Elise's room lay wrapped in an odd, almost solemn silence. Daniel closed the door behind him with a slow, theatrical motion, as if the mere click of wood might rouse some enemy lurking in the shadows. Then, with a cautious gesture, he turned the key and checked three times that the lock was secure.
— "You never know… with elves, they always have ears everywhere," he muttered, weariness and suspicion in his voice.
He proceeded to make a circuit of the room like a clumsy secret agent. He lifted the bedcover, inspected beneath the mattress, even opened the wardrobe to check whether Elise might have hidden herself there. Of course, he found only neatly folded dresses and a faint scent of dried flowers.
Finally, to crown his paranoia, he approached the curtains and threw them aside as if expecting to find a spy dangling on the balcony. He found nothing but the night: quiet, lit by the bluish glow of mana-lanterns floating above the street.
— "Okay… I think we're alone."
His heart pounded. Since the beginning of his journey, he had always felt that presence within him: Lysandra, the goddess sealed inside his body. But this was the first time he would dare to summon her in the open, face to face.
Daniel placed a trembling hand on his chest. The runic symbols embedded in his skin glowed softly, forming a network of silver lines that pulsed in time with his heartbeat. A strange warmth spread, like a breeze caressing the inside of his being.
The air vibrated. The floor hummed faintly. Then, as if a veil were tearing, a translucent figure appeared before him.
Lysandra.
Silver hair that seemed to float in unseen water; a gaze so deep blue it felt like drowning. Her silhouette, elegant and lithe, exuded a divine aura tempered by a haunting gravity. She was beautiful, yes, but of a beauty that recalled both celestial light and abyssal shadow.
Daniel swallowed hard.
— "Well… this is awkward. I don't often invite women to my room… and even less often a millennia-old goddess trapped in my body."
A faint ironic smile brushed Lysandra's lips.
— "Always hiding your fear behind jokes. Typical."
He grimaced and rubbed his neck.
— "Yeah, well… it seems to work half the time, apparently."
They stood staring at each other for a few seconds. Then Daniel drew a deep breath, as if gathering courage to break the tension.
— "I need to know, Lysandra. What happened a thousand years ago. The elves don't talk about it, the humans don't talk about it, no one talks about it. But you were there. Tell me."
The goddess lowered her eyes slightly; a shadow passed over her face.
— "You dare ask the forbidden questions… Daniel, Daniel… You have no idea the weight those memories carry. Some secrets should never be revealed."
He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
— "Too late. You've already piqued my curiosity. Now, if you tell me nothing, I'll spend my life inventing absurd theories. And believe me, my theories are worse than the truth."
Lysandra sighed, like a tired mother faced with a stubborn child.
— "Very well. But promise me you won't repeat everything. If some learn these truths, they will hunt you."
Daniel raised his right hand as if swearing an oath.
— "I solemnly swear to be an irresponsible pupil and not to repeat anything except when it might save my life."
She rolled her eyes, exasperated, but ultimately relented.
---
The Revelation
The room dimmed, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. Lysandra's voice took on a deeper, almost incantatory tone.
— "A thousand years ago, the races did not live in the precarious balance you see today. Humans, elves, beast-folk, demons, vampires, lamias… they all shared the same lands. But proximity bred more hatred than harmony.
— The elves considered themselves guides, superior in wisdom. The beast-folk believed themselves stronger, closer to the wild. Humans, numerous, were scorned as an inferior race. Vampires and demons inspired fear and suspicion.
— Tensions rose and rose until a single spark set everything ablaze."
Daniel's eyes widened.
— "A racial war…"
— "More than a war, Daniel. A cataclysm. The gods themselves intervened. Some sheltered their chosen children; others manipulated mortals to broaden their influence. Fields were set aflame, oceans ran red. Oaths were broken, kingdoms were erased.
— And I… I chose to remain. I refused to take sides. I believed the role of a goddess was to preserve balance. But that choice condemned me."
Her voice trembled for an instant, despite its divine timbre.
Daniel frowned, clenching his fists.
— "Is that why you were sealed?"
She nodded.
— "The High Authorities—the entities charged with maintaining the world—judged my neutrality a betrayal. So they imprisoned me, trapped me within a mortal body… yours."
Daniel stood dumbfounded. He had always felt his connection to Lysandra was special, but not to this extent.
— "Great. I'm literally a walking prison. That explains why I attract so much trouble."
An ironic smile flickered across the goddess's face.
— "You are not only a prison, Daniel. You are also a key. But know this: if people learn you harbor a deity, you will become prey to every race."
---
Daniel's Reactions
He took a step back, rubbing his face.
— "Okay, let's sum up. The races hated each other, a war broke out, the gods got involved, you refused to play along, and bam: divine punishment. And now I'm the guy who has to bear your burden. Fantastic. I literally live in a bad anime adaptation."
Lysandra fixed him sternly.
— "Do not treat this lightly. The scars of that war are still visible. Look around you. Why do you think you haven't seen vampires or lamias in the streets? Because they were driven into the shadows or confined to forbidden zones."
Daniel folded his arms, thoughtful.
— "So… that's why Elise told me some species do not show themselves here. Things are starting to make sense."
Unable to resist, he added:
— "But honestly, I'm a little disappointed. I hoped to at least spot a beast-man with cat ears…"
Lysandra rolled her eyes.
— "Truly, even amid the darkest revelations, your mind stays rooted in the trivial."
— "Hey, everyone has priorities."
---
The Warning
The air grew heavier. Lysandra approached so close he could feel the chill of her aura through his skin.
— "Listen to me carefully, Daniel. These truths must not cross these walls. If you dare repeat them, you will draw the attention of the High Authorities. And believe me, they are not opponents you can face, even with me inside you."
Daniel nodded, more serious now.
— "All right. I won't say anything. But know this: I don't intend to remain ignorant either. If I must carry your burden, I want to understand what awaits me."
Lysandra was silent a moment, then smiled faintly.
— "Then perhaps… perhaps you are not a mere pawn. Perhaps you are the chosen one."
— "Or perhaps just the poor guy who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
---
Closure
Her image began to dissolve, drawn back into Daniel's chest like a flame being smothered. The room regained its original stillness, but a cold aura lingered in the air.
Daniel collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
— "Well then… good night, dear apocalyptic world."
He raised his hand as if to make an invisible toast.
— "Here's to me, the walking prison."
A weary smile formed on his face. Despite the weight of what he had just learned, a streak of comic lightness persisted in his eyes—an ember that refused to die.