Darkness enveloped him, like a shroud cast over his entire being.
He felt himself being consumed by an intense, crushing weight. The darkness seemed to have a life of its own, suffocating him, making it hard to breathe.
When he finally emerged from the water, gasping for air, Marl found himself in a familiar chamber. The room was scorched, with burn marks etched into the walls. And there, in the center of the room, lay the cracked, lifeless body of his "heart demon" - the cruel sun.
He thought it was just his imagination but he did kill a Defiled Blight, In the enlightened world there were ranks of power for both enlightened and the defiled each have five ranks which are known publicly and the gap between each grows larger between ranks as you go higher, a blight was something considered a natural disaster as it is the highest known rank but he somehow defeated it, he tried telling others but the called him crazy and a liar, he also thought he was crazy but as he looked at the scorched and melted surrounding.
Marl flinched, memories of his previous encounter scarring his mind.
Reliving the experience of being burnt alive wasn't something he wanted to revisit. Last time, he had faced the miniature, sentient sun, its fiery wrath too much to bear.
With no powers to aid him Marl wanted to complain to the gods but he remembered their current condition, Marl had struggled to survive the intense heat and flames even if it lasted for a few seconds.
The memory of the sun's burning rays still lingered, a painful reminder of the trial he had endured. And now, seeing the sun's lifeless body, Marl couldn't help but wonder what this meant for him. as it symbolised his mortal shackle but he didn't feel any different and the priestess said he hadn't was he missing something
Marl's eyes remained fixed on the lifeless body of the sun, his mind reeling with questions and doubts. Did he truly defeat his heart demon, or was this just a manifestation of something else? The memories of the trial still lingered, the pain and fear etched into his psyche.
He thought back to the weeks he spent trying to uncover the identity of his heart demon, pouring over clues and hints scattered throughout the trial. The realization that his heart demon was the cruel sun had come as a shock, and Marl had felt like his world had been turned upside down.
But now, seeing the sun's lifeless body, Marl couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
As he stood there, lost in thought, Marl's vision began to blur, and he felt himself being pulled back into reality. He swayed, his legs weakening, and suddenly, everything went black.
Marl emerged from the water, gasping for air, and met the High Priestess's gaze. Her eyes seemed to bore into his soul, and Marl sensed a hint of disappointment, or perhaps even annoyance, in her expression. "You sure like to take your time, just like last time," she said, her voice dripping with a subtle disdain.
Marl's eyes locked onto hers, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did I enlighten?"
The High Priestess's expression shifted, a small smile playing on her lips. "No, you didn't," she said, her voice devoid of surprise or disappointment. "Next."
The word hung in the air,
A murmuration of whispers rippled through the crowd as Marl emerged from the water, gasping for air. Some onlookers shook their heads, while others leaned in, intrigued.
"Unbelievable," someone whispered. "with all that commotion when he entered the pool it was even greater than Lady Rin, I was expecting something from the guy.
"I don't know, maybe he's just really struggling with his inner demons," another spectator replied, eyes fixed on Marl.
The High Priestess's verdict was met with a collective murmur. "No enlightenment? What a disappointment," a voice in the crowd lamented.
As the crowd continued to speculate, Marl's gaze remained fixed on the High Priestess, his expression devastated
Marl stumbled out of the temple, the dim city light a harsh contrast to the darkness that had enveloped him moments before. The cool air hit him like a slap, and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze from his eyes. The city streets seemed to stretch out before him like a dull, gray canvas, the sounds of the city muffled and distant. The smell of wet stone and damp earth filled his nostrils, and Marl felt a shiver run down his spine.
As he walked, the city lights casting long shadows behind him, Marl's thoughts turned to Ginemone Tower. The tower's sleek, modern design seemed like a refuge from the darkness that lurked within him. He often escaped to its heights, where the air was crisp and the view was breathtaking. But now, even the thought of the tower's familiar comfort seemed distant, unreachable.
Marl's gaze drifted out over the city, and he felt disconnected, like he was watching everything from behind a pane of glass. The people moving through the streets seemed like tiny, insignificant specks, their lives a mystery to him. His dreams, once so real and vibrant, now seemed fragile, fleeting. He looked up at the fractured moon, its light casting an eerie glow over the city. A shooting star streaked across the sky, and Marl's heart ached. He whispered, his voice barely audible, "I wish I never even dreamed."
The words seemed to hang in the air, and Marl felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He closed his eyes, letting the city's sounds wash over him – the distant hum of cars, the chatter of pedestrians, the wail of a siren in the distance. But when he opened them again, everything changed.
A pale blue star, massive and imposing, hovered in front of him. Its black beady eye seemed to bore into Marl's very soul, and he felt a chill run down his spine. The air around him seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy, and Marl's skin prickled with goosebumps.
Marl rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things. But the star remained, its gaze fixed on him. Fear kicked in, and Marl tried to run. His legs felt like lead, and his heart pounded in his chest. The star charged, its speed terrifying. Marl's world went white, and everything went dark.
The last thing Marl heard was the sound of his own scream, echoing through the city streets. It was a raw, primal sound, full of fear and desperation. Then, there was nothing.
The city lights continued to shine, casting their glow over the empty streets. The star vanished as suddenly as it appeared, leaving behind only the faintest whisper of its presence. Marl lay motionless, his body crumpled on the ground. The city's sounds slowly returned, a gentle hum of activity that seemed to swallow him whole.