Kilian blocked my path, his presence a menacing barrier. "You're not getting through," he said, his voice cold and unyielding. I knew I had to fight him to protect the Amazighs.

Mervan appeared, his eyes wide with fear "Su, are you alright?" he called out.

“DON'T COME HERE!” I shouted. But it was too late. Kilian vanished in a flash, reappearing next to Mervan with his blade poised at the boy's throat. "Lord Kala ordered to kill all of you. Don’t hold it against me, kid," Kilian sneered.

Desperation surged through me. I lunged, managing to push Mervan out of the way just in time. "Mervan, go to your brother! Tell him to help the others escape. I'll hold this bastard off," I commanded.

"Alright!" Mervan replied, running as fast as he could.

Kilian turned his attention back to me, his expression cold. "You think you can hold me?" he mocked, sheathing his blade and disappearing. A moment later, a powerful punch slammed into my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. "Let's see how much you can hold on," Kilian taunted, lashing out with a flurry of blows.

I was on the defensive, barely able to keep up. My wounds from the fight with Rokie reopened, blood seeping through my bandages. Every hit from Kilian felt like a hammer blow, and my vision blurred with pain.

Kilian's eyes gleamed with malicious delight as he continued his assault. I could feel my strength waning, my body reaching its limits. I knew I had to find a way to turn the tide, but Kilian was relentless, giving me no time to recover.

The town around us was in chaos. The peaceful sanctuary had turned into a war zone. I could hear the screams of the Amazighs, the clash of weapons, and the cries of the wounded. I fought to stay on my feet, driven by the desperate need to protect them.

Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the battlefield. Both Kilian and I turned to see Eldran standing over Kala, who was on one knee, bloodied and beaten. "You monster," Kala spat, struggling to rise.

"LORD KALA!" Kilian shouted, attempting to rush to his master's aid. Seeing an opening, I gathered all my remaining strength and dashed forward, delivering a powerful punch that sent Kilian sprawling.

Murad and Mervan rushed to my side. "We hid everyone," Mervan said, his voice trembling.

I fell to one knee, weakened by my injuries. Kilian rose slowly, his mask falling off to reveal a tattoo on his cheek that began to glow ominously. His face twisted in anger and disdain. "Who do you think you are to interrupt Lord Kala's plans?" Kilian hissed.

Kilian disappeared again, reappearing in front of me and landing a kick so powerful that it sent me flying. I crashed into a nearby wall, the impact leaving me dazed and gasping for breath. "SU!" Mervan and Murad screamed in unison.

Kilian then appeared in front of Mervan, grabbing him by the throat. Mervan struggled, his small body no match for Kilian's strength.

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"Get away from my brother!"

Murad, desperate to save his brother, picked up a rock and struck Kilian from behind. The blow barely fazed Kilian. He turned to Murad with a look of pure malice. "This is the price of your weakness," he said, his voice chilling.

With a single word, "Aruthia," Kilian unleashed a blast of mana that struck Murad directly, killing him instantly. Mervan's scream echoed through the battlefield. "Murad!"

Seeing Murad's lifeless body, I was consumed by rage. Despite my injuries, I exploded from the ground, moving with terrifying speed. I launched myself at Kilian, landing a punch to his face and following up with a barrage of blows. Kilian managed to dodge one of my attacks and retaliated with a powerful strike, sending me crashing to the ground again.

"You're weak," Kilian taunted.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" I roared, my voice filled with fury and pain. I pushed myself up, fueled by sheer willpower. My vision was blurred, and my body screamed in agony, but I couldn't let Kilian get away with what he'd done.

Before the battle could continue, Kala's voice cut through the chaos. "Kilian, retreat. I cannot hold Eldran anymore."

Kilian hesitated, his eyes locked on me with a promise of future violence. "We shall settle this in the arena" he spat before disappearing with Kala and their forces.

The battlefield fell silent, leaving the survivors in shock. Mervan knelt beside Murad's lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. I, battered and bloodied, could only watch, a hollow feeling of defeat settling in my chest. Every part of me ached, and the weight of our loss pressed down on me like a heavy stone. Guilt gnawed at my insides, twisting my heart with relentless accusations.

Eldran approached, his face a mask of pain and determination. He placed a hand on Mervan's shoulder, his touch both comforting and firm. "Mervan," he said softly, "your brother is a hero who protected you. He deserves a fitting burial."

Mervan looked up at Eldran, his eyes red and swollen from crying. "But he's gone... Murad is gone," he choked out between sobs.

Eldran nodded, his own grief evident in his eyes. "I know, Mervan. But we must honor his sacrifice. It's not your fault, kid," he added, turning his gaze to me. His words were meant to soothe, but they only deepened the ache in my chest.

"It's not your fault," Eldran repeated, lifting Murad's body gently. I wanted to believe him, but the voice inside me was relentless, whispering that it was all my fault. I should have been stronger. I should have protected him.

The Amazighs began to emerge from their hiding places, their faces etched with fear and sorrow. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they followed Eldran, their wails of mourning echoing through the devastated town. Murad had clearly been an important figure to them, and his loss weighed heavily on the entire community.

I stood there, paralyzed by grief and self-loathing, watching as they carried Murad's body away. My legs felt like lead, and I couldn't bring myself to move. I had failed them. I had failed Murad. Once again, someone had died because of my weakness.

As the mourning procession moved further away, I sank to my knees, my fists clenched tightly. "Why? Why wasn't I strong enough?" I whispered, my voice breaking. The guilt was suffocating, a relentless weight that pressed down on my soul.

In a fit of rage and despair, I began striking the ground with my fists. Each blow sent shockwaves of pain through my body, but I didn't care. I deserved it. I deserved to feel the agony for my failure. Blood seeped from my knuckles as the skin split open, but I kept going, the physical pain a welcome distraction from the torment in my heart.

Suddenly, a firm hand grabbed my arm, stopping me mid-strike. I looked up, my vision blurred by tears, and saw Sheherazade standing over me. Her golden eyes were filled with a deep, sorrowful sadness.

"Your war has yet to start, Su," she said softly, her voice carrying a weight of empathy and understanding. Her touch was gentle but firm, holding me back from further self-destruction.

I couldn't find the words to respond. The intensity of my emotions left me speechless. Sheherazade's presence was a stark contrast to the chaos and despair around us. She seemed almost ethereal, her golden eyes shimmering with a profound sadness that mirrored my own.