The chill of the night air prickled my skin as I stood frozen, the stars above casting faint silver light over the clearing. The trees around us swayed gently in the wind, their shadows moving on the ground like restless spirits. The area was quiet, too quiet, except for the faint rustle of leaves and the soft crackle of distant campfire embers.
Kiel’s voice shattered the stillness.
“Well now, my dear Stella,” he drawled, his tone mockingly sweet, “what brings you to the open areas of Celestine on such a dark night? And with someone else other than me?”
My breath caught. His words hit me harder than they should have. The Kiel I once knew—kind and gentle—was gone. The boy who once played in the village fields with me, who swore to protect me with a warm smile, had grown into someone unrecognizable.
At sixteen or seventeen, he now stood taller and broader, his presence overwhelming, but it wasn’t his size that terrified me—it was the malice in his voice and the coldness in his gaze. The man standing before me was a stranger, his voice laced with cruelty and his smile devoid of warmth.
The roots gripping my legs began to loosen, crumbling like dry dirt. For a moment, hope flickered in my chest. Maybe I could still escape. But my mind screamed at me to focus. Kaiser. He was hurt—no, more than hurt. He had taken the full force of that attack, his body flunged from the wind magic. My heart clenched as I thought about the blood pooling beneath him, his lifeless form against the cold ground. His head had hit directly—I was sure of it.
I clenched the fabric of my dress tightly in my fists, anger bubbling in my chest. Kiel and Ronan didn’t matter right now. No, what mattered was getting to Kaiser. He wasn’t a part of this. He had no reason to fight or suffer for me. He only wanted to help me, to make me laugh when I felt like I couldn’t.
Memories of his voice replayed in my mind.
“Time doesn’t take the pain away,” he had told me softly once. “It only teaches us how to live with it. How to move on and… be happy again.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them back. Kaiser’s words lit something inside me. Kiel and Ronan didn’t believe I could do anything. They saw me as weak, helpless. But I couldn’t stay like this. I wouldn’t stay like this.
I had to help him.
The wind howled around me as I ran. The clearing was surrounded by sparse trees, their dark outlines jagged against the starry sky. It wasn’t far from the monster-infested forest I had carefully avoided earlier, but it was quiet here—eerily so. My feet pounded against the earth, and every breath burned in my chest as I pushed myself to go faster.
“Hey! She’s running!” Ronan’s voice cut through the air, sharp and irritated.
I glanced back but didn’t slow down. Ronan was yelling something to Kiel, but Kiel didn’t respond. My focus stayed ahead—on Kaiser. He lay crumpled in the distance, his figure so still it made my heart ache.
“Kaiser!” I screamed, my voice cracking.
I was so close now. Just a few more steps. My hand reached out instinctively, desperate to touch him, to shake him awake, to know he was still alive.
No... I have to believe he is alive. I know he'll live through this.
But before I could reach him, a shadow blurred into my path.
I barely registered Kiel moving. One moment, he was standing several feet away, and the next, his figure blurred like a shadow slipping between cracks in the light. In a blink, he was there, standing in front of me. His expression was cold, calculating, and void of the warmth I once knew. His speed was terrifying, almost inhuman, as if he’d dissolved into the darkness itself and reformed right before my eyes.
“No!” I gasped, panic rising in my chest as I tried to sidestep him. But before I could move, his hand shot out with precision, gripping my wrist like an iron shackle.
Pain flared as he threw me back, twisting my arm with a strength I couldn’t match. I stumbled and fell to the ground, the rough dirt scraping against my palms.
Kiel’s smirk grew as he loomed over me, his shadow swallowing the dim light around us. His stance was casual, almost mocking, as if he didn’t see me as a threat at all. The faint flicker of firelight from his magic flew in his eyes, making them gleam like molten embers, cold yet searing.
“You know, Stella,” he murmured, his voice dripping with venom as he crouched down to my level, his face mere inches from mine, “for someone so fragile, you sure like to act tough. It’s almost adorable—pathetic, but adorable.”
His words cut deeper than any blade. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, as he tilted his head, studying me like a predator toying with its prey. Every muscle in my body screamed at me to move, but his oppressive presence rooted me in place.
He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face with the back of his hand, the gesture cruelly intimate. “Still pretending, aren’t you? You’re so desperate to seem brave, yet here you are, trembling like a cornered rabbit.”
