Celia's perspective:
My heart raced, each beat thundering in my ears as I turned my head toward the Silent Executioner. A shiver crawled down my spine, cold and unrelenting, as I took in the creature's form.
His silhouette was monstrous, but it was the eyes—countless, unblinking, and gleaming with an unnatural light—that truly unsettled me. They hovered behind him, like specters of his will, each one piercing into me as if they knew my every thought.
But I couldn't focus on him. Not now.
Ronan and Levi moved like puppets under his control, their bodies moving unnaturally, yet with precision that was terrifying to watch. My throat tensed as I glanced to my right. Kiel stood firm, his stance unyielding, his Void-Rend sword steady in his hands. He was prepared to face them alone.
Why...?
Why is it always someone else standing in front of me, shielding me from danger? Kaiser... Levi... and now Kiel. My chest ached with frustration and guilt, but I pushed it down. This wasn't the time. I had to help him. Somehow.
I stole a glance behind me. Kaiser lay motionless on the ground, his dark coat splayed around him, his face pale and still. The sight of him like that struck something deep inside me, a fear I couldn't name. I clenched my fists. He was the first person who'd truly seen me as more than just... the cursed child. I had to protect him.
Footsteps.
Ronan and Levi began to move, their lifeless eyes fixed on us. My lips parted to warn Kiel, but my voice caught in my throat.
"Kiel—"
Before I could finish, Levi blurred forward, a streak of motion too fast to follow. His sword gleamed, aimed straight for my neck. My breath hitched, the icy grip of fear paralyzing me. There was no way to dodge—it was impossible.
But Kiel had seen it coming.
Steel clashed against steel, a sharp, deafening sound that sent vibrations rippling through the air. Sparks flew as Kiel deflected the strike, his movements precise and deliberate. The force of the collision pushed Levi back, but only for a moment.
I stumbled, falling to my knees. The hard ground bit into my skin, but I barely noticed. My hands trembled as I tried to steady myself, the adrenaline coursing through me making my fingers feel numb. Kiel didn't falter. He stood between me and Levi, his back straight, his sword raised.
Levi vanished.
My eyes darted around, searching, but then a roar of fire erupted from the distance. Ronan was making his move to finish us in one swift blow.
The flames surged toward us like a tidal wave, consuming everything in their path. The heat hit me first, a suffocating wall that made it hard to breathe. The air shimmered, and the acrid smell of burning earth filled my nose.
Kiel reacted instantly.
"Clung!"
The ground beneath us groaned and cracked as he slammed his sword into it, summoning a wall of stone to shield us using earth magic. The flames crashed against it with a deafening roar, the impact sending tremors through the ground. I pressed my hands against my ears, trying to block out the sound, but it was everywhere, relentless.
The wall began to glow, its edges softening as the heat bore into it. The air was so hot it felt like it was searing my skin, even from behind the barrier. Sweat dripped down my forehead, stinging my eyes. The faint scent of ash clung to the air, sharp and suffocating.
Kiel turned his head slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Stay behind me, Celia."
I nodded, swallowing hard. My throat was dry, and I could barely force the words out.
"I-I'll try to help..."
Before I could do anything, Levi appeared again, his movements a blur of speed and precision. His strikes were relentless, forcing Kiel to match him blow for blow. Each clash of their swords sent shockwaves through the air, the sound echoing in my ears.
Behind them, Ronan raised his hand, a dark orb forming in his palm. My stomach dropped as the orb expanded, crackling with malevolent energy. I scrambled to my feet, my legs unsteady.
"Depths of shadow, heed my call, Consume the light, devour it all. From the void, your wrath unchain, And let my will become your bane."
Kiel couldn't fight them both. Not like this.
I had to do something.
Anything.
Ignoring the fear twisting in my chest, I focused on the ground beneath Ronan. My hands trembled as I raised them, willing the earth to respond. Kiel had seen me tried and manipulated the ground to react to me. A small tremor rippled outward, weak and unsteady, but it was enough to throw him off balance.
For a moment, Ronan hesitated, and his concentration broke. The dark orb dissipated into nothingness.
