History

"When exactly did we make this pact?" He asked Ygannea, his voice echoing through the ethereal space.

"It was at the time of the Great War, when the gods and the dark beings battled for dominion over the mortal realm," she replied, her eyes seeming to gaze into the depths of his soul. "You were but a mere mortal, seeking power to protect your loved ones. In your desperation, you called upon the gods, and I... I heard you."

„The great war? Is she talking about the war that took place in the Forsaken Empire? Hmm... I called upon the gods and got an answer from her... How does that fit together? Can I even trust her?" Aldwyn's mind was racing as he tried to piece together the fragments of his shattered past.

"You said the gods fought against dark beings in this war... Do you mean demons like you?" He asked.

Ygannea nodded, "Indeed. But the lines between gods and demons are not as clear as mortals would like to believe."

She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with an ancient knowledge. "The Gods and all dark beings born from the decay of the Primeval," she said, her voice a hushed whisper. "It was an entity of such power, such vastness, that it could not be contained in a single form. As it perished, it split into countless fragments—the gods, the demons, the very essence of existence itself. We are all just echoes of its former self, seeking to claim a piece of its power in our endless dance of creation and destruction."

"That's why gods and demons are not very far apart, as mortals assume. In principle, we all come from one entity, just from a separate part of it."

Aldwyn tried to digest her words, but they were like a thick stew that refused to be fully enjoyed. He felt the weight of millennia of history and struggle within his chest.

„That's insane... The history of humans is incomplete in this aspect, at least I haven't read anything about it. We all come from an ancient entity... Could this be an outer god who came to earth and created life?"

"What do you know about the Outer Gods?" he asked Ygannea, his voice a mix of skepticism and intrigue.

Her smile grew, a knowing twinkle in her crimson eyes. "They are beings that exist beyond our sight and understanding. Surely you want to know if this ancient entity was an outer god, right?" She paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that, no one really knows what they are, not even your gods."

"But it's a fact that they exist, that's clear. But I don't know what their purpose is... The only thing I do know is, that your gods are under their control and the source of their power came from this ancient entity." She added.

"Do you know what the creature that came out of the moon was?" Aldwyn's voice was urgent, the memory of the horror he had faced in Helgarde still fresh in his mind.

Ygannea's expression grew serious, "No. I can't perceive or influence the outside world. That's why I don't know what this creature exactly was. The only thing I can tell you for sure is, that it was very powerful and very evil."

„Too bad... I would like to have found out what the hell that creature was." He thought.

With a deep breath, he turned his gaze to the left, where a dark sign stood, etched into the very fabric of the realm. The sign was a twisted emblem of a serpent devouring its own tail, surrounded by a halo of shadowy whispers. It was a symbol of eternity and the cycle of life and death.

"What is that?" He pointed to the disturbing emblem.

Ygannea's gaze followed his finger, and her expression grew grim. "That is Ouroboros, the symbol of our pact, Aldwyn. It signifies the eternal cycle of your rebirth and the bond between us. It is through this symbol that I am bound to you."

As Aldwyn looked at the twisted emblem, another symbol began to manifest beside it. This one was grimmer, a dark skull, which seemed to pulse with an unholy aura. It was a stark contrast to the serene beauty of the room, a blotch of malevolence amidst the divine.

Ygannea noticed his gaze and spoke, "That is the symbol of your pact with the god of death. The path you walk is that of the Assassin, a silent specter who wields power beyond mortal understanding. This covenant has granted you the abilities of his Pathway."

„I understand... I've always wondered how exactly the transfer of the abilities works, but that makes sense. After all, his power is engraved directly into my soul, so it explains the awakening of certain abilities." He thought to himself.

"Before you came, there was another one here that I didn't recognize. It had the shape of a sword that glowed golden." She added.

Aldwyn looked at her with a blank expression, "That had to be the pact with Master Sewell. Now that it's no longer here, that means he died..."

Before the conversation could continue, a peculiar sensation washed over Aldwyn—a heartbeat. It resonated through every fiber of his being, a pulsating rhythm that seemed to synchronize with the very fabric of the realm. The throb grew stronger with each passing moment, until he could almost feel the walls of the chamber quiver in time with it.

[Thump] [Thump] [Thump] [Thump]

Ygannea noticed his discomfort and spoke in a soothing tone, "This is your heart's echo. That means you can go back! Whoever was responsible for this was successful, you survived."

Aldwyn's eyes widened, "But I still have questions to ask you, what about the Duskbringer, why is it here?"

Before she could answer, dark tentacles snaked around Aldwyn and pulled him away. He felt himself being ripped from the chamber of light, the serene music fading as he was dragged into the cold embrace of shadow. The tentacles were as thick as tree trunks and as black as the void, each one covered in a slimy, viscous substance that sent a shiver down his spine.

Ygannea remained alone in his soul. "What a pity, I really enjoyed our conversation. You never talked with me that much..."

....

Aldwyn woke with a start, his eyes snapping open to reveal the vast, starry expanse above him. The cold, hard ground of the carriage floor met his cheek, and the jostling motion of the vehicle slowly brought him to full consciousness. His body felt heavy, as if the very fabric of reality had been weighing him down during his brief sojourn in the realm of light.

But he was too weak and immediately fainted again.