Chapter 16: Impossible To Bear
Niara and Darian suddenly found themselves covered in suffocating darkness. They couldn't see a thing, but they knew—they were in the Tower of Mind's Darkness.
Darian didn't feel any discomfort, but he noticed Niara's body shaking violently.
Through their connection, he could tell something invisible was attacking her. It wasn't physical or spiritual, which explained why he wasn't affected.
"!"
Darian confirmed it—it was attacking her mind directly.
He felt Niara's hand move toward her own heart as she trembled. Soft grunts escaped her lips while she pushed herself to endure it.
A pang hit Darian's chest; he remembered the vision of the little girl suffering—this was way too similar to her past.
He spoke softly, ready to activate the escape rune beneath them: 'I'm right here. Don't push yourself too far.'
'I'm... fine...' she replied with a faint murmur.
The sensation felt like a brutally sharp headache—so intense it made her feel like she'd black out. Some unknown force was trying to invade her, pressing in without mercy. But Niara fought back with everything she had.
Weirdly, she was actually resisting—and adapting.