Chapter 202 - Saving the world

Chapter 202 - Saving the world
ADELINE
The world reformed again, back to the unknown realm, soft whispers circling like a thousand echoes in my mind.
I gasped, clutching her chest. “I remember…” she whispered between shallow breaths. “I remember everything.”
A faint shimmer rippled through the air before me. From the mist, a tall mirror rose, familiar and silver-framed.
My reflection stared back, but it wasn’t entirely me, but the face was Liora.
The reflection smiled, calm and knowing.
I took a step back. I had expected that cruel smirk I saw in nightmares, not this serenity.
Then, the reflection stepped out of the mirror, her movements smooth, her presence radiating power.
“You want my help?” the reflection asked, her tone soft, almost teasing.
I swallowed hard. “You’re the voice in my head… aren’t you?”
“Of course,” the reflection said with a faint chuckle. “I am your power, your Helix.”
I stared at her, at myself. “I remember everything now… but I don’t remember my Helix ever speaking this calmly.”
The reflection tilted her head, her eyes glowing faintly gold. “And I don’t remember Liora being trapped inside another body, to be someone else.”
She stepped closer, her presence like a ripple through reality. “So tell me, Adeline… what is it you want?”
I steadied myself. “The spirit beasts. They need to go back to the Abyss.”
The reflection’s lips curved slightly. “Oh? Is Kieran tired of killing them?”
My voice softened. “It’s too much for him. For all of us.”
The reflection hummed, thoughtful. “Fine. But understand this, what you ask for will cost you. If you’re not careful, it will cost your life.”
I clenched my fists. “I don’t care.”
The reflection studied me quietly. “This body of yours… it’s weak. But your soul, my soul… is strong. Tell me, Adeline… can you handle it?”
I met her gaze with quiet fire. “I can.”
“Then,” the reflection said, raising her glowing hands, “let’s begin.”
She extended both palms outward. “Place your hands on mine.”
I hesitated only a moment before pressing my palms against hers.
The moment they touched—
Boom.
A shockwave of light exploded from the mirror. The ground trembled violently as cracks spread across the illusionary world.
The reflection’s eyes snapped open, blazing with black color of the Helix.
In the physical world, in Vaeloria, the ritual circle flared, symbols burning crimson. The once-blue light surrounding me turned deep red, swirling like a storm.
The earth quaked beneath them.
Kieran shielded his eyes from the blinding light. “What’s happening?!”
Ivan, struggling to hold the spell steady, shouted, “It’s working, she’s merging with the Helix!”
The air roared, magic spiraling around my levitating form, my hair floating wildly as the Helix sword pulsed in unison with my heartbeat.
Back in the spiritual realm, the reflection’s hands still pressed against mine, our energy locked together. The Helix’s voice deepened, almost echoing from everywhere at once, as she began to whisper ancient incantations. The air rippled, symbols of fire and light forming around us.
My body shook. My breath hitched. “It’s… it’s too much…”
“Stay strong,” the reflection barked sharply, her tone now commanding. “Do not falter, Adeline. This isn’t child’s play. You agreed…. now bear it!”
I screamed, trying to steady my trembling form. “It’s burning…”
“Then let it burn!” She shouted.
The ground split open beneath us, releasing spirals of red-black light.

It also opened at the same time across Lykos, Lunvaris, the fog-covered ruins of Vaeloria, and other places where the beast troubles, the earth began to quake. The sky cracked open, and black-red portals burst forth, tearing the heavens as the Abyss opened its gates.
From each portal, monstrous spirit beasts howled in agony as they were dragged backward, clawing and thrashing, returning to the Abyss that birthed them. The skies turned crimson, lightning streaking through the clouds.
Kieran and Ivan stood beneath the storm, shielding their faces.
Ivan’s eyes widened, tears shimmering from sheer awe.
“She… she did it!” he said, half laughing, half gasping. “By the gods, she’s actually done it!”
The tremors grew violent. Magic surged.
In the spirit realm, my body convulsed, trembling uncontrollably. Blood streamed from my nose, down my chin. I struggled to breathe, but held on, my eyes blazing white.
The reflection gritted her teeth, shouting over the roaring wind, “Hold it, Adeline! You are not breaking!”
I screamed as the light engulfed me, and suddenly—
Silence.
The portals began to close, one by one, sealing the Abyss.
Outside in Vaeloria, the world began to calm. The skies cleared as the last of the spirit beasts vanished into the darkness of the closing portals.
The glow from the ritual circle flickered out.
Ivan laughed, the sound wild, almost giddy. “She did it! She actually… hah she did it!”
He dropped to his knees, overwhelmed with relief.
Kieran stood still, watching as the dark marks on his face, neck and chest began to flake away, falling like ash that shimmered in the fading light.
He touched his bare skin, stunned.
He should’ve felt joy, freedom, but instead, something cold crept up his spine. His eyes darted to me.
I was still.
My body hovered, bleeding faintly from my nose, my skin pale as snow.
Kieran’s voice broke. “Adeline?”
No answer.
He stepped closer, panic rising. “Is she coming back? Tell me she’s alive!”
Ivan tried to hold him back. “Calm down, Your majesty, give her a moment—”
“No!” Kieran shouted, his voice cracking. “Tell me how she’s coming back!”
Ivan looked at me, his smile fading. He didn’t know.
In the spirit realm, the reflection finally lowered her hands. The world around us trembled softly. The mirror cracked behind her.
I gasped for air and fell to my knees, clutching my chest.
“It’s done,” the reflection said quietly. “The portals are sealed.”
I lifted my head, eyes filled with exhaustion. “Who are you really?”
The reflection smiled faintly. “You already know.”
“No,” I said, forcing myself to stand. “You’re not the true Helix. You’re Liora.”
The reflection tilted her head, her voice gentle. “I am both and I am you. I am what was, what is, and what remains within you. The Helix, Liora, Adeline, all one and the same.”
My voice trembled. “Then why send the voices? The nightmares? The pain?”
The reflection stepped close, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “So you’d remember who you are. So you’d recognize yourself. Only then can your power be at peace.”
She turned, and with a sweep of her hand, opened a shimmering portal of light in front of me.
“You must go back now,” the reflection said softly. “Your time here is done.”
I hesitated, staring into the portal.
The reflection smiled one last time. “Take care of Kieran… so that I will finally be at rest.”
My eyes shimmered with tears. I gave a small nod and stepped into the portal, and the reflection whispered behind me, fading—
“Be the light, even when the darkness remembers you.”