A gnawing sense of guilt mixed with the growing anger within him. She hadn't listened to him, he had failed to convince her that he was back. That she was in danger.
She had seen him as a monster like everyone else. In the end he couldn't trust anyone he thought he knew.

She betrayed you. A voice whispered. She didn't fight for you when you needed her the most. Instead she stood and watched, watched as you were dragged away, watched as you were exiled.

A confused muddle of emotions mixed within him, the Shadow Magic reacting to his anger, to his guilt, to his bitterness and the years of pain he tried to bury.

"How the hero has fallen," said a voice, a voice that reminded him of cold, bitter wind.

"You have become the very thing you fear. A monster."

Viseron turned to his old enemy, watched a cruel smile play across his lips, his unsettling violet eyes watching his every move.

"I am not a monster," he hissed, trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

"We both know you don't believe that. Deep inside you you know what you have become. We both know what twenty years bound to the Shadow Magic has done."

Viseron didn't say anything, he didn't need to. He knew the Shadowalker was right. He had been slowly losing what humanity he had, the Shadow Magic was taking from him the only piece of his old self he had left.

He had fought the Shadow Magic since the moment it chose him to live within. In turn it fought him. He knew neither one of them had asked to united, and he didn't want to accept the very thing that was killing him.

The Shadowalker stepped closer to him, the Dark Magic he controlled calling to the Shadow Magic within him.

"You let the one who let you live this cursed life go. You let the one who betrayed you live. You thought she would trust you, that she would listen to you. When will you realize that she sees you as a monster."

Half of him believed every word the Shadowalker said. Half of him wanted to believe that Islande still saw something him. The voices in his head told him she wasn't trustworthy.

"Join me, Viseron, and you can show her the pain you have felt for all these years. Get your revenge for what she has done. Together they won't be able to stop us."

Viseron hated himself for the thoughts that entered his mind. For even thinking for a split second that joining his enemy was the right thing to do. The Shadow Magic whispered to him that it was the right thing to do, feeding off his anger and his bitterness.

The part of him that was still, somewhere, human told him otherwise. She still had to care about him somewhere within her heart, right? And he knew the Shadowalker wouldn't stop at just destroying Crysinlor.

"If you think I will join you you are wrong," he said, looking the Shadowalker in the eye.

"You won't stop at destroying just Crysinlor. You will not stop until the world is yours, which is not what I want."

"As you wish," said the Shadowalker, turning away from him.

"Know that she will be the first to die for her Kingdom."

Viseron drew his sword but wasn't fast enough. The Shadowalker disappeared like a whisper on the wind, leaving not trace behind.

She was in danger, they were all in danger. It was too late for messages, he would have to warn them himself. Black raven wings unfolded from his back and he launched himself into the sky, snow swirling around him.

He climbed higher and higher, moving as fast as he could. Beside him his raven flew with him, its rough cry echoed through the bitter cold air.

The Shadow Magic whispered in his head as he approached the edge of the Drenzian, whispering of danger beyond its border. He didn't have time to stop and weigh the potential consequences. Right now he had a mission, and he wouldn't fail a second time.

Viseron flew as fast as his wings would carry him, watching as the landscape below him slowly began to change. Snow became frost which soon melted, showing the first signs of life. Slowly the temperature began to warm, the ground below him turning more green as he traveled further North towards Crysinlor.

Other birds joined him in the sky as the land became greener, the trees full and flowers blooming. Viseron couldn't stop and admire the scenery he had missed however. Crysinlor was in danger.

Viseron pushed hard, ignoring the pain burning through his shoulder and back. He needed to make it in time.

What seemed like hours later he came upon the roads that intersected and lead to the Gilded Gates. He followed the main road, flying high enough to stay out of sight. He didn't want to cast any spells, he couldn't afford to use any more strength then he had to.

When he saw the Gilded Gates before him he reached out, feeling every person's mind, looking for any sign that something was wrong. He didn't sense anything wrong until he sensed Islande.

Her fear ebbed through her mind like ripples in a lake, almost palatable. Viseron could feel the fear of the others in the throne room like a wave. Something was very, very wrong.

I'm coming Islande. He thought, diving towards the castle.

Just hold on.

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Heyo sorry this was late, I've been pretty busy. Sorry of this feels a little confusing or muddled, it's not my strongest chapter. Hope you still enjoyed it!

— Nightfury107