04

During my time at Nex, I encountered many other Enial users. They came from various backgrounds and possessed unique skills in controlling this power. We shared knowledge, inspired each other, and formed a brotherhood.

However, our focus at Nex wasn't solely on learning and practicing. There were also important tasks we had to accomplish to maintain balance and protect Enial from misuse. We were sent to various threatened regions and worked together to address emerging conflicts.

In one of our missions, we successfully thwarted the Lix Faction's attempt to steal a powerful Enial fragment. The battle was fierce and dangerous, but through our cooperation and combined strength, we managed to foil their evil plans. During the fight, I also began to tap into the growing potential of my Enial, unleashing powers I had never felt before.

After that victory, my confidence soared, and I felt more prepared to face even greater conflicts. I understood that my responsibility as an Enial user was to safeguard goodness and maintain balance among powerful forces.

Now, I stand at a crucial crossroads. I have evolved into a capable Enial user with a deeper understanding of this power. However, greater challenges lie ahead, and I must decide which path to take.

Meanwhile, my bond with Mei grows stronger. We have become inseparable partners, supporting and complementing each other in every adventure. With the power and knowledge we possess, we hope to achieve the necessary balance in a world constantly struggling with conflicting forces.

Moving forward, I am ready to face whatever comes my way. On the journey towards my yet-to-be-revealed destiny, I vow to use Enial wisely, protect my loved ones, and maintain balance in this world.

*******(In Asha's heart)*******

"Your Highness," a faintly familiar voice echoed in my heart.

"Your Highness, please don't forget your purpose in Hera," the voice said again, and at that moment, I recognized it as Lylia calling me to this world.

"You were summoned to Hera to hunt down all the Evil Gods and save Reality, not to play with Enial or serve Shen," Lylia stated.

"You are the highest $()+##-, you should not serve them," Lylia reiterated.

"But-" I tried to say something, but she cut me off abruptly, "No need for any excuses, Your Highness. The First Evil God will awaken soon; please find and use another Enial immediately."

*******(Back to the real world)*******

I woke up under the cherry blossom tree, near Mei.

I stared at Mei for a while, feeling that something was amiss.

"Why?" Mei asked.

"It's nothing, Mei," I replied.

Mei furrowed her brow, trying to understand my condition. Then, she quickly shifted her attention to the surroundings. "We have to leave immediately, Asha. There are reports of dark Enial users attacking the nearby village."

I nodded. Though the strange feeling from earlier still lingered in my mind, I decided not to discuss it with Mei right now. I just needed to focus on our objective.

Despite the many mysteries and challenges ahead, I knew that with our strong friendship and the power of Enial we possessed, we would be able to overcome anything. The world needed us, and we were ready to give our best for it.

*******(In Vidhyava village)*******

We finally arrived at the village, and I saw it in ruins. Were we too late?

Then, someone with black hair and eyes emitting a purple aura appeared amidst the wreckage.

She stood arrogantly, observing us. I could sense the dark power emanating from her, indicating that she was one of the dark Enial users responsible for the attack on this village.

As I was about to approach her, she suddenly vanished into a shadow. I decided not to dwell on her for now and focused on finding the victims.

We both walked through the devastated village's debris, searching for signs of life. The sight was heartbreaking and sorrowful, weighing heavily on my heart. We found some villagers who were injured and frightened, trying to survive the recent attack.

Mei and I immediately provided aid to those in need. I used my Enial to heal their wounds, while Mei protected them with her strength and skills in battle.

While helping the victims, we also searched for clues about the dark Enial user responsible for this attack. We spoke with some surviving villagers, attempting to gather useful information.

Based on their story, the evil user of Enial is known by the name Mizuka Izu. Mizuka Izu used to be a good person, but for some reason, he transformed into an evil figure.

Then, I went alone to the Ruins of the Temple next to the village. Inside, I saw a young man with white hair accompanied by someone who looked like his sibling.

"Who are you?" The young man said, noticing my presence.

"Asha, Asha Novenia Rosella. What are you doing here?" I asked suspiciously.

The young man observed me for a moment before replying, "I'm Arufan. I came here to find out what happened to Mizuka Izu, my old friend."

Hearing the name Mizuka Izu again piqued my interest even more. I wanted to know the reasons behind his transformation and what could have driven him to use Enial's power for evil purposes.

"Do you know what happened to him? Why is he using Enial's power for the wrong reasons?" I inquired with curiosity.

Arufan sighed heavily. "Izu used to be a hero, renowned for using his Enial powers to protect people. However, one day he got involved in a fierce battle against a powerful Evil God. In that battle, his Enial powers became unstable and suffered significant damage."

"I tried to help Mizuka repair his Enial, but he refused. He felt devastated and lost hope. Then, one day, he vanished and reappeared as a dark Enial user. He started attacking villages and using his powers for malicious purposes."

Hearing Arufan's story made me feel sympathy for Mizuka Izu. It seemed that the damaged Enial powers had transformed him into a figure full of anger and despair.

"Arufan, I want to help. I want to try to understand and bring Mizuka back to the right path-" suddenly, my heart felt a pain as if it were stabbed by a thousand swords. Then, I fell to the ground unable to bear the pain.

"H-Hey?? What's wrong with you???" Arufan asked in surprise.

Then Lylia's voice echoed in my mind again, "Your Highness, you better leave this place immediately."

I tried to get up, despite the stabbing pain in my heart making it hard to breathe. I reached for my Enial with trembling hands, trying to gather the strength to fight the pain and face the emerging threat.

