**********Author's pov
The Realm of the Timekeepers had become unrecognizable.
Ancient towers lay in ruins.
Countless floating clocks had been shattered, their gears scattered across the silver plains. Cracks spread endlessly through the ground, and distorted streams of time twisted violently through the air.
The battle had lasted for days.
Kael stood in the middle of the destruction, breathing heavily.
His clothes were torn.
Blood stained the corner of his lips.
Dark energy continuously leaked from his body, surrounding him like black flames.
He was exhausted.
Across from him, Zareth stood quietly.
Not a single drop of sweat rested on his face.
His breathing remained perfectly steady.
His silver robes were barely damaged.
He looked as calm as he had at the beginning of the fight.
That calmness made Kael's blood boil.
Zareth looked at him silently.
Then he spoke.
"Kael."
His voice was as composed as ever.
"It's not too late."
Kael said nothing.
"I can still help you."
The wind carried the words across the ruined battlefield.
"I can save you from the corruption."
Kael's grip on his dagger tightened.
"I don't need your help."
Zareth didn't react.
"You're already changing."
He looked directly at Kael.
"I can feel it."
Kael laughed.
A cold, mocking laugh.
"You never change, do you?"
He took a step forward.
"Always calm."
"Always composed."
"Always acting like nothing in this world can affect you."
He laughed again.
"Really?"
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"Or is it that nobody has discovered what could make the great Zareth lose his composure?"
Silence.
Kael smiled slowly.
"It's that human girl, isn't it?"
Zareth's expression remained unchanged.
Kael continued.
"A little birdie told me…"
His smile widened.
"She has been reborn."
Then—
Zareth's eyes changed.
The calmness disappeared.
Zareth punched kael in the face.
'Don't even think about doing something stupid '
Kael laughed loudly, blood trickling down the side of his mouth.
"So I was right."
He tilted his head.
"Mind if I pay her a little visit?".
A terrifying pressure suddenly appeared.
Zareth was suddenly standing directly in front of Kael.
His hand had wrapped around Kael's throat, squeezing it tightly.
Kael couldn't breathe.
Yet he was still smiling.
Zareth's fingers tightened.
His silver eyes were colder than death.
'Go on, kill me. That makes you no different from me, right?'.
Then—
He stopped.
His hand slowly loosened.
Zareth looked at Kael.
Then at his own hand.
A faint crease appeared on his forehead.
For a brief moment…
He looked surprised.
As though he couldn't believe what he had just done.
Kael chuckled.
His laughter was hoarse.
"You finally cracked."
Kael stepped backward.
Darkness began spreading across his body.
His skin started cracking.
Black veins crawled beneath it.
His fangs grew noticeably longer.
His eyes became increasingly inhuman.
The corruption was slowly taking over him.
Kael looked at Zareth with a terrifying smile.
"I'm done playing with you."
The darkness around him erupted violently.
Then he disappeared.
Everywhere became silent.
Zareth stood motionless for several seconds.
The wind blew through the ruins.
Then his expression changed.
A realization.
His eyes narrowed.
"He distracted me."
Kael had never intended to win.
He had been buying time.
Zareth closed his eyes briefly.
Then sighed.
The ruined realm trembled.
His figure disappeared instantly.
*********
Deep beneath the demon castle.
The dungeon was silent except for Natalie's weak breathing.
Ellis remained bound by the ancient chains.
Vaelthor knelt beside Natalie, his expression darker than ever. He had tried to leave the dungeon to take care of Natalie but seraphine had set traps again. He kept on coming back to the same place.
Harper was gone.
None of them knew where Seraphine had taken her.
A ripple spread through the corridor.
Silver light appeared.
Zareth stepped out of it.
Ellis looked at him immediately.
"You."
Vaelthor slowly stood.
Zareth looked around the dungeon.
His gaze fell on the ancient chains surrounding Ellis.
Then on Natalie.
Finally, he spoke.
"So this is what Kael was distracting me from."
He raised one hand.
A simple flick of his fingers.
The ancient chains around Ellis shattered instantly.
The silver runes dissolved into dust.
Ellis stumbled slightly before regaining her balance.
She looked at Zareth in surprise.
Those chains were supposed to be impossible to break but then again, Zareth was a different kind of witch.
Zareth walked toward Natalie.
She was barely conscious.
Blood covered her clothes.
Her breathing was painfully weak.
He reached out.
His fingers touched her forehead.
A soft silver light spread through her body.
Natalie suddenly coughed violently.
Blood spilled from her lips.
She gasped for air.
Then slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry.
When Ellis saw this, her expression hardened.
"You…"
Her voice was weak.
"Why are you even here?"
Natalie struggled to sit up.
"Did you come to mock us?". Ellis continued.
Her eyes were filled with anger.
"Or didn't you think this would happen when you left so abruptly?"
The dungeon fell silent.
Zareth looked at her calmly.
"I came at the right time."
Ellis scoffed.
"Right time?"
"Harper is gone."
Ellis stepped forward.
"Seraphine took her."
Zareth looked at Ellis.
His expression became unreadable.
"This is partly your fault."
Ellis froze.
"What?"
"You awakened Harper's memories too early. I did tell you that there would be consequences for doing things hastily".
Ellis looked away.
Zareth looked back at Natalie.
The silver light around his hand intensified briefly.
Natalie's breathing gradually stabilized.
The color slowly returned to her face.
She looked at him silently.
"Seraphine, asked me to do something ". She said.
Ellis and vaelthor looked at Natalie curiously.
Zareth nodded. "Yes, I know what her plan is now".