Kiel didn't waste the opportunity. With a sharp step forward, he swung his blade through the air, unleashing a rippling void-rend. The invisible strike tore through the space between them, its trajectory fixed on Levi's chest.
The Silent Executioner's eyes flared with recognition, a sickly light illuminating the battlefield. At the last moment, Levi twisted sharply, the void-rend slicing past him with terrifying precision, rending the air where he had just stood.
The fight wasn't over. It had only just begun.
But for the first time, I didn't feel completely helpless.
"Kiel, stay sharp—!" I tried to call out, but my voice was drowned by the roar of Ronan's flames.
"Ignite and consume—Infernal Pyre!" Ronan's voice boomed, commanding the fire to erupt around him. A wave of heat slammed into us as the ground cracked and molten streams began to seep through the fissures.
Kiel gritted his teeth, slamming his hand to the ground. "Rise and shield—Earthen Bastion!"
The ground obeyed, forming a sturdy wall between us and the inferno. The fire crashed against it with a deafening roar, the wall glowing red as it absorbed the relentless heat. My ears rang from the explosion, and the air burned my lungs with each breath.
Before I could recover, Levi shot forward, his sword a blur of motion. "Too slow," he hissed, his speed inhuman.
"Shadows, bind and strike—Umbra Chains!"
Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, aiming for Kiel, but he reacted swiftly. "Winds, tear and scatter—Tempest Break!"
A violent gust of wind exploded outward, shredding the shadowy chains and forcing Levi back. The pressure from the wind whipped through my hair and stung my skin like tiny needles. But before Kiel could catch his breath, Ronan attacked again.
"Engulf and devour—Infernal Spires!"
Columns of fire shot up from the ground, forcing Kiel to dodge. The earth quaked underfoot, sending me stumbling to the ground. Each step Kiel took was precise, calculated, as he avoided both the flames and Levi's relentless strikes.
I watched in helpless awe as Kiel fought to protect me. Every move he made was a desperate attempt to hold them off, but it was clear he was struggling. The combined onslaught of fire and shadow was too much, even for someone as skilled as him.
"Kiel..." I whispered, my voice trembling.
His breathing was labored, sweat dripping from his brow as he blocked another of Levi's attacks. The sound of steel clashing against steel rang in my ears, each blow sending vibrations through the ground.
Despite his efforts, it was one-sided.
Kiel's Perspective:
I gritted my teeth as Levi's blade came at me again. The bastard was too fast, his strikes calculated to exploit every gap in my defenses. Ronan wasn't any better—his fire magic was relentless, giving me no time to counter.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath.
I swung my void-rend sword to deflect Levi's attack, then immediately raised a wall of stone to block Ronan's flames. But it wasn't enough. Every time I managed to defend, they came at me again, faster, stronger.
"Shatter the light—Eclipsing Blade!" Levi's voice echoed as his sword was engulfed in shadow, slashing through my stone wall like it was paper.
"Shit!" I cursed, jumping back as the wall crumbled.
I couldn't keep this up. Their attacks were relentless, and I didn't have the precision or time to mount a proper counter. My body screamed in protest with every movement, but I couldn't stop. Not now.
"Enough playing around," Ronan growled, flames swirling around him. "Let's end this."
Fine. If they wanted to end it, I'd make them regret it.
I slammed my sword into the ground. "Bind and suffocate—Cursed Thorns!"
Dark vines erupted from the ground, covered in jagged thorns that gleamed with a sickly, unnatural light. They lashed out at Levi and Ronan, wrapping around their limbs and pulling them down. For a moment, I thought I had won.
But then Levi smirked.
"Pathetic," he sneered. "Shadow Rend!"
The shadows around him exploded, tearing through the vines like they were nothing. Ronan roared, his body igniting in flames so intense the air shimmered. The vines holding him burned to ash in seconds.
"Nice try," Ronan said, his voice dripping with mockery.
I barely had time to react before Levi was on me again. His blade slashed across my side, and pain shot through me. Warm blood seeped through my armor, staining the ground beneath me.
"Damn it all," I growled, staggering back.
My vision blurred, and for a moment, I thought about giving up. But then I saw her. Celia, crouched behind me, her eyes wide with fear.
