The hall darkened even more, as if the very light were being sucked into the sarcophagus. Castian and Shen stood still, their hearts racing, as the soft sound of the entity's whisper still echoed in their minds.
Suddenly, the air turned cold. An unexpected wind blew from within the cave, despite the lack of a visible exit. A sinister glow emerged from the runes on the sarcophagus, pulsing as if responding to Castian's presence. The ground began to tremble, stronger this time, and a fissure split the stone lid with a loud, sharp sound, shattering the silence.
Castian instinctively took a step back, his eyes wide, but he could not look away from the sarcophagus. Shen, at his side, raised his sword, his muscles tense, ready for any attack. They knew something was about to happen, but nothing could prepare them for what came next.
With a low, resonant sound, the lid of the sarcophagus slowly moved. A dark mist began to pour from the cracks, swirling like living smoke, coiling through the air. Within that shadowy vapor, a figure began to take shape. A human silhouette, carved from shadows and dim lights, began to rise, emerging from within the sarcophagus.
Castian swallowed hard. The figure, though composed of an ethereal substance, seemed incredibly solid, like a materialized spirit. But what shocked him deeply, more than the entity itself, was its appearance. The face looking at him was eerily familiar, almost identical to his own—but older, more marked by time. The entity's gaze was filled with ancient wisdom but also a pain that Castian could not comprehend.
“What... what is this?” Castian murmured, unable to tear his eyes away from that distorted reflection of himself.
The entity hovered in the air, its translucent form wavering as if trapped between the world of the living and the dead. When it opened its mouth, its voice echoed through the hall, deep and resonant.
“Castian...” the entity whispered, its voice a blend of familiarity and strangeness. “You have finally arrived. I always knew this day would come... the day you would free me.”
Castian felt his stomach churn. “Free?” He did not want to free the entity, not like this, but something in those eyes—eyes that could be his—prevented him from immediately rejecting the words.
Shen, however, did not share Castian's hesitation. He stepped forward, brandishing his sword, his face hardened with distrust.
“This is a trap, Castian!” Shen shouted, not taking his eyes off the entity. “Do you think we can trust this? An entity imprisoned for centuries? All it desires is freedom, and that will be our ruin!”
The entity turned its gaze to Shen, its expression calm, almost compassionate.
“Oh, Shen... always so suspicious. But I am not here to destroy you.” The entity's voice sounded patient, even wise, which only made Shen grip his sword tighter.
“Don't come to us with your sweet words, creature!” Shen spat. “I know what you are. I know the kind of power you carry. We are not here to listen to your lies.”
The entity tilted its head slightly, and its eyes turned back to Castian, ignoring Shen's hostility.
“I am not here to lie, Castian,” the entity said calmly. “I have come to warn you. There is something much greater, something evil lurking in the shadows, threatening the village you hold so dear. Something that cannot be stopped without my help.”
Castian frowned, confused yet intrigued. “A threat to the village?” He had always known there were dangers beyond what he understood, but the way the entity spoke awakened something in his soul. As if it knew more than he could imagine.
Shen shook his head, disbelief etched on his face.
“Is this a joke?” he said, his voice laden with contempt. “Do you think we will believe your words? You want to use us. We will not fall for this trick!”
Castian, however, hesitated. His eyes were fixed on the entity, feeling the hidden truth in its words. He wanted to believe, and that desire frightened him. Shen had always been his mentor, his rock in uncertain times, but now... now Castian found himself questioning Shen's words for the first time.
“Wait, Shen,” Castian interrupted, not taking his eyes off the entity. “What if she is telling the truth? What if there really is something greater coming? Something we cannot face alone?”
Shen looked at Castian, his eyes wide with surprise and disappointment.
“Castian, you can't be serious. This entity was sealed for a reason. It only wants to be freed. We cannot trust it.”
“I know...” Castian murmured, still uncertain. “But I feel... that what she is saying is true. I can’t explain it, but I feel she is connected to something bigger. Something we really need to confront.”
The entity nodded, almost as if it were proud of Castian’s perception.
“Exactly,” the entity said softly. “There is a greater evil lurking in the shadows, something that even the power of this cave cannot contain. If we do not work together, it will be the destruction of everything you know. I can help. I was imprisoned here, not because I am a monster, but because those who sealed me knew that one day this moment would arrive. They knew they would need me... and you, Castian.”
Castian felt the weight of those words, a burden that seemed impossible to bear, yet at the same time, inevitable. He looked at Shen, trying to understand his distrust, but something inside him had already made a decision.
“If what you say is true,” Castian began, now speaking directly to the entity, “what must we do? How can we prevent this evil from reaching the village?”
Shen made a sound of disbelief, but remained silent, waiting for the entity's response. The spirit floated lightly in the air, as if pondering before answering.
“The first thing you need to understand,” the entity began, its voice now deeper, “is that this threat... this force that approaches, is not something that can be defeated with swords or physical strength. It devours souls, corrupts minds, and grows stronger with chaos. We need more than weapons. We need wisdom, strategy... and an unlikely alliance.”
Castian exchanged a glance with Shen, who still looked incredulous. But he felt deep in his soul that this entity was speaking the truth, and that, somehow, he was part of a destiny larger than he had ever imagined.
“Then guide us,” Castian said, his voice full of determination. “Tell us what to do.”
The entity smiled slightly, a smile that was both comforting and terrifying.
“All in due time, Castian. First, we must get out of here... and prepare.”