We rushed through corridors, weaving between debris and panicked crowds. The thunder of distant explosions hadn't stopped, and the walls shook like they could collapse any moment. Alice walked ahead, confident and focused as always. The surrounding chaos seemed not to touch her.

  She'd stop to help without even looking. Like it was part of her nature. One hand lifting a fallen chair, the other calming a terrified official. I watched this, thinking she did it mechanically. As if her body knew what to do without overthinking.

  "Luten, Elliot, Tarian, stay close to me."

  I nodded, pulling my brother closer. Elliot was pale but holding it together. Tarian walked behind.

  I asked, and Alice responds.

  "Are we almost there?"

  "Almost."

  Every step of hers was quick and precise. She seemed to know where to go, though the corridors all looked the same. At every turn—faces in panic, fragmented shouts, people rushing somewhere with papers in hand. It all blended into one stream.

  Elliot suddenly stopped, grabbing my sleeve.

  "Look."

  He pointed at a broken window.

  I saw the crowd gathering in the square before parliament. Their shouts were muffled by glass, but their rage could be felt even from here. Tarian approached and pulled us aside.

  "Better not stand so close to windows."

  When we reached another intersection, I noticed Alice stop near a wounded guard. He sat against the wall with a torn sleeve, blood seeping through. Alice silently crouched before him, quickly examined the wound and whispered something. The soldier just nodded, gritting his teeth.

  She rose with a brief:

  "Hold on, help's coming."

  "Why is she so calm?"

  I shook my head. Didn't know myself. Maybe she was just used to it. Or had to be.

  When we turned another corner, Alice stopped and raised her hand, signaling us to freeze. Her gaze fixed on the far end of the corridor. There, in the dim light, someone stood.

  I tensed and automatically looked at my brother, his hands trembling. I decided to speak first.

  "Who's there?"

  Alice stayed silent, unmoving. Her figure was tense, and her fingers slowly began flexing.

  This person turned out to be another official. I think his name was Sebastian. This was very strange. He'd surely noticed us much earlier than we noticed him. But he kept standing in the shadows. Maybe hoping we wouldn't spot him?

  Alice sensed something was off too and started interrogating the poor guy. He was clearly hiding something, and after a couple questions I began guessing what she was trying to find out.

  He wasn't dressed like everyone else. And I didn't notice as much dirt and dust on him as on the others. Judging by the mob outside, he was trying to either hide and leave somewhere, or join the crowd as one of them.

  Why do I think that? Since Alice knows him, he's clearly not nobody in the government. This means he needs to either hide from the mob or lead it.

  I think he was ready to talk, but he was interrupted by the appearance of that same woman who'd stared at me intently the other night.

  I couldn't help but look at her. She wore a rather revealing dress that showed her body's curves well. Strange... A small scar near her stomach, I'll need to tell Alice later.

  I knew she was dangerous, but...

  Alice spoke in raised tones:

  "You didn't answer my question, Camelia. What are you doing here?"

  "And what should I tell you? Am I not allowed to be here?"

  "Don't dodge the question. You've been listed missing for days. And now you're acting a bit differently."

  "Then let's not play guessing games."

  Alice addressed the guards:

  "Guards, I'm issuing an order to detain Camelia Morael!"

  I felt something strange. Energy was gathering somewhere beneath us. Reflexively I started watching Camelia's movements more closely. She barely moved, just twitched her fingers slightly. At first glance, it looked harmless.

  But there was something else: blood was leaking from her ears. A strange saturated color, more like congealed tar. It looked horrific: as if her brain was simply oozing out. One of her eyes twitched noticeably. Something was wrong.

  The energy in her hands beat stronger, and I realized I couldn't wait any longer. I raised my hand to my stomach to prepare a strike. When I'd gathered enough power, I sharply straightened my arm toward her and made my move.

  "Luten, no!"

