The green-haired maid, unable to contain herself, burst into crazed laughter. "HAHAHAHA! What a fool! Your family was right to discard you! Not only did we succeed in the plan, but this reward… this reward is beyond anything we could have imagined!"
She continued laughing, her voice echoing wildly. "The sacrifice of talent… it's unthinkable! No one would dare! And yet, this idiot has done it willingly!"
Her laughter grew louder, nearly hysterical. "Doesn't he know what sacrificing talent means? Doesn't he understand the cost? It's the ultimate ritual a forbidden act! Once it's done, it's over. No rebirth, no reincarnation, no hope. Forever not be able to cultivate, no matter what plane or time he exists in."
Her eyes glowed with manic glee as she looked at Ember. "And you, my lady… you're about to inherit the talent of not one, but two primordial imperial bloodlines! Do you even understand what this means? It's not just power it's transcendent! A speck of salt compared to a galaxy that's the difference!"
Ember's world began to crumble.
Inside, she screamed with all her might. No! No, no, no! Please don't! Please, Ray, stop! But her body remained frozen, unresponsive. She couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even blink.
Her mind raced in panic, her thoughts spiraling into despair. Why? Why would you do this?
Ray's silver light grew brighter, his aura becoming impossibly vast. The green-haired maid, still trembling with excitement, whispered to herself. "This… this is ultimate sacrifice. It's unimaginable…"
Ember's heart trembled violently as realization struck her. This is… ultimate sacrifice. No… no, please…
Inside, she screamed louder. Ray! Don't! Please, I'm begging you! Don't do this!
But her screams remained trapped within her. On the outside, her face was still, her body frozen. Tears threatened to fall, but even that simple act was denied her.
I didn't betray you! she screamed internally, her soul breaking. I didn't! I love you! I've always loved you! Please, don't
The radiant light surrounding Ray began to intensify, shaking the very foundations of the hall. Aetherion, his composure finally breaking, muttered to himself, "This boy… he's giving everything away. Everything. For her."
Ray's silver eyes stared forward, his face devoid of emotion as the radiant light from his body intensified. He could feel it now something precious leaving him, slipping away like water through his fingers. It was a strange sensation, almost foreign.
"So, this is what it feels like," he murmured to himself, his voice low and hollow.
He tilted his head slightly, his silver hair glinting in the ethereal glow. "Don't misunderstand," he said, his tone flat, as if he were speaking to no one in particular. "I don't care about these so-called talents. I don't believe in reincarnations or second chances. If this ritual means I'll never possess talent again, then good. It's exactly what I want."
Ray let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting to Ember, who stood frozen, her violet eyes trembling with emotions she could no longer hide.
"As for why I want to die," Ray continued, his voice steady, almost detached, "there's no grand reason. It's not about revenge or proving a point. It's just that living after what you've done… living with the hate I'd carry for you… would be boring. Sad. Pointless."
His voice grew softer, almost inaudible. "I wish… if reincarnation were real, which it isn't, that I'd never love you again. No, I wouldn't even want to see your face." He paused, his silver eyes glinting with a faint, bitter light. "Loving you was my biggest regret."
The light around his body surged, growing brighter and more intense, illuminating the grand hall.
"But then again…" Ray murmured, his lips curling into the faintest, hollow smile. "A man who learns to love must bear the risk of hatred. I guess I took that too lightly."
His words were calm, as though he were speaking to himself, but they reached Ember, piercing her like a thousand knives. Her frozen body remained still, but inside, she was screaming.
No… no, no, no! Ember's mind raced in panic. Don't say that! Don't do this! Why are you taking it this far?
Her violet eyes, wide with terror, watched as the silver glow surrounding Ray became blinding. Despite the stoic expression on his face, she could see it his sadness. A profound, aching sadness that made her heart feel like it was being torn apart.
Why… why did I let it come to this? she thought frantically. Her mind spiraled further into chaos. Shit, shit, shit! What do I do? I didn't think it would go this far! I didn't think… I didn't think he'd actually…
Her breaths came in ragged gasps, though her body refused to move. Don't tell me you really trusted me that much. I failed you. I… I fucked up!
Inside, Ember screamed in anguish, though no sound escaped her lips. She could only stand there, helpless, as Ray continued to destroy himself, piece by piece.
He'll die… and it'll be because of me! Ember's mind spiraled further into despair. No, no, no! I won't let that happen!
