don’t remember what I was shown during the illusion. I… I do remember. I just didn’t want to bring it up in front of everyone.”

“You did?” I ask, my stomach twisting slightly. “Why would you lie about that?”

He shifts his weight, his hands dropping to his sides as he looks away briefly. “Because it was about us,” he says quietly, glancing back at me. “And I thought… I thought we should talk about it in private first.”

“What… what did it show you?” I ask hesitantly, the memory of my own illusion flashing in my mind.

He takes a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine. “Us,” he says quietly. “Together. In the real world. A life together, for the rest of our lives. No danger, no running… just us.”

I swallow hard, my chest tightening as I think back to my own vision—the meadow, the cabin, the ring on my finger.

“I saw something similar,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “But… you know we can’t have that. Not in the real world. Not with everything I am… everything I was before all of this.”

Lorien’s expression falters for a moment, but then he takes a step closer. “Then… then we could stay here,” he says, his voice trembling slightly. “If the real world won’t let us have it, why not make this our home?”

I freeze, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. “Stay here?” I echo, shaking my head. “Lorien, this place… it’s not real. It’s a game—an illusion. Even if we wanted to stay, we don’t really know what it would mean for us, what we’d have to give up.”

“I don’t care,” he says firmly, his eyes searching mine. “You’re here, Artemis. This—us—it’s real to me. And if staying here is the only way we can have a life together, then isn’t it worth it?”

I look down, my mind spinning. He’s serious. He really means it. But how can I even think about staying here when everything I’ve fought for has been to get out?

“I don’t know,” I say finally, my voice cracking. “I don’t know if I can give up on going back. On being me again.”

“And I don’t know if I can go back to a world without you,” he says softly, stepping closer and taking my hands in his. “But I’ll follow you, no matter what. Just… tell me what you want, Artemis. Tell me what you’re feeling.”

“I—I—” I stammer, my chest tightening as a flood of emotions threatens to overwhelm me.

“Tell him,” Shade’s voice echoes softly in my mind, calm but insistent.

I swallow hard, forcing myself to meet Lorien’s eyes. “I want to be with you,” I say, my voice trembling but honest. “I really do… but what about your family? Your friends? Your real life?”

Lorien’s grip on my hands tightens slightly, his expression steady but filled with sadness. “Artemis,” he says softly, “my real life… wasn’t much of a life. My family barely speaks to me, my friends drifted away years ago, and I was just… existing. When I woke up here, I thought it was a nightmare. But then I met you.”

I feel my heart ache at his words, the rawness of his confession making it hard to breathe.

“You’ve given me something I never had before,” he continues. “Something real. A purpose, a reason to keep fighting. And maybe this world isn’t perfect, but it’s ours. It’s the only place where I’ve felt alive in forever.”

I shake my head, tears stinging at the corners of my eyes. “But… you could have so much more. You could have a future, a career, people who love you—”

“I do have someone who loves me,” he says, cutting me off. “And I love her. If staying here means I get to keep that, then that’s enough for me.”

I feel my throat tighten, the weight of his words crashing down on me. Could I really stay here with him? Could I give up on going back to the life I had before?

“I don’t know what to do,” I admit, my voice breaking. “I love you, but I don’t know if I’m ready to give up on the real world.”

Lorien steps closer, his forehead resting gently against mine. “Then let’s figure it out together,” he says quietly. “We don’t have to decide now. We still have time.”

“You’d really give up everything for me?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I told you he would,” Shade says, his tone carrying a hint of smugness.

“Just be quiet for a minute, please,” I think back, forcing my focus to stay on Lorien.

“It’s not giving up everything, Artemis,” Lorien says, his voice soft but unwavering. “You are my everything.”

My breath catches, and I stare at him, unable to process the sheer weight of his words.

“If… if you want to stay,” he continues, his hand brushing lightly against mine, “if that’s what you decide, I’d do everything I could to make you happy. You’re all I want.”

I look down at the floor, my thoughts spinning in every direction. “I… I’m supposed to be a guy,” I mutter, almost to myself. Do I really want to be a girl forever? Do I want this body, this life, to be my reality?

The thought weighs heavy on me, a constant presence in the back of my mind. But as I glance up at Lorien, the warmth in his eyes, the steadiness of his voice… it’s impossible to imagine leaving him. Especially if it means forgetting him.

