Four adventurers stood at the entrance of a dark, damp cave, where the foul stench of rot seeped out into the cold night air. Each wore thick cloaks, covered in dust from their long journey. 

The light from their lanterns pierced only a few feet ahead, casting eerie shadows that danced along the stone walls. This cave was infamous as the lair of a monster that had poisoned the kingdom's rivers, and they had been sent to end its reign of terror.

At the front stood Tiar, their leader, a valiant knight clad in silver armor. His sword gleamed, reflecting the lantern's light off its cold steel. Beside him, Elara, a young mage with flowing silver hair, held her staff steady, her lips whispering an incantation to trace any sign of life.

"Watch your steps," she murmured, her voice low. "There's something here—I can feel it.

"Behind them, Nashit, a spirited young adventurer, held his bow and arrows close. Determination filled his face, though he was far younger than the others. His experience was limited, yet his heart was strong as he followed carefully, his eyes keenly watching every movement around him.

"All clear so far," Nashit said in a calm voice, though his heartbeat raced. "But I know danger isn't far from us."

At the rear stood Dalvin, a holy cleric clutching a pendant engraved with the symbol of the god of healing, ready to summon divine aid if needed. By his side, Orin, a burly warrior wielding a heavy axe, advanced with thunderous steps, eager to face the dark creature ahead.

The sound of dripping water echoed in the tunnel. The deeper they went, the heavier the air became, thick with the toxic stench of corruption. The ground grew slippery, puddles of green, foul water splattered across the stone.

"This must be from the monster's poison," Elara muttered, praying its taint would not spread further.

They arrived in a vast chamber, in the center of which lay a dark green pool bubbling ominously. Over it, a massive, scaly creature loomed, with glowing red eyes and sharp fangs glistening under the sheen of dark slime.

"There it is," Tiar murmured, tightening his grip on his sword. "Prepare yourselves. We have no choice but to defeat it and save the kingdom."

Elara raised her staff, a blue light gathering at its tip. Nashit took a deep breath, drawing his bow with a slight tremble in his hands, yet his gaze was resolute. Orin lifted his axe high, prepared to clash with the monstrous power before them, while Dalvin whispered a protective blessing over the team.

With a horrific roar, the beast lunged, and a fierce battle erupted. Nashit's first arrow flew true, making the creature roar in pain, but this was only the beginning.

The clash within the dark, oppressive cave intensified, shaking its walls. Tiar charged forward, his sword flashing as it struck the monster's armored side.

The creature, both scaly and matted with black fur, let out a deafening roar, exuding a terrifying aura of darkness. Blow after blow was dealt, but the beast appeared invincible, each wound only serving to enrage it further.

Behind the fighters, Elara gathered her magic. "Flames of the sky, heed my call!" she shouted, releasing a massive fireball toward the monster. But it dodged with ease, retaliating with a wave of dark energy that knocked them all back.

Orin, the giant warrior, charged forward, his axe held high, only for it to strike the cavern wall, creating a deafening crash as stones shattered.

"It's too strong!" Elara cried, her face pale as she watched her friends being thrown aside by the beast's attack. "We can't defeat it this way!"

Every strike they launched was answered with greater force. The monster countered with sharp fangs and massive claws, crushing their hopes one by one.

The dark power radiating from the beast stirred a fear deep within them, and the adventurers sensed they were nearing defeat.

The battle grew brutal and unyielding. The monstrous foe they faced was not only physically formidable but also released toxic gas and sticky bile from its body, rendering each of their attacks futile.

Tiar's sword, which could slice through steel, slipped and bounced off, unable to pierce the beast's thick hide.

Elara fought to cast her spells, but each attempt left her coughing as the noxious air choked her, draining her mana and leaving her more vulnerable with every breath.

Orin, the knight, was covered in wounds. Blood flowed from his arm, his face pale, yet he continued to swing his axe with all his might, even though he knew his efforts were in vain.

Every blow he landed was deflected by the creature's slick, hardened skin, as if no weapon could wound it.

Meanwhile, Nashit, the young adventurer, found himself in the gravest danger. He had used all his arrows; his bow was now useless.

His magic was exhausted, leaving him without a single spell to cast. Panting, he backed into a corner, evading attacks with nowhere left to run. He was alone, separated from his team.

Tiar surveyed the battlefield in despair, his mind a chaotic mess of thoughts. He had promised the princess to cleanse the poisoned waters. If he succeeded, he hoped to win her hand, a dream that drove him to keep fighting.

