I failed to save her again.
Her hand slipped through my fingers.
I could still feel the warmth of her touch, yet it felt colder with each passing second. Her tears flowed as she fell into the abyss.
If only I were even a second— no, a millisecond earlier… I could’ve saved her life.
But over… and over… AND OVER…
Again and again and again…
Why couldn’t I be any quicker. Stronger. Smarter….
Better.
The rain poured, as if it was mocking my existence— my attempts. I stared coldly at the ground, and I slammed it hard. Mud splattered, and the earth cracked. My hand bled, but I couldn’t feel any pain.
“Curse you!” I screamed to the heavens with all my breath, ripping my clothes in half. The gods surely watched this tragedy unfold with amusement.
Why me? Why her? Why us? Why do we have to live such a cruel fate?
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Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the Imperial Knights. Heavily armed to the teeth with shining armor and enchanted weapons, riding their noble steeds and raising a flag of the empire.
“Cease your bickering, traitor.” I couldn’t help but smirk at the remark. I wonder who the real traitors are. “Under the orders of the Emperor: for failing to hand over your betrothed with her first night to the Emperor, your head shall be served in a silver platter.”
“I’m glad you came all the way here just for me,” I snickered. They took a stance and pointed their weapons at me. Looks like they didn’t take that well.
“You have nowhere else to go. Surrender peacefully, and you shall experience a painless death under the Emperor’s grace and mercy.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I could tell everyone felt insulted, especially the messenger. “May it be a gangster boss, guild master, merchant leader, noble, king, or emperor—” I raised a middle finger to everyone surrounding me. “—I follow orders from no one. We won’t see each other again, but at the very least, I’ll make sure you won't get what you’re looking for.”
Still facing the surrounding knights, I took a leap of faith into the abyss, where my loved one fell just moments ago.
“No! The Emperor needs the traitor’s head! Capture him, hurry!”
One of the knights leaped from his steed, his reaction speed was phenomenal— his physical abilities, more so. I didn’t expect someone of his capabilities existed.
But, oh, the irony.
My leg slipped from your grip. Milliseconds away from capturing me.
How I would love to see his face underneath the helmet. Maybe this was how gods felt seeing my futile attempts.
In the end, I couldn’t help but feel disgusted.
Soon after— darkness was all that remained