At the same time, the question lingers. Could I ever truly let go of who I was? Could I let this world replace the one I’ve spent my whole life in?

“I don’t know,” I whisper, my voice trembling.

“You don’t need to decide right now,” Lorien says softly, his voice steady and reassuring. “I just want you to know it’s an option. Whatever happens, I’m here.”

Before I can respond, he steps closer and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. It’s so sudden, so warm, that I don’t even realize I’ve been lightly crying until I feel the tears streaking down my cheeks.

I grip the fabric of his shirt, my head resting against his chest as my shoulders shake. “Lorien…” I whisper, barely able to get his name out.

His arms tighten around me, his hand brushing gently against the back of my head. “It’s okay,” he says softly. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. We’ll get through this together. Whatever you decide, I’ll stand by you.”

The weight in his words eases something in my chest, though the turmoil in my mind still lingers. I bury my face against him, letting myself take comfort in his warmth, in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

I want to say something—anything—but the words don’t come. Instead, I just cling to him, holding on like he’s the only thing grounding me.

After a long moment, we finally break apart, and I wipe at my face, trying to steady myself. I move toward the door, my hand reaching for the handle. “I… I should go find a room,” I say quietly, still feeling the warmth of his embrace.

“You could stay here,” Lorien says, his voice soft but certain.

I glance back at him, confused. “And you’d find another room?”

He chuckles lightly, shaking his head. “That’s not what I meant.”

My eyes widen slightly as his words sink in. “Oh.”

“Your boyfriend’s asking you to spend the night,” Shade teases, his tone smug and playful.

“Not helping, Shade,” Ithink back quickly, trying to keep my face from burning as I look at Lorien.

He steps closer, his expression warm but a little shy, his hand reaching out toward mine. “You don’t have to if you’re not ready,” he says, his tone gentle. “I just… I thought you might want to stay. To be close.”

“Are you asking if I want to…” I trail off, my voice barely above a whisper, my cheeks burning as the words catch in my throat.

Lorien blinks, his face going slightly red as he realizes what I’m implying. “No!” he says quickly, holding up his hands. “No, that’s… not what I meant. I just… I thought maybe you’d want to stay. To rest. With me.”

His words are earnest, but the awkwardness between us is undeniable. I feel my heart pounding as I glance away, trying to steady myself.

“Sorry,” I mumble, biting my lip. “I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay,” he says softly, stepping closer. “I just… I don’t want you to be alone tonight. After everything we’ve been through, I thought it might help. But only if you’re comfortable with it.”

I look back at him, the sincerity in his eyes calming the whirlwind in my chest. He’s not pushing me. He’s just… offering comfort.

“I…” I hesitate, my hand still resting on the door. “I guess… I could stay. Just for tonight.”

His expression softens into a small smile. “Only if you want to,” he says gently.

I nod slowly, feeling my nerves settle slightly as I step away from the door “I’ll stay.”

The tension in the air eases as he moves to grab an extra blanket, laying it out on the bed. “I’ll take the floor,” he says, motioning to the other side of the room. “You take the bed.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re seriously going to sleep on the floor? There’s plenty of room.”

He hesitates for a moment, then chuckles softly. “Alright,” he says, sitting on the edge of the bed. “But if I take up too much space, just kick me off.”

I let out a small laugh, sitting down beside him. Despite the awkwardness, there’s a warmth in the moment that feels… right.

Lorien wraps his arm around me, pulling me just a bit closer, and I can feel his warmth steadying me. I let myself lean into him, closing my eyes for a moment.

Suddenly, the lights in the room flicker before going out completely, plunging us into darkness.

I tense up instinctively, my heart skipping a beat. “What—”

“It’s alright, I think.” Lorien says softly, his voice calm and soothing. “Maybe it’s the castle…”

“It’s like this place has a mind of its own,” I murmur, letting myself relax slightly.

“Maybe it does,” he says quietly, his tone thoughtful.

“Big day for you,” Shade whispers in my head, his voice sly and teasing. “You got to see a future of you married to your love with a child on the way. Your boyfriend told you he’d stay for you, and now he’s even invited you to spend the night… Sure, you’ve slept together a couple of times, but that had the excuse of cuddling for warmth. This? Well, there’s no hiding what it is.”

“Shade, shut up, please,” I think back, pressing my lips together tightly as I feel the heat rising in my face.

