As they approached, a lone figure sat atop a jagged rock, gazing into the distance. It was Raven.
Jupiter froze, his heart racing. "It's you…" he whispered, shock evident in his voice.
Raven slowly turned to face them, his expression unreadable. "It's been a while," he said, his voice flat, void of emotion.
Soren stood still, feeling the tension crackling in the air. His eyes flicked to Jupiter, who was paralyzed by the sight of his old friend. The weight of past mistakes hung heavy between them.
Jupiter finally found his voice. "What happened to you?"
Raven's jaw tightened. He turned away slightly, as if to shield his emotions. When he spoke again, his voice was ice. "You don't deserve to know." Then, with a bitter edge to his voice, he added, "You haven't changed at all. Still the same fool who destroyed everything."
Soren, sensing this was not a fight he should interfere in, kept his distance. Jupiter's voice trembled with guilt. "I didn't mean for any of it to happen, Raven…"
Raven turned his back on Jupiter, as though the very sight of him disgusted him. The pain in his voice was unmistakable, his anger burning just beneath the surface. "You don't get to make this about you," Raven spat, his tone dripping with malice. "You think you suffered? You think you lost something?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "I lost everything because of you."
Jupiter took a shaky step forward. "Raven, I-"
"Stop talking to me." Raven snapped, his tone sharp, cutting through Jupiter's attempt at reconciliation. "Every time I see you, all I feel is regret. If I hadn't met you, if I hadn't trusted you... maybe I wouldn't have lost everything." His voice trailed off, filled with a deep, seething anger.
Soren noticed the way Raven avoided looking at Jupiter directly, his body language closed off, defensive. He didn't want to be near him. Didn't want to hear him. Raven was more than just angry-he was trying to erase any connection they once had.
Raven's anger suddenly dissipated, replaced by a chilling calm that felt even more dangerous. "He raised me to be strong. To ensure that no one ever hurts her again." His voice was eerily controlled, the rage lurking beneath barely contained. "But you? You were supposed to be the hero. And you failed."
Jupiter asked, "Who is he?"
Raven replied coldly, "Who are you to think I owe you an answer?"
Jupiter opened his mouth to respond, but Raven had already turned his attention elsewhere, as though he were tired of this conversation. "You're here for Aurelia's hero, aren't you?"
Raven's sudden shift in demeanor was jarring. Just moments ago, he had been seething with rage, and now he acted as if it didn't matter at all. He rose from his seat with a calculated grace, his dark cloak swirling behind him. "Follow me," he said, his voice indifferent.
Jupiter and Soren exchanged confused glances. The sudden calmness in Raven was unsettling. Just moments ago, he had been seething with rage, and now he acted like nothing had happened. Jupiter was about to follow, but Soren grabbed his arm, hesitating.
Raven looked back over his shoulder and said, "Don't worry. There's no catch." His voice was smooth, disarming. Jupiter glanced at Soren, who nodded, though his eyes were wary. They followed Raven toward a gate carved into the mountain.
Raven opened the gate, but the moment they stepped through, he vanished into thin air. Jupiter and Soren were left stunned, but they pressed on into the dark passageway. They found themselves in a long hallway lined with armored statues, their visors frozen in place, giving the air a strange chill.
As they walked, the gate behind them slammed shut with a loud bang. Jupiter broke the silence with his usual humor. "I really hope it's not another ghost."
Soren sighed but remained on alert. At the end of the hallway, they encountered a group of elves standing guard. They didn't attack, but something felt off. Before Jupiter could speak, a voice echoed through the air.
"Let them enter."
It was Raven.
The doors at the far end of the hall swung open, revealing an expansive throne room. As they stepped inside, their eyes were drawn to the imposing figure sitting on a grand chair. Raven sat on the throne, draped in a black cloak that shimmered like raven feathers, a crown of the same dark material perched on his brow.
In his hand, he held a lance—dark, yet vibrant with power. Dark purple energy crackled along its length, the runes etched into its surface glowing ominously. The weapon hummed with latent magic, alive with an ancient force. It was both beautiful and dangerous, a weapon fit for a king.
Jupiter stepped forward cautiously. "Raven? What is all this?"
Raven's expression remained impassive as he answered. "This? This is my empire, Vaengard. I am its sovereign, the master of this realm."
Jupiter's eyes widened as realization struck him. "Elara! Where is she?!" he shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.
Raven's gaze was cold, raven remained silent, his expression unreadable, refusing to offer any answer.
Jupiter's fists clenched in anger. "What did you do to her?!"
Before the tension could escalate further, the heavy door to the throne room creaked open. Two elves entered, their faces as expressionless as the statues they passed earlier. They carried a figure between them, a knight clad in battle-worn armor.
The elves stepped forward, lowering the knight to the ground. As Jupiter and Soren's eyes fell upon the figure, they noticed the mark on his armor—the crest of Aurelia.
Raven smirked, his cold demeanor unshaken. "It seems Aurelia's hero has arrived." He gazed down at the fallen knight, his voice dripping with cold satisfaction. "Zealand."
To be continued…