Royal Palace — Azreal's Room

Red Moonlight spilled through the tall crystal windows of the royal palace, bathing Azreal's motionless body in a faint, silvery glow. Nena dipped a soft cloth into warm water, her hands gentle as she cleaned the dried blood and sweat from his skin. Every wipe was delicate, like she feared he might break. When she was done, she carefully laid him in bed, covering him with a thick velvet sheet.

"Lord Azreal is still asleep," she whispered, brushing a stray strand of hair from his face. "Aria has gone out."

Footsteps echoed through the hall as Laisa entered. Her golden hair gleamed under the torchlight, and her eyes, though proud, carried the weight of sleepless nights. Nena turned to her and bowed.

"Good day, Lady Laisa."

"Good day," Laisa replied softly, sitting beside Azreal. She reached out and held his hand.

"He still hasn't shown any sign of waking up, has he?"

"He will wake soon," Nena answered, forcing a smile. "We just have to have faith."

As Nena left the room, Laisa leaned forward, gripping Azreal's hand tighter.

"Lord Azreal... when will you wake up? If you're playing, then it's no longer funny. Wake up already... please." Her voice trembled. Tears welled in her eyes, then dropped onto Azreal's hand—and it twitched.

Laisa gasped. "Lord Azreal?!"

She bolted out of the room, shouting, "NENA! HULK! HE MOVED!"

The palace stirred in an instant. Hulk, tall as a mountain and armored in black steel, rushed into the room alongside Nena. All three stood over Azreal as his eyelids slowly opened.

His eyes, a deep ocean blue, flickered to life. He sat up slightly, groaning.

"Where is Aria?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

Laisa's smile faltered. "Leave her be. She's the reason you were in this condition in the first place."

Azreal narrowed his eyes. "Stop. Nena... where is Aria?"

Nena hesitated, then answered, "She blamed herself for what happened. So she... she left. She continued the mission you gave her."

Azreal's eyes widened. "You don't mean..."

"Yes. She went to the Second Gate of Hell."

"Why did you let her?!" Azreal growled, trying to rise from bed.

Hulk placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Rest, my lord. You're not fully healed. We'll get her back."

"Selmora!" Laisa called. "Inform everyone. Lord Azreal has awakened!"

---

Second Gate of Hell

Storm clouds churned overhead, and red lightning licked across the sky. Aria stood before a towering gate carved from obsidian, a colossal scythe etched across its surface. Demonic faces writhed along the walls, as if trapped in eternal torment. Fire bled from the cracks in the stone.

Two armored guards stepped forward. One looked her over, unimpressed. "State your name."

"Aria," she said, firm and clear.

The second guard sprinted inside. A moment later, the gate rumbled and creaked open, unleashing a wave of heat and dread.

"This way," the guard said, leading her past the threshold.

Inside, the air was thick and oppressive. She followed through the twisting halls, past murals of suffering and forgotten battles. Laughter echoed around her, cruel and mocking.

They reached a door, massive and infernal. It swung open without touch.

---

Veymar's Throne Room

Atop a throne of jagged bone and molten gold, Veymar sat, a towering figure wrapped in tattered red robes. His eyes glowed with ancient malice.

Aria bowed. "Good day, Lord Veymar."

"Good day, little one. I didn't expect you back... not after what happened."

"Lord Azreal ordered me to train in every gate. His condition doesn't give me an excuse to disobey."

Veymar leaned forward, curious. "You blame yourself."

"I came to get stronger," Aria said, voice cracking. "So what happened... won't ever happen again."

Tears fell. "Please... train me. I need to protect Lord Azreal."

Veymar's grin widened. "Very well. But I won't go easy on you."

"I don't want you to," Aria said, fire lighting her tear-streaked eyes.

"Blight!" Veymar barked.

A shadow formed beside the throne, taking shape into a pale man with red eyes.

"Take our guest to her quarters."

As they walked, the walls whispered to her with eerie laughter.

"Welcome to the second gate of Hell."

---

Royal Palace — Azreal's Room

Azreal sat up, propped against plush pillows. Laisa sat beside him. Nena entered with a tray of food, followed by Selmora.

"My lord," Selmora said, bowing. "It is good to see you recovered."

Azreal nodded. "It's good to be back."

Nena approached, wagging her finger. "Enough talking. It's time to eat."

Everyone left except Nena. Laisa paused, hesitant.

"I want to feed him."

Azreal shook his head. "You've done enough. Rest, Laisa."

She clenched her fists but relented. "Very well... my lord."

Once alone, Nena sat beside him, feeding him gently.

"You don't have to treat me like a child," Azreal said, smiling faintly.

"You'll always be a child in my eyes."

As he ate, tears welled in her eyes.

"Nena... what is it?"

"Nothing," she said, but her voice broke. "I'm just happy you're alive. I thought I lost you."

She embraced him, sobbing.

"I'm fine now," Azreal whispered, patting her back. "Sorry I made you cry."

She pulled back and gently flicked his forehead. "Don't ever say you're weak again."

"Got it," he chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."

She smiled, feeding him the last of the meal before tucking him back into bed.

---

Azreal waited until the room emptied. Then he stood.

"I can't rest... not yet."

He approached Aria's painting and whispered, "Sarah."

A panel opened. The AI's projection appeared, a transparent figure in silver robes.

"You're awake. Good."

"Yes. I need a status report. What happened while I was unconscious?"

Sarah nodded. "When you left for Val'Karas, I dug into its past. Turns out... it was the site where Y'tharion was sealed."

Azreal's eyes narrowed. "What? That's impossible."

"It gets worse," Sarah continued. "Your mark resonated with Aria's... and Y'tharion's. All three marks were gathered in one place. I believe that was intentional. Sin orchestrated it."

Azreal's mind flashed back to the pain, the surge of energy, the awakening of something ancient.

"So... Sin used us."

"Exactly. And there's more. After the seal broke, Hulk found Aria unconscious. You were... changed. And there was another figure with you."

"Y'tharion," Azreal said darkly.

Sarah nodded. "But why gather the marks? Why break the seal?"

"I remember... the obelisk at Val'Karas. When my mark awakened, it reacted to that seal."

"Which means your mark is linked to Y'tharion's."

Azreal clenched his fist. "Then Y'tharion was sealed there. And Sin wanted me there to wake him."

He looked toward the sky.

"Then this war... it's just beginning."

The storm was rising.

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