Chapitre 23: A Single, Dark Rose
Garnette stood before the altar, her breath still coming in shallow gasps as she tried to steady herself. The dark energy she had felt was unlike anything she had encountered before—ancient, twisted, and filled with a malevolence that seemed to seep into her very bones. It had called to her, beckoned her to surrender to its power, but she had resisted. She had drawn on the strength of the white rose, the balance she had achieved, and pushed back against the darkness. But she knew that this was only the beginning.
Raphael remained by her side, his expression a mix of concern and resolve. He, too, had felt the dark power that emanated from the altar, and he knew as well as Garnette did that they couldn't leave it unchecked. Whatever lay beneath the altar, whatever force had twisted and corrupted the vines, needed to be understood and confronted.
"We need to find out what this is," Garnette said, her voice steadier now, though the lingering effects of the dark energy still thrummed in her veins. "If it's connected to the roses, it could be the key to understanding what we're up against."
Raphael nodded, his gaze fixed on the altar. "Agreed," he replied, his tone serious. "But we must proceed with caution. This power is dangerous, and it could easily consume you if we're not careful."
Garnette swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over her. She knew the risks, knew that whatever lay beneath the altar was more powerful than anything she had faced before. But she also knew that they couldn't turn back now. They had come too far, had faced too many challenges, to let fear stop them.
"I'm ready," she said, her voice firm despite the fear that gnawed at the edges of her resolve. "Let's find out what's down there."
Raphael gave her a small, encouraging nod. "Stay close to me," he said, his voice gentle but commanding. "We'll face this together."
With that, Raphael began to examine the altar more closely, his hands tracing the ancient symbols carved into the stone. Garnette watched him, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to steady her breathing. The dark vines that had surrounded the altar seemed to pulse with a life of their own, their thorns glistening in the dim light. But they remained still, as if waiting, watching, for the next move.
After a few moments, Raphael's expression shifted, his brow furrowing in concentration. "There's a hidden mechanism," he said quietly, his fingers finding a small, nearly invisible groove in the stone. "It looks like it could open a passageway beneath the altar."
Garnette's heart skipped a beat. A passageway? The idea of descending into the depths of the earth, into the heart of the dark energy that had nearly overwhelmed her, sent a shiver of fear down her spine. But she knew they had no other choice. If they were going to understand the power they were dealing with, they needed to uncover whatever secrets the altar held.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Raphael asked, his gaze searching hers for any sign of hesitation.
Garnette took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I'm ready," she said, her voice firm. "We need to do this."
Raphael nodded, his expression resolute. "Then let's proceed."
With a deft movement, Raphael activated the mechanism, and with a low rumble, the stone altar began to shift. The ground beneath them trembled as the altar slid aside, revealing a dark, narrow staircase that descended into the earth. The air that wafted up from the passage was cold and stale, filled with the scent of damp earth and decay. It was as if the very air had been trapped for centuries, untouched by the outside world.
Garnette and Raphael exchanged a glance, and then, with a final, steadying breath, they descended into the darkness.
The staircase was narrow and steep, the walls closing in around them as they made their way deeper into the earth. The light from the room above quickly faded, leaving them in near-total darkness, save for the faint glow of the white rose that Garnette still carried in her cloak. The soft light cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, making the narrow passage feel even more claustrophobic.
As they descended, the air grew colder, the darkness more oppressive. Garnette could feel the weight of the earth pressing down on them, the silence almost deafening in its intensity. But she pushed forward, her resolve unshaken. She had faced darkness before, had confronted the shadows within herself, and she would not let this ancient power break her.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the bottom of the staircase. The passage opened up into a small, circular chamber, the walls lined with more of the dark, twisted vines that had surrounded the altar above. But it was what lay at the center of the chamber that drew Garnette's attention.
A stone pedestal stood in the middle of the room, its surface covered in more of the strange, ancient symbols that had been carved into the altar. But it was what rested atop the pedestal that sent a chill of fear through Garnette.
A single, dark rose.
Its petals were as black as night, its thorns long and sharp, glistening in the dim light. The dark energy that pulsed from it was overwhelming, filling the chamber with a sense of dread that made Garnette's heart pound in her chest. This was the source of the dark power, the twisted force that had corrupted the vines and nearly consumed her.
"This is it," Raphael said quietly, his voice filled with awe and concern. "This is the heart of the dark power we've been sensing."
