The trembling of the earth subsided, the mist thinned slightly, but the air around the ancient gate remained heavy, saturated with the dark energy that had just seeped through. Lira's scream and the name she had uttered—"Malakor"—made Arka even more alarmed. He had no idea who Malakor was, but Lira's reaction and the dreadful presence in the air were warning enough.
"Malakor? Who is that, Lira?" Arka asked, his voice slightly shaking, still holding her tightly.
Lira shook her head, her face pale. "I... I don't know. I only saw him in a vision. A giant shadow sitting on a dark throne. And my father… he mentioned that name too." The trembling in her body began to subside, replaced by a piercing cold. She felt a pull from the gate—not a threatening one, but an invitation.
"This gate… it's calling me, Arka," Lira whispered, gently pulling away from Arka's embrace. She stepped forward, her hand reaching out toward a crack in the gate's pillar. "There's something beyond it. Something hidden."
Arka grabbed her hand. "Don't! We don't know what's in there. It could be a trap."
"No," Lira said firmly, her eyes glowing with strange resolve. "The dark energy is there, yes, but there's something else too. Something that wants to show me the truth." She recalled the ancient whisper from the old banyan tree: "Only those with roots shall endure." And here at this gate, she sensed roots far older—connected to the histories of both Kayangan and Earth.
Cautiously, Lira touched the gate's pillar again. This time, she didn't try to channel energy—she simply felt. She closed her eyes, letting her mind sink into the ancient energy emanating from the stone. And then, she saw it again. Not a sudden vision, but a memory that flowed slowly, like spring water in a quiet river.
She saw images of Kayangan in the past—not the majestic realm she knew, but a wilder, more primal Kayangan. She saw ancient fae, far more powerful, yet more savage. Then she saw Malakor. Not a shadowy figure like before, but a clearer form: a towering entity with curved horns and glowing red eyes, surrounded by an aura of destruction. Malakor wasn't alone. He led an army of shadowy creatures, attacking Kayangan.
The battle was terrifying. Lira saw fae warriors fall, crystal palaces crumble. Then, she saw the ancient fae—one of them resembling King Eldrin—using all their power. They didn't defeat Malakor; they bound him, chaining him with light and sealing him with an ancient spell. They pushed him into a chasm between two worlds and built this gate above it. The gate wasn't just a divider—it was the seal itself.
And what shocked Lira most was that among the ancient fae, there were figures who looked like early humans—primitive, yet radiating the same wisdom as the fae. They fought side by side, sacrificing themselves to lock Malakor away. This defied everything Lira had ever been taught about the prohibition against interaction between fae and humans.
The vision faded. Lira opened her eyes, gasping for air. "Arka… this… this isn't just a gate. It's a seal." She turned to him, her eyes filled with a terrible clarity. "And the prohibition… the law forbidding fae from marrying humans… it's not just a rule. It's part of the seal."
Arka stared at her, bewildered. "A seal? What do you mean?"
Lira tried to explain, her words spilling out in urgency. "Long ago, thousands of years back, there was a dark entity named Malakor. He tried to destroy both Kayangan and Earth. The fae and… and some ancient humans worked together to bind him beneath this gate. That marriage ban… it was a way to keep the seal intact. To prevent a fusion of energies that could… that could weaken the seal and bring Malakor back."
Arka looked from the ruined gate to Lira, who now seemed more fragile—and yet stronger than ever. "So, your fall… was because of that?"
Lira nodded, tears trailing down her cheeks. "My fall… may have already weakened the seal. The Kayangan and Earth energy within me… it might be what woke Malakor." A dreadful thought pierced her: she, the beloved daughter of King Eldrin, might be the very trigger of the destruction her father feared most.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes nearby. It wasn't the wind. This time, both of them could feel it. And from the thicket emerged a creature. It resembled a wolf, but its skin was dark gray, its eyes glowing red, and sharp spines protruded from its back. A dark aura radiated from the creature.
"Something corrupted by the dark energy," Arka muttered, immediately pulling Lira behind him. He raised his machete, knowing full well it would do little against such a beast.
The red-eyed wolf snarled, baring its long, sharp fangs. It didn't attack. It only stared at Lira—and from its mouth, she heard the same whisper she had heard the night before:
"The key… you are the key…"
The creature stepped forward slowly, cornering them. Lira stared into its red eyes. There was not only hatred in them—but hunger. A hunger for something. A hunger for her.