In Pune's Koregaon Park, the night draped Amar's apartment in shadows, the only light a faint glow from his golden eyes as he sat on a worn couch, the weight of his kills pressing heavy on his soul. The God of Darkness, scourge of the corrupt, protector of the weak, had ended Aryan Kapoor's tyranny in Satpura two months ago, shattering the Sound proxy's cube and freeing thousands of contracted souls. But each death—Kapoor, traffickers in Dhaka, tycoons in Mumbai—carved a deeper question: was he cleansing the world or becoming the evil he fought? His primordial, Darkness, had soothed him earlier, its voice warm like a friend's, affirming their unique bond where he could question or defy without fear, unlike the servitude other proxies endured. Yet the burden lingered, a quiet storm in his heart. A soft knock broke his reverie. Ria, his girlfriend and closest ally, stood at the door, her warm smile cutting through the gloom like a beacon. Months ago, Amar had urged her to start an NGO to help the weak, a dream born of his mission. She'd poured her heart into it, her love and loyalty unwavering since the contract he'd made with her, a bond of power and devotion that tied their fates together.
"Amar, you're carrying too much," Ria said, her voice gentle but firm as she stepped inside, her kurta catching the dim moonlight. She sat beside him, her presence grounding, her eyes searching his. "I know that look—your heart's heavy. Talk to me, Chaos King."
Amar's gaze softened, his voice low, raw with vulnerability. "Ria, I've killed—men like Kapoor, corrupt, cruel, enslaving thousands. Darkness says it's necessary, that I protect the weak, but each life… it's real, not just a state like it is to Darkness. I know other proxies are out there, serving their powers, but I don't know who they are, how they carry this weight. What if I'm losing myself, becoming the monster I hunt?"
Ria's hand found his, her touch warm, steady like a lighthouse in a storm. "You're not lost, Amar. I'm with you, all the way, whatever you choose. I love you for your heart, your fight. You're the God of Darkness, but you're my Amar, the man who dreams of a better world. Those kills—they stopped tyrants, saved lives. You're not a monster; you're their shield." She paused, her voice softening. "Come to Uplift tomorrow. See what you've inspired. It'll remind you why you fight."
Amar's eyes flickered, a faint nod breaking through his turmoil. "Tomorrow… I'd like that. Darkness told me to steel my heart, to end evil. But it's hard, Ria. Every death stays with me—Kapoor's face, the fear in his eyes. I don't know if I'm strong enough for this."
Ria's hand squeezed his, her voice fierce with love. "You are strong, Amar, because you feel this. Most would break under your power, but you carry it for others. Uplift—our dream—it's changing lives because of you. Sleep now, and tomorrow you'll see the good you've done." She leaned closer, her forehead touching his, a quiet promise in her touch. "I'm with you, always, through every shadow."
Amar leaned into her, the weight easing slightly, his shadows coiling gently around them like a protective veil. The contract bound them, but her love held him, a lifeline in the dark. He closed his eyes, Ria's warmth anchoring him, the promise of tomorrow stirring his purpose but not yet reigniting it. The night stretched on, shadows whispering of battles yet to come, while Ria stayed by his side, her presence a silent vow.