I place the lifeless form of Draxen in my lap, my hand grazing over his familiar face. The memories of our last moments together flood my mind, a bitter question lingering—was it truly worth killing him? My heart sinks as I recall the missions we undertook side by side. He was my constant, someone I could rely on, second only to the Queen I once served.

I find myself wondering, for perhaps the first time, what life could have been if I hadn't suppressed my emotions so completely. What could we have been? Friends? Lovers? But all of it—every possibility—was snatched away by the very faith and upbringing that forged me into what I am now.

Now, everything is gone. I have no one left. Not even the Queen I once looked up to. What is the point of life when everything that once mattered has been stripped away?

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I notice a necklace around his neck, one I had barely noticed before. Gently, I take it off, placing it in my pocket, a small part of him that I can carry with me forever. My body aches with an unfamiliar pain, and I lean down to kiss his forehead. "I’m sorry I killed you," I whisper, the words heavy with regret. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to look at his lifeless body one last time.

By the tree where I plan to part ways, I dig a small grave with my bare hands. It’s not much, but it’s the only farewell I can offer him. As I lay Draxen to rest, the weight of what I’ve done settles deep within me, a burden I will carry alone. I head toward the tree with the door, ready to leave. But before I step through, I glance back at the grave I made for him, a final, silent goodbye, before turning to head back to Galas.