The chamber darkened as Sylvia's spirit materialised before Jasmine.
Unlike the mory echo from earlier, this spirit carried the presence of Sylvia, which was powerful and deeply sorrowful.
She's beautiful even in death.
Auburn hair flowed like liquid fire around Sylvia's translucent form.
Her white robes seed to absorb light rather than reflect it, creating an otherworldly glow that made the chamber feel sacred.
"Child," Sylvia's voice carried the weight of centuries. "I watched your trial. I felt your choice."
Jasmine t the Queen's gaze without flinching.
"Then you know I regret nothing."
"Regret?"
Sylvia's chuckled.
"No, I don't believe you do. But do you understand what you've chosen?"
Of course, I do.
"I chose to honour my father's mory instead of healing his murderers."
Sylvia drifted closer, her spirit form seeming to study Jasmine with uncomfortable intensity. "Your father... Regulus. I knew him, you know."
She knew father?
"He ca to once, seeking healing for wounds, wounds of the heart, but that was when he was young."
Sylvia's expression grew distant. "He was a good man,"
"A good man betrayed by those he protected."
"Yes." Sylvia's acknowledgent carried surprising understanding.
"And you carry his pain as your own. His betrayal has beco your burden."
His burden? More like my inheritance.
"Perhaps rcy is wasted on those who show none to others."
Finally. Soone who understands.
"But tell , child—what happens when vengeance becos your only purpose? When hatred defines your existence more than love ever did?"
I don't care as long as they pay.
"Then so be it. As long as I achieve what I want, I don't care."
The Queen's spirit circled Jasmine like a gentle predator. "And if that path leads to your own destruction? If pursuing their pain ensures your own?"
"Like I said, then so be it."
Her answer was simple, final and most definitely absolute.
Sylvia stopped moving, her ethereal form stabilising directly in front of Jasmine.
"Very well. You have chosen vengeance over compassion. Darkness over light. Justice over rcy."
"I won't try to change your mind. Won't lecture you about forgiveness or higher paths."
Sylvia's smile held surprising warmth.
"Instead, I'll give you what you truly want."
I want power. The power to make them pay.
"But understand this—vengeance is not simply hatred given form. True vengeance requires strength, cunning, and above all, the ability to protect what matters while destroying what threatens."
Protect what matters. Destroy what threatens...
The chamber began shifting around them, walls flowing like water as the area reshaped itself.
"If you walk the path of darkness, you must master it completely. Half-asures lead only to failure and regret. Either you completely embrace darkness, or completely embrace light. Do not choose both."
Her words sounded as if she regretted sothing.
No half-asures. No rcy. No weakness.
Light exploded through the dissolving chamber, carrying Jasmine into her final trial.
anwhile...
Arthur's head turned to the right as familiar presences approached Village #419's periter.
His senses picked up the distinctive aura signatures of Lupin, which ant that Theodore, the twins and others are here.
Finally. My ground forces have arrived.
"Mayor!" The sa guard who'd announced the "monster army" ca running again, this ti with excitent rather than terror.
"There is human backup!"
Charles bead. "That's great!"
He turned his head towards Arthur. Before he could ask whether they should stay, Arthur rose from his position near the Tree of Life.
"Let's go et them,"
The mayor nodded with happiness. Everything was going well! The inheritance was being taken, and the healer Jasmine might co out with it, and their village was getting more backup by the second!
Ti to unite both armies.
Through the village gates, he could see them approaching—two hundred fighters from his ho settlent.
Behind them, his summons maintained formation like living nightmares made disciplined.
Arthur smiled as the two forces began their historic rger.
...
The battlefield materialised around Jasmine with stunning clarity, as if it were real.
Chaos reigned across a landscape painted in blood and fire. Human soldiers fought desperately against demonic hordes that seed to spawn endlessly from crimson portals scattered throughout the combat zone.
This isn't an illusion. This feels completely real.
The sounds hit her first—steel clashing against claw, screams of agony mixing with roars of inhuman fury.
The sll followed—smoke, blood, and sothing sulfurous.
Demon magic. Pure corruption.
Jasmine found herself standing atop a small hill overlooking the carnage. Her healer's robes had transford into sothing darker—black fabric reinforced with silver threads that pulsed with malevolent energy.
Different clothes. Different purpose.
A new skill blazed to life in her consciousness, knowledge flowing through her mind like liquid fire.
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