Before Lilia could argue further, the air around them shifted.A soft golden light gathered behind her, and a warm voice spoke.
"You cannot linger here, child."
Lilia turned.Standing there was Esseria, Goddess of Light, radiant yet stern.Her eyes glowed as though she saw through every secret in the world.
"You must not meet Harold. His fate is already bound, and if you remain, calamity will follow."
Harold lowered his gaze.
"Mother…"
But before Esseria could take Lilia's hand, the air trembled—shadows surged, swallowing the light.
A man stepped forth, wreathed in darkness. His eyes gleamed like burning coals, his presence suffocating.
It was Velatus, the Shadow God.
"Esseria, always meddling in what does not concern you.""Velatus," Esseria's voice rang cold. "Return to your abyss.""You took something from me once, long ago," Velatus hissed, "and now you seek to take this child as well? How predictable."
Lilia's knees trembled under the crushing aura. She could barely breathe.Yet Harold stood protectively before her.
"Velatus! Don't harm her!""Calm yourself, boy. I have no need to kill her. Not yet."
Velatus's gaze fixed on the pendant hanging around Lilia's neck.With a flick of his hand, the chain broke, the jewel flying into his palm.
"At last… returned to its rightful owner."
Lilia gasped.
"That's mine! Give it back!"
But Velatus only smiled, a cruel curve of his lips.
"This trinket is not yours, child. It belongs to me. It was mine long before you were even born."
Esseria raised her hand, light flaring, but Velatus dissolved into the shadows, voice echoing as he vanished.
"One day, little flower, you will understand what you carry. And when that day comes… your choice will decide the fate of gods and mortals alike."
The forest fell silent again.Esseria sighed, looking at Lilia with an expression equal parts pity and warning.
"Child, you should not have come here."
Lilia clutched her empty chest, the absence of the pendant like a hole in her heart.Harold's fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles bled.
"Mother, please… don't erase her memory. Let her remember me."
Esseria hesitated, then turned away.
"It is better if she forgets."
But even as her divine light enveloped them, Lilia whispered fiercely—
"No matter what you take from me… I will find you again, Harold. I promise."
Darkness swallowed her vision, and the world collapsed into silence.