"...Why are there two of you?"

Silence crushed the underground sanctum.

The figure halfway through the fractured gate continued staring directly at Mason while broken silver chains dragged slowly across the stone floor behind it.

Golden eyes narrowed with growing curiosity.

Athlian’s terror exploded through Mason hard enough to make breathing difficult.

’Pretend as if you didn’t hear.’

Mason thought rapidly, "Conversation is not currently my preferred survival strategy now Athlian."

Unfortunately everyone else had also heard the question.

Seraphine’s gaze sharpened instantly.

Zereth went completely still.

Draca subtly moved another half step closer beside him again.

The chained creature above the sanctum suddenly tightened its grip against the collapsing ceiling.

Massive stone fragments crashed downward while silver fractures spread wider across the underground prison.

Time was running out professionally.

Mason immediately pointed toward the partially escaped prison horror.

"Counterpoint. Maybe we emotionally ignore whatever horrifying statement that was."

Nobody looked willing to do that.

The ancient figure beyond the gate tilted its head slightly.

Silver condemnation markings shifted slowly across pale skin while fragments of broken chains hung around its wrists.

It looked almost human.

That somehow made everything worse.

"You divided the soul," it said softly.

Athlian recoiled violently inside Mason.

’Impossible.’

Mason’s stomach dropped. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The thing smiled faintly. "She does not remember fully."

Seraphine looked toward Mason sharply.

"What’s going on goddess?"

"Fantastic question," Mason answerered immediately. "Would also love literally any explanation."

Zereth’s silver eyes narrowed carefully now.

Assura stepped forward again before anyone else could speak.

Crimson symbols ignited beneath his feet.

"You speak too freely."

The ancient prisoner laughed quietly. "And you still hide the fracture."

The entire sanctum trembled violently.

Above them, the chained creature roared again.

Silver light flooded through the collapsing ceiling while entire sections of the

underground chamber began breaking apart.

One of the remaining support pillars shattered completely.

Several soldiers barely escaped before the upper walkway collapsed into darkness below.

Seraphine immediately barked orders again. "Evacuate the eastern platform!"

The remaining guards rushed into motion.

Honestly impressive considering reality itself had become aggressively unstable.

Mason stumbled slightly as another tremor rolled beneath the floor.

Draca’s hand caught his arm instantly.

Athlian noticed immediately. ’You looked for him.’

"I looked for balance because the apocalypse keeps throwing me sideways emotionally."

’Alright Mason, my eyes are on you until you finally admit to having somewhere for the mortal.’

"What the hell Athlian" Mason signed inwardly.

The chained creature above suddenly lowered its enormous face closer toward the gate.

Toward the prisoner.

Silver markings burned brighter across its pale skin.

"We found the vessel."

Mason blinked rapidly. "...I deeply hate the word vessel now."

The prisoner’s golden eyes shifted slowly back toward him."No," it corrected softly.

"Not vessel."

Tiny pause.

"Doorway."

Mason immediately shook his head. "No thank you. Respectfully rejecting that entire concept."

Unexpectedly...

The prisoner smiled wider. "He carries defiance."

Athlian sounded deeply shaken now. ’It remembers the old courts.’

"That sentence means absolutely nothing useful to me Athlian."

’Good.’

"...That is not reassuring at all."

Before Athlian could continue, Zereth suddenly stepped closer toward the gate again.

Shadows spread violently beneath his feet while silver symbols flickered across his hands.

"You recognize Athlian."

The prisoner’s attention shifted toward him slowly.

"Yes."

"And Mason?"

Silence followed immediately...

An overwhelming one.

Draca’s expression hardened immediately.

Seraphine looked toward Zereth sharply.

Saleem appeared moments from spiritual collapse again.

Mason internally screamed.

Athlian froze.

The prisoner studied Zereth carefully for several long seconds.

Then finally responded. "You ask dangerous questions."

Zereth didn’t move. "You avoided answering."

"Because the answer remains incomplete."

Mason rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Could every immortal in existence please stop speaking like cursed prophecy books?"

"No," Assura replied immediately.

"Of course not."

Another violent tremor interrupted them.

The chained creature above the sanctum suddenly forced one enormous arm deeper through the collapsed ceiling.

Silver chains dragged behind it while fractured reality bent around the massive limb itself.

The underground prison groaned loudly.

Several new cracks split across the gate.

Athlian’s fear surged harder. ’If Heaven reaches the seal directly...’

"Bad things happen. Yes. We established that several emotional disasters ago."

Draca glanced toward the collapsing ceiling. "We are losing the sanctum."

"Observant," Mason muttered weakly.

Seraphine stepped toward Assura sharply.

"Can the gate still be sealed?"

The ancient being remained silent briefly.

Which answered enough.

Saleem looked horrified. "That means the prison opens completely?!"

"No," Zereth answered quietly.

Everyone turned toward him.

His shadows continued spreading slowly through the chamber floor while silver eyes remained fixed on the widening fracture.

"It means the fracture chooses."

Silence followed.