Elara, with her last reserves of strength, wanted to prove herself to the kingdom's mages, to show she was worthy of inheriting the Academy of Magic.

Orin, too, could not retreat; his uncle, who led the Adventurers' Guild, had challenged his strength, and this was his chance to prove he could be the next leader.

But Nashit was different. He was only a young adventurer, with no family awaiting his return, no great destiny or expectation to fulfill. He lived freely, with neither burdens nor tales of grand ambitions.

And so, in the depths of despair, Tiar made a terrible decision."He has nothing to prove..." Tiar whispered to himself, his eyes clouded with fear and selfishness.

Without informing Nashit, they chose to sacrifice him.In the heat of the moment, a desperate plan took root in Tiar's mind.

"We must take a risk!" he shouted, looking at Nashit, who was trapped in a corner, clutching his bow with a fearful face. "We have to use him as bait to distract the monster. Only then can we save ourselves!"

"No, we can't do that!" Elara cried, but Tiar's voice was stronger. In their panic and desperation, they ignored her protest and quickly formulated a plan.

Without Nashit's knowledge, they abandoned him in the most perilous position, hoping the creature would be drawn to his weakened presence."Nashit, we'll draw its attention. You have to hold on!" Tiar shouted, running away.

Shocked, Nashit could only watch them leave, the chill of dread sinking into his bones."Don't leave me!" Nashit screamed, but his voice was lost in the monster's roar.

The creature attacked, pouncing on Nashit with razor-sharp claws. Agony surged through his body as the monster's dark power drained his strength.

He felt his soul and body splitting, trapped in unbearable pain.Meanwhile, Tiar, Elara, and Orin forced themselves to ignore Nashit's cries.

They couldn't let guilt interfere with their mission. Amid the monster's dreadful sounds, they poured their remaining energy into their magic and attacks, striving to hold its attention.

"We have no other choice!" Elara cried, though her heart shattered. "We must seal the monster before it's too late!"

"Attack from the other side!" Tiar shouted, inadvertently trapping Nashit directly in front of the monster.

A toxic blast spewed from the creature's maw, hitting Nashit. His body convulsed, searing pain flooding his senses, as the poison burned through him. He tried to scream, but his voice was swallowed in the darkness.

Elara and Orin tried to stay focused, but they shut their ears to Nashit's desperate cries, pretending not to hear. They knew the cruelty of their choice, yet for their own aims, they pressed on.

Poor Nashit became the bait, drawing the creature's focus so they could attempt to seal it.But the monster was too powerful to kill.

So they chose their last resort: to seal it away with Nashit inside, leaving him to suffer until his end. With her final strength, Elara cast the sealing spell, imprisoning the monster with Nashit, now helpless, trapped forever in the darkness.

Nashit's final scream echoed within the sealed cavern, while the survivors stood outside in silence. They had halted the monster's threat—but at a price they could never forget.

.

.

.

.

Tiar, who had once brimmed with confidence as their leader, now stood with his shoulders slumped, weighed down by the shadow of his own actions.

He had fulfilled his promise to the princess, at least for now. The monster would no longer poison the kingdom's waters, but a gnawing ache remained in his heart—Nashit, the innocent young adventurer, had been sacrificed to his ambition.

Even though his actions secured the kingdom's safety and granted him the hope of the princess's hand, he could not shake the memory of Nashit's anguish.

Elara looked down, her eyes filled with unshed tears. The spell she had coldly cast became Nashit's final sentence.

Her heart was torn, yet her ambition to prove herself to the court wizards had dulled her compassion. She had succeeded; the seal was flawless, and she would return with a tale of victory.

But a whisper of doubt echoed within her: was this triumph worth the price of a comrade's soul?Orin, his body battered and weary, felt a nausea rising within him.

He was the strongest warrior, one who had defeated far greater foes, yet now he felt nothing like a victor. He had proven his might, but with each swing of his axe,

Nashit's life had been forfeit. This was his chance to prove himself worthy of leading the Adventurer's Guild, but at such a cost?

The three stood in silence, none daring to meet the others' gaze, as if their sins might be laid bare with even a glance.

They had made a cruel choice, sacrificing Nashit, who had asked for nothing, who had followed them without ambition or burden. He had been the most innocent among them, and now his body lay entombed with the monster, sealed in eternal darkness.

Tiar broke the silence, his voice heavy and quiet. "We must return... the kingdom awaits the news."

They nodded in solemn agreement, though each step grew heavier as they left the cave, as if every step was pulling them further from the humanity they once held.

