Was it magic or something?
"Per lumen ruinae, ego voco veritatem..."
The voice of the holy priest made my chest tighten.
The emperor was gone — but the commander was still there.
Looking at me.
Staring at me.
Is that motherfucker pitying me?
I wanted to make him regret it.
Who did he think he was, pitying me?
My body tightened just like my chest, and it became harder to breathe.
"Sanguis noster, ignis vetus..."
The priest's voice droned on.
Just shut up already, you old man, I thought bitterly.
"Umbram exaudi. Formam redde."
Pain shot through my back and my head.
I forced my eyes open — everything around me was a blur.
But I could hear the priest's voice change — shaken, maybe even afraid.
Something was wrong.
My back burned. My head throbbed.
"Revela te, filia ruinæ."
The shackles snapped.
I stood up.
My gaze flickered to the big mirror — and froze.
An unfamiliar body stared back at me.
It was my face — and yet not my face.
I looked down at my hands, at my nails — they had never been this long before.
I lifted my head to the commander.
Confusion flooded my eyes.
Then my gaze returned to the mirror.
Ash-black wings spread wide from my back.
Two horns curled from my head — unmistakable.
Horns.
Ha...
Hahaha...
Horns. Like some kind of demon.
I turned my eyes back to the commander — but everything blurred.
The world collapsed into a darkness I would never escape.
To be continued...