Suddenly, a thought sparked in her mind, desperate and wild. She latched onto it with everything she had.
Maria! she screamed telepathically, directing her thoughts toward the green-haired maid. Kill me! Kill me now!
Maria, standing just behind her, raised an eyebrow, her face calm yet unreadable. "Your Highness," she replied telepathically, her tone sharp. "What are you saying? Don't tell me you've fallen for this boy. How… embarrassing. I'll be sure to report this to the Lord when we return. Clearly, you need more training."
Maria, please! Do it now! It's an order! Ember's mental scream was frantic, desperate.
Maria's lips curved into a faint frown as she telepathically replied. "Young Miss, you're making a fool of yourself. Accept your reward and move on. This boy is already irrelevant."
Without waiting for a response, Maria raised her hand and snapped her fingers. A shimmering, transparent dome appeared around Ray and Ember.
The barrier seemed protective, but Ember knew better. She could feel it Maria had sealed the space around them. She was trapped.
No… no, no, no! Ember's panic reached a fever pitch. She's cut me off! I can't move, I can't speak, I can't even reach out telepathically!
The green-haired maid's cold voice resonated in her mind one last time. "Don't even think about it, Young Miss. This is for your own good."
Aetherion, sitting on his shattered throne, remained wide-eyed, watching the spectacle with disbelief. His voice trembled as he muttered, "This boy… sacrificing his talent. It's one of the rarest things in the known cosmos. A talent like his, thrown away so carelessly…"
He trailed off, his golden eyes narrowing in a mixture of awe and disgust. "It's madness. Absolute madness."
Meanwhile, Ember screamed silently, her mind a cacophony of despair. Ray, stop! Please, stop! You're destroying yourself… for me!
Tears welled in her violet eyes, though her body remained still, bound by Maria's barrier. I didn't betray you! she cried internally. I didn't! I loved you… I love you still. Please, don't do this!
The silver light surrounding Ray surged one final time, brighter than a supernova, threatening to consume him entirely. It illuminated the grand hall, casting sharp shadows and radiating an ethereal brilliance.
And all Ember could do was watch.
At least let me explain… her thoughts trembled, frantic and desperate. Let me tell him the truth. I didn't betray him. I never betrayed him. I was just…
Her body remained frozen, paralyzed by the barrier around her, but a single tear escaped her eye. It traced a slow, agonizing path down her cheek, glistening like a fallen star in the silver light.
The tear reached her chin, trembling for a moment before it fell.
Drip.
As the tear struck the floor, another sound followed.
Thud.
Ray's hand, once resting gently against her cheek, fell limply to his side. His body, devoid of the radiant silver light that once enveloped him, collapsed backward.
He crumpled to the ground with a lifeless thud.
"Ray…" Ember's mind screamed, her body still unresponsive. Tears streamed from her violet eyes now, unbidden and unstoppable, streaking her face like rivers of anguish. She wanted to reach out, to move, to do anything but she couldn't.
Her voice trembled in her thoughts, full of pain and regret. How cruel… at least let me tell him. Let me tell him I didn't betray him. I was just… I failed him.
Her tears continued to fall, each one a silent testament to her sorrow. Her gaze, locked on Ray's unmoving form, blurred as the flood of emotions within her threatened to consume her.
The green-haired maid, Maria, stood in silence, her face impassive as she observed the scene. But even she couldn't hide the faint flicker of unease in her eyes.
Aetherion, sitting on his shattered throne, leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes narrowing. "Well," he said, his voice breaking the oppressive silence, "it seems the boy had his wish after all. Foolish to the end."
Maria's lips twitched, a faint smirk forming. "Such a waste. But perhaps… it's for the best."
Ember's heart twisted violently at their words, her fury and despair rising like a tidal wave within her. No… she thought, her mind screaming louder. It's not for the best! You don't understand! He didn't deserve this!
But her body refused to respond, the barrier holding her still, forcing her to watch helplessly.
Ray… please… come back…
Her tears fell faster now, pooling at her feet. The silence of the hall was deafening, broken only by the quiet sound of her grief.
And yet, despite the unbearable weight of it all, Ember could only think of one thing: the words she never had the chance to say.
"I loved you," she whispered in her mind, the words echoing in the silence of her heart. I loved you more than anything. And I… I couldn't protect you.
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