They had sealed the monster, but in doing so, they had locked away a part of themselves—guilt that could never truly fade.In the distance, the sealed cave stood silent and unwavering, a grave for both Nashit and the monster.

Only the stones bore witness to Nashit's final cries, and only the cave would remember his sacrifice. The world might celebrate their victory, but within, the adventurers knew: they had not truly vanquished a monster.

They had failed the test of their own hearts.Within the darkness of the cave, Nashit lay on the cold, wet ground, wracked by agony. Each heartbeat felt like needles tearing through him, and amid his confusion and suffering, a deep sense of betrayal surged forth.

His final cries echoed against the cave walls, and yet, more painful than his physical wounds was the betrayal that filled his heart.That night, when they returned to camp outside the cave, none of them could find sleep.

The campfire burned at the center, yet no warmth could reach their frozen hearts. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, haunted by memories of Nashit—his bright smile, his final screams still ringing from the cave now locked tight.

Tiar sat with his head bowed, staring into the blade of his sword. He saw his own reflection in the silver edge—a knight who once stood for honor, but now felt empty.

He had done what was needed for the kingdom, yet the price could never be repaid. The princess's face flashed in his mind, but the dreams and hopes he once held felt distant.

How could he ever face her, with Nashit's blood staining his hands?

Across the fire, Elara hugged her knees, tears streaming silently down her face. She tried to appear strong, yet her heart was shattered.

All her life, she had striven to prove herself a worthy mage, but what had she truly achieved? Had this sacrifice, Nashit's life, truly been worth it? An emptiness gnawed at her, and the magic she once wielded so proudly now felt hollow and cold.

Orin, still fresh with wounds, sat nearby, his trembling hands attempting to mend his axe. Each scar on his body was a reminder of Nashit—the young man who had never hesitated, who had stood with them despite lacking a grand purpose.

The weight of his axe felt unbearable, not from his injuries but from the moral weight he now bore. Orin had always longed to be recognized as the finest warrior, but after what had happened, what did any of his strength mean if he could not protect a friend?

After a while, Tiar spoke, his voice barely audible. "We've completed our mission," he said, though his words lacked conviction. "The kingdom will be safe."

Elara shook her head, her voice trembling. "But at what cost? Was it right to sacrifice Nashit for this? We left him... we let him die alone in there."

Tiar clenched his fists, his guilt surging back, despite his attempts to repress it. "We had no other choice," he replied, though the words felt hollow even to him.

Deep down, he knew there had always been a choice—they simply took the easier path, the one that left Nashit as their bait."We all made a choice," murmured Orin, his voice nearly drowned by the crackling fire. "But no matter the reason, it doesn't change what we did. Nashit isn't coming back."

Silence fell over them once more. None of them dared acknowledge the painful truth—that they had discarded Nashit because he bore no burden like theirs, because he had no grand aspirations or ties. Nashit, free from ambition, became the cost of their own egos.

But what pained them most was that they could never turn back time. They knew the monster could not be killed, and Nashit's tortured soul would remain within the seal, trapped in endless darkness.

No one would ever know his sacrifice, no one would grieve for him. The world would remember them as heroes, but within, they knew who had truly paid the price for their victory.

As dawn broke, they packed in silence. None spoke of Nashit, but his screams, his final suffering, would forever haunt them. 

.

.

.

In the darkness that enveloped both body and soul, Nashit lay there, tormented not only by the venom spreading through his veins but by the searing betrayal that festered in his heart. Every breath was a reminder of the sacrifice they had made of him, casting him aside without hesitation, as though his life was nothing more than a cheap lure.

"How could they do this to me?" he thought, struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "I fought for them, for our mission." Memories of past quests resurfaced—how he was always there, ready, helping his team through even the worst of times. He recalled gathering supplies, managing resources, and ensuring everything was in order for their journey.

"Was my life so cheap to them?" His anger coiled tightly within his chest. Everything he had ever done for them, for a bond he thought was worth something—it all meant nothing. Disappointment, rage, hatred, and sorrow melded together, forming a new emotion he could scarcely describe. He felt discarded, unseen, as if all his efforts were just shadows, unseen and unacknowledged by those he had once called friends.

In the midst of his pain, memories surfaced, unearthing the sacrifices he had made for the team. When they were lost in dense forests with no way out, it was Nashit who had run miles to find direction, using his still-imperfect magic to guide them back to safety. When supplies dwindled and hunger threatened them, he had slipped into the night to find food, hiding his fear to ensure their survival.

