Pain surged through me. With great power comes great pain. I could feel the energy struggling to be released. What I needed to do was release it and bind it to my will. If only it were as easy to do it as think about it. The room changed. I was now back in the Council Room. Only this time, the great throne was not empty. He stood there, waiting for someone it seemed. A light breeze was blowing and his black hair danced behind him. He spoke, yet it seemed the voice came from within my head.
"Are you prepared?"
Simple enough. "I am," I replied. I had to struggle to keep my face free of emotions.
"I have been waiting for someone worthy to wield these powers for a long time. Not one of those who attempted were capable. And here you are, a woman who is in deep distress. Why do you think you are worthy enough?"
"Milord, I do not try to take upon these powers to serve me. I intend to save this Temple. Nothing more."
"You speak of a noble cause. Yet, you do not know the pain that comes with such power. Allow me to demonstrate."
He aimed his palms at me. And then, the room changed. I was in a dungeon of some sort. A warrior in icy armour stood facing a great dragon-like creature. The creature attacked time and again, with its tail, claws and fangs. The fighter parried them all. Easily. Yet he never went on the offense.
"You see? This was my duel with Agorthus, the lord of these caves." The voice in my head spoke again.
"Wondering why I don't attack? Well, Agorthus can be killed only by cutting all four vessels in his neck. And together."
Then I saw why the warrior was hesitating. Chained to Agorthus's neck were four humans. Three women and one boy. The boy looked strangely familiar. The younger women resembled the eldest in some respects too.
"I couldn't kill Agorthus without killing my own family. And I wasn't as strong as I would later become. And I had to kill Agorthus. If not, many others would die in his caves. Yet, it was my younger daughter's screams that would forever haunt me. She cried out loudly for me to save her even while Agorthus laughed."
I watched the duel. Agorthus was blocked on every attack of his. And then, the warrior finally attacked. In two great blows, he severed Agorthus's vessels. The creature fell dead. The warrior fell to his knees, crying helplessly for the family he had to slay.
"That is the pain which I would experience till my last breath. And now, do you still wish to continue?"
I was shaken. Yet I knew what I had to do.
"Yes." There could be no other way.
To be continued.
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