The sky was torn in half—black smoke and fire clashed with the dying light of dusk. Screams echoed through the battlefield as soldiers fell like leaves in a storm. The ground shook beneath the thunder of war machines, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and ash.
Amid the chaos, she fell.
Vaelith's body collapsed into the dirt, her white robes stained crimson. Her hand reached toward the sky—toward him.
"Vaelith!!" Deyric screamed, stumbling over bodies, dodging arrows. He dropped beside her, cradling her broken form in his arms, hands trembling. "No… No, please—stay with me."
Her lips parted, barely able to speak. "I… I'm sorry, Deyric. I couldn't… stop it…"
"Don't say that! You're going to be fine. Just hold on—I'll get you out of here, I swear."
Tears streamed down his cheeks as Lyra's hand slowly fell from his chest, her eyes losing their light.
Silence.
The world seemed to pause—for just a second.
Then a flicker.
A faint hum in the air.
Behind him, footsteps. Slow. Heavy. Unbothered by the death all around.
Deyric turned, eyes wide.
A man stood there—no, a monster in the shape of a man. Clad in black and red armor that shimmered with heat. In his hand, a glowing katana, wrapped in writhing flames that pulsed like a heartbeat.
"You…" Deyric growled, rising shakily to his feet, sword drawn. "You killed her."
The man said nothing.
In an instant—before Deyric could raise his blade—a burning flash lit the field. The katana pierced through Deyric's chest, fire erupting from the wound. His body jerked, mouth open in a silent gasp as the flame devoured from within.
The katana slid out slowly, and Deyric collapsed to his knees, smoke curling from his armor.
"V-Vaelith…" he whispered, blood dripping from his lips. "I couldn't save you…"
He raised his head, locking eyes with the flame-wielding man.
"I don't care who you are… You'll pay for this. One day… even if I die here… I'll return."
The man turned and walked away without a word, disappearing into the smoke.
Deyric fell forward, the world growing darker, flames flickering around him—until everything went still.