  Though I can't quickly gather my power for attack, it flies to its target fast. That's what happened—I successfully hit her arm. Whatever she was hiding there, now she wouldn't catch us off guard!

  I didn't limit my strength, expecting her to try blocking my strike somehow, but she just turned her gaze to me. Her arm tore off with a disgusting sound, and blood drops painted the corridor.

  Her blood, thick and dark like old tar mixed with rotten oil, sprayed the walls. Camelia didn't even scream, but that sound... that repulsive, wet crunch of bone and sinew tearing... I felt something rising inside me. It wasn't pride or relief. It was a sickening realization.

  What have I done? This wasn't right... or was it? She was about to attack us, I saw it!

  My thoughts raced. My whole mind tried finding justifications. But none of them helped. Instead I kept watching as she, losing an arm, still maintained that sinister confidence.

  By inertia her body started spinning toward the impact, but I didn't notice how she used the situation and swung her other hand at me. Apparently she'd been preparing two strikes, and I, fool, only noticed one.

  I saw a small point flying at me, and both me and this object were suddenly pulled downward. It was gravity magic. Alice managed to react at the last second.

  "You three, get out of here fast."

  The corridor plunged into tense silence. Only muffled footsteps broke it. Camelia stood motionless, her gaze radiating cold determination.

  Alice, in contrast, looked composed but her hands trembled slightly from tension. Their powers could be felt even in the air, though they remained invisible.

  Camelia stepped forward. Her bare feet barely touched the floor, but cracks immediately appeared. From them thin shoots instantly grew, writhing in the air and creating a threatening pattern aimed at Alice.

  "How interesting, very interesting. I was right the day before yesterday after all. Your name is Luten, I believe. Wouldn't you like to come with me?"

  Alice acted instantly. She raised her hand, and the space around her distorted. The air trembled as if the entire corridor was under pressure.

  The shoots stopped, then began retracting, disappearing into tiny points.

  "Why such cruel methods?"

  Alice's voice trembled with tension, but a mocking threat could still be heard in it, making Camelia tense.

  "Nature doesn't tolerate violence, Camelia."

  "And you?"

  Alice was silent with icy calm, her voice as cold as her hand movements.

  Camelia laughed. Her laughter was quiet and frightening. Camelia waved her hand, and huge vines began bursting from the corridor walls. They were covered with strange thorns. Looking closer, you could see these weren't spikes but tiny eyes.

  They moved and tracked every movement. The vines rushed toward Alice but, hitting an invisible barrier, began twisting and breaking.

  A crack came from the ceiling, and several soldiers entered the corridor. Camelia slowly turned to them. Her face remained calm, but her eyes flashed with strange triumph. She raised her hand, and blood-red seeds soared into the air. They rushed toward the soldiers like a swarm of deadly needles.

  The seeds pierced the soldiers' bodies. A moment later, roots began growing from the wounds. With wet cracks they broke through armor and skin. Blood-red flowers began blooming directly from the bodies, oozing thick liquid. The soldiers' screams were drowned by the sounds of rustling plants.

  Soon the corridor transformed into a forest of crimson and purple flowers. The petals glowed with dim, sinister light, casting bloody reflections on the walls. A sickly-sweet smell of rot filled the air, mixing with an unsettling silence.

  Camelia looked at her triumphant picture with a light smile. Her voice sounded calm, almost detached:

  "How primitive. A complete waste of my time."

  The flowers, as if responding to her words, began closing their petals. The soldiers' bodies compressed into balls of roots and shoots, leaving behind only a bloody mess and dead silence.

  Elliot and Tarian froze as if glued in place. Their faces paled, and horror froze in their eyes. I felt their helplessness washing over me too. Tarian turned his gaze to me, but I couldn't tear my eyes from this picture.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "Why... didn't we do anything?"

  Elliot clenched his fists but didn't move. His gaze was locked on what remained of the soldiers.

  "How could we help? We'd just die alongside them."

