The ground had slipped away beneath his feet, and around Aarya, only one thing remained—a cold, grey void, where only one reflection appeared. In front of him stood himself… but no, it wasn’t really him. The face was the same, but the eyes glowed red, the color of the Granthnishaan deep crimson. A version that had either once been hidden… or once suppressed.
“You’ve come back?” the reflection said, lips curving with a faint smile. “I’m the part of you that never fears… that only breaks.”
Aarya narrowed his eyes slightly. “You’re not my reflection… you’re my fear.”
“Wrong,” the dark Aarya said, stepping forward. “I’m your truth. You became a Rakshak, but you were never human. Every time you showed control… inside, you were just becoming a bomb.”
Aarya’s hand tightened around his blade’s
