Aria didn't feel her legs as she walked.
The Hall of Echoes faded behind her, its swirling shadows and pulsing runes dissolving into the dim corridors of the Citadel. Her breath came in shallow bursts, her chest tight, her mind still ringing with the fragment's screams.
You cannot silence me.
Aria pressed a hand to her ribs. "I just did."
For now.
Aria flinched. "Stop."
Silence.
But not absence.
Never absence.
The Demon King walked ahead of her, silent as ever, his cloak whispering across the stone floor. The shadows bent subtly toward him, as though acknowledging their master. His presence was cold, steady, grounding.
Aria hated how much she needed that right now.
When they reached the upper levels of the Citadel, he finally spoke.
"You did well."
Aria let out a humorless laugh. "I screamed."
"You resisted."
"I nearly collapsed."
"You stood."
"I told her I wasn't listening."
"And she fell silent."
Aria shook her head. "That's not strength. That's stubbornness."
"They are often the same."
Aria glared at him. "You're impossible."
"So I have been told."
She stopped walking, leaning against the wall. Her legs trembled, her breath uneven. The fragment pulsed faintly beneath her ribs—weak, but simmering with anger.
"She's furious," Aria whispered.
"Yes."
"She wants out."
"Yes."
"She wants me."
He turned to her. "She cannot have you."
Aria swallowed hard. "You sound very sure."
"I am."
"How?"
"Because you are stronger than her."
Aria looked away. "You keep saying that."
"Because it remains true."
She pushed herself off the wall. "What now?"
"Now," he said, "you learn to command her."
Aria froze. "Command her?"
"Yes."
"That sounds insane."
"It is necessary."
Aria groaned. "You're terrible at reassurance."
"I am not offering reassurance."
"Clearly."
He gestured for her to follow.
They walked deeper into the Citadel, descending into levels she hadn't seen before. The air grew colder, the runes dimmer, the shadows thicker. The walls here were older—rough stone etched with symbols that pulsed faintly like dying embers.
Aria shivered. "Where are we going?"
"To the Chamber of Dominion."
"That sounds worse than the last three."
"It is."
"Of course it is."
He didn't react.
He simply continued walking.
When they reached the chamber, Aria stopped.
The doors were tall, carved from obsidian, etched with runes that glowed faintly. The air around them hummed with ancient power.
Aria stepped back. "This feels wrong."
"It is necessary."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it remains true."
He placed a hand on the door.
The runes flared.
The doors opened.
Cold air rushed out, carrying the scent of old magic and something sharper—something that made Aria's skin prickle.
She hesitated. "What's inside?"
"Your power."
Aria blinked. "My what?"
"Your power."
"That's vague."
"It is also accurate."
Aria stepped inside.
The Chamber of Dominion was vast—larger than any chamber she had seen. The ceiling arched high above, disappearing into swirling darkness. The floor was marked with concentric circles of runes, each one glowing faintly with silver light.
In the center of the room stood a raised platform, surrounded by floating shards of crystal that pulsed with soft, rhythmic light.
Aria approached slowly. "What is this?"
"The place where you will learn to command her."
Aria's breath caught. "How?"
"By forcing her to obey."
Aria shook her head. "I can't do that."
"You can."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it remains true."
Aria pressed a hand to her chest. "She's angry."
"Yes."
"She's waiting."
"Yes."
"She's listening."
"Yes."
Aria swallowed hard. "I don't want her to listen."
"You must make her."
Aria stared at him. "How?"
He stepped closer, his voice low. "By speaking with authority."
Aria blinked. "Authority?"
"Yes."
"She's a primordial being."
"Yes."
"She's ancient."
"Yes."
"She's powerful."
"Yes."
"And you want me to… what? Tell her to sit?"
"Yes."
Aria stared at him. "You're insane."
"No."
"You're reckless."
"No."
"You're—"
"Correct."
Aria groaned. "Fine. Whatever. Let's get this over with."
She stepped onto the platform.
The runes beneath her feet brightened instantly, responding to her presence. A soft hum filled the air, rising in pitch until it vibrated through her bones.
Aria gasped, gripping her arms.
The fragment inside her stirred.
The Demon King raised a hand.
The floating crystals around the platform shifted, aligning themselves in a perfect circle. They pulsed in time with the fragment's rhythm, glowing brighter with each beat.
Aria's breath quickened. "What are you doing?"
"Amplifying your will."
"That sounds bad."
"It is necessary."
The crystals brightened.
The hum deepened.
The fragment pulsed.
Aria cried out, her knees buckling. The warmth inside her flared, spreading through her chest, her arms, her legs. She felt weightless, suspended between worlds.
The fragment's voice roared through her mind.
Mother…
Aria flinched. "Stop."
You cannot command me.
"Yes. I can."
You are mine.
"No."
You belong to me.
"No."
You cannot silence me.
Aria clenched her fists. "I'm not listening."
You cannot ignore me.
"I'm not listening."
You cannot command me.
Aria pressed her hands to her ears. "I can."
You cannot—
"Be silent."
The shadows trembled.
The runes flared.
The fragment screamed.
Aria's voice rose, steady and sharp.
"I said be silent."
The fragment roared.
The crystals shook.
The runes blazed.
And then—
Silence.
Aria collapsed forward, gasping.
The fragment pulsed faintly.
Weakly.
Obediently.
The Demon King stepped closer. "You did it."
Aria trembled. "I didn't do anything."
"You commanded her."
Aria pressed a hand to her chest. "She listened."
"Yes."
"She obeyed."
"Yes."
Aria looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper.
"What happens now?"
He held her gaze.
"Now," he said quietly, "you learn to make her kneel."