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.
As Kiel reached up, he pulled off the orange garment that had protected him from the fire, and my heart skipped a beat. Beneath it, he wore dark, menacing armor that seemed designed for war. The blackened metal was sleek and terrifying, molded to fit his form with sharp angles and jagged edges. It was the kind of armor worn by someone who had been trained to fight, to kill. The cold, steel appearance of it sent a shiver down my spine. I realized, with a sickening sense of dread, that this wasn't just the boy I once knew—it was a warrior, someone capable of far more than I had ever imagined. And I was facing him now, as a stranger with no hint of the kindness I had once clung to.
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."
My heart pounded, and though I felt a rush of emotion, I refused to let him see my vulnerability. I pushed against his chest with my free hand, trying to create some space 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 breath warm against my skin. His voice dropped, soft but earnest. "You want to know the truth, Stella? I fell for you that day, at the festival. When I saw you looking up at the sky, your eyes full of wonder, I couldn't stop myself. You were so beautiful, so... pure in that moment. I remember thinking how I wanted to be the one to make you smile, to be the one to stand by you. I loved you even then, the first time I saw you, and it's never stopped."
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, the sharp hum of power vibrating through the tense silence. His voice rang out, steady and deliberate, as he spoke the words of a fire spell. I could only watch, frozen in place, as flames surged to life in his hands, growing brighter and hotter with every passing second. Then, with a deafening roar, a massive explosion erupted, the inferno swallowing Kaiser whole.
The force of the blast sent a wave of heat and pressure rippling through the air, making it hard to breathe. The world around me seemed to blur, the crackling fire and rising smoke consuming everything in its path. Dust and debris filled the space where Kaiser once stood, and all I could see was the billowing cloud of destruction.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Everything slowed to an agonizing crawl. My legs felt like lead, rooted to the ground, refusing to move no matter how much I screamed at myself to do something—anything. I strained my eyes, desperate to catch a glimpse of him, but there was nothing. No figure standing tall, no defiant voice calling out in victory. Just emptiness.
My heart pounded so violently that I thought it might burst. I couldn't stop the wave of despair that crashed over me, pulling me under. He was gone. My only friend, the one person who cared for me, who made me feel like I wasn't alone in this cruel world—gone. And I hadn't done a thing to stop it.
My chest heaved as the realization sank deeper into me, the weight of it unbearable. I had failed him. I had failed the one person who believed in me. I had failed Kaiser.
I bit down on my lip, the taste of blood sharp in my mouth, but I didn't care. My fists clenched at my sides as regret clawed at me, raw and unrelenting. Why hadn't I acted sooner? Why hadn't I tried harder? Why couldn't I save him, just once? He deserved better. He deserved someone stronger, someone braver—someone who could have saved him.
Tears burned in my eyes, blurring the inferno still raging before me. I didn't bother wiping them away. The fire in my chest—fueled by rage, sorrow, and unbearable guilt—was too strong to be extinguished. I couldn't stop the scream that ripped from my throat, echoing into the night. It was filled with every ounce of pain I carried, every regret I would never be able to let go. Kaiser was gone, and I would never forgive myself.
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.
Just as I thought I might break free, Kiel turned to me, a twisted smile spreading across his face. "You're not going anywhere, Stella." He raised his hand, muttering incantations under his breath.
Vines shot up from the ground, coiling around my arms and legs, locking me in place. They constricted tighter with every second, but I didn't feel fear—I felt rage. Blazing, consuming rage that burned through every ounce of pain. My chest heaved, my breathing sharp and uneven, as my red eyes locked onto his with murderous intent.
"How dare you," I growled, my voice venomous. "How dare you kill him, Kiel!" My scream tore through the night as I thrashed against the vines. "I'll kill you! I'll kill both of you for what you've done!"
Kiel tilted his head, his black eyes narrowing as his smile faded. "That look in your eyes," he said softly, his tone almost amused. "It's hatred. It's the fire of someone who's lost everything." He leaned closer, his face calm yet sinister. "But you're powerless, Celia. You're nothing."
I screamed at him, my fury unrelenting. "You think this will stop me? You think this is over? You're a coward, Kiel—a coward who couldn't even face him without a trick up your sleeve!" My voice cracked with the intensity of my anger. "I'll kill you both. I swear it!"
His expression darkened, and without warning, he raised his hand and slapped me across the face. The force sent a sharp sting through my cheek, but I didn't flinch. I refused to give him the satisfaction. Instead, I turned back to him, my red eyes blazing brighter, my teeth gritted in defiance.
"You're going to regret that," I hissed, my voice low and steady. "Every single moment you breathe, you'll regret what you did to him."
Kiel's lips curled into a smirk, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. "You don't get it, do you?" he said, crouching in front of me. "He's gone, Stella. Dead. You can rage all you want, but it won't change a thing. You'll never see him again."
