After the sentencing, the soldiers led me down to the palace dungeon to perform the ritual. The aura of the place was repulsive: past suffering vibrated in the air, as if the walls themselves remembered.
They escorted me to a room at the end of the corridor. A huge, complex magic circle was drawn on the stone floor, glowing with a faint light. The King was already standing in the center of the room, with the Princess by his side.
The soldiers shoved me from behind, and I stumbled a step in front of the King. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and raised my eyes to the Princess.
She was shorter than me, by about a head. Her golden hair and eyes immediately gave away her noble blood. As I watched her face, I saw she was struggling with something. As if she were holding back an emotion. Then, she started walking toward me.
Instinctively, I wanted to defend myself, but the cuffs held my hands fast. When she reached me, she unexpectedly hugged me.
"I can't believe I'm seeing you again… I missed you so much." Her voice was warm and sincere.
My body froze. After a long time, this was the first time my heart beat so violently.
"Do… do we know each other?"
Her body flinched. She slowly let go, as if afraid she had held on too tight.
"Don't you remember?" she asked softly. "How we used to play together? Nothing?" Hope vibrated in her eyes.
I began to study her face. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head, like a bolt of lightning. The world distorted for a moment. A memory flashed before me: a little girl who looked just like the Princess. We were running in the palace gardens, laughing, carefree.
"Are you alright, Narihu?"
Her voice pulled me back to the present. She tried to steady me with her hands, but her gaze suddenly fell on my cuffs. Her face hardened.
"Take those chains off him immediately!"
The soldiers hesitated, looking at each other uncertainly, then at the King. A short nod was enough. The cuffs came off. The pain slowly faded, leaving only a dull throb.
"I remember…" I said quietly. "We knew each other as children. But… I don't understand. I always lived in Presporok." I couldn't decide if the image from before was a memory… or a hallucination."
"What are you talking about?" she shot back. "You lived here. You only moved away when your mother died."
As soon as she said it, the color drained from her face. She regretted it instantly.
"My mother abandoned me." My voice was hollow.
The Princess looked down.
"At least… do you remember my name?"
A name surfaced in me almost on its own.
"Scarlett." That's what I called the girl in my head.
Scarlett's eyes lit up, and hope returned to her face. Her fingers instinctively tightened around the necklace hanging from her neck.
"Yes… you remember me."
The moment was finally broken by the King.
"Daughter, are you satisfied? Shall we begin?" He stepped closer to us.
"Yes. Completely." Her gaze fixed on me, a strange glint appearing in her eyes.
The King then turned to me and held out his hand. Hesitantly, I took it. I looked into his eyes and saw no hatred. Only calm resolve.
"You've grown a lot, Narihu. I remember how small you were when you played with my daughter." He smiled. "Feel free to call me Olig, like you used to."
"Alright… Olig."
It surprised me. I didn't expect anyone to speak to me like that.
Olig's smile faded, and he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Let's begin the ritual. We have much work to do."
Olig and Scarlett walked toward the magic circle. I stood motionless, my thoughts slowly drowning in darkness.
I've killed thousands of people… The war is being lost because of me… I am untrustworthy.
"Narihu, come here. We can start," Olig called out.
My gaze was fixed on the floor. When I looked up, Olig's figure was blurred before my eyes.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked hoarsely. I looked down at my hands. It felt like blood was still sticking to them. "Thousands of people died because of me. People you might have known." My voice was thick with guilt.
Olig's gaze remained calm. It was as if he could see right through me.
"It's not your fault."
Something cracked inside me.
"Of course it is," I snapped back. "I killed them. No one else."
There was a moment of silence.
"I forgive you."
It was a simple sentence. Yet… something warm spread through me. The colors of the world slowly returned.
"Why…?"
"Because you are going to help us turn the tide of the war," Olig's voice was firm. "That is the price of my forgiveness. Come, let's begin."
I didn't answer. My legs moved toward the circle on their own.
I stepped onto the magic circle, beginning the ritual. Scarlett cut her hand, let her blood drip onto the ground, then pressed the knife into my hand. I cut my own hand, and when my blood hit the floor, the magic circle began to glow red. Scarlett took my hand and squeezed it hard, starting the incantation. I felt our hearts connect through a chain, then the light faded, and the magic circle disappeared.
The room was silent. Every movement could be heard clearly. Finally, the King broke the silence.
"Narihu, I want you to meet the leader of the Shadowguard… Gregorion."
A familiar man stepped out from the shadows. As soon as I saw him, my stomach turned.
"Welcome to the team, Narihu," he said. His voice was calm. "For now, let's forget the past and work together."
His words hit me hard. I remembered Lisa's last moments. Rage flooded my mind like a red mist, suppressing everything else until only one thought remained: I want revenge.
I didn't think. My body moved on its own, I made a fist, and I jumped at him.
But before I could hit him, I felt something invisible tighten around my heart. The pain was sudden and very strong. I couldn't breathe, my legs became weak, and I fell to my knees in front of Gregorion. He didn't even flinch.
"That's enough, Narihu!" Scarlett shouted.
She pressed her hand to her chest, exactly where my heart was hurting because of the bond.
"Don't do anything stupid… please." Her eyes were begging me. Even though I was in pain, I saw that she was hurting too.
Gregorion looked down at me. In his gaze, there was no mockery, but rather some heavy, unspoken weight. My anger slowly started to go away.
"Narihu… I know that what I did was wrong." He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath."I know exactly what you're feeling. That is why I am not asking you to ever forgive me." His words filled the room.
"When the war is over," he said quietly, "I will let you take your revenge."
Gregorion's words surprised Olig.
"Are you serious, Gregorion?" Olig asked.
"I know exactly what I am doing." His voice was just as steady. "And I accept the consequences."
The King and Gregorion's eyes met. Tension vibrated between them, but neither wanted to escalate the situation further. Gregorion's words echoed in my head.
I slowly stood up. I felt a strange sense of happiness.
"Fine," I said. My voice was rough. "I will follow your orders. But you better keep your promise."
Gregorion nodded.
"I will. Are you ready to go?"
I nodded. Then he looked at Scarlett.
"Scarlett, are you coming with us?"
"Let's go," she replied immediately.
I looked at her, surprised.
"Why are you coming with us?"
Scarlett's eyes were bright, and she said proudly:
"Because I am a member of the Shadowguard, too.