I clenched my fists. No. I couldn't give up. Not again.
Years ago, I had failed her. I'd been too weak, too helpless to shield her from the pain. Her cries still haunted me, echoes of a time when all I could do was watch as the world tore her apart. That memory burned in my soul, a wound that never healed.
But not this time.
This time, I wouldn't falter. I wouldn't stand by and let her suffer again. I had promised her—no, I had promised myself—that I would fight, that I would endure anything to protect her. Even if it cost me everything.
"Not this time," I whispered.
I turned to Celia. "Run!" I shouted, my voice breaking. "Get out of here, now!"
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine.
"GO!" I screamed, raising my hand. "Rise and tear—Cursed Thorns of Despair!"
Vines erupted from the ground, thicker and more menacing than before, their jagged thorns glistening with black ichor. The liquid hissed and bubbled as it struck the ground, its malevolence spreading like poison. The vines lashed out violently, striking with unrelenting force, forcing Levi and Ronan to block and evade.
But it wasn't enough.
Levi moved like a shadow, weaving through the onslaught with an agility that defied reason, his blade flashing in the dim light. Behind him, Ronan's flames roared, devouring the vines in a fiery inferno. The two advanced like an unstoppable force, their combined power bearing down on me.
Pain exploded across my body as Levi's sword bit deep into my side, Levi's blade cutting with merciless precision. Fire seared my skin, consuming the air around me, its heat suffocating. My legs gave out, and I crumpled to the ground, blood pouring from the wound as Levi's blade pinned me in place. The metallic scent of blood filled my senses, thick and suffocating.
Their shadows loomed over me, victory glinting in their eyes, as the world blurred and darkened.
The Silent Executioner stepped forward, his presence oppressive.
"You're weak," he said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "Did you really think you could stand against a Sword Saint and a Fire Demon?"
I coughed, blood staining my lips. "I bought her time," I muttered. "Celia... she's safe."
The Executioner tilted his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Safe? You're a fool."
He pointed behind me.
My heart sank as I turned my head. Through the haze of heat and smoke, I saw her. Celia was dragging Kaiser, his body limp, her every step a struggle. Her arms trembled under his weight, her steps faltering as she tried to carry him away.
She could've fled. She could've escaped. But she chose to carry him.
"No..." The word escaped my lips in a broken whisper.
If she had just left him, she would've had a chance. But like always, she was too kind. Too selfless. And now, because of me, because of my failures, she wouldn't make it.
I clenched my fists, the sharp pain from my wounds screaming in protest. My thoughts spiraled, regret clawing at my mind like a beast.
What was the point? What had I done? I fought to protect her, to make up for all the times I failed. But in the end, I had only wasted my life... and hers.
"Get up," I growled to myself, my voice trembling. "Move, damn it!"
But my body wouldn't listen.
The Executioner loomed over me, his shadow swallowing what little light remained. His boots crunched against the ash-covered ground as he stepped closer. I felt his presence pressing down on me, an inescapable weight.
"You can't even stand," he mocked, his voice low and venomous. "You thought you were her savior, but all you've done is condemn her to die alongside you."
He crouched beside me, his face emotionless as he whispered, "You'll watch her fall. And when she does, you'll understand how truly powerless you are."
"No..." I forced the word through gritted teeth. My arms trembled as I tried to push myself up. Every muscle in my body screamed in pain, but I didn't care.
I couldn't let it end like this.
"Still resisting?" The Executioner's voice was tinged with amusement. He stood, towering over me like a god passing judgment.
"Let me show you what real power looks like."
Shadows coiled around him, writhing like living creatures. They reached for me, cold and unrelenting, wrapping around my arms and legs. The icy touch burned against my skin, and I could feel them burrowing into me, invading every part of my being.
"No! Stop!" I shouted, struggling against the shadows.
But it was useless.
The Executioner raised his hand, and the shadows tightened their grip. My body convulsed as an overwhelming cold spread through me, freezing me from the inside out. My mind screamed, but the shadows silenced everything.
"You fought valiantly," he said mockingly. "But now, you're mine."
I felt my will slipping away, my thoughts fading into the void. The shadows consumed me, drowning me in darkness. My body no longer felt like my own—it was a puppet, strings pulled by the Executioner's will.
In the distance, I could still see her. Celia, struggling to carry Kaiser, her determination unyielding. I wanted to scream, to tell her to run, to leave him behind. But no sound came.
I had failed her.
As the last remnants of my consciousness faded, one thought burned brighter than the rest.
I promised to protect her. But I was too weak.
The shadows took me, and I became the Executioner's puppet.
Celia's Perspective:
C'mon, Celia. You can do this. Just keep moving.
I clenched my teeth as sharp pain shot through my wounded leg with every step. My arms ached from carrying Kaiser, his weight pressing down like a constant reminder of my weakness. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the acrid stench of smoke in the air, stinging my nose and making my stomach churn.
The forest around me was eerily quiet, save for the faint crackling of distant flames and the occasional rustle of leaves. Shadows flowed on the ground as the dim moonlight filtered through the charred trees. My breath came out ragged, each exhale a desperate plea for strength.
"Kaiser," I whispered, glancing at his pale face. His chest rose and fell weakly, a fragile rhythm that filled me with both hope and dread.
"I'll get you out of here. I promise."
I tightened my grip around his arm, pulling him forward as I stumbled through the uneven terrain.
Kiel gave me this chance. He fought so I could escape. But why does it have to be this way? Why does everyone have to suffer for me?
I blinked back tears, my vision blurring as my thoughts spiraled. Memories of Kaiser risking his life for me flooded my mind—fighting the Noctis Graspers in the forest, standing against Kiel and Ronan, even when the odds were against him. He had always been there, shielding me from harm, even at the cost of his own safety.
I owe him everything. Without him, I wouldn't have made it this far.
But no matter how much I try, I always end up relying on others. Why can't I do something for once? Why can't I fight for him?
The world around me seemed to close in, the oppressive silence broken only by the pounding of my heart. The weight of my failures crushed me, each step feeling heavier than the last.
And then, the air shifted.
A cold, shadowy aura spiraled around me, wrapping around my body like icy chains. I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. The suffocating presence made my skin crawl, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
A figure emerged from the darkness ahead. My breath caught.
"K-Kiel?"
He stepped forward, his movements unnaturally smooth, his eyes devoid of emotion. But he was alive. Relief washed over me, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of hope that Kiel had beat them all.
"Kiel! You did—"
"Die."
His voice was cold, empty, and the word cut through my hopes.
Before I could react, shadows closed in around me, and two more figures appeared—Levi and Ronan. Their presence was overwhelming, their expressions filled with deadly intent.
"No, no, no..." My voice trembled as panic set in.
They began chanting, their voices low and rhythmic, the air around them thickening with magic. The ground beneath me trembled, cracks spreading like spiderwebs. My legs felt rooted to the spot, fear paralyzing me.
I clutched Kaiser tighter, his unconscious form a reminder of why I couldn't give up. But what could I do? I was surrounded. I had no weapons, no magic, no way to fight back.
The Silent Executioner emerged from the shadows, the piercing red eyes behind him locking onto me. They glowed like embers, filled with malice and unyielding purpose. Each step he took was deliberate, the sound of his boots crunching against the dirt echoing in my ears like a death knell.
This is it.
I glanced up at Kaiser, my vision blurring as tears welled up. I wanted to scream, to cry, to beg for someone—anyone—to help. But deep down, I knew no one was coming.
"I... I can't let this happen," I whispered, my voice shaking. My fingers curled into fists, my nails digging into my palms as desperation surged through me.
But no matter how hard I tried to think of a way out, I came up empty. I was trapped, surrounded by enemies too powerful to overcome.
"I-I'm sorry," I choked out, my voice breaking. "Kaiser... I'm so sorry."
The Silent Executioner raised a hand, and the shadows around me began to twist and writhe, closing in like a noose. My heart pounded in my chest, the sound deafening in my ears.
"You're a failed queen—a shattered remnant of the cursed legacy you once bore. The Queen of Curses, reduced to nothing but regret."
He raised his hands, the air around him heavy with finality as cursed magic surrounded me.
"Die and return to the void where you truly belong."
This was the end.
