Whispers of the forgotten

Morpheus stood in the grand hall of the ancient castle, his heart pounding as the dark figure before him stopped playing the eerie melody on the shadowy piano. The killer slowly turned to face him, his glowing crimson eyes piercing through the dim light.

Morpheus tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword given to him by the Cardinal. Taking a step forward, he declared:

"Your time is up, Galdeor. I don't know why you chose me, but I am the one who will end this."

Galdeor tilted his head back and laughed maniacally. The laughter echoed through the hall, his monstrous face becoming even more grotesque, as if feeding on Morpheus's determination.

"You think you can end me?" Galdeor said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Come then, show me what you've got."

Without hesitation, Morpheus summoned the power of his aether, channeling it into his sword. A dark, radiant energy enveloped the blade, forming a sharp, shadowy edge. With a swift motion, he released the energy in a powerful slash, sending a wave of darkness hurtling toward Galdeor.

But Galdeor sank into the ground, becoming one with the shadows. He reappeared behind Morpheus in an instant, summoning shadowy spikes from the floor to impale him. However, Morpheus's blurry vision activated just in time. Seeing the attack coming, he evaded the spikes with agile movements, leaving Galdeor snarling in frustration.

The two clashed, their battle an intense dance of light and shadow. Morpheus's sword strikes met Galdeor's ferocious attacks, each blow reverberating through the desolate castle.

As the battle raged on, Galdeor raised his hands, summoning creatures from the shadows. Several wolf-like monsters, crafted entirely from dark energy, materialized and lunged at Morpheus. He fought them fiercely, cutting them down one by one with precision and skill. Yet, to his dismay, the shadow wolves reformed almost instantly, rising again to attack him.

Galdeor's voice echoed from the shadows:

"You can't win, Morpheus. My creations are eternal, just like the hatred that fuels me."

Before Morpheus could respond, Galdeor emerged from behind him, aiming a deadly shadow blade at his back. The strike was swift, aiming to end the battle in one final blow.

But to Galdeor's surprise, Morpheus smiled, a cunning glint in his eyes.

"Did you really think I came here without a plan?" Morpheus said confidently.

Suddenly, the shadows beneath Morpheus erupted with a deadly aura. From the darkness emerged German, cloaked in a suffocating presence of power. His silver sword gleamed as it expanded in size and brilliance, radiating a light that pierced through Galdeor's dark domain.

German wasted no time, delivering a powerful strike that cleaved through Galdeor. The monstrous killer let out an unholy scream as the silver blade split him in two, his shadowy form dissipating into nothingness.

The room fell silent, the oppressive aura vanishing with Galdeor's death.

---

Flashback

Before setting out for the castle, Morpheus had gone to German with his findings.

"I've found the killer," Morpheus said, his voice steady.

German's face darkened with concern. "You're not planning to go alone again, are you? We've already seen what happened last time, Morpheus."

Morpheus smirked. "Not this time. I have a plan. Knowing the killer's skill in vanishing into shadows, I'll use my shadow-manipulation abilities to hide you within my own. When the moment is right, you'll deliver the final blow. Your aether, being sixth rank and stronger than mine, will remain undetectable."

German raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Clever, Morpheus. Very clever."

Back in the present, as the dust settled, Morpheus turned to German. "German, that creature... Galdeor... What turned him into such a monster?"

German sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "It was the mark of the demon of envy, Varith. That mark doesn't just stain the soul—it corrupts the aether itself. It turns the victim into a creature consumed by vengeance and hatred. Galdeor was once human, but that curse robbed him of everything—his sanity, his humanity, and his control."

Morpheus nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the fading shadows where Galdeor had once stood.

"If the darkness can twist someone so deeply, then I must ensure it doesn't claim anyone else."

German placed a reassuring hand on Morpheus's shoulder. "And we'll fight it together. The battle isn't over yet, but with allies like you, I believe we stand a chance."

The two walked out of the crumbling castle, ready for whatever lay ahead. Their journey against the darkness was far from over.

At the end of the story, after the battle was over and Morpheus and German had triumphed, the two sat in the dimly lit hall amidst the crumbling ruins of the castle. Silence lingered for a few moments before Morpheus broke it with a curious tone:

"German, that creature... It was once human, wasn't it? How did he turn into such a horrifying form?"

German looked at Morpheus, his eyes heavy with experience and knowledge. Taking a deep breath, he replied:

"Yes, he was human. Galdeor was once a respected noble before he was cursed. The mark of the demon of envy, Varith, is what transformed him into what you saw. It's not just a stigma—it's a curse that corrupts the essence of aether, turning it into pure darkness."

He paused for a moment, then continued, his voice calm but tinged with sorrow:

"This mark doesn't just consume the soul of the one who bears it; it drives them to the brink of madness. Galdeor had no choice—he became a prisoner of his own thirst for vengeance and destruction. Anyone who loses control of their aether is doomed to become a monster with one goal: to satisfy their unending hunger for revenge."

Morpheus nodded in understanding and then said quietly,

"I knew there was more to him than just being a killer, but I never imagined demons played such a hand in this madness."

German offered a sad smile as he said:

"In our world, Morpheus, everything is connected. Darkness and light, human and beast, sin and virtue. And sometimes, the line separating them is razor-thin."

Morpheus gazed at the sky through the shattered window of the castle, then whispered to himself:

"If Galdeor fell because of the darkness, then perhaps it's time to ensure no one else suffers the same fate."

The two rose to their feet, ready to leave, knowing their journey was far from over. The battle between darkness and light was still ongoing, and they had much left to face.