I dedicated my whole life to God, I was always focused on my duties and my virtue, at least until the day I met him. That wasn't a part of the great church I had known before, curiosity led me deeper into what seemed to be a dungeon, and that's where I found him. Something wicked chained up, sealed in that frightening place. His name was Amon, the evil being who had dragged me into sin, made me give myself over to him, the being who had introduced me to lust.
Chapter 1 The Call of Darkness
The imposing Cathedral of Lumina rose above the city like a beacon of hope. Its gothic towers pierced the sky, and the stained glass windows cast vivid colors on the stone floor, as if divine light was ever-present. For Elara, every corner of that place was sacred. Since she could remember, she had dedicated her life to the church, embracing vows of devotion, purity, and service. She was known for her unwavering faith and her serene presence, which inspired everyone around her.
That morning, Elara was participating in a solemn ritual at the main altar. The air was perfumed with incense, mingling with the harmonious voices of the choir. As the priests chanted hymns, Elara felt an unusual peace in her heart. However, something unexpected happened. As the silver chalice was raised to consecrate the wine, a gust of wind swept through the cathedral, extinguishing the candles and bringing a chill that made everyone exchange uneasy glances.
Kneeling, Elara felt a shiver run down her spine. The wind seemed to whisper something in her ears, but she couldn't make out the words. Opening her eyes, she saw the stained glass projections forming unusual shadows on the floor. For a moment, she thought she saw a hooded figure among them, but when she blinked, the vision vanished.
After the ritual, Elara tried to shake off the discomfort, but the sensation lingered. Throughout the day, she felt a weight in her chest, as if something invisible was watching her. She decided to seek solace in prayer, but as she knelt before a small side chapel, she heard the whisper again. This time, it was clearer: "Elara..."
She stood up abruptly, looking around. The chapel was empty. Feeling confused and slightly frightened, she decided to walk through the cathedral's corridors to calm her mind. Her footsteps echoed on the ancient stones, and the candlelight flickered on the walls. That's when her eyes caught something peculiar: a door ajar in a wing that should have been locked.
Elara hesitated. That part of the cathedral was forbidden. Since joining the church, she had been instructed never to cross those doors. Stories were told that secrets of the faith's oldest truths were kept there, protected by generations of clerics. Yet something inside her-perhaps the same voice she had heard-seemed to call her forward. Against her better judgment, she pushed the door open.
The creak of the hinges echoed like a muffled scream. Beyond it lay a spiral staircase descending into the depths of the cathedral. The air was denser there, heavy with dust and dampness. Elara descended slowly, holding a candle she had found near the entrance. Each step felt colder than the last, and the silence was broken only by the sound of her breathing.
After what felt like an eternity, she reached the bottom of the staircase. What she found was a massive wooden door, dark and adorned with faintly glowing runes. Elara's heart raced. The runes seemed to pulse in response to her presence, as if they recognized something within her. Before she could think better of it, the door opened on its own, revealing a vast underground chamber.
The hall was impressive, despite its state of ruin. Gigantic pillars supported the vaulted ceiling, and the floor was covered in worn mosaics depicting battles between angelic figures and shadowy creatures. At the center stood a stone altar surrounded by intricate magical circles etched into the floor with supernatural precision. And there, in the middle of the altar, a hooded figure knelt, bound in chains and cloaked in shadows.
"Elara..." the voice called again, now clearly coming from the figure. It was deep yet seductive, laden with an authority that made her skin prickle.
She took a step forward, unable to resist the pull she felt. When the figure raised its head, the hood revealed a face seemingly carved in perfection, with eyes that glowed like embers. Despite his menacing appearance, there was something hypnotic about him.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The figure smiled, a smile both welcoming and dangerous. "You know me, Elara. You have always known me. I am the one who was forgotten, locked here by those who fear the truth."
She stepped closer, now only a few feet from the altar. She felt torn between fear and curiosity. "Why did you call me?"
"Because you are different. You question, even if you do not admit it. I have seen the doubts in your heart, Elara. I know you feel that something is wrong with what you've been taught."
Elara stepped back slightly, as if he had touched a raw nerve. It was true that, in moments of silence, she had wondered about the inflexibility of the church, about the mysteries that were hidden. But she had never dared to voice those thoughts.
"I am a sinner just for thinking such things..." she murmured, more to herself than to him.
"No, my dear. To think is what makes us free. And freedom is what I offer you. But first, I need your help."
Before Elara could respond, his voice echoed again, deeper and laden with intent: "Come. Look closer. See what they fear."
Elara hesitated, but curiosity burned inside her like a fire. She approached the altar, her eyes fixed on the chained figure. She felt that, by crossing that invisible line, something within her would change forever.
When she finally stopped before the altar, he lifted his eyes to hers. "You are stronger than you think, Elara. And your destiny is only beginning."
The words resonated in her mind as a shadow seemed to envelop the hall. Deep down, she knew that this encounter was only the beginning of something that would change her life-and perhaps the world-forever.
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