I snarled, my voice echoing through the night, raw with fury. The vines constricting me felt like chains, biting into my skin as I thrashed against them. My muscles burned, but the fire in my heart burned hotter. I wouldn't stop. I couldn't stop. Not until Kiel paid for what he had done—for Kaiser, for Lyla, for everything.
Kiel's smirk deepened, twisted with sadistic delight. "Still so defiant," he sneered, stepping closer. "You're more trouble than you're worth."
I spat at his feet, my glare searing through the darkness. "You're a coward, Kiel. Hiding behind your magic like a child. Is this all you've got?"
His expression darkened, the mocking humor in his eyes replaced by something colder, deadlier. He crouched down, his hand reaching out to tilt my chin up. I jerked my head away, but the vines tightened, holding me in place. "You talk big for someone so helpless," he said, his voice low and venomous.
Then, his fist crashed into my stomach. The impact was like a hammer, driving the air from my lungs. Pain exploded through me, sharp and unrelenting, but I refused to cry out. My body convulsed against the vines as blood surged into my mouth. I spat it at him, the crimson droplets staining his smirking face.
"You think this will stop me?" I snarled, my voice hoarse but unyielding.
Kiel's eyes flashed with anger, and he slammed his fist into my ribs. A sickening crack echoed in the air, and a scream clawed at my throat, but I swallowed it down, my teeth grinding against the agony. He grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back so I was forced to meet his cold, unfeeling gaze.
"You don't learn, do you?" he growled, his voice like ice.
Another blow landed, this time across my jaw. My head snapped to the side, blood spraying from my lips. The metallic taste filled my mouth, thick and suffocating. My vision blurred, but I forced my gaze back to him, my hatred undiminished.
"You're pathetic," he spat, standing over me like I was some broken thing. "Bleed all you want. It won't change anything. You've already lost."
I coughed, blood dripping from the corner of my mouth, staining the ground below. My entire body screamed in pain, but the fury inside me refused to waver. "You're wrong," I rasped, my voice weak but defiant. "You think this is over? I'll kill you, Kiel. I'll kill you both."
His expression hardened, and his hand lashed out again, striking me across the face. The force of the blow sent my head snapping back against the tree behind me. Stars danced in my vision, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of my surrender.
Blow after blow landed, each one heavier than the last. Blood ran down my face, pooling beneath me, but I kept fighting. I met his gaze with unrelenting fury, my hatred shining brighter than any pain he could inflict.
"Still glaring?" he taunted, shaking his bruised fist as he loomed over me. "You don't know when to quit, do you?"
I laughed, the sound hoarse and broken but filled with defiance. "You'll wish I had," I snarled, my voice a promise of vengeance. "Because when I get free, I'll make you regret every second of this."
Kiel's face twisted in rage, and he raised his hand again, the fire in his palm flaring to life. But even as my body gave out, even as the darkness crept in, I held onto one thought: I would make him pay.
The words felt like acid, burning through what was left of my soul. My body had given up, trembling with exhaustion as the vines coiled tighter, their sinister magic slowly draining what little energy I had left. Each pulse felt like a piece of me was being ripped away, leaving nothing but emptiness in its place.
I tried to fight it—I really did—but my strength was gone. My limbs hung limp, my head slumping forward as tears threatened to spill. The weight of failure crushed me, a burden I could no longer bear. I couldn't resist. Not anymore.
A cold chuckle broke the silence, sending a chill down my spine. "Good girl," Kiel murmured, his voice low and dripping with mockery. "Now, it's time to rest."
My chest tightened as his hand reached toward my face, fingers brushing against my cheek. The touch was deceptively gentle, but it made my skin crawl. I forced myself to look up, glaring at him through half-lidded eyes, my fury simmering beneath the surface even as my body betrayed me.
But no matter how much I wanted to scream, to fight, to lash out, my body remained still. The vines tightened their grip, and all I could do was wait, my breaths shallow and ragged, as the world around me seemed to close in.
I'm 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 moved through the haze, blood dripping from their face, body battered and broken, yet somehow still standing tall. Their movements were blurred, like a shadow in the smoke, with a fiery glow casting an eerie light around them. The face remained a mystery, too obscured by the darkness and the blood to recognize.
Then, my eyes caught something—fragments of a shattered mirror held tightly in a severed hand, suspended in midair. In the fractured reflection, I saw it. His face. Covered in blood, yet resolute. Dark hair matted with crimson, and those unmistakable blue eyes—cold, burning with fury. It was him. Kaiser.
My breath hitched in my chest as realization slammed into me. Relief surged, a spark of hope igniting in the darkest corner of my mind. The blood, the fire in his eyes—it was all unmistakable.
The severed hand trembled slightly, its form already beginning to dissolve, as if the very magic surrounding him was already repairing the damage. It blurred, melting away into nothingness, leaving behind only the powerful presence of the one who had returned to finish this fight. The unspoken promise of vengeance, of survival, it was all there.
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.