That night The room of Ariane was dimly lit.
The curtains were drawn.
The candles extinguished.
Only the faint glow of a tall mirror, framed in ancient silver, illuminated Princess Ariane's face.
Her fingers were tense against the edge of the vanity.
Her expression… was not the elegant serenity she showed the kingdom.
It was restrained fury.
—Six months…? —she whispered through clenched teeth. —Six months and he still breathes?
Her reflection in the mirror seemed to look back at her in mockery.
Raz.
That smiling boy.
That mediocre "hero" who should not exist.
He should already be dead.
He should already have been delivered.
He should already have become her ultimate weapon.
But he was still there.
Training.
Gaining respect.
Surviving.
And that… was not part of the plan.
Flashback —
It all began months earlier.
Long before the kingdom believed in a war.
Long before heroes were summoned.
One night, Ariane walked alone through the ancient corridors of the castle.
It was no accident.
She had found a forbidden book in the sealed library.
A book that spoke of pacts.
Of souls.
Of a name that should not be spoken in times of peace.
The Abyss King.
She was not afraid.
She had never been afraid.
If all races coexisted under weak treaties and fragile agreements…
That was not power.
That was balance.
And balance was… boring.
She found the mirror in a forgotten chamber beneath the catacombs.
Dust.
Old, dried blood.
Runes carved into the floor.
Ariadna did not hesitate.
She cut the palm of her hand.
Let her blood fall onto the runes.
The mirror trembled.
Its surface turned black as ink.
And then… he appeared.
A throne made of bones.
An endless abyss behind it.
And a figure seated with absolute calm.
The Abyss King.
He was not monstrous.
He was elegant.
Too elegant.
—Human princess —he said in a deep, almost amused voice—. Have you come to play?
Ariane was shock but did not bow her head. She knew he was and is the lord and king of the abyss. So, with a quick thinking said:
—I've come to negotiate.
He liked that. And said.
— Do you know who am I?
She said "Yes!" With a straight face.
So he smile and said with a deep voice.
—Speak.
She stepped closer to the mirror.
—I want military strength. Real strength. No treaties. No alliances. I want an army that answers only to my will.
The Abyss King rested his chin on his fingers.
—And in exchange…
—Souls.
Silence.
The Abyss itself seemed to breathe.
—Whose?
She smiled.
—Those who can be replaced.
Soldiers.
Criminals.
Isolated villages.
The false war was her idea.
A nonexistent war against the Abyss.
That would justify casualties.
Troop movements.
Disappearances.
The Abyss King inclined his head slightly.
—I can turn souls into monsters. Minotaurs. Undead. Dragons. Whatever you desire.
—I want a Lich.
This time, the silence was heavier.
—A Lich requires an exceptionally strong soul —he replied—. A heroic soul. Pure. Potent.
—You will have it.
That was when they sealed the pact.
Gold.
Souls.
And when the time came…
The soul of a hero.
The next morning, Ariane entered the throne room looking pale.
Perfectly rehearsed.
—Father… Mother… —her voice trembled just enough—. I've received news.
The king rose in concern.
—What is it?
She took a steady breath.
—The Abyss King is mobilizing forces. Spies in the north confirmed it.
A lie.
The queen placed a hand over her chest.
—War…?
—Not officially —Ariane replied—. But… they are preparing.
The king clenched his fists.
—Then we will prepare as well.
Summoning heroes was the obvious solution.
Reinforcements.
Symbols.
Hope.
And so Raz, Susan, and Lili arrived.
Ariane watched them from the balcony as they entered the kingdom.
She did not care about the girls.
But when she saw Raz…
She felt something.
Not admiration.
Evaluation.
That was the soul she needed.
Back to the Present
Ariane struck the vanity with her fist.
—Eron failed.
The centaur did not finish the job.
The dangerous missions did not kill him.
And with every passing day…
Raz grew stronger.
More visible.
More difficult to eliminate without raising suspicion.
She walked to the mirror.
Its surface darkened again.
The Abyss King appeared.
—You seem tense —he remarked calmly.—He still lives.
—I know. She said.
—I need his soul.
—And I need you to fulfill your end.
Ariane closed her eyes for a second.
—I will have it.
The Abyss King smiled faintly.
—Remember, princess… the Lich you desire will be your greatest weapon. Level five. Absolute magic. Partial immortality. But I cannot create it without that heroic core.
She opened her eyes.
They shone with pure ambition.
—When I have it… no kingdom will be able to oppose me.
—Not even mine —the Abyss King added softly. — And I hope you don't forget who supported you.
She did not respond.
But inwardly, she thought:
Yes.
Not even you.
The image in the mirror faded.
Ariane was alone again.
She stepped toward the window.
Below, in the moonlit courtyard, she saw a silhouette briefly crossing beneath the silver light.
Raz.
Walking with that carefree smile.
Unaware.
—Enjoy it while you can… —she whispered.
Because for her new world to be born…
The hero had to die.