Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY7NTX80R572ZDMZ4KAE33X

The air smelled like overripe peaches and something electric, like the moment before a storm when the sky hums with unseen energy. Aurora Carter stepped forward, her boots sinking slightly into the plush, golden carpet of moss that stretched beneath her. The Heartstone Pendant at her throat pulsed faintly, its crimson glow casting long, wavering shadows across the vine-laden branches overhead. Beside her, Nyx moved like a living whisper, their form flickering between substance and shadow, their violet eyes fixed on the sprawling feast before them. *"This is Dymas,"* Nyx murmured, their voice a breath against her ear. *"The realm of gluttony."* Aurora exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the hilt of the Fae-forged blade at her belt. The blade was cold, as always, its moonsilver edge humming with latent power. She hadn’t expected this. She’d expected Hel to be a place of fire and screaming, not this—this *opulence*. Towering fruit trees bent under the weight of grapes the size of melons, their skins shimmering like polished amber. Tables laden with dishes she couldn’t name stretched into the distance, their steam curling into the warm amber sky. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meats, spiced wines, and something sweeter, something that made her stomach clench with hunger despite the unease coiled in her chest. Isolde Varga stood a few paces ahead, her silver hair catching the light like spun moonlight. She didn’t move, didn’t speak, but her pale lavender eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the first hints of twilight bled into the sky. The grove’s time was different here—an hour outside could be days inside, Isolde had warned. But Aurora had no time for riddles now. She needed to understand what they were walking into. *"Isolde,"* she called, her voice carrying slightly in the still air. *"What do we do now?"* The Half-Fae turned, her lips curling into something that wasn’t quite a smile. *"Walk,"* she said. *"The path is clear."* Aurora glanced back at Nyx, who tilted their head, the faintest shadow of a smirk playing across their features. *"She’s not wrong,"* Nyx whispered. *"But I’d watch your step. This place… it’s hungry."* Ahead, the ground sloped downward, the moss giving way to a path of polished stone, smooth and warm beneath her feet. The closer they walked, the more the air thickened, the scents sharpening until Aurora’s mouth watered. A table laden with pastries appeared beside them, their golden crusts glistening, the scent of cinnamon and honey making her stomach twist. She reached out, her fingers hovering just above a flaky, buttery tart— *"Don’t,"* Nyx hissed, their form flickering violently. Aurora jerked her hand back, her pulse hammering in her throat. The tart vanished, as if it had never been. The air around them rippled, like heat off pavement, and for a heartbeat, she saw *them*—the figures in the distance, their forms blurred and indistinct, their mouths moving in silent screams. Helbound souls, contracted from Earth. Their eyes locked onto her, their hunger palpable. *"They’re here,"* she breathed. Isolde’s voice was a whisper, but it carried. *"They’re always here."* Nyx stepped forward, their shadow stretching unnaturally long, blocking the path ahead. *"But they’re not the only ones."* Aurora followed their gaze. At the edge of the feast, where the vineyards gave way to a clearing, a figure stood. Tall, cloaked in black, their presence was a void in the opulence around them. Prince Belphegor, ruler of Dymas. His eyes gleamed like polished obsidian, his lips curled in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. *"Ah,"* he said, his voice smooth as aged whiskey. *"Visitors."* Aurora’s grip tightened on the Fae blade. *"We’re not here to stay."* Belphegor chuckled, a sound like clinking glass. *"No. But you’re here now."* He gestured to the feast. *"Eat. Drink. Indulge. The night is long, and the hunger…"* He let the word hang, his gaze flicking to the souls in the distance, their whispers growing louder. *"…is eternal."* Isolde stepped forward, her silver hair shimmering like moonlight on water. *"We seek the Heartstone’s source,"* she said, her voice steady. *"The pendant’s glow is strongest here."* Belphegor’s smile widened. *"Ah. The pendant."* He reached into his cloak and withdrew a small, ornate box. Inside, nestled on velvet, was a gemstone—deep crimson, pulsing with the same faint warmth as Aurora’s pendant. *"A gift,"* he said. *"For the one who can prove their worth."* Aurora’s breath caught. *"What do you want?"* *"Proof,"* Belphegor repeated. *"That you are not like them."* He gestured to the souls in the distance. *"That you can resist."* Nyx stepped forward, their shadow wrapping around Aurora’s wrist, grounding her. *"We’re not here to play your games."