Spark stood with his usual detached expression, barely acknowledging the gravity of the situation unfolding around him.
Amelia, however, was a swirl of emotions as she watched the interaction between Spark and the female ethereal figure.
The subtle tension between Spark and the female figure did not go unnoticed by Amelia, making her curious about the conversation they might have had.
The female figure's voice, soft yet commanding, broke through Amelia's thoughts.
"I hope you won't let our teachings be forgotten," she said, her gaze resting on Amelia. "If you find someone worthy, pass them down."
Amelia nodded, feeling the weight of the moment settle over her. "I won't let them be lost, seniors."
The male figure, his form shimmering like a mirage, nodded in approval. "That's good."
A question had been nagging at Amelia's mind, and she couldn't hold it back any longer. "But how will we leave this place? Even you, seniors, couldn't escape."
The figures exchanged knowing glances before offering gentle smiles.
The male figure raised his hand, and a bright light radiated from the pagoda.
The once-solid door of the pagoda shimmered and transformed into a watery wall of swirling colors.
"Seniors, what is this?" Amelia asked, awe filling her voice as she felt the immense energy emanating from the door.
"This door will teleport you outside this abyssal place," the male figure explained.
Amelia's eyes widened in surprise. She carefully examined the door with her senses, feeling the pulsating energy.
Yet, a lingering doubt tugged at her thoughts. "If this door can lead us out, why didn't the two seniors escape when you had the chance?"
As he recounted their tragic fate, a sad expression crossed the male figure's face. "This is the result of countless decades of research. We only managed to create it after our physical bodies perished in this place."
"What about your soul bodies?" Amelia asked again. "Can't you leave with us?"
The male figure slowly shook his head. "We've already merged with the pagoda. Our souls are bound here; we cannot leave."
A wave of sadness washed over Amelia. The hope that she could bring these powerful souls back with her to the outside world was shattered.
Their vast knowledge and strength could have secured her a dominant position within her clan, but it seemed that was nothing more than wishful thinking.
The female figure, sensing Amelia's disappointment, spoke softly. "Do not dwell on what cannot be, child. Instead, carry our legacy forward. That is the best way you can honor us."
Amelia swallowed hard, trying to accept the reality. "I understand, seniors."
She turned back toward the vortex one last time, her gaze grew distant, as if she were trying to peer through the swirling mass of energy to whatever lay beyond it.
Suddenly, an ethereal voice echoed in her mind, gentle yet compelling.
{Come here...}
As Spark, Amelia, and Chaos disappeared through the portal, the once-glowing door slowly dimmed and returned to its normal state, becoming just another part of the ancient pagoda.
The two ethereal figures who remained behind floated silently, watching the door's transformation.
"With this," the male figure began, his voice carrying a sense of relief, "we no longer need to worry. Our legacy will remain alive."
He drifted toward the edge of the crater, his gaze fixed on the swirling vortex below.
The chaotic energy of the vortex reflected in his translucent eyes, a reminder of the countless years they had spent trapped in this forsaken place.
"We've waited long for this day," the female figure added. "Now, we can finally rest in peace."
The male figure let out a dry, hollow laugh. "Indeed, we've waited far too long. But now, at least one of my wishes is fulfilled."
The female figure's expression grew melancholy at his words, her eyes dimming with an old sorrow. "Your wish..."
He turned to her, a wistful smile playing on his ethereal lips.
"Now, how long must I wait for my second wish to be fulfilled?" he murmured, his voice barely audible.
The female figure shook her head gently, her tone laced with sadness. "I don't think it will ever be fulfilled."
A rueful chuckle escaped him as he floated closer to her. "Then, I suppose I'll be stuck here with you forever."
"Who would want to be stuck here with you?" she retorted, though her words lacked their usual bite. Her gaze shifted to the vortex, its endless churning a stark reminder of their eternal imprisonment.
The male figure's expression turned solemn as he, too, stared into the vortex's depths. "Maybe once this seal fractures completely... then I'll have my wish."
"Maybe..." she whispered, the word trailing off into the silence between them.
They both knew the chances of such a wish being granted were slim, yet it was the only hope they could cling to in their endless torment.
The two figures were bound to the mortal plane, trapped within the ancient pagoda, their souls transformed into immortal remnants when their bodies had perished in this place.
The very pagoda that had preserved them also became their eternal prison, preventing even the release of death.
In the past, they had tried to escape through the vortex, hoping its chaotic energy might end their suffering, but the pagoda had always pulled them back, unwilling to let them go.
"Just what is this thing?" the male figure murmured, his voice filled with quiet desperation. "And who sealed it here?"
The female figure remained silent, lost in thought as they both contemplated the endless mysteries of the vortex and their fates.
After a long silence, the male figure spoke again, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "You were too harsh on that mortal."
"I was just warning him," she replied firmly. "It's for her good. A romance between a mortal and an immortal is not possible."
Her voice softened slightly, tinged with a hint of regret. "Amelia, that child, is destined to leave this world and soar above the skies. That mortal would only become an obstacle on her path, creating an emotional attachment that could hold her back."
"Still, you could've taken a gentler approach," the male figure said, his gaze softening as he thought of Amelia and Spark.
"It's the truth," she insisted. "And you must have noticed... that mortal has less than a decade of life left."