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Elya's Past
Elya was born into a poor family—so poor that one day they simply threw her out, saying she was "one mouth too many."
Alone in the dark streets, she wandered hopelessly… until she bumped into a stranger.
"I'm so sorry…" she said, her voice trembling.
The man knelt and studied her face.
"What a beautiful girl… what happened to you?"
"My family… they didn't want me anymore," she whispered.
The man placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Oh dear… you don't deserve that. Would you like to come live with me?"
Elya's eyes widened.
"Really…?"
"Yes, really. Come with me," he said, taking her hand.
For a brief moment, she believed her life might finally change.
---
But days later, screams pierced the night.
The doors were smashed open. The man who saved her—slaughtered before her eyes.
Only one figure remained standing: Lex.
He looked at her coldly and grabbed her arm.
"From now on, you are my servant."
Elya bowed silently.
She wasn't saved. She was claimed.
From that night on, her true nightmare began.
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Present — The Cave
Lex walked toward the dark exit of the cave.
"I'm going to Darel," he said in a cold voice. "You stay here, Elya."
"As you command, sir…" she whispered, lowering her head.
As Lex's footsteps faded, only the rattling of chains echoed through the cavern.
Riven slowly raised his head, his eyes locking onto Elya.
"What are you staring at?" he growled. "Was this your idea too?"
"Forgive me, my lord—"
"Enough!"
His roar echoed off the stone walls.
Inside his skull, a voice hissed: Kill her… end this… end them all…
Riven's body shook violently.
"Aaahhhh!"
Blood dripped as he pulled against the chains.
He sank his teeth into his own arm, desperate to silence the pain.
"Riven, stop, please!" Elya cried, tears streaming down her face.
But he didn't see her—or didn't want to.
"Corven! CORVEN! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Elya fell to her knees.
"He can't sense you anymore, my lord… please, be silent…"
Riven's eyes widened in horror.
"Elya… how could you do this?"
CRACK!
The barrier shattered.
Riven exhaled a chilling breath:
"Corven."
Darkness twisted, and Corven appeared instantly.
"My lord, are you alright?" he asked, eyeing Riven's bleeding arm.
Then his gaze turned to Elya—
a black aura crackled around him.
"I'll rip you apart…" he hissed, stepping forward.
"Stop."
Riven's voice turned to icy steel.
"I'm not finished with her."
"Where is Lex?"
"With Darel," Corven replied.
A vicious grin spread across Riven's face.
"Good… I'll kill him warm… slow."
Far away, Lex opened his eyes.
He felt the barrier shatter.
"Damn it…" he growled, gripping his sword.
"Riven is coming."
Riven walked forward without looking back.
"I still have work to do," he whispered coldly.
"None of them will escape."
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Scene: After Riven Leaves
The moment Riven disappeared into the darkness with Corven, Elya collapsed to the ground.
Her breathing was sharp and panicked; she clutched her chest as if trying to hold her heart together.
Then—shadows slithered.
Corven remained, watching her.
Like a predator waiting for permission to strike.
"You think you're safe now?" he whispered, voice like broken glass.
"If it were up to me, I would have ended you where you kneel."
Elya's throat tightened.
Memories stabbed her mind—Lex's cold grip, the night of blood, the chains of servitude.
"…I didn't betray him," she whispered.
"I never wanted to."
Corven stepped closer, his eyes glowing red.
"Then why did you obey Lex?"
"Because…"
Her voice nearly died.
Corven leaned in.
"Speak."
Elya finally looked up—eyes trembling, full of trauma.
"Because I belong to him."
Corven's expression froze.
Confusion, anger, and disgust filled his face.
"No one owns one such as you," he growled.
Elya shook her head, tears falling silently.
"You don't understand… he claimed me.
Long before Riven ever knew my name…"
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Corven's Wrath
Corven scrunched his lips and glared at Elya, eyes dripping with venom.
"Really… have you fallen this far?" he said, voice laced with scorn.
"Would you really betray your master?"
Elya trembled, lowering her head.
"My lord… I—" she began, but the words caught in her throat.
Corven stepped closer, his cold breath brushing her face.
"My lord protected you. And yet, you broke his trust. How do you explain that to me?"
Elya dropped her gaze, then gathered courage and looked at him; her eyes held both guilt and a strange determination.
"I… I never loved him, perhaps, but I tried to protect him. I did it to survive," she whispered.
"And know this—my lord will sink further into darkness. He will grow stronger. This darkness will not only consume us, it will consume the world."
Corven's expression twisted further in disgust, the corners of his lips tightening.
"Power? Or a monster? If your actions stain my master's name, who will take responsibility, Elya? You?"
Elya's voice cracked, but now there was a spark in her eyes.
"Perhaps it will. Perhaps he must become the monster, or we would all perish. I… I cannot stop it. But you will see—my lord will only grow stronger, and the world will tremble beneath his shadow."
Corven stepped back, his face flickering between rage and disbelief.
"You've betrayed us slowly," he hissed.
"And now you dare look at me as if you're a savior. Disgusting."
Elya sank to her knees; silent tears ran down her cheeks.
In the darkness of the cave, the two souls faced each other, while in the distance, Riven's footsteps echoed—an omen of the approaching storm that none of them were ready to face.
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