Daelan strode down the shadowed hallways, the echoes of his victory lingering in the air like a heavy mist. The fortress seemed to resonate with his presence, its stone walls darkened with the remnants of the battle that had taken place. Silence enveloped him, a silence that he found both satisfying and eerily unfamiliar. For all the power he wielded, something about Kazuki's last words gnawed at him, like an itch he couldn't quite scratch.
A voice broke the quiet, a voice as familiar as his own ambition. "Daelan," it murmured, low and barely more than a whisper, yet unmistakably clear. Daelan paused, his gaze flickering to the shadows ahead. Lira was slumped against a broken pillar, her body battered and bruised, yet her eyes gleamed with a stubborn light.
He raised an eyebrow, his expression one of faint amusement. "Still alive, Lira? I thought you'd have the sense to accept defeat and vanish into the darkness with your companions."
Lira winced as she pushed herself to her feet, a determined look settling over her face. Blood trickled down her cheek, but she paid it no mind. "If I had given up every time I faced defeat, Daelan, I wouldn't be standing here today."
He chuckled, his voice laced with mockery. "So, you think you can stand against me now? Alone?"
Lira's lips twisted into a half-smile as she raised a trembling hand, summoning a faint glow of crimson around her fingers. "I may be alone, but I'm not defeated."
Daelan tilted his head, intrigued. "Futile words. Just like Kazuki's. Are all of you so blind to reality? You're clinging to a lost cause."
She took a step forward, her voice unwavering. "Maybe it's not about winning, Daelan. Maybe it's about refusing to let you destroy everything we believe in. Maybe that's what makes us strong."
Daelan's expression hardened, his amusement vanishing. "Strength is found only in victory. Everything else is weakness." He raised his hand, shadows swirling around his fingers as he prepared to strike. "If you want to test your so-called strength, then by all means…"
A sudden warmth flooded the room, the remnants of Kazuki's light—a soft, persistent glow that flickered like a heartbeat, hovering in the air between them. Daelan frowned, his hand lowering ever so slightly. The light was faint, almost inconsequential, yet it refused to die.
Lira's eyes sparkled as she looked at the light, her expression softening. "He hasn't given up… even now."
Daelan scowled, his voice sharp. "That's merely the residue of a fool's hope. It holds no power."
Lira's gaze shifted to him, her expression fierce. "Then why does it bother you?"
He felt a pang of irritation, his patience wearing thin. "It doesn't bother me."
"Then why hesitate?" she pressed, taking a step closer. "You could have destroyed us all by now. But something holds you back."
Daelan clenched his jaw, his voice a low growl. "I've already won. There's no need to waste my energy on your pointless resistance."
"You can lie to yourself, Daelan, but I see it," she continued, her voice steady. "Something about Kazuki… something about his strength… it unsettles you."
His eyes flashed with anger. "Enough." He raised his hand, the shadows surging forward, but Lira didn't flinch. She held her ground, her gaze unwavering.
"Destroy me if you must," she said, her voice steady. "But you'll never erase what Kazuki left behind. His light… his hope… it will live on, even if you silence every voice that dares to oppose you."
Daelan's hand wavered, the darkness hesitating, as if uncertain. He clenched his fist, the shadows dissipating. "You're delusional," he muttered, turning away from her. "Cling to your hope if you wish, but it will do you no good. Soon, you'll see the truth."
He began to walk away, his footsteps echoing down the hall, but Lira's voice rang out behind him, strong and clear. "And you, Daelan—will you ever see the truth?"
He didn't respond. The question lingered in the air, unanswered, as he disappeared into the darkness.
As Daelan left, Lira collapsed to her knees, exhaustion overtaking her. Her body screamed in protest, every nerve aflame from the battle, but she forced herself to stay conscious. The faint glow of Kazuki's lingering light continued to hover in the air, a tiny beacon of hope in the overwhelming darkness. She reached out to it, her hand trembling, and for a moment, she felt warmth radiate from it, filling her with a sense of peace she hadn't felt in ages.
Footsteps echoed from the other end of the chamber, and Lira turned to see Seraphine approaching, her face weary yet filled with determination. She knelt beside Lira, her voice soft. "He's gone, for now. But he'll be back."
Lira nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Kazuki… he fought so hard."
Seraphine's gaze shifted to the lingering light, her expression somber. "He left something behind—a reminder that we're not finished yet."
Lira took a shaky breath, her hand still reaching toward the light. "It's strange, isn't it? Even after everything… there's still hope."
Seraphine's lips curved into a faint smile. "Kazuki believed in something greater than himself. That belief is what's keeping us going, even now."
They fell silent, both of them staring at the faint glow, letting its warmth wash over them. For a brief moment, the weight of their loss seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of purpose that was stronger than the darkness that surrounded them.
Seraphine's gaze hardened, and she turned to Lira. "We can't let his sacrifice be in vain. Daelan might think he's won, but this isn't over."
Lira nodded, a flicker of determination returning to her eyes. "He may have defeated us today, but as long as we carry Kazuki's light, we'll find a way to stand against him."
Seraphine placed a hand on Lira's shoulder, her voice filled with quiet strength. "Together. We'll face him together."
As they sat there, gathering their strength, the faint light of Kazuki's presence seemed to pulse in response, a silent promise that he was still with them, watching over them. And in that moment, they knew that they couldn't give up—not now, not ever.
They stood together, leaning on each other for support, their resolve unbreakable. The path ahead was uncertain, but they were ready to face whatever challenges lay in their way. Kazuki's light would guide them, even in the darkest of nights. And as long as they carried that light within them, they would never truly be defeated.