  Elliot's words rang in my head, but I couldn't argue with them.

  I stayed silent. Everything churned inside. These flowers, having absorbed pain and horror, seemed to shackle my mind. "We didn't make it... or couldn't? How could I have helped?" Thoughts raced, leaving heaviness in my chest. I tried to look away, but my legs wouldn't obey, as if rooted to the floor.

  Alice stepped forward. The space around her trembled again. Camelia didn't move, but her plants in response began sprouting from the floor right under Alice's feet. They tried to capture her legs but were crushed by invisible force. The vines crumbled, leaving behind only dry dust.

  "You love your power, don't you?"

  Camelia squinted slightly. Her voice sounded calm, but hidden tension could be heard in it.

  "But gravitational forces are also part of nature."

  She made a sharp gesture, and several of her plants, wrapping around each other, began forming huge arches that hung in the air, emitting soft purple glow.

  I noticed Alice sway for a moment. The vines began pulling her shields, and gravity at the point around Alice became unstable. One of the flows pulled her sideways, disrupting her balance.

  Alice quickly recovered balance, clenching her fists. She made a wide sweep with her hand, and gravitational fields scattered in all directions. The vines already beginning to stretch toward her fell to pieces, and the air filled with something like tiny sparks scattering everywhere.

  "When did you learn to copy magic? You should stop and surrender right now, your position's only getting worse!"

  "My position's only improving."

  Camelia retreated, but only for a moment. Her body began radiating magical energy that transformed into a network of thin blood-red threads. They stretched through the corridor, instantly filling all space. They began wrapping around walls, ceiling, floor, leaving Alice less and less room to maneuver.

  "Still think you can win?"

  Her words sounded quiet but with such pressure that even Alice felt slight concern. Alice stepped forward, not wanting to give in to provocation. She struck down with her hand, and the floor under Camelia suddenly cracked as if someone squeezed it with a huge invisible hand.

  Camelia was forced to retreat, but her plants immediately began creating something new. Vines merged with each other, turning into something resembling a giant living creature with dozens of moving limbs. Alice raised her hands, and the creature, not even managing to step, was pulled into a gravitational trap. It began compressing, tearing, turning into nothing. But this gave Camelia time.

  She jumped onto one of her vines, which soared upward, breaking through the ceiling. Alice noticed too late.

  "You think you can escape?"

  She rushed after. Stone fragments and dust scattered everywhere as Alice punched her way up.

  "Stay away from us!"

  In an instant they were gone. I quickly looked up where a huge hole gaped in the ceiling. Battle sounds carried to the roof. But my gaze was pulled down again. I couldn't take it off the soldiers' bodies. I tried convincing myself this wasn't real, just a bad dream. But the picture before my eyes didn't disappear. Blood-red flowers breaking through armor, bursting from bodies. People's faces—distorted by pain and fear.

  While my brother and Tarian fought the plants, I stood paralyzed. Only one thought spun in my head: "This shouldn't have happened. This can't be true."

  My stomach clenched, and I felt nausea rising to my throat again. I stepped back, trying to find strength to turn away, but my legs seemed rooted in place.

  "Hey!"

  A voice pulled me from my trance. It was Tarian. He stood nearby, sword driven into the ground, trying to catch his breath.

  "Now's not the time for reflection, Luten!"

  I turned to him. His face was covered in soot, and his uniform looked even more worn than before. But there was neither fear nor doubt in his eyes.

  "You're breathing, means you can still fight."

  Elliot tugged my sleeve.

  "Luten, you okay?"

  His voice trembled, but he didn't seem worried about the corpses near us. They didn't interest him. I started mumbling:

  "This... This isn't normal."

  "This is reality. And if we don't do something now, we'll be next."

  I looked at him. His face was pale, but determination burned in his eyes. He seemed to have pulled himself together faster than me. Alice threw us a quick glance, then focused on Camelia again.

  "Get out of here, now!"

  I wanted to obey, but something inside resisted.

