Alaric’s POV:
The hallway falls silent around me, a cold emptiness pressing in from all sides. Even with the phantom of Nyxia gone, I can feel her, hear her voice echoing in my mind. I grip the key tighter, letting the coolness of the metal ground me. This isn’t the time to lose myself in emotions or memories. There’s one last chance to set things right, and it’s waiting just beyond that door.
Steeling myself, I make my way to the far end of the corridor, where the shadows stretch darker than the rest. My body protests with every step, pain twisting through my abdomen as if reminding me of the limited time I have. What good is power, I think bitterly, if it’s spent out here, dying alone with unanswered questions?
I stop before the heavy door that was locked with a finger pad lock, the o
