Dancing on the golden ashes

I could feel the world around me shift slightly, as if the very air had changed, responding to my newfound sense of power. For the first time, I felt as though I had crossed a threshold, and the title of god didn't seem so far off—perhaps goddess, more accurately. But at the same time, a small, unsettling thought tugged at the back of my mind: was I getting too full of myself? The power was intoxicating, and part of me reveled in it, but another part of me knew I had to remain grounded. Yet, in the face of this overwhelming surge of energy, it felt so good—almost too good to resist.

And then, the thought came: Can I actually reach the point of a god? The point where the Creator stands right now? A god, a being beyond all... But that was too much to think about right now. After all, I was still a human—or so I thought. In truth, I was already stepping onto the path of power and immortality, whether I fully understood it or not.

Before I could process my thoughts further, an eerie voice echoed in my mind, cutting through the haze of my self-reflection.

"Gaon, you've finally stepped onto the path of the laws. Good. I will personally teach you the laws of darkness."

The voice was unexpected—excited, even. That was rare. It was a voice that always carried a sense of depression, negativity, and shadows, yet now it was filled with something resembling eagerness. Why? Was it because it loved darkness so much? Was that the cause of its excitement?

Well, who else would I learn from than you? You are the darkness itself, so I might as well call you a master, haha, But there was truth in what I said. I did admire the eerie entity, to some extent. It was still so mysterious, so intangible, but it had cared for me in ways no one else ever had. The feeling it gave off was almost parental, protective—like it truly wanted to see me succeed. It was strange, but I couldn't deny it.

"Go back to your room. That phoenix you just created is still too unstable. But if you learn all the laws you specialize in, you can make it into an actual living being—to some extent. It will be so powerful that even the monster will have to submit to your strength. But... you will have to train without any sleep. Are you ready for that?"

The eerie entity's words were sharp, but they carried weight—importance. I had never imagined that something born of my soul could be viewed with such reverence. It made me feel a surge of pride, but also a pressing responsibility. The thought of my phoenix becoming a true, living creature—powerful enough to command respect from even the greatest of foes—was awe-inspiring.

Wow, to hear such praise from you, I must be dreaming, I laughed, the absurdity of it bringing a smile to my face, even in my mind. But the praise gave me something more—motivation—a fire that burned even brighter. Yes, the fire within me was already lit. It was time to master it, no matter what it took. I would rise above, and in time, I would become the beacon of light for these people—and for myself.

I felt a strange, yet comforting certainty settle in my heart. I will become the savior of this place. I'll be the one to guide them. My voice in my mind grew stronger, more confident. After all, all my life, I had been pushed away and forgotten. But now? Now I was needed. There were people here, people who depended on me. People whose hearts truly trusted in me. I would not hesitate to help them because I knew what it was like to be at the lowest point—to feel as though there was no hope left. And if I could provide even a sliver of that hope, I would do so without hesitation.
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I waved my hand dismissively, urging the people to return to their beds and apologizing for the disturbance. The response was laughter, lighthearted and sincere. "Empress, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want," they said with wide smiles, adding that I treated them too well. Their words warmed my heart, a small glimmer of joy in a world often filled with strife. But as their laughter echoed around me, something stirred deep in my chest, a strange feeling that gnawed at the edges of my thoughts.

Why is this happening?

It wasn't just the warmth of their words—it was the way they looked at me, as though I were untouchable, unassailable. I smiled in return, but that unsettling feeling remained. Something in my heart whispered that happy days were fleeting, that peace was always temporary, and something else was brewing on the horizon. But I shook the thought away. I will win this fight, and I won't let anyone die. That was my vow, my resolve. No matter what was to come, I would protect them.

Once I was alone, I locked myself back in my room, the door clicking shut behind me. I sat down cross-legged, centering myself. The eerie voice inside me responded almost instantly, its presence pressing against my thoughts like a heavy fog.

"First, you must sit in complete darkness," it instructed, its voice calm and unwavering.

I followed its words without hesitation, plunging the room into shadows, leaving only the faint glow of my own fire soul as a reminder that I was still alive. The stillness pressed in around me, thick and oppressive.

"Imagine yourself being one with the dark," the eerie voice continued, almost gentle. "You need to understand that darkness is the base of the universe. It is everywhere, in every corner, in every moment. All else is but an illusion, created by the eyes and the light reflecting off the objects you see. The true essence of life is in darkness, and you must learn to feel it, to become it."

I closed my eyes and focused, plunging deeper into the darkness. The coldness wrapped around me like a blanket, pressing against my skin, making me shiver, but I did not flinch. Instead, I let myself fall into it, sinking deeper into its embrace. I reached out with my soul, stretching into the void. The moment my consciousness touched it, I felt it—the coldness. It wasn't just a chill in the air, but something far deeper, far more primal. It froze everything it touched, making it feel as though time itself had stopped.

But then, something else stirred within me. My darkness soul, the power within me that had always been there, responded. It devoured the cold energy, drawing it in like a ravenous beast. I could feel it growing, expanding, its strength increasing with each passing second. A new feeling welled up inside me—something raw, something unstoppable. The energy was unmistakable—it was the energy of a law, of undeniable truth. But it was slow. The law of darkness was not something to be rushed. It needed time to form, to fully take root within me.

I focused harder, imagining the darkness around me. It was everywhere—inside and outside, suffusing every inch of the room, every particle of the air. I had to push the light out, to force it back so that the darkness could flourish. It was the law, the foundation. The darkness is always with me. All I had to do was embrace it fully.