Silvan's eyes flickered with sadness and disappointment, his shoulders sagging slightly as if weighed down by invisible chains, "So, in the end, you still choose this kingdom over your family," he said softly, his voice heavy with bitterness, "Maybe I shouldn't have kept my hopes up. If you were any different, maybe my mother would still be alive. We both know you could have saved her if you really wanted to."
Seron's eyes flickered with pain, his hand tightening around his staff. His voice broke as he replied, "I loved your mother, Silvan. But there was no world where I could have kept her safe or let her live happily—not without destroying your life in the process. But you're right... it's my fault she's dead. I never should have entered her life to begin with."
His voice steadied as he continued, his gaze pleading, "But I'm not choosing the kingdom over you now. I'm trying to stop you before you end up with even more regrets than I carry."
Silvan gave a weak, melancholic smile, "I'd say it's a bit too late for that, Father."
The heavy iron doors behind him groaned as they creaked open, and dozens of masked, armored men entered the hall, their weapons gleaming ominously in the crimson light. They moved with silent precision, forming a tight circle around Seron.
"I hope one day you'll understand me," Silvan said quietly before turning and walking toward the door, his steps measured.
"Silvan! Don't you leave!" Seron's shout echoed through the chamber as he surged forward, raising his staff. But the masked men blocked his way, their weapons raised in silent defiance. Seron clenched his jaw, his heart heavy as he raised his staff, preparing to fight.
—
Not too long ago...
Asher answered the call from his Whisper Stone without hesitation, his heart racing. Her voice came through, weak and urgent. "Asher... help..."
"Lysandra!" His voice cracked slightly, worry seeping into his tone, "Where are you? Are you safe?"
Her voice was low and weak as she spoke, "I... I'm not sure. I'm hiding near the Land of the Dead. I couldn't think of anywhere else to lose Drakar's men. But don't worry about me. I will—"
Before she could finish, the Whisper Stone dimmed, cutting off abruptly.
"Lysandra! Damn it!" Asher cursed, frustration and worry gnawing at him as he tried to reconnect, but the stone remained silent. Was the air in that place interfering with the connection?
From beside him, Lori flicked her serpentine tongue, her green eyes narrowing in thought, "Sssshe's hiding in that cursed land? Isn't that the place where the Eclipsion Kingdom once stood?" she mused.
"Sssshe's bluffing," Lori hissed, her eyes narrowing as she glared down at the witch, "Just trying to bait you into coming to her."
"Maybe," Asher replied, his voice cautious but steady, "But her aura... it's too powerful to be one of her puppets." He spread his senses further, confirming his suspicion, "I think we're looking at her real body."
The Red Witch seemed to guess what he was thinking as she said, "No need to probe too deep. I'm here in person because I wanted to speak with you directly, Asher. You've been through quite a lot, haven't you? Exiled by your own queen. Do you regret not telling her the truth?"
Asher's fists clenched tightly at her words, his jaw grinding as he pieced together her insinuation, "It was you..." he muttered, his voice low with seething anger. She had been the one to reveal everything, to destroy what fragile balance he had managed to build. But how? How could she know about his past—about Cedric and the secrets he thought buried?
"Fuck it," Asher growled, frustration and fury boiling over, "I have to deal with her now." Without hesitation, he leaped off Lori's back, descending swiftly toward the ground below.
"Don't jump off like that, brat!" Lori hissed in irritation, swooping after him in one fluid motion. A protective dark purple bubble formed around Asher as she enveloped his body, shielding him from the deadly air.
The two landed on the decayed earth, the ground cracking under the weight of Lori's colossal form. She loomed over Asher like a mountainous guard, her dark purple eyes glowing menacingly as she stared down at the Red Witch.
Asher stepped forward, his ring blade materializing in his hand, its dark green flames flickering ominously. His voice was sharp, demanding, "You better tell me who you really are and why you're doing this to me."
The Red Witch remained unfazed, her voice calm and unyielding, "Do you really want us to fight in a place like this? This land will kill all of us before our battle even concludes."
Asher scowled, his grip on the ring blade tightening as he reluctantly lowered it. He knew she was right—the corrosive air and cursed land were not suitable for a battle. She had chosen this place deliberately.
The Red Witch continued, her tone measured, "As for why I'm doing this? Let's just say that it's what I have to do. Nothing personal or.." She added in a low, distant voice, "...maybe it is." She then continued in a cool tone, "But if you had handed over the 'Key' to me when I first asked, things could have gone much smoother for you."
Asher's expression darkened, confusion flickering across his face, "Stop talking nonsense," he snarled. "No way in hell would I ever give you the Key. But tell me this—how do you know about me?"
Lori narrowed her eyes, wondering what the Red Witch told Rowena about Asher. What was he hiding so desperately? The Red Witch tilted her head slightly, her glowing eyes boring into him, "This isn't the time for questions, Asher," she said coolly, "That time will come, but not now. You have far more pressing concerns... like your own fate."
"Oh, so you lured me here to threaten me?" Asher retorted, his voice dripping with disdain. "Since you have Lysandra's Whisper Stone, you must be working with Drakar. But you know what..."
Before she could respond, Asher's figure erupted into a burst of dark green flames. His flesh and skin disintegrated into ashes, leaving only his eerie black skeletal frame, cloaked in a blazing aura of dark green fire.
His hollow eyes glowed with a hellish light as he took a step forward. "...I'm taking you with me anyway. Let's see which one of us dies first."
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