"Asha, what happened to you?" Arufan crouched beside me, concern evident on his face.

"L-Lylia... she..." I tried to answer while holding back the pain, "She warned me about the Evil God... I have to leave this place."

Arufan looked at me with deep concern. He could sense that something serious and dangerous was happening.

"I-I'm sorry, but I have to go." I said, trying to stand up while enduring the pain and looking for Mei.

Then, as I left the ruins, I didn't realize that the whole room became pitch black. However, during my journey, I eventually arrived in a brightly lit room, with the light leading to an Enial.

Then a voice appeared in my mind, "Come here, touch me, and use me."

Was this voice coming from the Enial? Can Enials speak?

I gazed at the brightly lit Enial in front of me, tempted by the mysterious call that resonated in my mind. There was something in me, an unstoppable curiosity.

Although my heart was pounding, I cautiously took a step forward. When my hand touched the surface of the Enial, a strange sensation immediately ran through my body. It felt like an electric current flowing through my fingers, causing my skin to tingle.

At that moment, the room around me grew darker. I felt like I was drowning in the darkness surrounding me, as if being pulled into a new dimension.

Shortly after, I felt my body being thrown into the air, and I fell into a deep darkness. I tried to find footing, but it was futile. I felt like I was sinking into an endless path of darkness.

In a state of panic, I tried to use my Enial to create light, but my powers seemed to be blocked. I felt trapped, desperate, and powerless in this darkness.

As I tried to gather myself and focus my thoughts, my connection with Lylia was unclear. It was as if something was hindering us from communicating with each other.

As I attempted to regain my senses and concentrate, my efforts only resulted in failure. I couldn't escape from this darkness alone. I felt isolated and weak, lamenting the inevitable fate.

I slowly lost my identity; my hair started turning black, my eyes turned red, my teeth sharpened, and my body was enveloped in a menacing dark aura. I sensed an evil presence around me and whispers filling my mind, provoking anxiety and fear.

Then, I heard that voice again. "Don't reject the darkness; accept it and become one with it."

Amidst my despair, a part of me still held on. There was a small strength still connected to the light within me. Although dimmed and overshadowed by darkness, a portion of my soul and spirit continued to struggle against the entwining darkness.

In this state of being trapped in darkness, I called upon the last remaining strength. I remembered my promises and my goals. I remembered who Asha truly was, a user of Enial who believed in goodness and balance.

With unwavering determination, I gathered the remnants of positive energy and attempted to ignite the light within my heart. I focused on the Enial power that had brought me to this place, and I strengthened my resolve to fight against the encroaching darkness.

Slowly but surely, a small light began to shine within the darkness. It was the light emanating from my true heart and soul. The Enial power now grew with greater intensity, radiating a bright aura that illuminated its surroundings.

Finally, with unyielding strength and perseverance, the light within me managed to break free from the clutches of darkness. The malevolent power that had possessed me was forced to retreat, and I felt like myself once again, although my appearance had not completely returned to normal; only my hair had turned back to white in part.

As the darkness subsided, I awakened in the real world. I was amidst the ruins, but this time, I knew who I truly was and what I had to do. I lifted my head from Mei's lap and saw her concerned face.

"Asha! Are you okay?" Mei asked with a trembling voice.

I gave Mei a weak smile, trying to instill courage and confidence in my gaze. "Yes, Mei, I'm okay."

"But your appearance... has changed. For now, let's return to Nex." Mei said, holding my hand.

I nodded in agreement with Mei. Although my appearance had changed, I felt stronger and more determined to fight the darkness threatening the world.

The two of us left the temple ruins and returned to Nex. The journey back was filled with worry and questions about what had just happened. I felt the need to seek answers and help to overcome the dark power that had possessed me.

Upon arriving in Nex, we immediately sought help from Enial experts and the strongest warriors. I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the dark Enial power and how to rid myself of this malevolent force.

In Nex, I met Mestreya, one of the experts researching Dark Enials, and I explained to him our journey and the recent experiences I had at the temple ruins. Mestreya listened attentively, displaying wisdom and extensive knowledge about Enials and their powers.

"So, it seems that both Izu and you have experienced damage to your Enial powers," Mestreya said gravely. "Such damage can have a significant impact on a person's mental and emotional state."

Then Mestreya handed me a pill-shaped medicine. "Take it three times a day; it will help calm you and redirect your thoughts." Mestreya continued, "You and Izu are the first cases of Enial damage in the world, so rest."

I accepted the pill given by Mestreya with hope. Although many questions remained unanswered, at least there was hope that this medicine could help reduce the lingering effects of darkness within me.

After expressing gratitude to Mestreya, Mei and I returned to our residence in Nex. I took the time to rest and recover after the tiring journey and intense experiences.

For the next few days, I regularly took the medicine provided by Mestreya. It felt like changes were slowly occurring within me. The dark thoughts and malevolent whispers that haunted me seemed to fade. I felt calmer and more able to focus on recovery and seeking answers.

While resting, I also continued my own research on Dark Enials. I delved into literature and sought information about the misuse of Enials and its effects on users. I hoped to find useful clues to overcome the lingering effects of the dark Enial power within me.

Time continued to pass, and gradually, I felt the dark power within me receding. The effects of Mestreya's medicine seemed to help in my gradual recovery.

Though my appearance had changed, and traces of darkness were still visible on my body, I felt more confident and assured that I could control this power.