The plaza was brimming with tension as the crowd awaited Xue's words. The remaining Elites, Alissa and Seraphina, stood behind him, their expressions solemn. The air was thick with unspoken grief and unease. Everyone knew something was wrong, but none had expected the devastation about to be revealed.
Xue stepped forward, his black cloak fluttering slightly in the breeze. His crimson eyes scanned the crowd, piercing through their anxious whispers. He exuded authority, but beneath the cold exterior, a storm brewed.
"People of the Central Continent," he began, his voice steady and commanding. "Today, I speak not as the Elite of Darkness but as a survivor of tragedy."
The murmurs in the crowd stilled, all attention locked on him.
"You have noticed the absence of the Elite of Light, Fire, Water, and Earth. For weeks, you have asked, 'Where are they? Why have they not returned?' It is time for the truth." Xue paused, letting his words sink in.
"They are gone. Dead."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, followed by a heavy silence.
"But their deaths were not the result of the demon war." Xue's voice grew heavier, colder. "It was an inner conflict that arose after the war's end. Lord Malathar, a name many of you revered—the father of the Elite of Light, Elysia—betrayed us all."
Gasps and shocked murmurs erupted again. Malathar, a man whose name was synonymous with power and wisdom, a traitor?
Xue continued, his tone sharp as a blade. "While we fought to save this world, he schemed to control it. His actions fractured the Elites, pitting us against one another. He exploited our vulnerabilities, and in the end, his betrayal tore us apart."
Seraphina bowed her head, her hands gripping her staff tightly. Alissa's wings twitched, her fists clenched at her sides. The memories of that terrible conflict were still fresh, etched into their hearts.
"Elysia," Xue said, his voice softening for the first time, "was not her father's accomplice. She was his victim. When Malathar's treachery was revealed, it drove a wedge between us. We Elites, once united, began to fracture under the weight of mistrust and despair. Disputes turned into clashes. Words into swords. And in the end, it cost us dearly."
He let the silence hang, his words sinking into the hearts of everyone present.
"The Elite of Light. The Elite of Fire. The Elite of Water. The Elite of Earth. They gave everything—everything—for this world. And their lives were claimed by this senseless conflict." His crimson eyes bore into the crowd. "Their deaths are not your fault. They are not my fault. The blame lies solely with Lord Malathar and the darkness he sowed in our hearts."
A noblewoman in the crowd called out, her voice trembling. "And what of Malathar? What became of him?"
Xue's gaze darkened, and his voice dropped to a near growl. "He is dead. I made sure of it. He paid the price for his betrayal with his life. But his actions will haunt us for generations."
The crowd fell into a hushed silence, the weight of the revelation pressing down on them.
Alissa stepped forward, her voice strong despite the grief that lined her features. "The fallen Elites fought to protect this world. Remember them not for the tragedy of their deaths but for the strength of their lives. They believed in us, in this realm, in the future we can build together."
Seraphina followed, her voice shaking with emotion. "We owe it to them to stand united. To honor their sacrifice by ensuring that no such betrayal can ever tear us apart again."
Xue raised his hand, his voice cutting through the somber air. "Let this be a lesson to us all. The demons are not the only enemies we face. Greed, ambition, betrayal—these too can destroy us. But we will rise above it. We will rebuild. And we will honor the fallen by ensuring that their sacrifices were not in vain."
The crowd stood in stunned silence, absorbing the weight of his words. Slowly, a few began to kneel, their heads bowed in respect. The gesture spread until the entire plaza was filled with people kneeling in honor of the fallen Elites.
Xue turned away from the crowd, his face as unreadable as ever. As he descended the steps, Seraphina whispered, "Do you think they'll accept it? Believe it?"
"They have to," Xue replied, his voice cold. "If they don't, the fractures Malathar created will only grow. And this world can't survive another war."
Alissa glanced at him, her expression conflicted. "You didn't tell them everything."
"I told them what they needed to hear," Xue said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Nothing more."
As they walked away from the plaza, the shadows of their losses loomed behind them. But they carried with them the weight of the world—and the resolve to never let it crumble again.