Before I could move, the ground shifted under me. Stone rose and wrapped around my wrist, holding it down. I pulled, but it wouldn’t move.
Kiel’s smirk deepened as he glanced at the restraint he’d conjured effortlessly. “What’s the matter, Stella?” he sneered. “Still think you can fight me? You couldn’t even break free from this, let alone stand against me.”
Then he straightened, towering over me once again, the smirk on his lips widening. “I almost pity you. Almost.”
I struggled, trying to pull my wrist free, but he only leaned closer. His breath was hot against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Do you really think you’re worth saving?” he taunted, his tone sharp as a blade. “Or do you just enjoy being everyone’s burden? Maybe you like the attention—the way it makes you feel needed, even if it’s just pity.”
His words cut deep, each one sharper than the last.
The night around us felt colder, the wind biting against my skin. My heart pounded painfully as I looked up at him. For a moment, all I could hear was the rustling of leaves and the distant howl of a creature in the forest.
My thoughts raced, a whirlwind of fear and doubt pulling me under. Why am I even trying? I’m weak—useless. I can’t fight him. I can’t save anyone. What’s the point?
Each word felt like a stone, dragging me deeper into the darkness. My arms felt heavy, my legs like they could give out any second. Just stop, a voice inside me whispered.
You’ll fail anyway, like you always do. You’re nothing compared to him.
Tears burned at the corners of my eyes as bitter questions tore through my mind. Why am I even here? Why did I think I could stand against him? Maybe… maybe it would be easier to just give up.
I wanted to scream, but the lump in my throat wouldn’t let me. My body trembled, and I could feel myself on the verge of breaking.
Then, like a light cutting through the darkness, I remembered.
I saw his face—Kaiser’s face—clear as day. His teasing grin, his calm, steady gaze, the way he could somehow make the world feel lighter even when it was crushing me.
I remembered how he made me laugh for the first time in four years. Four years of emptiness, pain, and despair—and yet, with just a few words, he made me smile.
“Don’t give up,” he had told me once, his voice firm but warm. “You’re stronger than you think, Lia. You just have to see it.”
That memory burned through the doubt like fire. He believed in me. He made me feel like I could fight back, like I wasn’t alone anymore.
I took a shaky breath, clenching my fists. No. I can’t stop now. I won’t let those thoughts win. Not now, not ever. I’ll fight. I’ll keep trying, no matter what.
The wind bit at my skin as I looked up at Kiel, my heart pounding like a drum.
“No,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
Kiel raised an eyebrow, his smirk faltering. “What was that?”
I glared up at him, my fear replaced by a spark of defiance. “I said, no. You don’t get to decide my worth.”
For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the faint crackle of his fire magic. Then Kiel laughed—a low, mocking sound that sent chills through me.
“Oh, Stella,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve grown some courage. How amusing.”
But I didn’t care.
I glared at him, his words like poison in my ears, but I didn’t care. My focus wasn’t on Kiel or Ronan. It was on Kaiser. My friend. My only real friend in four long, lonely years. He was hurt, and I couldn’t let him down.
I glanced down at the ground, the earth magic pinning my wrist like chains. My anger surged, raw and uncontainable, burning hotter than any pain I held. Somehow, I noticed the magic loosening, cracks forming in the hardened soil. Was it because Kiel couldn’t keep his focus, or was I stronger than they thought?
It didn’t matter. I pressed against the hold with everything I had, straining until my hands finally tore free. The roots crumbled beneath me, and I stumbled forward, my body trembling but unbroken.
“What?!” Kiel’s voice was sharp, his shock clear for a moment.
“Don’t let the witch escape!” Ronan shouted, his voice laced with panic.
But I was already moving, my legs carrying me toward Kaiser as fast as they could. The cold night air stung my skin, the faint smell of burning leaves mixing with the dampness of the clearing. My heart pounded in my chest, a steady drumbeat of desperation.
“Kaiser!” I screamed, reaching out. His body was so close now, so still against the dirt. I could almost feel his hand in mine, a lifeline pulling me back from despair.
But before I could reach him, a shadow flashed before my eyes, faster than I could react. Kiel.
He was in front of me in an instant, his hand lashing out like a whip. His fingers clamped around my wrist, throwing me back. I let out a cry of pain as he twisted my arm and slammed me against the rough bark of a nearby tree. The impact knocked the breath out of me, the bark scraping my back through my thin clothes.
