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JohnStoneTypes t1_jch33zd wrote

Reply to comment by JohnStoneTypes in [WP]There is a door with a single key hole. It will open regardless of the key that is used. All keys can open this door, but what's on the other side, however, depends entirely on the key. by Fuzzybluesock

She found herself in a dimly lit room. It was dank and musty, with thick cobwebs in the corners. In the corner of the room, chained to the wall, was her friend, Konajo.

Njorjia's heart leapt with joy at the sight of him, but it was quickly replaced with horror as she saw the sorry state he was in. He was emaciated, his skin covered in bruises and cuts, and his clothes torn and stained with blood.

"Njorjia," Konajo whispered weakly.

Njorjia rushed towards him, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's okay, I'm here. I'm sorry I took so long, but I'll have you out in a second."

"Njorjia-"

She released a powerful burst of energy from her hands, attempting to break the chains, but it failed. She furrowed her brow and muttered incantations under her breath, throwing spell after spell to no avail.

Her breathing quickened with each failed attempt to break the chains. She had been trying to use her most powerful spells, spells that had brought down entire fortresses in the past. As she attempted to destroy the chains with all her might, the air around her crackled with electricity, and the ground shook beneath her feet. The walls of the cell trembled, and bits of rubble fell to the ground as her spells ricocheted off the chains, leaving only a few scratches on their surface.

Njorjia's eyes blazed with fury as she tried yet another spell, pouring all her energy into it. The spell burst forth in a shower of sparks, causing the chains to rattle violently, but it was not enough. Njorjia let out a scream of frustration, and the very air around her vibrated with her rage.

Konajo placed a gentle hand on her arm, hoping to calm her down, but she pulled away, her eyes wild with determination as she continued blasting the chains with her fury.

As she paused to catch her breath, Konajo, in a voice weak with sorrow, said, "Njorjia, there's no use. I'm already dead."

Njorjia turned to him, her eyes wide with shock. She took a step back, her hands dropping to her sides. "What do you mean you're already dead?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Njorjia's heart pounded in her chest as Konajo showed her the hole in his chest, and her eyes widened in horror.

"No...no..." she whispered, her voice trembling as tears began to well up in her eyes. "How could this have happened? Who did this to you?"

Konajo's eyes were filled with sadness as he shook his head. "It was the last few leaders of the rebellion," he said softly. "They were desperate and angry after we defeated them in the War of 100 Nights last year. They wanted revenge, and I was their target."

Njorjia's heart sank. "No... No, you can't be gone," she whispered.

Konajo's expression softened as he reached out to comfort her. "I'm sorry, Njorjia. I wish it weren't true, but it is. I'm only here because you have bound my essence to this earth. I don't regret anything, though. You and I fought bravely, and we saved countless lives. That's something to be proud of."

Njorjia couldn't bear to look at him, knowing that he was dead and yet standing before her. She felt a heavy weight in her chest, a mix of grief and guilt. She had been so focused on finding him that she had neglected to consider the possibility that he might not be alive.

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JohnStoneTypes t1_jch3etu wrote

"Njorjia..."

Njorjia looked at Konajo, who was smiling at her with a gentle sadness. In that moment, memories flooded her mind. She remembered their childhood together, playing in the fields, running around the village, and dreaming about the future. Then, she saw flashes of their teenage years, when they had both discovered their magical abilities and started training together. They had become inseparable, always pushing each other to be better.

Finally, she remembered the war. She saw the two of them standing side by side on the battlefield, fighting fiercely against the dark sorcerers. They had been an unstoppable team, their powers complementing each other perfectly. And in the end, they had emerged victorious.

As she stared at Konajo, the tears spilled out of her eyes. She knew that this was goodbye. But she couldn't bring herself to let him go. She had been there with him on the battlefield, and now she was here, alive and well, while his only claim to life was the spell she was binding him with.

Konajo's smile grew softer, and he reached out to touch her hand. "Don't blame yourself, my friend," he said. "We did what we had to do. We saved countless lives, and that's what matters. I'm proud of what we accomplished, and I wouldn't change a thing. Remember that."

Njorjia nodded, her heart heavy with emotion. She knew he was right. They had fought bravely, and their victory had been hard-won. But still, the pain of losing him was almost too much to bear. She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She knew what she had to do.

She reached out to touch the key hanging around her neck. Closing her eyes, she whispered a few words under her breath, and the key glowed with a soft golden light. She could feel the essence of her childhood friend, Konajo, stirring within the key, eager to be free.

"Remember our handshake, Njorjia?" Konajo asked, smiling weakly.

Njorjia's eyes widened in surprise and then a wave of nostalgia washed over her. They had come up with a special handshake when they were just kids, and they had used it to greet each other ever since. She quickly took his hand, and they exchanged the intricate series of twists, turns, and bumps that made up their secret handshake.

They sat in silence for a few moments after that, taking in each other's presence one last time. Then, without a word, Njorjia stood up and began to whisper the incantation. Konajo's smile grew wider and he closed his eyes.

The chains that had bound him began to glow with a soft light, and then they dissolved into tiny specks of light that danced around Konajo's body. The same happened to the walls of the cell, and soon the entire room was filled with tiny specks of light.

Njorjia watched, mesmerized, as the last of the specks faded away, leaving her standing outside the sacred door alone. She collapsed onto the ground, tears streaming down her face. The priest put a comforting hand on her shoulder, silently conveying his condolences despite his limited understanding of her situation.

As Njorjia got up, she turned to the priest and nodded, silently thanking him for his help. With a heavy heart, she left the temple, making her way back to the outside world. As she walked, memories of Konajo flooded her mind, from their childhood days of playing hide and seek in the forest to their triumphant battle against the dark sorcerers.

Njorjia's steps were heavy, but she felt a sense of purpose returning to her as the seconds passed. She had a duty to continue protecting her people, to honor Konajo's memory and all they had fought for. And with that thought in mind, she held her head high, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

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