The name "Eleonora" floated in the lab's heavy air, heavy as a sentence. Merlin's icy fury was palpable, a storm contained behind his ancient eyes. Dracula's anger was a cold predator, recognizing a direct enemy who had attacked his life force—the protection of his Punishers. Sorcha and Silas exchanged glances of grim understanding; they knew the cruelty of their former ally.
But for Aria, the revelation was a dagger to the heart. Images of Umbria flooded her mind: Eleonora smiling, helping her channel her initial Chaos magic, patiently explaining arcane texts, offering comfort when she felt like an outsider. Eleonora, before Nyx, before Chaos, before betrayal, had been her mentor, her confidant... almost a mother figure in a world that had rejected her.
The pain of betrayal was acute, but beneath it simmered something else: a confusing mix of responsibility and an agonizing question. Why, Eleonora? What drove you so far?
As Merlin and Dracula began to somberly discuss the strategic implications—the need for new barriers, for counterspells, for locating the source of Nyx's sabotage—Aria stepped forward, interrupting them.
"I have... it has to be me," she said, her voice trembling at first, but gaining steadiness. Everyone turned to her. "I have to face her. Eleonora... Nyx."
"Aria, that is absurd!" Merlin immediately intervened, his tone protective and stern. "Nyx is consumed by Chaos. She is a tool of Poimandres and an ally of Enlil. She is immensely powerful and ruthless. Your past connection to her is not a bridge, it is a weapon she will use against you without hesitation!"
"I know," Aria retorted, meeting Merlin's gaze. "I know she's dangerous. But I also knew her. Before. She taught me. She looked after me when no one else would." Anguish colored her voice. "How could she... how could she become this? I need to understand."
"Understanding her won't stop her," Dracula said with cold pragmatism. "Her sabotage weakens us all. If your knowledge of her, of the Eleonora she was, can reveal a weakness in Nyx, then you must use it. Emotions are a luxury we cannot afford."
"This isn't just about strategy, Dracula!" Aria burst out, turning to the vampire, anguish giving way to frustration. "It's about how we fight. She was my friend, my teacher. Am I going to use her secrets against her? Am I going to simply try to destroy her?" She looked at Merlin. "Are we going to resort to the dark arts, to manipulation, as others have? Where do we draw the line? Using the Keystones cost you dearly, Merlin! Manipulating history cost us dearly! Will we repeat those mistakes?"
Her words struck Merlin, reminding him of his own moral dilemmas and the ghosts of Morgana and the vampires. Kaelen stepped closer to Aria, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Aria, you don't have to bear this alone. If it must be faced, we will do it together."
"Perhaps I cannot do it alone," Aria admitted, "but I feel... I must try it my way first. Perhaps... perhaps if I can understand why she chose this path, why she sided with Chaos in this way... perhaps I can find a way to counter her sabotage without... without completely destroying what she was. Or at least, understand the nature of the darkness we face." Her voice cracked slightly. "Fighting Cthulhu, fighting the Netlin... is fighting the unknown. Fighting Nyx... is fighting someone I loved. And that... that terrifies me more. It terrifies me of what I might become to stop her."
Aria's ethical conflict was palpable. Her pain was real. Merlin sighed, the fury in his eyes replaced by deep concern. He understood Aria's burden, the weight of fighting someone once close.
"A direct confrontation is unthinkable for now," Merlin said finally, his tone softer. "But your perception... your unique connection to her and your new sensitivity to Chi and the Grid... could be crucial. Perhaps you can... reach her. Not physically, but... mentally. Try to understand her current state, the source of her power, the nature of her connection to Poimandres and Enlil. But with extreme caution, Aria. Like a whisper in the Grid, not a scream."
Dracula nodded curtly. "Information. Find out her location, her immediate plans, the source of her sabotage. That's useful. The rest... is dangerous sentimentality."
Aria nodded, though still deeply troubled. It wasn't the solution she wanted, but it was a first step. She would have to walk a dangerous ethical and emotional tightrope. Confronting Nyx, even mentally, meant facing Eleonora's ghosts, the painful betrayal, and the darkness that threatened to consume her not only from without, but also from within if she didn't have careful. The war now had a familiar and terrifying face, and Aria's toughest battle might be the one she fought within herself.