  These soldiers died because they were too weak. And if I leave, it means I'm weak too. That I'll just leave everything in Alice's hands, again.

  No.

  I swallowed and looked at Elliot.

  "We have to help her."

  He nodded, though I saw his hands trembling like mine.

  "Then let's go."

  "Stop!"

  It was Tarian.

  "Are you insane?"

  I looked at him, not immediately understanding what he said.

  "What?"

  "You can't go there. Alice will handle it. And you? You'll die there."

  "We can't abandon her!"

  I felt anger flaring inside from his words.

  "You want to save her? Then leave. Both of you leave."

  Elliot stepped forward, his gaze stubborn.

  "She needs us."

  "She doesn't need you! Look around! This isn't a fight, it's a slaughter. And if you butt in, you'll become another problem for her."

  I felt my hands clench into fists.

  "You saw what's happening there. Her hands are tied. She needs help."

  "Know what she really needs? For you not to be dead."

  He stepped toward me, his voice lowering.

  "Luten, I understand you want to be a hero. But if you die now, who will you save?"

  "What do I care about someone if I can't help the person who saved us?! We at least owe her and should help. With anything, even if we just distract the enemy."

  We ran to the nearest stairs, but the image of dead soldiers still stood before my eyes. This feeling—a mix of fear and guilt—wouldn't let go.

  A question echoed in my head: "Can I do anything to stop this?"

  When we burst onto the roof, icy wind met me. Alice stood opposite Camelia, and magic swirled around them. Gravitational waves collided with thorny vines, cracking the roof's stone slabs.

  Camelia laughed, her voice cutting the ear like a taut string.

  "You're still holding on? How boring."

  Alice didn't answer. Her gaze was focused, but I saw she was tiring.

  "We're here! — I shouted, trying to overcome the wind's noise."

  Alice turned for a moment.

  "I told you to leave!"

  "How can we abandon you? Your magic can't fully manifest here!"

  Camelia turned to us, her eyes gleaming with malice.

  "Ah, helpers. How sweet."

  She waved her hand, and roots rushed at us like snakes.

  I jumped aside, trying to strike with magic. One root tore, but two new ones immediately grew in its place. Elliot tried fighting back, using some metal debris from nearby destruction, but the plants advanced too quickly. One root hit him in the chest, and he crashed onto his back.

  "Elliot!"

  I rushed to my brother, shielding him with myself. But I wasn't fast enough. The roots moved faster than I could react. Tarian came to help. With a sword swing he cut off the attack and covered me while I lifted Elliot.

  "Get off the roof!"

  Camelia was playing with us, she didn't waste words but clearly wasn't hurrying to finish us.

  "You really think you can change something?"

  I struck with magic again, but it wasn't enough. Roots wrapped around my leg, and I felt them squeezing.

  Alice threw a new gravitational wave, tearing the roots around us.

  But wait... Something's wrong here.

  I noticed how she raised both hands. Wait... that's impossible. Her hand was in place. But how? I definitely saw her lose it. This shouldn't be real. What magic could return it so quickly? Something's definitely wrong here.

  And what's under her? Didn't Alice tear those huge flower stems?

  "Oh, you noticed. Last chance to reconsider: don't you want to come with me?"

  I didn't answer. Shielding Elliot's attack from the vines.

  Alice struck with a gravitational wave again, and the roots wrapping us fell to the ground. But her face showed no relief. She quickly looked at Camelia, then up and muttered:

  "Damn, those stems..."

  Camelia, standing on her vines, looked calm. She raised her hand, and new shoots spread across the roof, this time heading not toward us but to the building's corners.

  "What's she doing?"

  Elliot looked at Alice, but she didn't answer. Her gaze became tense, and her hands rose as if holding something invisible.

  "Camelia's destroying the supports. If I don't hold the building, it'll collapse."

  I felt an icy wave run down my spine. We stood on the roof, and below us was the entire parliament. People. Hundreds of people.

  Alice gritted her teeth, and I saw her fingers trembling. She stood motionless, but I knew a struggle was happening inside her.

  "Luten, Elliot. I can't fight anymore. You're on your own. Tarian, help them."

  Her words hit like a blow.

  "What do you mean "on our own"?"

  Elliot clenched his fists.

  "We can't defeat her!"

  I looked at Camelia. Her face lit up with a familiar smirk. She knew Alice was now limited. Camelia spoke:

  "You shouldn't interfere, girl, you can't hold an entire building."

  And she struck again. Vines burst through the roof and hissed, approaching us. Elliot screamed.

  "Hit her!"

  I reached toward Camelia, trying to feel her magic. It seemed I could take her power and use it against her. For a moment I sensed the energy. It was like touching molten metal—painful and burning. I tried pulling the power to myself but immediately felt pain pierce my body.

  "Aaah!"

  The world dimmed. My heart pounded, and every cell screamed I was doing something wrong.

  I heard Camelia's voice:

  "Oh, so you decided to risk it?"

  Before I could answer, the space around changed. The air became dense, and time seemed to slow. I heard a voice and turned sharply. A stranger stood before me. His snow-white hair swayed in an invisible wind. Pale skin was crossed by thin lines flashing with blue light.

  Three rings rotated on his back. They shimmered with runes and moved smoothly but unnaturally, as if obeying his will. Their movement was mesmerizing, inspiring both fear and awe.

  "Who are you? Send me back!"

  The pale figure raised his hand calmly., calling me to stop. His mantle shimmered with gray shades, as if flowing like water.

  "Quiet, quiet. If I do this now, my efforts will be wasted."

  " What efforts? People are dying there!"

  "Calm down. We're in the in-between."

  His voice sounded both close and far, like an echo in emptiness.

  Icy terror gripped me. I couldn't move. Camelia turned to me as if she too saw him in my consciousness. Her face changed, for just a second her smile vanished, but she quickly recovered, returning her image.

  "Gatekeeper... You shouldn't be here."

  He didn't answer. Instead he stepped forward and looked at me. At that moment I felt his power crash down on me. Cold flooded my mind. I no longer controlled my body.

  "You could stop this, Luten. Just give me your body."

  His words seemed to pierce my head. But I knew he acted only in his own interests. His indifference raised doubts, and every phrase seemed like a trap.

  "No! I won't become a toy."

  His face remained calm, but disappointment flickered in his eyes.

  "Then I have only one choice. Act, Luten. If you want to change something, you have only one chance."

  While I spoke with the Gatekeeper, Camelia attacked. Her vines rushed toward me.

  Tarian, without thinking, threw himself under the blow. His scream mixed with the hiss of magical attack. I wanted to stop all this, but the Gatekeeper held control over my body.

  I tried resisting, but the Gatekeeper's energy penetrated deeper. Camelia attacked again. The Gatekeeper waved his hand, and her vines crumbled to dust.

  Camelia tried everything to win.

  "You cannot defeat me, child of magic. You are the weak link of this world."

  "Luten! Fight! Don't give up!"

  Tarian tried reaching me, but my eyes had already become foreign. I saw myself from outside. Empty gaze, and in the pupils—like a tangle of threads. Lines moved and intertwined like living shadow. The Gatekeeper had completely captured me. I raised my hand, not understanding what I was doing. Energy emanating from my body struck Tarian. He crashed to the ground. Camelia retreated, her face expressing fear and rage.

  "You've gone too far, Gatekeeper!"

  He smirked.

  "This is only the beginning."

  The shadow of threat hung in the air. Tarian struggled to rise. His sword trembled in his hands, and his gaze burned with determination. He knew the next blow would be the last. It was a silent plea for help I couldn't answer.

  "You won't be able to stop this, Luten."

  The Gatekeeper spoke these words in a cold, doomed voice.