“At least he didn’t ask for the other thing,” Shade continues, his voice dripping with mischief.

“I swear, if you don’t stop—”

Lorien shifts slightly beside me, his arm still wrapped gently around me, and I freeze, suddenly hyper-aware of everything—his warmth, the faint sound of his breathing, the quiet intimacy of the moment.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. “This isn’t what you’re making it out to be, Shade,” I think firmly. “It’s just… nice. I’m tired, and he’s comforting, and that’s all it is.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Shade hums, the amusement in his tone making me grit my teeth. “Doesn’t change how he feels. Or how you feel.”

I bite my lip, closing my eyes. “Shade… please. Just let me have this moment without your commentary.”

Surprisingly, he goes quiet, though I can feel his presence lingering at the edges of my thoughts.

Do I want to stay here? The thought echoes in my mind, pulling me into a spiral of doubt. My gaze drifts to the faint outline of Lorien in the darkness, his arm still resting around me, his steady warmth keeping the chill of the castle at bay.

Would I really let him stay here for me? I wonder, my chest tightening. I think about what he said earlier, about how his life in the real world was lonely, empty. He’d give it all up for me, without hesitation. But… could I do the same for him?

Then there’s the real world, the life I left behind. What about my parents? Would they even care if I just… disappeared?

The question stings more than I want to admit. I think about the arguments, the constant disappointment in their eyes, the way they pulled away after everything fell apart. Part of me wants to believe they’d miss me—that they’d regret not believing me, not supporting me. But another part… a darker part, whispers that maybe they wouldn’t care. That maybe I’d already lost them long before I ended up here.

I swallow hard, my eyes burning as I blink back the tears threatening to form. Am I really so lost in the real world that this place—a dangerous, unpredictable game—is starting to feel more like home?

Lorien shifts slightly, his hold on me tightening as if sensing the storm in my mind. His presence helps, but it doesn’t quiet the questions that keep hammering away at me.

What do I even want? Do I want to go back to a life where everything felt like it was falling apart? Or stay here in a world that might never let us truly be free?

“Was Shade right all along?” The thought whispers through my mind like a chill I can’t shake. Did I want to stay here? Always? With him?

I close my eyes, trying to push the question away, but it lingers, persistent and unrelenting. I think back to the meadow, the cabin, the dream that felt so painfully real. That life—the one Shade said I wanted—was it really just some illusion? Or was it something buried deep inside me, something I didn’t want to admit?

Lorien’s arm tightens slightly around me, and I glance at him in the dim light, his face soft and peaceful in sleep. He’d stay here for me without hesitation. He’s already said as much. He’d give up everything for me, just to have a life together in this world.

And the truth is… I don’t want to leave him. I don’t want to lose what we’ve found here.

But staying here… it’s not that simple. Is it?

“Do I really want this? Do I want to be Artemis forever?” I think, biting my lip as my chest tightens. The thought of losing Alex—who I used to be, everything I was—makes my stomach churn. But when I think of Lorien, when I think of the idea of staying here, of not fighting against this world anymore, there’s a strange warmth I can’t deny.

Shade’s words echo in my mind, smug and knowing: “I told you. You always wanted to stay.”

Was he right? I wonder, my heart aching as I stare into the darkness. Have I wanted this all along?

Shade’s voice slips into my thoughts, low and steady, no teasing or mockery this time. “I told you I’d help you do this. Be safe with him in this world. And I can—I will—if you choose it.”

I shiver slightly, not from the cold but from the weight of his words. If I choose it.

“Maybe the others feel the same too,” Shade continues, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. “Maybe they’d stay here, just like him. Maybe they’re already thinking about it.”

The thought stirs something in me. Could they? Hrothgar, with his family waiting for him back home—could he ever leave Mia and his child behind for this? Kaida, with her bright, hopeful dreams of a life outside this place—would she really want to stay? And Veyron… would someone as cynical and self-assured as him ever trade the real world for this one?

“I don’t know,” I think back to Shade, biting my lip. “I don’t know what they’d choose. I don’t even know what I want yet.”

“You’re scared,” Shade says simply, his presence hovering at the edges of my mind. “But the truth is, Artemis, this world might already feel more like home than you want to admit. You just need to figure out if that’s enough for you.”