Kiel leaned in close, his grip like iron, his face twisted into a cruel smirk.
“So, Stella,” he drawled, his tone mocking and dripping with disgust. “Is he supposed to be your hero or something? It’s laughable, really. Look at him—so weak, so pitiful. Is that what you’ve pinned all your hopes on?”
“Shut up!” I spat, my voice trembling with anger and pain. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You’ve changed, Kiel. You hate me now, don’t you? All because of how I look.”
For a moment, Kiel was silent, his smirk faltering. His eyes flickered with something unreadable—hesitation? Remorse? No, it was gone before I could be sure, replaced by his cold stare.
My voice wavered, but I pushed through the lump in my throat. “Do you remember? You once asked to be my knight. You promised you’d protect me, no matter what.” My chest tightened, and a tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. “I thought… I thought you liked me, Kiel.”
He stared at me, his silence dragging on for what felt like an eternity. Then, he laughed—a harsh, menacing sound that cut through me like a blade.
“Like you?” he sneered, his voice filled with disgust. “Don’t make me vomit.”
I flinched at the sheer malice in his words, but he wasn’t done.
“You just looked a little better than the other plain, boring girls in the village. That’s all.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
My heart felt like it was being crushed, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. I pushed against his chest with my free hand, desperate to put some distance between us. But Kiel was too strong. He grabbed my other wrist and pinned it above my head, pressing me harder against the tree.
His face was inches from mine now, his voice lowering into a cruel whisper to my ear. “You want to know the truth, Stella? Fine. When we were younger, I liked you for your looks. Your brown hair, your black eyes—they were beautiful. I remember seeing you sitting alone by the coast. You looked so delicate, like something fragile I wanted to protect... and yet, at the same time, I wanted you. I wanted you to be mine.”
image [https://images.piclumen.com/normal/20241124/1859165486022410241/b5fbd855-0087-477c-996b-1e54b29eea6c.webp]
He paused, his breath warm against my skin. “You had the wrong idea all this time, Stella. In the past, my sole purpose was to achieve my desires from you. I had just taken interest in your beauty, and oh my, look how much you've matured now. Truly capable of fulfilling every inch of satisfaction I need.”
I felt sick, bile rising in my throat as his words twisted in my mind like thorns.
“I never cared about your personality,” he continued, his tone dripping with disdain. “Or your opinions. Why would I? They never mattered.”
I struggled against him, my body trembling with anger, fear, and disgust. “You’re… you’re lying,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “That’s not who you were. You’re not this…”
He cut me off with a laugh, leaning even closer. “This is who I’ve always been, Stella. You just couldn’t see it. I never loved you. I wanted to own you, to use you.”
My vision blurred with tears, my heart breaking under the weight of his words. But even as despair clawed at me, I refused to give in.
“Kaiser would never—” I began, but Kiel’s grip tightened, his smirk twisting into something darker.
“Kaiser?” he screamed. “Don’t even compare me to that pathetic weakling.”
The silence felt like a vice around my chest, broken only by the faint crackle of Kiel’s fire magic. I couldn’t move, trapped between the tree and his unyielding grip. His breath was hot and uneven, brushing against my face. My stomach churned, a mix of fear and disgust gripping me tighter than his hands ever could.
“You know, Stella,” he murmured, his voice low and twisted. “I really hate you.”
I flinched at his words, the disgust in his tone cutting deeper than I expected.
“But,” he continued, his lips curling into a sickening smirk, “as your good old friend, I’m feeling generous. I can give you two things.”
His fingers, rough and calloused, slid from my wrist to my palm. He gripped it tightly, almost intimately, like it was some mockery of tenderness. My body stiffened, every fiber of me screaming to pull away, but his strength was overwhelming.
“I’ll give you a painless death,” he said softly, almost like a lover making a promise. His disgusting tone made bile rise in my throat. “But before that…” Kiel leaned closer, him whispering to my ears. “I’ll make sure you have a night to remember. A happy, pleasurable night before your death.”
I turned my face away, trying to put even an inch of space between us, but his other hand caught my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. They were dark and empty, filled with a twisted kind of satisfaction.
“I am your knight, after all,” he whispered, his words dripping with mockery. “It’s my duty to look after you, isn’t it? I’ll make sure you don’t forget tonight. Not ever.”