Mason immediately pointed at him. "You have officially become significantly more concerning tonight."

Athlian noticed something first. ’He knows

more than he should.’

"Yes," Mason thought carefully, "that appears to be becoming a trend."

The prisoner suddenly lifted one chained hand slowly toward Mason.

The soul bridge between Mason and Athlian immediately reacted as pain exploded through Mason’s chest hard enough to make him gasp.

Fragments flashed violently through his thoughts again.

A throne suspended above endless clouds.

Athlian standing beneath golden banners.

Another figure beside her; Tall. golden-eyed. Smiling faintly.

Then chains.

Screaming.

Falling light.

The vision shattered instantly.

Mason staggered hard but Draca caught him again before he collapsed fully.

"Mason."

Oops.

Not again.

Seraphine’s eyes narrowed immediately.

Zereth noticed too, he’s always observing.

Mason looked upward weakly. "In my defense, everyone keeps dramatically yelling names tonight."

Nobody appreciated the excuse.

Draca’s expression tightened slightly now.

The commander looked genuinely more worried about Mason collapsing than about the giant cosmic horror destroying reality overhead.

Dangerous emotionally.

Athlian noticed immediately. ’You leaned into him.’

"I leaned toward consciousness."

’Liar.’

Terrible ally.

The prisoner beyond the gate watched the interaction quietly.

Then softly...

"How strange."

Assura’s voice turned cold instantly.

"Enough."

Crimson symbols exploded across the chamber floor again.

Reality distorted violently around the partially opened gate.

The prisoner’s chains tightened suddenly.

Its smile faded slightly.

Assura still held authority here somehow.

The ancient prisoner slowly looked toward him.

"You fear what returns."

"I remember what was lost."

Tiny silence followed.

Not hostile silence but old silence.

The kind between people carrying history nobody else understands.

Mason deeply hated being surrounded by immortal emotional context.

Before anyone could speak again, a guard stumbled down the remaining upper stairway bleeding heavily from one side.

"Commander!"

Draca turned instantly.

"The capital’s inner districts have fallen!"

The chamber froze.

Seraphine swore sharply. "The palace barriers?"

"Gone."

Another roar thundered from above immediately afterward.

The chained creature pressed harder against the collapsing sanctum ceiling while silver light flooded downward in violent waves now.

Mason looked upward blankly. "...Right. We’re still dying."

Athlian’s emotions twisted painfully beneath his thoughts; Fear, guilt, recognition and something else which is grief.

"You know these things," Mason realized internally.

A pause.

Then softly...

’Long ago.’

"Please stop having ancient trauma at

inconvenient moments."

’Sorry.’

The apology caught him off guard again.

Before he could respond, Zereth suddenly moved.

Not toward the gate but toward Mason.

Draca reacted instantly, stepping partially between them.

Tiny tension spread through the sanctum.

Zereth stopped.

Silver eyes flicked briefly toward Draca

before returning to Mason again. "You heard the prisoner."

Mason blinked. "Unfortunately yes."

"It spoke as though you and Athlian are separate."

Every instinct inside Mason screamed.

Athlian kept mute.

Seraphine noticed the tension immediately.

Saleem looked deeply confused again.

Assura watched silently.

Dangerously silently.

Mason forced a weak laugh.

"Counterpoint. Ancient prison horrors may not be reliable conversational sources."

"That is possible," Zereth admitted calmly.

Tiny pause.

"But not impossible."

Draca’s voice cut through the tension immediately.

"This discussion waits."

Mason hated how relieved he felt hearing him say that.

’You trust him more than yourself now.’ Athlian muttered.

"...That feels emotionally rude."

Before the conversation could become more dangerous, the chained creature above finally broke fully through the sanctum ceiling.

The entire underground prison shook violently as its massive upper body descended into view.

Silver chains dragged across collapsing

stone while fractured light spread across the chamber like cracks through reality itself.

Every guard stepped backward

instinctively.

Even Seraphine looked shaken now.

The creature’s enormous glowing eyes lowered slowly toward the gate.

Toward the prisoner.

Then finally toward Mason.

"We found the fracture," it repeated.

The prisoner smiled again. "And now you see it."

Athlian’s panic exploded instantly. ’Do not let them connect us.’

"I’m trying very hard."

The chained creature suddenly extended one massive hand downward toward Mason, not attacking but claiming.

Silver light flooded the chamber instantly.

The soul bridge reacted violently.

Pain slammed through Mason hard enough to tear a scream from his throat.

Athlian cried out inside him at the same moment.

Two voices...one body.

The entire sanctum froze.

Silence crashed down across the chamber.

Seraphine stared.

Saleem went pale.

Zereth’s eyes widened slightly in shock.

Draca tightened his grip on Mason instantly...with confusion plastered on his face.

The chained creature tilted its enormous head slowly.

Recognition flickered across its glowing eyes.

Then certainty.

"The fracture lives."

The prisoner beyond the gate laughed softly.

And all at once...

Every silver marking across Mason’s skin ignited.