Elysium: Desired by the Cold-hearted Princess [GL]
Chapter 138 138: Breaking the cycle

Seraphina's POV

I crossed my arms tightly, my frown deepening as the Voice's cryptic words sank in. It wasn't just accusing me of being responsible for sending Electra back in time—again and again—but it had also claimed I was somehow tied to Electra's fate in this strange world, and then, the bombshell: this was a world *I* had supposedly created.

That last part, more than anything, made my stomach churn. How could I have created a world without even knowing it? Nothing about that made sense.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. "How could I create any of this? I don't even know how I got here!"

The Voice chuckled, the sound low and mocking, as if my confusion was a continuous source of amusement. "Ah, Seraphina. Denial suits you, but it won't help you now. Like I said, this world exists because of you, whether you remember it or not."

I clenched my fists, heat rising to my face. "Stop with the riddles. Just tell me—what do you mean by 'this world exists because of me'? And what does any of this have to do with Electra?"

The Voice hummed, as though it were savoring my frustration. "You truly don't remember, do you? Fascinating. Perhaps I'll indulge your ignorance."

It paused, as if gathering its thoughts—or maybe just enjoying the suspense. "This world was born from a wish, Seraphina. A wish you made, though you likely didn't realize how powerful it was at the time."

I scoffed as I crossed my arms over my chest and stared into the empty air. My voice came out sharper than I intended, fueled by the confusion and irritation that just kept growing.

"Just out of curiosity, are the gods bored or something? Is that why you're messing with Electra and me? Do you people have nothing better to do than to mess with two high schoolers? Because this—" I gestured vaguely around me, "—all of this feels like some twisted form of entertainment for you."

The Voice chuckled, the sound even more low and unsettling, if that was even possible. "Oh, Seraphina, you misunderstand. I am not one of your so-called gods. Nor do I meddle in mortal affairs out of boredom."

"Then what are you?" I pressed, leaning forward slightly. My pulse quickened, but I forced myself to appear calm, even though the Voice's cryptic words sent a shiver down my spine. "And why the hell are you telling me I created this world out of a wish? I didn't wish for this. You literally forced me to say yes to a switch I didn't understand, and that was how I ended up in this mess and dragged Electra in it with me."

The Voice hummed thoughtfully. "You're right. You didn't wish for this. Not intentionally, perhaps, but your heart spoke loudly enough. Desperation, anger, and envy—they're powerful forces, you know. Combined, they can tear open doors to places you never imagined, and, my dear Seraphina, you practically kicked that door wide open."

I glared at the emptiness in front of me, my nails digging into my palms. "You're talking in circles," I snapped. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be trapped in some twisted version of Electra's life!"

"Didn't you?" the Voice countered smoothly. "Think back, Seraphina. Recall the days you spent wishing for her downfall, the times you seethed with envy and hatred. 'If only she could feel what it's like to be me,' you thought. Or perhaps, 'I wish she knew what it's like to be powerless.' Does that ring any bells?"

My stomach twisted at the words. Had I thought those things? I couldn't be too sure, but deep down, I knew the Voice wasn't entirely wrong. I had resented Electra for as long as I could remember, and in my lowest moments, I might've wished for her to suffer just like everyone else she hurt had.

But that didn't mean I wanted this.

"That doesn't explain anything," I said through gritted teeth. "Even if I had fleeting thoughts like that, it doesn't mean I created this… this world. I'm just a nobody."

The Voice chuckled again, this time with a hint of mockery. "Ah, but it does, my dear. Wishes like yours, born from such strong emotions, have a way of manifesting. I simply… facilitated the process. Granted your wish, as it were."

I let out a frustrated sigh and realized that there was really no point in arguing with this person, or whatever it was. "So what you're saying is… this entire world, everything that's happened—it's my fault?"

"Fault is such a harsh word," the Voice said, almost cheerfully. "Think of it as an opportunity. A chance for you to learn, to grow, and to understand."

"Understand what?" I shouted, my voice echoing in the room. "That I've dragged Electra into this mess because I couldn't handle my own emotions? That I'm somehow tied to her fate in a world I didn't even know existed until I woke up here, but somehow, according to you, I created it?"

"Precisely," the Voice replied, unfazed by my outburst. "You're tied to her because your wish bound you together, and now that your priorities are instinctively shaping up to protect her, her fate is now depending on your thoughts and emotions. Her pain is your pain, and if you wish to return to your original reality, you'll need to resolve the ties that bind you. Break the cycle, if you will."

I froze at the last sentence. "Break the cycle?" I repeated softly. "What does that even mean? What exactly is the cycle, and how am I supposed to break it?"

The Voice sighed dramatically, as if bored with my questions. "That, dear Seraphina, is for you to figure out. I've given you all the tools you need. The rest is up to you," it said. "But before I leave, let me just tell you that some of the things in this world that you believe don't exist in your real world are just things that haven't happened yet. Consider them as a warning for when you do return to your world, if, of course, you can return."

"But what do I need to do to return?" I blurted out hurriedly, hoping that the voice hadn't disappeared yet.

"Play a good game, and play it the right way," the voice simply responded like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Before I could ask what game it was talking about, it faded into silence, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My knees wobbled, and I sank back into the bed, my mind racing.

Break the cycle. Resolve the ties. Play a good game. What did any of it mean, and how was I supposed to fix something I didn't even know how to understand?