His body slowly getting closer against mine, and I shuddered, trapped between the unyielding tree and his suffocating weight. I felt powerless, his strength drowning out every ounce of resistance I had left. My hands trembled under his grip, and I clenched my teeth, refusing to let the tears in my eyes spill.
“Kiel…” I choked out, my voice breaking. “Please… you don’t do this. You’re not this person.”
He laughed—low and cruel, the sound of someone who had long abandoned any shred of humanity.
“This person?” He leaned in, his lips almost brushing my ear. “Oh, Stella, this is who I’ve always been. You were just too blind to see it.”
He pulled back slightly, just enough to glance over his shoulder at Ronan. “What do you think, Ronan? Can you wait your turn? I’m planning to take my time tonight.”
Ronan smirked, his eyes cold and disdainful as they landed on me. “Take all the time you want,” he said, his voice casual, like they weren’t talking about me as if I were an object not that their friend. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Kiel turned back to me, his smirk growing wider as he took in the tears streaking down my cheeks.
“Before we start our special night,” he said, his voice laced with mock sweetness, “let’s talk about your little knight, shall we? This… Kaiser.”
I glared at him, my body trembling with a mix of fear and anger. “Don’t talk about him,” I said, my voice weak but defiant.
“Why not?” Kiel mocked. “Is he supposed to be your hero? Your shining knight in armor? Oh please.”
My chest tensed, and I looked down, my heart aching. “He’s a man,” I said, my voice rising with desperation. “A real man. Someone who fights for others. Someone who—” My words caught in my throat as my disgust boiled over.
"Someone who isn’t a disgusting pervert like you," I screamed, my voice trembling with both anger and revulsion.
His smirk vanished, and his eyes darkened. Without warning, his hand struck my face, the slap leaving a burning sting on my cheek.
“Bitch,” he hissed, his voice sharp and cutting. “Know your place.”
I turned my head, wincing as my cheek throbbed, but I refused to let him see my tears fall.
Kiel’s lips curled into a sneer as he turned his gaze toward Kaiser’s limp form. “Ah,” he said, his voice dripping with mock realization. “Now I remember him. The little E-rank adventurer from the village. Pathetic, wasn’t he?”
Ronan blinked, his eyes narrowing as he glanced from Kiel to Kaiser. “Wait, actually?” He laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “An E-rank adventurer? This is who you’re putting your faith in?” He clapped his hands, the sound mocking and cruel. “How sad. How very sad.”
My head snapped up, shock and disbelief freezing me in place. “What…?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Kiel’s grin widened, his tone mocking and cruel. “Oh, you didn’t know? Of course, you didn’t. Your great savior, your last hope, is nothing more than an E-rank. A rank so low it’s practically a joke.”
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re lying.”
I could feel my heart sinking into my stomach as Kiel's words cut through me like a knife. I couldn’t believe what he was saying. It couldn’t be true. I refused to believe it. But his laughter—twisted and mocking—only deepened the weight of his cruel words.
“Lying?” Kiel scoffed, his voice dripping with laughter. “I wish I was. But it’s true. Among all the hunters in that village, he was the weakest of the weak. And you pinned all your hopes on him?”
I felt my breath catch, my chest tightening. My mind raced, trying to cling to any shred of doubt, to any explanation that would make sense. I had to believe in Kaiser. He wasn’t weak. He couldn’t be. He had fought for me; he had cared for me. But the hollow look in Kiel’s eyes—those cold, mocking eyes—made everything feel like a lie.
I turned to Kaiser, my heart breaking in my chest, but before I could gather my thoughts, Kiel leaned in closer. His breath was hot, his voice low and suffocating. “You really are pathetic, Stella,” he whispered, each word stabbing deeper into my soul. “Placing all your faith in someone so useless. But don’t worry…”
His grip on my hands tightened, almost crushing, and I gasped, pain shooting through me. He pressed in closer, his disgusting smile widening as he lowered his voice to an almost predatory tone. “I’ll make sure you forget all about him tonight.”
I wanted to scream, to push him away, but my body was frozen. The words stuck in my throat, thick with sorrow and regret. How had I let this happen? How had I ended up in this nightmare?
Before I could process his words, Kiel moved back, raising his hand toward Kaiser. “Let’s see if your little knight can survive this,” he said with a twisted grin, his eyes gleaming with malice.