Suddenly, everything shifted. The dark forest around me vanished like smoke dissolving into the air. No towering trees, no whisper of leaves swaying in the wind, no familiar faces. Levi, Ronan, Kiel—gone. Even the Silent Executioner had disappeared, his looming presence erased in an instant.
And Kaiser? The reassuring weight of him on my back was no longer there.
Where was he? Where was everyone?
Panic seized me. My chest tensed as I turned in frantic circles, searching for any trace of them. But all I found was darkness. I stood alone in an endless void, an expanse so vast it felt as if it could swallow me whole.
The air was heavy, thick, and cold, carrying a faint metallic tang that made me shudder. Above me, the sky stretched wide, painted in the deepest crimson, with a blood moon glaring down like an unblinking eye. Its oppressive glow only deepened the shadows that surrounded me.
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. A chill crawled down my spine as I realized something terrifying—I wasn't just in this place. I was part of it, living and breathing inside my own mind.
"What's happening?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
I spun again, my movements jerky and desperate, trying to orient myself. But every direction looked the same—vast, dark nothingness. The silence was suffocating, pressing down on me like a physical weight. My breath quickened, the sound unnaturally loud in this oppressive realm.
How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was standing with the others, bracing myself as their attacks came hurtling toward me. The memory was sharp and vivid—the flash of light, the deadly precision in their strikes, the inevitability of my end. And then...this.
The Silent Executioner called me a shattered remnant. The words echoed in my mind, bitter and raw. He's not wrong, is he? I thought bitterly. I am shattered, failed and cursed. But why? What had I done to deserve this? What sin could justify such torment?
My thoughts spiraled until they were cut short by a sound—a voice. It was low and cold, almost emotionless, yet eerily familiar. It felt as though it came from within me, a chilling echo of my own words.
I froze. My heart pounded in my chest as a figure emerged from the shadows, her silhouette sharp and unmistakable. She moved with a confidence I could never muster, each step deliberate and unyielding, as if she owned the darkness itself.
And then I saw her eyes. They burned with an icy, unforgiving light, her gaze piercing through me like a blade.
"Failed? Shattered? Do not insult yourself with such weakness," she said, her voice slicing through the silence like a whip. "You are no broken fragment—you are the heir to death itself. Rise, or I will carve the throne from your flesh and take it myself. Prove you are worthy of the curse you bear."
Her words struck me like a physical blow. I staggered, my breath catching in my throat. The heir to death? What was she talking about? My mind raced, grasping for meaning, for any understanding of what was happening.
"Who are you?!" I demanded, my voice cracking. But she didn't answer. She kept walking, her pace unhurried, as if the weight of the world bent to her will.
"Tell me!" I shouted, my desperation spilling out. "Why was I picked? I'm not strong—I can't even kill anyone!" My voice faltered as tears welled in my eyes, hot and unrelenting.
"You've ruined my life with this curse! You've taken everything from me!" The words tore from me, raw and jagged. I could barely see through the haze of tears now streaking down my face.
And then she stepped into the light. My breath caught, the air in my lungs freezing.
She looked just like me.
Long, flowing white hair framed her face, her piercing red eyes glinting with an otherworldly intensity. She wore a dark, elegant dress that clung to her like shadows, the fabric shifting faintly as though alive. Her expression was cold, devoid of emotion, but her presence was suffocating, pressing against my very soul.
She wasn't just older. She was me. An older, more commanding version of me, standing tall and unyielding, exuding power and authority. If I was sixteen, she looked to be twenty-two. I took a shaky step back, my legs trembling.
"Who are you? And why do you look like me?!" My voice cracked, rising in pitch as fear and confusion tangled together in my chest. This couldn't be real. It was impossible.
She finally stopped, her gaze boring into me. When she spoke, her words were calm, but they carried a weight that made my knees weak.
"I'm you," she said coldly. "I'm the Queen of Curses within you. I am your future."
Her words hit me like a storm. My mind reeled, questions and doubts swirling in a chaotic torrent. The Queen of Curses? My future? How could that be? How could I ever become...Her?
I stared at her, my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else.
If she was me...then that meant...
I am The Queen of Curses.