"I have seen generations fall and rise," she said.
Joel froze.
Her words echoed in his mind.
Generations… that means centuries.
A chill ran down his spine.
"So you're over a hundred years old?" he asked slowly. "An old woman… who still looks young?"
Eliane curved her lips into a faint, mysterious smile. There was no offense in her expression—only amusement.
"Age is just a number, Joel," she replied calmly. "What matters is what we've lived… and what we've learned."
Joel stared at her, unable to fully understand her. She felt… different. Not like the others. Not like humans.
Then her expression shifted.
Serious.
"My sister… the witch," she continued. "Her name is Lyra. She is powerful… but she has been consumed by her desire for power."
The wind passed between the trees, carrying a strange tension with it.
"I can help you find her," Eliane said, her voice lowering slightly, "but you must be ready to face your own demons. She may be the only person who can cure you."
Joel's eyes narrowed slightly.
A witch…
Memories flashed in his mind.
The adventurer… before I killed him… he said something similar…
His chest tightened.
"What do you want in exchange?" he asked, cautious, his voice slightly tense.
Eliane turned her face toward him. Her blind eyes—empty, yet deep—felt as if they were piercing straight through him.
"I want one thing," she said.
Silence.
"Promise me… that you will use your power to protect others, not to destroy them."
Joel didn't answer immediately.
The forest was quiet. Only the wind moved.
Protect… others…?
His hands trembled slightly.
Then—
Suddenly, Eliane wrapped her arms around his neck.
Joel blinked in surprise.
Without warning, she leaned onto him.
He sighed and instinctively lifted her onto his back.
"Ah… you're heavy, ma'am!" he complained, his legs shaking slightly as he adjusted his balance.
Eliane burst into laughter, her voice light and warm, completely different from her earlier tone.
"You're quite bold, aren't you?" she teased. "Show some respect—I'm an old lady."
Joel winced as she pinched his ear lightly.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"That's better," she said with satisfaction. "Now walk."
They moved deeper into the forest.
Step after step.
The ground was uneven, roots spreading across the path like traps. The air grew colder, heavier.
Time passed slowly.
Joel's breathing became heavier, his legs trembling under her weight.
The sky gradually darkened, the sunlight fading behind the thick trees.
How long… has it been…
He exhaled slowly, tired.
The silence of the forest pressed against him.
Then suddenly—
Eliane straightened on his back.
"Look, Joel…"
Her voice was softer now.
"The Moon Mountain."
Joel lifted his head.
And there it was.
In the distance, a massive mountain stood under the rising moonlight, glowing faintly as if it were alive.
Its peak disappeared into the clouds.
Joel's eyes widened slightly.
"Finally…" he murmured under his breath.
Eliane smiled.
"We've arrived."
Then her tone changed again.
"Now go… and retrieve the crystal."
Joel froze.
For a brief second, he didn't move.
Then he slowly lowered her from his back and turned to face her.
"Why should I go alone?" he asked.
There was hesitation in his voice.
A moment of silence followed.
Then—
A pressure.
Heavy.
Cold.
It spread from Eliane, filling the air around them.
Joel's body tensed instantly.
His instincts screamed at him.
Danger.
He didn't ask anything else.
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the mountain.
As he reached the entrance—
Flames suddenly ignited.
Joel stepped back slightly, startled.
"Welcome… Joel."
The voice echoed everywhere.
From the ground.
From the air.
From inside his own head.
Joel looked around, his eyes searching.
But there was no one.
"Who's there?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"I am the guardian of this mountain," the voice replied.
A pause.
"You have been chosen."
Joel clenched his fists.
"Where is the crystal?" he asked, determination replacing fear.
"At the top," the voice answered.
"But first… you must face yourself."
Suddenly—
The world changed.
Joel's body stiffened.
He was no longer at the entrance.
He stood in a dark place.
Cold.
Silent.
Then—
Figures appeared.
Corpses.
Dozens.
Their bodies broken, their eyes empty.
"You killed me…"
The whispers surrounded him.
Joel's breath became unstable.
His heart pounded violently.
"No…" he muttered.
"These are illusions…"
But the corpses moved closer.
"You killed us…"
Their voices overlapped, echoing endlessly.
Joel clenched his fists tighter.
"I had no choice…"
His voice shook.
"It was self-defense…"
But deep inside—
Doubt.
Guilt.
Regret.
"I… didn't mean to…"
His body trembled.
The corpses reached toward him.
"You're a murderer…"
Then—
Everything disappeared.
Joel stood alone.
Darkness.
Silence.
Then slowly—
A figure appeared in front of him.
Himself.
His double looked at him with cold eyes.
"You're a monster."
Joel's chest tightened.
"You've taken lives," the double continued.
"What are you trying to prove?"
Joel shook his head.
"I'm not a monster."
His voice was weak at first.
But then—
Stronger.
"I did what I had to do to survive."
He stepped forward slightly.
"And I want to change."
His double laughed.
"You'll never be normal."
Joel's eyes hardened.
"I still want to try."
Silence.
"I want to live without hurting others," Joel continued.
"I want to look at myself… without feeling ashamed."
The double stared at him.
Then—
His expression softened.
"You have a choice," he said quietly.
"To be better."
Joel stepped closer.
His hand trembled slightly as he reached out.
"I choose to be better."
The double smiled.
And vanished.
"You have overcome yourself."
The voice echoed again.
Light filled the space.
A crystal appeared before Joel, floating in the air, glowing with a soft, powerful energy.
Joel stared at it for a moment.
Then reached out.
The moment his hand touched it—
Power surged through his body.
Warm.
Intense.
Alive.
When he returned—
Eliane was waiting.
Joel stood in front of her, holding the crystal.
She smiled.
"Well done, Joel."
Her blind eyes seemed brighter.
"You have faced your fears… and won."