The air around him crackled with mana energy, and he spoke the words of a fire spell. It wasn’t long before a massive explosion erupted from his hands, flames engulfing Kaiser. The roar of the blast filled my ears, and a cloud of smoke and dust obscured my vision.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. Everything seemed to slow down. My legs felt like lead, and my body refused to move. I couldn’t see Kaiser anymore—just the aftermath of the explosion. My heart hammered in my chest, and I felt the weight of despair settle over me like a heavy blanket.
But I had to move. I couldn’t just stand there. I couldn’t let him die without a fight, without doing something, anything. With every ounce of strength I had left, I struggled against the bindings that kept me in place, but the more I tried, the weaker I became.
Then, just as I thought I might break free, Kiel turned to me. His eyes glinted with satisfaction. “You’re not going anywhere, Stella.” He raised his hand, muttering incantations under his breath.
Suddenly, vines shot up from the ground, winding around my body, constricting me, squeezing the air out of me. They wrapped around my limbs, locking me in place. I gasped for breath, my chest tight from both the physical hold and the crushing weight of my emotions.
Kiel’s laugh echoed in the space between us, a low, dark sound full of victory. “You’re pathetic,” he spat. “All that strength you thought you had, all those dreams, all for nothing.”
I couldn’t even respond. Tears blurred my vision, and I felt a hollow ache in my heart. Kaiser… I had failed him. I had failed everyone.
Ronan finally spoke, his voice dripping with cruel amusement, “Look at her. Just a broken little girl, helpless without her knight.”
I gritted my teeth, hating myself even more with every word they spoke. I couldn't fight back. I couldn't protect anyone anymore.
Kiel finally turned to Ronan, his eyes glinting with malice as he gave an order. “You go guard the east side. Make sure no monsters come from the forest. I’ll handle this.”
Ronan smirked, saluting him like some kind of obedient dog. “Right. Have fun with the witch.”
My breath hitched as I heard him walk away, leaving me alone with Kiel. The air around me felt thick, suffocating. The vines around my body tightened, constricting like a tight rope, and I couldn’t even scream. I could barely move.
Kiel crouched down in front of me, his gaze cold. His lips parted as he spoke, his words with amusement. “Too late, Stella. He’s already gone. You’re mine now.”
I tried to scream, my throat raw and desperate, but the words got stuck. I tried to thrash against the magic that held me in place, but it was futile. Every part of me was crushed under the weight of his words, the truth sinking deep into my bones.
“Stop it, Kiel,” I choked out, my voice trembling. “Please, don’t—”
Kiel’s face twisted into something darker. He leaned in closer, his eyes burning with an unsettling hunger. “I didn’t think you’d end up like your sister,” he sneered. “How laughable. It’s almost too perfect, really.”
A dagger twisted in my chest. His words sliced through me like a blade. My sister. Lyla. They had taken everything from me. Kaiser, Lyla... and now it seemed I was next. I could feel the agony bubbling inside me, but I had no strength left to fight it.
Kiel saw the pain in my eyes, and for a brief moment, something in his gaze flickered, but it was gone almost immediately, replaced by that same sickening smile. He shifted, kneeling down so he was eye level with me, and I recoiled, disgust flooding every part of me.
His hands moved, touching the vines that held me down, manipulating them, bringing me closer to him. He was so close now, his body almost touching mine. I felt his presence suffocating me. His hands tried to reached up to my face.
“No, please,” I whispered, my voice breaking. Tears streamed down my face, but I couldn’t stop them. I couldn’t stop him. My entire body trembled, not from fear, but from the overwhelming shame. I wanted to die, but I couldn’t even do that.
In my mind, I screamed for help. I wanted to scream for Kaiser, for Lyla, but they were gone. I was alone. And Kiel was going to make sure I never saw the light again.
Kiel leaned closer, his breath hot against my face, his voice low and taunting. “Aww, Stella, don’t cry. I’ll make sure you have the best night of your life. A little reward before you die.”
The words felt like acid, burning through what was left of my soul. I closed my eyes, my heart breaking for all that had been lost, for all that I couldn’t protect. Kaiser, Lyla, everyone who had ever cared for me—gone. And here I was, helpless, dying inside and out.
I am sorry... Kaiser.