Even the precious items they relied on—magic stones, potions, weapons—did they think those had simply appeared? No. Nashit had used his own money, wealth he kept hidden from his noble family in the East, to provide for the team. He had never wanted praise or acknowledgment for what he had given. He only wanted to be treated as an equal, valued as part of the team.

Nashit was a scion of a wealthy family from the East, but he had kept that part of himself hidden. He didn't want his companions to see him as weak or spoiled. He had been determined to prove he could stand beside them on his own, without relying on his family's fortune. Now, it all seemed like a bitter joke. Their decision to sacrifice him reminded him that all his efforts had been in vain.

Now, everything seemed meaningless. To them, he was just a young adventurer with no ties, someone they could sacrifice without a second thought. They had no idea who he truly was—a noble who had left behind a life of comfort to explore the world and seek freedom. He had kept it hidden, afraid of being seen as weak or unworthy of their company. But now he realized that no matter what he concealed, they would never have seen him as someone of worth.

Nashit's body trembled, torn between the agony coursing through his flesh and the fury blazing within his heart. He felt utterly betrayed by those he had trusted, by the friends he had believed would stand by him as he had stood by them. Every sacrifice he had made, every step he had taken to ensure their safety—it was all worthless. They had cast him aside like refuse.

"Even now, they chose to save themselves rather than stand by a friend," he thought bitterly, despair taking root. With each passing second, his physical pain deepened, mirroring the betrayal that carved its way through his heart. He wanted to scream, but his voice was swallowed by the silent void of the cavern.

Alone in the darkness, Nashit tried to make sense of it all. "Maybe… they never saw me as one of them," he mused. "Maybe I was only ever a tool for their ends." The realization of his friends' betrayal, that they saw his life as expendable, cut deeper than any wound.

As he fought against the pain spreading through his body, he yearned for those moments they had shared—laughter, stories, the fleeting sense that they were truly a team. But now, those memories felt distant, hollow.

With his vision blurring, he felt the swell of sorrow and rage within him. "I fought for you, and this is my reward?" he whispered to himself, recalling every sacrifice he had made for the team. Nashit knew he would never receive an answer to that question; all that remained was silence and pain.

Meanwhile, outside, his team felt the weight of victory tainted with a bitter loss. Though they had survived the monster's threat, a gnawing guilt began to creep into their hearts, a shadow that would remind them they had paid for their victory with a friend's life. That knowledge would haunt them.

Lying in the darkness, Nashit's body was bound by pain and betrayal. He could not understand how his friends could be so callous, treating his life as though it was worth nothing. His life should not have been so cheaply cast aside, especially when he had been one of the most devoted among them. In every journey, he had shown unwavering dedication, even sacrificing himself to ensure their safety.

More than that, the sealing technique they used to trap the monster was born from his own effort and knowledge. Nashit had spent countless hours studying the intricate art of sealing, gathering notes and insights from elder mages and seasoned adventurers. He knew how difficult it was to master, and he had fought tirelessly to make that information available to them. But now, all those efforts felt meaningless.

"Did none of it mean anything to them?" he asked himself. The realization that he had been treated as nothing more than a tool, not a true member of the team, shattered him. When faced with the monstrous threat, they chose to sacrifice him, even though he was the one who best understood the challenge they faced.

With his heartbeat growing faint, he whispered a final prayer, hoping that one day his companions might come to understand the true worth of friendship. In that last instant, Nashit's consciousness faded, leaving this world with a pain that ran deeper than any wound and a betrayal that would never be forgotten.

***

Nashit drifted silently in the dark void, his body suspended with no direction. There was no ground, no sky—only an endless darkness. Time felt meaningless here. He had no idea how long he'd been in this place—days, months, or even years? Each scream he let out dissolved into the emptiness. No sound came, no answer, just the piercing silence.

"Is this the afterlife?" he wondered. He had tried finding a way out, calling for help, but it was all in vain. This place was a prison without walls, without borders, and with each passing moment, he sank deeper into the oppressive silence.

But one day, amidst the unending void, he noticed a glimmer of light. It was faint, like a flicker of hope barely holding on. Nashit watched the light with curiosity, and as he drew closer, it began to take the shape of a young boy—no older than ten, by the look of him. The boy sat trembling, his eyes filled with a sorrow that ran unfathomably deep.

Nashit drifted nearer, an unfamiliar feeling stirring within him. Who is this child? he wondered, taking in the small face etched with grief. Without realizing it, Nashit felt a strange bond with him—not merely because they shared this desolate place, but something more profound, something bound by betrayal and darkness.

