Lyle's Story

More revelations about the past.

Lyle’s expression twisted; not in anger, but in anguish. For a moment, the Hollow’s glow dimmed around him, flickering like a candle struggling in the wind.

“I waited,” he said hoarsely. “Waited for you to come back. But you never did.”

“I tried,” Darius said, stepping forward, his voice gaining strength. “You were gone. Father took you and vanished into the north provinces. Mother searched until the fever took her.”

Lyle’s hands trembled. The Hollow above them shivered in response, its edges unraveling and knitting themselves back together.

“She said you’d protect me,” he whispered. “But you weren’t there. Not when he...” He trailed off, his voice catching.

Darius’s breath hitched. “Lyle...what did he do to you?”

Lyle’s eyes darkened. “He used my magic. Made me hurt people with it.”

The rain fell heavier now, pounding the dock, but Darius stood still, listening.

“He destroyed the people on the Celestia,” Lyle continued, voice flat and hollow. “He used me to sacrifice them...all of them. Burned their souls to fuel some twisted ritual.”

Darius shook his head, stunned. “What are you talking about?”

“They were all sacrificed so our father could gain more power,” Lyle said, his voice rising with barely restrained fury. “And when it wasn’t enough he turned to me. You were gone. He couldn’t use you. Our sister...she wasn’t powerful enough. That left me!”

The Hollow pulsed behind him, feeding on his memories, growing darker and wider.

“I found out about her,” Lyle said, his voice cracking. “I was going to tell her who I really was. But all she did was talk about you; how her brother Darius would come for her, how everything would be fine once you were back.”

Darius flinched.

“It wasn't luck I found you in that tavern.” Lyle went on, eyes burning.