I swallow hard, my eyes drifting back to Lorien. He looks so peaceful, like the weight of this world hasn’t touched him the way it has me. Would he be enough? Would this world be enough, if it meant I could have him?

And at the same time, I think, the words bitter but painfully true, what do I even have to lose?

Parents who didn’t believe me, didn’t believe in the truth when it mattered most. Who probably still think I was the one who ruined everything, who probably wouldn’t care if I disappeared from their lives completely.

No real friends—not anymore. Not after high school, not after they turned their backs on me when I needed them most. And I never even had a girlfriend, never had someone who actually cared about me like this…

I glance at Lorien again, his steady breathing filling the silence. The way he held me earlier, the way he looked at me—like I was all that mattered to him. It’s something I never thought I’d feel.

Would anyone in the real world even miss me? Would anyone even notice I was gone?

But here… here I have them. Lorien, Kaida, Hrothgar, even Veyron in his own weird way. For the first time, I have a real connection, people who care about me, people I’d fight for. People who would fight for me.

“But would staying here really make me happy? Would it be enough?” I ask myself, the question echoing in my mind.

Shade stirs again, his voice calm but insistent. “You’re looking for what you already have. You just don’t want to admit it. You’ve found more here than you ever had out there. Why go back to a life that left you broken?”

I swallow hard, the words hitting me like a punch to the chest. Is he right? The thought gnaws at me, even as I try to push it away. What do I even have left to fight for in the real world?

All I wanted was to go back, I think, my chest tightening with the weight of it. To make something of myself. To prove it wasn’t me, to make them see the truth. To make my parents proud.

But as I sit here, in the dim light of this strange castle, with Lorien by my side and the memories of everything we’ve been through, I feel the sharp edges of that dream dulling.

“Do I even care about that anymore?” I ask myself, the words bitter in my mind. “Do I care if they believe me?”

For so long, I’d told myself that fixing everything—getting out of here, going back—was the only way to set things right. To clear my name, to finally earn their pride, their love. But now…

Would it even matter?

I think about how they looked at me back then. How they never gave me the chance to defend myself. How they just… let me fall, let me take the blame, let me drown in it without a second thought.

Even if I went back, even if I “made something” of myself… would it ever change how they see me? Or would it always feel hollow, like I’m fighting for something I’ll never get?

“I don’t know if I care anymore,” I admit to myself, the thought heavy and freeing all at once. “Maybe… maybe I don’t need them to believe me. Maybe I don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”

Shade’s voice slips into my mind, soft and quiet this time. “You’ve already found people who believe in you. Who stand with you. Maybe that’s all you ever needed.”

I glance at Lorien again, his warmth steady and constant beside me. Maybe Shade’s right. Maybe this… this is enough.

But then what if he’s lying? The thought claws its way to the surface, sharp and suffocating. What if Lorien really does have people out there—friends, family—and he just doesn’t want me to make him go back?

I swallow hard, my throat tight as I glance at him again. He looks so peaceful, so sincere every time he says he’d stay here for me. But what if that’s just… what he thinks I want to hear?

What if I do decide I want to go back? How could I ask him to give up this life, even if it’s what I want?

The thought feels like a weight pressing down on my chest. I can’t imagine being without him now, not after everything we’ve been through together. But if he really does have people out there—people who’d miss him, who love him—how could I be the reason he stays here? How could I live with that?

“You could ask him,” Shade whispers in my mind, his voice calm, almost thoughtful. “If you’re brave enough.”

“Ask him what?” I think back bitterly. “If he’s lying to me? If he’s hiding a whole life out there just to stay with me?”

“You’re overthinking,” Shade replies, his tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. “He’s never given you a reason not to trust him, and yet here you are, creating reasons in your head. If you don’t trust him, then what are you even doing?”

I grit my teeth, shaking my head slightly. “It’s not that I don’t trust him. It’s just… what if he regrets it later? What if I ruin his life by letting him stay here with me?”

“And what if he doesn’t?” Shade counters, his voice softening. “What if he’s telling the truth, and he’s already chosen you? You’re so scared of what might happen, you can’t even see what’s right in front of you.”

I close my eyes, my chest tightening. What if Shade’s right? What if this fear is all in my head?

But still, the doubt lingers, eating away at me. What if I’m wrong? What if I make the wrong choice—for both of us?

And then there’s Shade.