The boy finally turned, and their eyes met. In the child's gaze, Nashit saw an agony that words couldn't capture, a tragic tale far too heavy for such young shoulders.

"My name... is Nereon," the boy whispered, his voice barely more than a breath.

Nashit did not answer immediately, a deep sympathy filling his heart. Who is this child? he wondered again, but before he could speak, Nereon continued, his voice quivering as he began his tale.

"I am the son of a noble from a distant land," Nereon began, his gaze distant, as if peering back into a dark past. "My father was a duke, ruler of vast lands, a man of great power and renown. I hardly knew him—he was always caught up in affairs of the realm. So, I was raised by my mother. She was the one always there, the only one who truly cared. I never felt alone when I was with her."

Nashit listened quietly, feeling a weight settle upon him. The boy's story resonated with his own pain, his own sense of betrayal.

"We went to a grand banquet in my mother's homeland," Nereon continued, his voice dropping to a murmur. "It was meant to be a night of joy, but everything changed... My uncle, my father's closest friend—a man I thought of as a second father—came that night. But he did not come as an honored guest. He came with a band of outlaws... and he killed my mother."

Nashit felt his breath catch. Betrayal. The word echoed in his mind like a wound reopening.

"My mother tried to protect me," Nereon continued, his hands trembling as he relived the memory. "She fought... she stood between them and me, knowing she would not survive. I watched as she was struck down… by my uncle. I wanted to help her, to defend her, but I was too weak. I could do nothing. I just watched… as they took my head."

Nashit was silent, unable to speak. Nereon looked down, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"And when I opened my eyes again, I was here," Nereon said, his voice barely audible beneath the weight of his sorrow. "In this empty place. Alone. No one to hear me, no one who cares. Just like you, perhaps."

Nashit felt his heart tremble as he listened. There was a haunting similarity between himself and Nereon. They had both been betrayed by those who should have protected them. Both had been left to die, alone, with no one who cared.

Yet there was a difference as well. Nashit was an adult adventurer, one who had chosen to hide his true identity and strength, striving to prove himself without relying on status. Nereon, on the other hand, was only a child, denied any chance to fight back, with nothing but his mother's love as his sole strength. And even that had been stolen from him.

"I… I understand how you feel," Nashit finally said, his voice hoarse in the emptiness around them. "I was betrayed too… by those I called friends. They left me to die. They didn't care."

Nereon looked at Nashit with eyes full of pain and a faint glimmer of hope. "So, what do we do now? Are we going to be trapped here forever?"

Nashit shook his head slowly, though he had no real answer. But in his heart, he knew one thing—he couldn't give up, not even here in this forsaken place. And maybe, together, they could find a way out of the void, a way out of the darkness that bound them. He wouldn't let this betrayal be the end of him… or of Nereon.

"We'll find a way," Nashit declared, his voice firm, though even he didn't know how. "I don't know how yet, but we will escape. And when we do… the world will know who we are."

Nashit watched, feeling helpless as Nereon sobbed in despair, his cries shattering the stillness of the void, yet trapping Nashit even more. Every tear, every scream from the child seemed to pierce Nashit's soul. "I just want my mother!" Nereon's cry reverberated through the emptiness around them, but more than that, it tore at Nashit's heart piece by piece.

Nashit knew too well what it meant to lose, to feel betrayal and pain burrow deep within, but seeing this child suffer from the loss of his mother was something else entirely. Nereon's grief was so overwhelming that, without realizing it, Nashit felt the boy's emotions seeping into him, doubling the weight in his own heart. Nereon's sorrow blended with his own, dragging him deeper into the void's endless depths.

Nashit was silent, unable to say a word. He could only watch as Nereon cried, furious at fate, at loss, at betrayal. Nashit's heart clenched to see how much the boy wanted to return to his mother's embrace—the one person who had ever made him feel loved.

But then, suddenly, through his tears, Nereon rose to his feet. Though his cheeks were wet, something fierce and sharp had entered his gaze—a determination that cut through the despair.

With small yet resolute hands, Nereon reached out and took hold of Nashit's hand. That touch sent a strange tremor through Nashit, as though a new power was flowing between them.

"You! You have to go back!" Nereon cried, his voice still shaky but filled with an unyielding will. "Take my body, Nashit! You can go on living! You can seek vengeance!"

Nashit looked at him, stunned. "What… what do you mean?" he asked, his voice rough. He had never imagined such a thing, especially coming from a child so fragile.