* Belphegor’s laughter filled the air, rich and mocking. *"Then you will fail."* Aurora clenched her fists. She had come here for answers, not for a feast or a test. But the pendant’s warmth was a beacon, pulling her deeper into this realm of excess and hunger. She looked at Isolde, who met her gaze with quiet understanding. Then at Nyx, whose violet eyes burned with something like determination. *"Fine,"* Aurora said, her voice steady despite the storm in her chest. *"Let’s eat."* Belphegor’s smile faltered for just a heartbeat before it returned, sharper than before. *"Excellent."* The first course appeared before them—a platter of roasted peaches, their flesh glistening, their scent intoxicating. Aurora reached out, her fingers brushing the fruit. The moment her skin touched it, the peach dissolved into her palm, its sweetness exploding on her tongue. She swallowed, her body reacting before her mind could catch up. Hunger surged through her, sharp and insistent, but she fought it, her will steeling itself against the realm’s pull. Beside her, Nyx didn’t reach for the food. Instead, they stepped back, their shadow flickering like a flame in the wind. *"This isn’t just about the food,"* they murmured. *"It’s about the *them*."* Aurora followed their gaze. The souls in the distance were moving now, their forms coalescing, their hunger making them bolder. One lunged forward, its mouth stretching too wide, its teeth blackened and jagged. Aurora drew the Fae blade, the cold metal humming in her grip. The soul recoiled, its form flickering like a dying candle. *"They’re testing us,"* Isolde said, her voice barely audible over the whispers of the feast. *"To see if we’re like them."* Aurora didn’t answer. She was too busy focusing on the next course—a towering loaf of bread, its crust golden and crisp, its interior soft and buttery. She took a single bite, the flavor bursting in her mouth. It was *perfect*. But she didn’t stop there. She took another bite, and another, her body craving more, more, more— *"Stop,"* Nyx commanded, their voice sharp. Aurora forced herself to pause, her breath ragged. She looked down at the bread, now half-eaten, and shook her head. *"I can’t."* *"You can,"* Belphegor’s voice echoed from behind them. *"You *will*."* Aurora turned, the Fae blade still gripped tightly in her hand. The prince was no longer alone. Dozens of souls had gathered around him, their forms shifting, their hunger making them more solid, more *real*. They reached for her, their fingers brushing against her skin, their whispers filling her ears. *"No,"* she said, her voice steady despite the chaos inside her. *"I won’t."* Belphegor’s smile was triumphant. *"Then you fail."* The souls lunged. Aurora moved on instinct, the Fae blade flashing as she cut through the first attacker, its form dissolving into smoke. Nyx was at her side, their shadow wrapping around her, shielding her from the next wave. Isolde stood firm, her hands raised, her voice a chant that seemed to ripple through the air. *"The Veil is strong here,"* Isolde murmured. *"But not strong enough."* Aurora didn’t have time to think. She fought, her blade a blur, her body moving on pure instinct. The souls were relentless, their hunger driving them, their forms flickering between solid and shadow. She cut through one, then another, her arms burning with the effort. Nyx fought beside her, their shadow shifting, their form flickering like a flame in the wind. *"We can’t fight them all,"* Nyx gasped, their voice strained. Aurora looked around, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The feast was still there, the food still abundant, but the souls were thinning, their forms fading like smoke in the wind. Belphegor stood alone, his smile gone, his eyes dark with something like fear. *"You’ve proven your worth,"* he said, his voice hollow. *"For now."* Aurora sheathed the Fae blade, her body trembling with exhaustion. She looked at Isolde, who met her gaze with quiet understanding. Then at Nyx, who nodded, their shadow flickering like a dying ember. *"We’re not done here,"* Aurora said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. *"But we’re not leaving empty-handed."* Belphegor’s laughter filled the air, rich and mocking. *"Then take what you came for."* Aurora reached into her pocket and withdrew the Heartstone Pendant. The gemstone pulsed brightly, its warmth radiating through her fingers. She looked at the gemstone in Belphegor’s box, and then back at the pendant. *"No,"* she said. *"I came for answers, not gifts."* Belphegor’s smile returned, sharper than before. *"Then you’re more foolish than I thought."* Aurora didn’t flinch. She turned and walked away, Nyx and Isolde following close behind. The feast faded behind them, the souls thinning, their forms dissolving into the shadows. The path ahead was clear, the way forward uncertain. But Aurora Carter had never been one to shy away from uncertainty.