Riven fell to his knees.
His breath was gone, as if heavy chains were wrapped around his chest.
"Damn it… my head is spinning," he hissed through clenched teeth.
All three of his eyes flared at once — red, black, and violet lights clashing violently.
"These three eyes… they're draining too much energy…"
He took one more step, but his legs gave way. He collapsed, his head striking the stone floor.
"Riven!" Elya rushed to his side, her hands trembling. "Hey, can you hear me?"
No answer. Riven's body lay still.
Darel knelt down, instantly realizing the gravity of the situation.
"We need to get him back to the village. He won't last long."
Elya nodded, eyes glistening.
"Please… save him."
Without hesitation, Darel lifted Riven onto his back.
"Hold on, kid… just a bit longer."
The wind howled. The sky turned gray. The trees along the path seemed to be watching them.
With every step, Riven's breathing weakened, the veins under his eyes darkening to black.
---
Riven's consciousness slipped away.
He opened his eyes to a void of darkness.
No ground. No sky.
Only a gray mist.
A voice echoed through the emptiness:
> "Running again, are you…?"
Riven turned — no one was there.
The voice came again, closer this time:
> "You called to me, Riven.
But now you fear me.
How very human of you…"
Riven clenched his fists.
"Shut up. I never asked for your power."
> "Didn't you?"
"Then tell me — where do you think those eyes came from?"
All three of Riven's eyes began to burn.
From the mist, figures appeared: Elya… Darel… his mother, Elira.
All of them turned their backs on him.
> "Your fate is not theirs.
You are the echo of a demon."
Riven screamed. "You're lying!"
But the voice only laughed — a sound that split the void.
> "A lie? Then why do I awaken every time you fall?"
---
Outside – The Forest Path
Elya gasped for air as she ran.
Darel carried Riven's limp body without slowing his pace.
The lights of the village were finally in sight — when the wind suddenly died.
The birds fell silent.
Darel stopped.
"Hand on your blade, Elya," he whispered. "Something's here."
From the depths of the forest came a low hum.
A dark figure stepped forward — Corven.
His face was shrouded in shadow, his eyes glowing an eerie blue.
"So I wasn't wrong after all," he said, his voice like ice.
"The energy reaches even here. That boy… Riven… hand him over."
Elya stepped forward.
"Never."
Darel carefully set Riven down and drew his sword.
"What do you want from him, Corven?"
"What's awakening inside him.
He's no child of gods… but of the demon."
Elya shouted, fury in her voice. "You're insane! Riven belongs to no one!"
Corven tilted his head slightly.
"Does he now?"
The air around him darkened. From his shadow rose three armored wraiths.
Darel's jaw tightened.
"Elya, stay with Riven. I'll handle this."
Elya hesitated, then knelt beside Riven, placing her hands over his chest.
"Don't leave us… please come back."
Riven's eyelids fluttered.
---
Riven's Dream — The Demon's Voice Grows Stronger
> "Do you hear them?
They're calling your name.
But their voices can't reach you."
Riven dropped to his knees, clutching his head.
"Enough… I'll silence you!"
> "You can't. Because I am you."
Riven screamed, darkness bursting from his eyes.
The void cracked — like glass shattering under pressure.
---
Outside – At the Same Moment
Elya was thrown backward, black smoke curling from her fingertips.
"What… what's happening?"
Riven's body trembled, the ground beneath him cracking apart.
His eyes snapped open — the third one had turned completely black.
Darel and Corven both stepped back.
"This energy…" Darel whispered, eyes wide.
"The demon is awakening."
Corven smirked.
"Exactly as I hoped."
But something went wrong. Riven suddenly stood, breath steaming from his mouth.
He spoke a single word — one that echoed in all their minds:
> "Enough…"
The ground split open. One eye went dark, another wept, the last one blazed with light.
Corven staggered back.
"This… this can't be!"
Riven lifted his head, crimson eyes piercing through the darkness.
"I… belong to no one."
And light exploded.
---
Silence.
When Elya opened her eyes, Corven's body lay on the ground.
The darkness was fading. The wind began to blow again.
Riven knelt, breathing weakly, pale as ash.
Darel approached him.
"He's alive…" he said, exhaling deeply.
"Barely, but alive."
Elya whispered, her voice trembling:
"What about… that voice inside him?"
Riven slowly lifted his head.
"It hasn't gone quiet yet…" he murmured.
"Not yet."
---