the inevitable end

Season 1: The mysterious portal

He woke up and put on his armor as usual, leaving Lilith still asleep. He went down to the tavern to meet Dark and ordered breakfast. The tavern's atmosphere was warm and inviting, filled with the smell of fresh bread and roasted meats. Dark was already there, busy with his morning routine, ensuring everything was in order. Light sat in their usual spot, the wooden chairs creaking lightly under the weight of his armor. The two men exchanged a nod, a silent acknowledgment of the strong bond of friendship forged through mutual trust.

They ate their meal together in comfortable silence, enjoying the delicious breakfast. Light savored the simple moment of peace, a rare slice of normality in their chaotic lives. Then Light began to speak: "Dark, I need some magic books and a crystal to measure my magical power. Now with Lilith's appearance, we must fight to protect her. I also need some enhancement stones to improve my physical strength."

Dark looked at him, mumbling with his mouth full of food, and said: "I understand your need for the stones since you fight with two swords, but what will you do with magic? Most humans spend their lives trying to reach the pinnacle of one field, either magic, which requires resources and intensive study, or they choose the path of swordsmanship, where they need to hone their bodies and exceed their endurance limits. This is the path you have chosen, and humans spend hundreds of years to reach the peak of what they can achieve and often don't reach the end of the path. Those who do are rare, and they devote their lives to it. Also, humans are born weak with no power except for a few lucky ones. If you compare the strongest humans to some newly born creatures, you will find that these creatures can annihilate our race. The only reason we haven't gone extinct is because of..."

He paused, changing the subject: "Know your limits, Light. You've chosen a path, and you can't turn back now. Changing your field now will only delay your progress with the sword."

Light replied: "Hmm, I didn't expect it to be this difficult. It seems harder than I thought. But I want to ask, has anyone reached the end of both paths together?"

Dark smiled slyly and said: "One madman did it since humans first appeared, but he suddenly disappeared after uniting the entire continent. With his disappearance, wars broke out among humans, which dismantled the unity of the empire once called the Great Empire."

Light said: "So, someone has shattered the conventional concept. I can follow in his footsteps too."

Dark looked at him with disdain: "Talking to you is like talking to a rock. The so-called end of the path is just the beginning."

The waiter Dark got up and collected the dishes.

Light asked: "How so? I don't understand what you mean."

Dark answered: "It's not time for you to know yet."

Light said: "So, will you prepare the things I asked for?"

Dark replied while washing the dishes: "Hmm, wait until the evening. I'll take you to a place where you can find what you need."

They were interrupted by the sound of something falling from the stairs. They exchanged worried glances. Dark said: "Damn, it looks like that fool fell."

They headed together to the stairs, moving quickly. Dark said: "Damn, what is this madness? When did you learn to fly?"

Dark looked at Light, who seemed to be rubbing his eyes, apparently not believing what he saw.

Lilith looked at them, her face filled with pride, and said: "Look at me, Daddy and Uncle, Lilith has become a bird."

Dark said: "I think you mean a lizard. Didn't you look at your tail and bat wings behind you?"

Lilith landed and hid behind Light, saying: "Uncle, just look at your face. Which girl would ever marry you? You're just jealous."

Dark said: "It looks like today's menu will include lizard meat."

Lilith said: "I haven't seen any customers since I came here. Your only client, Uncle, is my dad. Haha."

Dark replied: "Now I'm going to kill you. Ever since you grew up, there have been no hunters in this area because your repulsive aura drives away the monsters. You can't even control yourself, you bringer of bad luck."

She answered proudly: "What's bad about that? Doesn't it mean I'm strong and..."

Light grabbed her, stopping her from finishing her sentence. He looked at her angrily, making her realize her mistake. Tears filled her eyes, then she turned to Dark and said: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Dark patted her head and told her: "I've prepared your meal; it's on the table."

Lilith went to the table and started eating, relinquishing her previous boldness.

Dark said to Light: "It seems she is right. I might have to close for a while. Do you want to go with me to a beautiful place for a walk? You might find what you need there."

Light looked at Lilith, considering her safety, then agreed.

In the evening, the tavern closed its doors. Dark, with Lilith and Light beside him, held a key and began reciting magical incantations. Light watched with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. The air around them shimmered with energy as Dark's incantations grew stronger and more intense.

Light thought to himself: "As I expected, he's powerful and strange. But it doesn't matter, he's not the only one with secrets. At least he's a good man, even if he doesn't admit it."

A voice in Light's mind, presumably from a parasite, said: "You made a mistake by saying 'human.' You should have said 'being.'"

Our hero responded, talking to the parasite in his head: "What do you mean?"

The parasite's voice answered: "At least you were honest about him being kind to you. As for the rest, it's not time for you to know what it is. The knowledge I gained before acquiring consciousness, if I pass it to you now, might drive you mad and end your life. Anyway, I came to tell you to make the most of this trip."

Thus, the parasite finished its words and disappeared, leaving our hero in confusion. His thoughts were interrupted by a portal that appeared out of nowhere, a swirling vortex reminiscent of the prison gate.

Dark said: "Please, don't be shy."

Light joked, trying to mask his tension: "You hide a lot."

Dark replied: "Everyone has their secrets, and every secret will be revealed at the right time."

Light and Lilith entered, followed by Dark. The air inside the portal was dense and disorienting, a palpable sense of mystery enveloping them.

In the end, we hear Light's voice holding the frightened Lilith's hand, saying to Dark: "What the hell is this, you madman?" His voice echoed in the vast emptiness, filled with a mix of awe and frustration at the unknown.

The portal closed behind them, sealing their fate and marking the beginning of a new chapter in their journey. The path ahead was shrouded in mystery and challenges, but Light knew that with Lilith and Dark by his side, they could face whatever awaited them. The journey had just begun, and the secrets of their world awaited to be unveiled, step by step.

[to becontinued]