I glance at Lorien again, his steady breathing filling the quiet room. The guilt gnaws at me like it always does. I haven’t told him. I haven’t told anyone. Not about the shadow inside me, the voice that’s been with me since that fight in the dungeon.

How would they even react? Would they be scared? Angry? Would they see me as some kind of threat?

I close my eyes tightly, pressing my lips together. They’d have every right to be. Shade’s saved me—sure—but he’s also dangerous, unpredictable. And then there’s the fact that he knows everything about me.

“You really think they’ll turn on you?” Shade’s voice slips into my mind, soft but pointed. “After everything you’ve done for them? After everything they’ve done for you?”

“I don’t know what they’d do,” I think back, my chest tightening. “But you know what you are, Shade. What if they see you as a threat? What if they think I’ve been lying to them this whole time?”

“You have been lying,” he points out, his tone almost playful. “But here I am, keeping you alive, keeping your secrets. Maybe they’d thank me for that.”

I grit my teeth. “It’s not that simple. You know it’s not.”

“It could be,” he replies calmly. “If you’d just trust me for once. Tell them, or don’t. Either way, you know I’ll be here when you need me. Like I always am.”

I let out a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. How can I even think about staying in this world—about building a future with Lorien and the others—when I haven’t been honest with them about something so huge?

But the idea of telling them… it terrifies me. More than anything else we’ve faced so far. What if they don’t see me the same way after? What if they decide I’m not worth the risk?

The thought makes my chest ache. I’ve already lost so much. Could I risk losing them too?

Would he even want to stay if he found out I’ve been lying to him?

The question hits me like a punch to the stomach, and I feel my heart sinking. Lorien said he’d stay for me, that I was his everything. But that was before. Before he knew about Shade. Before he knew that I’ve been hiding this… thing from him.

What would he think if he found out I’ve been keeping this secret? I glance at him again, his peaceful face in the dim light, and the thought twists my chest painfully. Lorien trusts me—he’s trusted me with everything, with his life. Could he forgive me for hiding something this big?

“You’re doing it again,” Shade says, his voice sliding into my mind with a faint sigh. “Second-guessing everything like you always do. If you told him, you might be surprised. Or, you know, you could just keep hiding me forever. That’s worked out great so far, hasn’t it?”

“What if he hates me for it, Shade?” I think back, my thoughts trembling. “What if it’s the one thing that changes everything?”

“If that’s all it takes to change how he feels, then maybe he doesn’t love you as much as you think,” Shade says, his voice unusually blunt. “But honestly? I don’t think that’s the case. The guy just offered to stay in a world he barely understands, just to be with you. That doesn’t scream ‘shallow.’”

I bite my lip, the guilt churning in my stomach. “It’s not that simple. I’ve lied to him, Shade. I’ve lied to all of them. How can they trust me after this?”

“Trust isn’t about perfection,” Shade replies, his tone softening. “It’s about what you do after the mistakes. You have the chance to tell him, Artemis. To show him the whole truth. If he’s the person you think he is, you might be surprised how he reacts.”

I close my eyes, taking a shaky breath. But what if I’m wrong? What if he doesn’t want to stay once he knows? What if I lose him… forever?

He’s going to find out eventually, I think, the weight of the truth pressing harder against me. I might as well get it over with…

I glance at Lorien again, his steady breathing filling the quiet room, and I feel a pang of guilt. He deserves to know. About Shade. About everything.

First thing in the morning, I tell myself firmly. I’ll tell him everything. I’ll tell him I want to be with him… and I’ll tell him about Shade.

Shade stirs in my mind, his voice calm but with a faint trace of amusement. “Bold move. And if he freaks out?”

“Then at least I’ll know,” I think back, my chest tightening. “I’d rather risk it than keep lying to him. He deserves the truth.”

“Fair enough,” Shade says, his voice quiet now. “But for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’ll run. The guy’s clearly all in. He followed you through this all didn’t he?”

I swallow hard, taking a deep breath. I have to believe he’ll understand. That he’ll still want to stay with me, even after knowing what I’ve been hiding.

Curling up slightly, I close my eyes and try to calm my racing thoughts. Tomorrow, I’ll lay everything out. Whatever happens, happens. For now, I let myself rest, feeling the warmth of Lorien next to me and hoping that, somehow, this will all work out.

End of chapter 23.