Garnette swallowed hard, her gaze locked on the dark rose. She could feel its pull, the seductive lure of its power, calling to her, beckoning her to reach out and take it. But she knew that to do so would be to surrender to the darkness, to let it consume her, and she couldn't—wouldn't—let that happen.
"What do we do?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her resolve.
Raphael's expression was grim, his gaze fixed on the dark rose. "We need to understand it," he said slowly. "This rose—it's connected to the power of the roses you possess, but it's been twisted, corrupted by something ancient and malevolent. We need to find a way to cleanse it, to purify the power and restore the balance."
Garnette nodded, though the idea of trying to cleanse the dark power was terrifying. But she knew Raphael was right. The dark rose couldn't be left unchecked. If it was allowed to fester, to grow, it could consume everything in its path, including her.
"What if I try to use the power of the white rose?" Garnette suggested, her voice filled with a mix of fear and determination. "Maybe I can balance it out, push back the darkness with the light."
Raphael considered her words, his expression thoughtful. "It's possible," he said finally. "But it's also dangerous. The dark power is strong, and if you're not careful, it could overwhelm you. But I'll be here to guide you, to help you maintain your balance."
Garnette took a deep breath, her fear mingling with a sense of resolve. "I can do this," she said, her voice steady. "I have to."
With Raphael's reassuring presence by her side, Garnette stepped closer to the dark rose. The air around her seemed to vibrate with the dark energy, the oppressive force pressing down on her as she drew closer. But she didn't falter. She reached into her cloak, drawing out the white rose, its soft, golden light a stark contrast to the dark power that filled the chamber.
For a moment, Garnette hesitated, the weight of what she was about to do pressing heavily on her. But then she steeled herself, drawing on the strength she had gained in the Temple of Thorns, the balance she had achieved between light and dark. She wouldn't let the darkness consume her. She would confront it, understand it, and ultimately, she would overcome it.
With a steady hand, Garnette reached out, her fingers brushing against the dark rose. The moment she made contact, a surge of dark energy shot through her, powerful and overwhelming. But Garnette was ready. She called upon the power of the white rose, letting its light fill her, pushing back against the darkness that sought to consume her.
The two forces collided within her, light and dark, battling for dominance. The chamber around her seemed to blur, the air thick with energy, and for a moment, Garnette felt as if she were being torn apart. But she held on, drawing on the balance she had achieved, the strength she had found within herself.
Slowly, the darkness began to recede, the light of the white rose pushing it back, cleansing the twisted power that had taken hold of the dark rose. Garnette could feel the energy shifting, transforming, as the malevolent force was purified, the balance restored.
Finally, with a burst of light, the dark energy was expelled, leaving the chamber bathed in a soft, golden glow. Garnette stumbled back, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her body trembling with the effort it had taken to cleanse the dark power.
Raphael was at her side in an instant, his expression filled with concern and relief. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Garnette nodded, though she felt drained, exhausted by the ordeal. "I'm fine," she said, her voice shaky. "But… did it work?"
Raphael looked at the dark rose, his expression thoughtful. The rose had changed, its petals no longer the deep, malevolent black but a rich, deep red, the color of freshly spilled blood. The energy that pulsed from it was still powerful, but it was no longer twisted, no longer filled with the dark malevolence that had nearly consumed Garnette.
"It worked," Raphael said quietly, his voice filled with awe. "You've cleansed the power, restored the balance. But this rose—it's still connected to the darker aspects of your power. It's a reminder that the darkness is always there, always a part of you. But now, it's balanced, controlled."
Garnette looked at the red rose, her heart filled with a mix of relief and understanding. The darkness within her, the power she had fought so hard to control, would always be a part of her. But she had the strength to balance it, to keep it from consuming her.
"We need to keep moving," Raphael said, his voice gentle but firm. "There's more to learn, more challenges to face. But you've proven that you can overcome whatever darkness lies ahead."
Garnette nodded, her resolve hardening. She had faced the darkness, had confronted the shadows within herself, and had emerged stronger for it. The journey ahead would be long and difficult, but she was ready.
With the red rose safely in her hand, Garnette and Raphael turned and made their way back up the narrow staircase, the soft glow of the purified rose lighting their way. The darkness was behind them, and the path ahead was filled with promise.
Garnette Briars was ready to face whatever came next, with the light and the darkness as her guides, and with Raphael by her side.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone