Shadow slave:The Forgotten Spawn

Chapter 22: Shattered Truths

The flood of memories hit like a storm, sweeping away every ounce of stability the human clung to. Their knees buckled as fragmented images and feelings, alien and overwhelming, surged through their mind.

Nyx roared, the shadows surrounding it writhing in chaos. The golden thread binding them pulsed erratically, its light flickering as if struggling to hold its form against the tide of revelations.

The vision began in a vast, endless void, where stars shimmered with unmatched brilliance. Among them stood Nyx, its form towering and whole, cloaked in radiant shadow and glowing gold. It was not the fractured creature it had become but something majestic—powerful beyond comprehension.

Around Nyx stood others, their forms just as luminous yet distinct. A being of molten fire, another of crystalline light, one of shifting water, and one of earthen strength. Together, they circled an immense structure suspended in the heavens—a crystalline spire of impossible beauty, its surface alive with shifting colors.

"We are its guardians," one of the beings said, its voice resonating like a symphony.

"We are its prisoners," Nyx's voice rumbled, deep and commanding. "The mortals can hear its call. They approach even now."

"If they come, they will destroy themselves," another guardian replied. "The Pillar's power is not for them. It will consume them as it did before."

"And yet, it reaches for them," Nyx retorted, golden light blazing across its form. "We are not enough. We were never enough."

Before a response could come, the vision fractured, shifting into a scene of destruction. The crystalline spire was aflame, its radiant beauty consumed by a darkness deeper than the void itself.

A monstrous figure emerged from the abyss, a hulking form of shadow and malice. Its presence was suffocating, devouring all light.

"You cannot stop me," it roared, its voice a cacophony of rage. "The Pillar will be mine!"

The guardians fought valiantly, their combined power striking against the invader. But it was not enough. The dark figure's strength was immeasurable, and one by one, the guardians fell.

Nyx stood alone, golden light blazing defiantly as it faced the darkness.

"You cannot protect them," the figure snarled. "And you cannot protect yourself."

The battle ended in an explosion of light and shadow, and when the dust settled, the grand spire was gone. The void was empty, save for a shattered Nyx—its golden glow dimmed, its once-mighty form fractured.

A voice whispered from the darkness, cruel and mocking.

"Forsaken. You failed. And now, you will forget."

The vision dissolved into darkness, and the human's mind reeled as they were yanked back into reality.

The human gasped for air, dropping to their hands and knees. Their heart pounded in their chest, and their head throbbed with the weight of what they'd seen.

"Nyx," they croaked, looking up at the creature. "You were… one of them. A guardian. You were whole."

Nyx's form trembled, its golden eyes glowing faintly. The shadows surrounding it seemed heavier, as though the memory had drawn something out of it—something it could barely endure.

The void around them shifted, and the immense figure of shadow and light reappeared. Its eyes burned like twin suns as it stared at Nyx.

"You remember now," it rumbled. "The guardian who failed. The protector who could not protect."

Nyx growled, its shadows flaring outward.

The human staggered to their feet, gripping their blade. "That's enough," they snapped, glaring at the figure. "Whatever happened, Nyx is still here. Still fighting. That's more than I can say for you."

The figure turned its gaze to the human, its presence suffocating. "You speak with conviction, mortal, yet you do not understand. This bond between you and Nyx—it is an abomination. A tether born of desperation and ruin."

"Maybe it is," the human shot back, their voice unwavering. "But it's real. And it's stronger than whatever judgment you're trying to pass."

The figure's form flickered, its golden eyes narrowing. "You do not yet grasp the burden you carry. This bond will destroy you both."

The golden thread between the human and Nyx pulsed brightly, as if rejecting the figure's words.

Nyx growled again, stepping protectively in front of the human. Its shadows swirled with renewed vigor, its golden eyes blazing with defiance.

"You would still protect this mortal?" the figure asked, its tone tinged with incredulity. "Even at the cost of your own restoration? You would remain broken?"

Nyx let out a deep, resonant growl, its stance unyielding.

The human smirked despite the tension. "Guess you have your answer."

The figure loomed over them, its form towering and immense. "Then your path is set. But be warned: the truth you seek comes with a price. One neither of you may survive to pay."

The void trembled, the golden thread flaring one final time.

The human and Nyx stumbled back into the forest, the oppressive weight of the void lifting as they returned to the relative calm of the real world.

The human sank to the ground, their breath coming in ragged gasps. "That was… intense," they muttered, rubbing their temples.

Nyx stood silently beside them, its shadows still rippling with unease.

After a long moment, the human looked up at the creature. "Nyx," they said softly, their voice steady despite their exhaustion. "You were more than what you are now. But even broken, you're still… you."

Nyx tilted its head, watching them with those piercing golden eyes.

The human smiled faintly, reaching out to touch the golden thread that bound them. "You're still a guardian. Even if you don't believe it."

Nyx let out a low, rumbling sound—not quite a growl, but something softer.

The golden thread pulsed warmly, and the bond between them felt stronger, more certain.

"Come on," the human said, rising to their feet. "We've got more answers to find. And I'm guessing it's only going to get harder from here."

Nyx rumbled softly, stepping forward to lead the way.

Together, they moved down the path, the golden thread lighting their way through the encroaching darkness.