The shadow seemed to writhe, its form becoming more erratic, unstable. The symbols on Erik’s skin flared brightly, as though resisting the shadow’s pull, and the hunger inside him screamed in fury, desperate to reclaim control.

  But Erik stood firm. He clenched his fists tighter, grounding himself in the strength of his friends and the will to protect them. The hunger still clawed at him, but now it felt distant, less consuming. The darkness, a force he had once felt as an inseparable part of him, seemed less like a part of his soul and more like an alien presence trying to devour him from the inside out.

  “You will not control me,” Erik said, his voice cold with defiance, though beneath his words, a tremor of uncertainty lurked. He had been at war with this darkness for so long that sometimes it felt as though they were one. But now, standing here, surrounded by those who believed in him, he realized he wasn’t alone in this fight. And with that realization, the hunger inside him seemed to shrink, just slightly.

  The shadow screeched, its form flickering wildly as it tried to claw its way back into Erik’s heart, into his very soul. It was a battle he had fought countless times before, but never like this. His body had become a battlefield between the ancient curse of the shadow and his own will to survive, to protect those who had become his family.

  Kaelith stepped closer, her daggers still drawn but her eyes soft with hope. Her silvery hair shimmered in the dim light of the chamber, and though her stance remained poised for action, her expression was one of quiet belief. "You’ve got this, Erik. We all believe in you."

  Her words were like a lifeline, a rope thrown to him as he teetered on the edge of the abyss. Erik’s eyes flickered toward her, and for the briefest moment, the hunger inside him wavered. Kaelith had always been the steady one the calm force in their group, the one who kept them grounded when the world seemed to be falling apart. Her belief in him was unwavering, even when he wasn’t sure he believed in himself.

  Edrin nodded, his gaze filled with unwavering determination. “Don’t let it win.”

  Edrin, who had always been the wild spirit of their group, the one with the fiery temper and unrelenting passion, was now a rock beside him. They had come so far together, their bond forged in battle and hardened through shared pain. Erik had always known that Edrin had a deep understanding of what it meant to fight demons, both external and internal. But hearing those words now, the raw sincerity in them, strengthened his resolve.

  A deep breath drew in through Erik’s chest, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. The chamber around them shook, the walls groaning as though they, too, could feel the weight of the shadow’s struggle. But in the center of that chaos, Erik focused. He closed his eyes and centered his thoughts, blocking out the voice of the hunger that clawed at his mind, the twisted promises it whispered.

  He could feel the shadow’s power, pressing against him, trying to slip back into his veins. But something was different now. He wasn’t just fighting for himself anymore. He was fighting for the people who had stood by his side through all of it the ones who had seen him for what he truly was, not just the shadow that lurked within.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  With one final push, Erik drew upon the strength of those who believed in him, the bond they shared, and the unbreakable will to be free. He focused all his energy on breaking the bond between him and the darkness that had tormented him for so long. The shadow fought back with a primal fury, sending waves of fear and doubt crashing over Erik’s mind. But he held fast, refusing to let it take hold again.

  The hunger the voice of the shadow tried to convince him it was a part of him, that they were one and the same. It whispered of power, of limitless strength and control. It spoke of vengeance and of giving in, of embracing the darkness. But Erik knew now what he had to do. The power was never truly his; it had always been borrowed, a curse disguised as a gift. He didn’t need it. He didn’t want it.

  He felt the symbols on his skin pulse and flicker, the golden runes that had once blazed with dark energy now flickering like the final embers of a dying flame. His connection to the shadow was weakening, and with each passing second, he felt a little lighter. It was as if the weight he had carried for so long was finally starting to lift.

  The shadow screeched again, but this time, it was different. The sound was no longer filled with the same primal fury. Instead, it was tinged with panic, with the realization that it was losing its grip. Its form twisted and writhed, unraveling before his eyes as Erik's strength surged.

  The chamber trembled violently, the ground beneath Erik’s feet buckling as though the very earth was trying to resist the power of his will. But he remained unshaken. His friends’ voices echoed in his mind, their words of encouragement wrapping around him like a protective shield.

  Kaelith’s voice was the softest, yet it rang through his heart the clearest. “We’re with you, Erik.”

  Edrin’s growl, filled with raw conviction, came next. “Fight. Don’t let it take you.”

  Erik pushed forward, willing his body to endure the strain. He could feel the darkness slithering away from him, its form dissolving into the air like smoke. The hunger that had once been all-consuming was now but a faint whisper, a distant echo in the back of his mind.

  And then, with one final, earth-shattering burst of willpower, the darkness vanished.

  For a moment, everything was still. The air around them felt lighter, freer, as though the very world itself had exhaled in relief. Erik’s legs gave way beneath him, and he collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as if the weight of a thousand years had been lifted from his shoulders. His skin, once aglow with the symbols of the shadow, now lay still, empty.

  Exhausted, Erik let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. His heart was pounding, but there was no more pain, no more hunger. The shadow was gone, and he was free. He was finally free.

  The sound of footsteps approaching broke the silence, and before Erik knew it, Kaelith and Edrin were by his side, their hands on his shoulders, steadying him.

  "You did it," Kaelith whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with an emotion Erik couldn’t quite name. Relief. Gratitude. Awe.

  Erik looked up at her, his eyes heavy with exhaustion. "I... I don’t know how," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "I wasn’t sure I could... but I did it. It’s over."

  Edrin offered a half-smile, the kind that Erik had seen a thousand times, but today, it felt different. "You weren’t alone, Erik," he said simply, his voice full of quiet pride. "We’re always with you."

  The three of them stood together in that quiet moment, the oppressive weight of the shadow finally lifted. The bonds that had once held Erik captive those of blood, curse, and darkness had been shattered. He was no longer a prisoner to the hunger that had defined him for so long.

  And as they stood there, in the calm that followed the storm, Erik realized something. This wasn’t just a victory over the darkness inside him. It was a victory over the fear that had kept him from truly living. He was free to forge his own path, free to choose his own destiny, with his friends beside him.

  The hunger had been defeated, and for the first time in a long time, Erik felt like he could finally breathe.