Eternum

After accepting the deal, Hal woke up in an unknown place, filled with shadows and a strange atmosphere. His armor, adorned with a large black cloak, was surrounded by a dark aura, infused with the powers of the dark lord. But he didn't care about that; he wanted to see his wife and tell her that he was alive.

However, he needed to find his bearings, and he couldn't let his wife see him in this terrifying armor and the imposing cloak that enveloped him.

There was a heavy rain in the kingdom, keeping people inside their comfortable abodes. However, it wasn't the same for the kingdom's outcasts, known as "The Plague of the Kingdom." Nobody cared about how they were here; there were only alcoholics, drug addicts, or people who wanted to disappear from society. It was in this place that a soldier of the dark lord was born, from the darkest depths of humanity emerged a new dark soldier who was unaware of being manipulated.

The gloomy weather didn't stop the reborn soldier from seeing his beloved wife again. It was almost dawn, and nobody was awake. He approached the house they had shared together and had created so many memories in. Before knocking, he removed his helmet, only to find that his face was no longer there. Instead, there was a faceless body with eyes of intense crimson and a mouth covered with threads. Whenever he tried to speak or open his mouth, it caused him pain. Despite being accustomed to pain, he managed to utter a single word, "Isabella," but his voice was terrifying.

How could his wife see him like this? He had become a monster, no longer a man, just a servant of evil. Raindrops fell on his decaying head, so he quickly put the helmet back on, even though he couldn't see his wife's face. He hoped that she would still see him as Hal, but it was still too early for his wife to wake up.

If Isabella were to see me like this, she would be afraid, and I don't want that for her. I was reborn solely to see her, but now, what's the point of this rebirth if I'm unrecognizable? Even if I were to stand in front of her and tell her that I was reborn, it would only frighten her, and that torment would haunt me for the rest of my life.

So, he waited for hours until the somber weather passed and the sun rose to welcome a new day. Just as Hal was about to touch the door, a beautiful woman emerged.

It was Isabella. She had long, silky hair, a golden color like sun rays, and her eyes were a crystal-clear shade of blue, always shining with tenderness. Her pale and smooth skin had a warm and radiant smile that made all of Hal's problems fade away, always bringing a smile to his face.

She was dressed in a white gown made of delicate and fine fabrics that flowed around her. The dress was adorned with silver details and pearls, evoking a sense of purity and elegance.

Hal was so captivated by Isabella that he hadn't noticed the little girl playing by her side. It took him a few minutes to realize her presence.

He was shocked to see the child, and many questions raced through his mind. How much time had passed? That was the main question. But that wasn't the worst part. Hal couldn't father children. A man emerged from the open door; Hal recognized him as his best friend until his death—Ethan Arcy. Ethan had dark hair with rebellious locks falling over his forehead, and his eyes were deep and piercing, a vivid shade of blue.

The two of them were playing with the little girl, laughing and having a good time. Why? Why couldn't I be happy too? Why am I condemned to be a spectator in a life that should be mine?

Now he was with his "wife," but had Isabella forgotten him? What purpose did it serve to come back to life, only to see his wife with someone else? What should he do now? He didn't want to live. Can I even be called Hal again with this appearance? Hal aimlessly took slow steps, which mysteriously led him to the place where he was reborn as a soldier of the dark lord. Seeing his wife was truly his only purpose, but he couldn't present himself to her like this. It would only fill her with fear. But now, he was a soldier of evil, a monster to others, including his family and, most importantly, his beloved wife. I will be rejected by society and hunted down if I'm discovered—homeless, loveless, with nothing...

What should I do? he asked himself, sitting among the trash on the streets.