"I don't want to live in a world without my mother!" Nereon continued, his eyes brimming with both tears and certainty. "All I want is to be with her. If I can't have that, then I would rather die. But you… you still have a chance. You can take my body, live my life, and use my strength."

Nashit stared at Nereon in confusion. "But… that's not fair. This is your life."

Nereon shook his head firmly. "I don't care anymore. Life means nothing without her. I'm finished. But you, you still have a fight left in you. You can make those who hurt you pay. The ones who betrayed you. I give you my body. I give you my life."

Nashit was silent, his heart torn. The offer was tempting, yet it came with a weight he could hardly fathom. How could he simply take this child's life as his own? But, at the same time, Nereon seemed so certain. The boy wanted to escape his pain, to leave for another realm where he could be with his mother.

"Take my body, Nashit," Nereon repeated, his voice softer this time, almost a whisper. "I don't want to stay here… You can live on through me. You can become me. You can make the world pay for everything they did to you."

Nashit felt his heart pulled towards a difficult decision. The offer felt like a path out of this emptiness, a way to escape a meaningless death. But could he really go through with it? Could he take the body of a child who only wanted to be with his mother?

Nereon's small hand still held Nashit's tightly, and though his fragile body trembled, his eyes shone with an undeniable resolve.

Nashit gazed at him, hardly able to believe what he'd just heard. "Take over a child's body?" The idea felt absurd. Yet Nereon's expression was so serious, so certain. The boy had made up his mind, and he wasn't about to turn back. In the frail child's gaze, Nashit saw a bewildering determination—the desire to end his suffering and join his mother.

"But… this is your life, Nereon," Nashit said softly, struggling to understand a situation beyond logic. "Are you really sure you want to give it up?"

Nereon shook his head fiercely, tears still streaming down his cheeks. "I don't want to live in this world alone. Without my mother, life has no meaning. I would rather die than endure it without her." His voice was quiet but resolute. "I don't need this body. But you… you can keep living. You can use my body for revenge. I don't want this body… I only want my mother."

A deep ache seized Nashit's chest. Nereon's words cut deep, mirroring wounds he himself carried. Betrayal, loss, and the raw anger that flowed between them—Nashit knew all too well the feeling of being abandoned, just as this boy had been. And now, Nereon offered Nashit a way out he had never expected.

But Nashit knew this wasn't a choice to take lightly. Taking Nereon's body meant taking his whole life, leaving the boy behind. Nashit would have the chance to take revenge on those who'd betrayed him, but he'd have to pay with a conscience that might never be at peace.

"But Nereon… you're just a child. You have a long future ahead of you," Nashit said, his voice wavering. "I can't take that from you."

Nereon looked at him, his face torn with pain but his resolve unwavering. "What good is a future without my mother? I've already lost everything. This is your chance, Nashit. Take my body. Live my life… and do what I couldn't. You can be strong. You can take revenge."

The words echoed in Nashit's mind. _Take revenge._ It was something he had thought of since his friends betrayed him, leaving him to die before a monster. That pain still burned inside him, and now, Nereon was giving him a chance to continue living and perhaps set that injustice right.

Slowly, Nashit drew a deep breath. Before him, Nereon stood with a body that trembled, yet his eyes were steady. The boy wouldn't change his mind, that much was clear.

"All right…" Nashit finally said, his voice heavy. "If this is truly your wish…"

Nereon nodded slowly, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks. "I'm certain. Please… go out there and do what you have to do."

At that moment, the empty space around them seemed to shift. The cold darkness began to tremble with unseen energy. Nashit felt his body being pulled deeper into the void, as if some great power was ready to swallow them both. Nereon released his hand, then looked at Nashit with a faint smile, though his eyes held a sadness that would never fade.

"Thank you…" Nereon whispered before his form began to dissolve into shimmering light.

Nashit felt a powerful force dragging him toward a new body. A blinding light surrounded him, and before he knew it, he felt warmth—a body that functioned once more, breaths that filled his lungs.

As the light faded, Nashit opened his eyes and found himself no longer in that empty place. He was back in the real world—but it wasn't his own body. It was Nereon's. His hands were small, yet filled with a strange, fierce energy. This body was a second chance, imbued with the strength of a noble child who had given him his life.

Nashit, now in Nereon's body, took a deep breath. "I'll carry on, Nereon. I'll make them pay for every injustice."

With newfound resolve, Nashit swore silently. He would no longer be a victim of betrayal. The world would know who he truly was. And this time, there would be no mercy.