The air around me felt heavy, suffocating, as Kiel’s sadistic smile lingered, still so close. I couldn’t move, couldn’t fight back. I had resigned myself to this nightmare—until suddenly, everything changed.
I heard it before I saw it—the sound of something slicing through the air like lightning. My heart skipped a beat.
Kiel’s head flicked back slowly, his eyes widening in disbelief as a blue and red aura rushed toward him at a speed he couldn’t possibly comprehend. Time seemed to freeze for a heartbeat as Kiel’s gaze snapped toward the approaching force, but before he could react, the air was filled with the deafening sound of metal cutting through the air with deadly intent.
The blade was so fast, so precise, that Kiel barely had time to make a move. He tried to amplify his physical strength with a burst of magic, but it was futile. He hardened his skin, creating a glass-like surface in an attempt to protect himself, but it was no use. The sword, moving faster than anything he had ever seen, sliced through it as if it were flesh under a blade. It didn’t just nick his arm; it sliced it off cleanly.
Kiel’s scream echoed through the night as his hand was severed in one swift motion. The vines that had held me in place shattered instantly, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air as the world seemed to snap back into focus.
Kiel’s body fell, writhing in agony, his mouth open in a scream that would haunt me forever. “AGHHHHH!” he cried, his hands flying up in desperation as he scrambled to heal himself.
But it was too late.
At first, I couldn’t tell who it was. The figure stepped forward, blood dripping from their face, their body battered and broken, yet standing tall. Their movements were blurred, almost ghostly, and the fiery glow surrounding them made it impossible to make out their features.
Then, in the fractured reflection of a shattered mirror held by the severed hand on the air, I saw him. Kaiser. The blood, the resolve, the unyielding fire in his eyes—it was him. My breath caught as realization hit me. Relief and hope washed over me as realization set in.
The hand, once twisted and sliced, was slowly degenerating, its original form beginning to fade as the magic he wielded mended the injury. The edges of the severed hand blurred, dissolving into nothingness, a subtle reminder of the strength he was drawing upon to heal himself.
image [https://images.piclumen.com/normal/20241124/1859165486022410241/a79bb3fa-5bb4-486e-8382-6bda0ca7886c.webp]
Kiel, still on the ground, cursing and swearing, could barely look up as Kaiser approached, his voice colder than anything I had ever heard.
“Get up, worthless trash,” Kaiser said, his words laced with disgust and disdain. “I don’t recall letting any pests into my camp. Care to correct me?”
Kiel’s glare burned with hatred, but his body trembled as the pain racked him. He was desperately trying to heal his severed arm, his hands shaking as he attempted to use magic.
I could hardly breathe, my heart racing with an unfamiliar mixture of hope and fear. I was trembling, my body still bound by the trauma, but I felt a spark in my chest. Kaiser is alive. Kaiser is here.
“Kaiser…” I whispered, almost too afraid to believe it.
He met my eyes, a faint smile pulling at the corner of his lips despite the blood staining his face. It was a smile that was as much a reassurance as it was a challenge. “Sorry I kept you waiting, Celia.”
Kiel, still recovering from the shock, scoffed, his voice dripping with bitter mockery. “Pathetic. You think this weak E-rank adventurer—this failure—is going to save you?”
Kaiser didn’t flinch. He didn’t even acknowledge the insult. His eyes remained steady, cold, unwavering.
“You should’ve stayed in your hole,” Kaiser said, his voice cold and filled with rage. “You made the mistake of thinking I was weak. Now, I’m going to make you regret every second of it. I’ll make you wish you were never born.”
Kiel’s hands trembled as he cast a healing spell, his words strained and full of desperation. “I’ll fix this. I’ll fix it all—”
But Kaiser stepped forward, his sword gleaming with a murderous intent that sent a chill down my spine. He was a shadow of pure resolve, his every movement fueled by nothing but vengeance and the need to end this.
I wanted to say something, to tell him to be careful, but the words caught in my throat. Kaiser was moving, his every step a testament to his will to fight, to keep pushing forward despite his injuries.
The tension between them was suffocating, a storm building up in the air as Kaiser slowly closed the distance. The final confrontation was near—everything had led up to this moment.
But just as the sword hovered, ready to strike again, the scene froze. There was no way to predict what would happen next.
And in that moment, as the world held its breath, I could only hope that Kaiser would prevail.