Selen was shocked by Layla's revelations.
"So that's what my brother and Light were doing? They were drawing on my powers? But I didn't form a blood bond with them?"
"You still don't understand. You are a part of me. Your husband is a descendant of Artheris, and so is your brother. As long as both bloodlines exist, the bond will exist."
Selen didn't understand how she had gotten mixed up in all this.
"The story is far from over. Watch closely," Layla said, raising her hand to bring up another memory.
"I went to the front with Artheris. He said that his brother might try to attack me if he found out that I was his weakness. Thanks to his new powers, he quickly became very popular with the troops and won victory after victory against the enemy. I did nothing at that time except supply him with magic."
Layla changed the memory again.
"Everything changed when Liberia, who had also raided our tribe, convinced one of my people to join them. He was a real war machine. He was much stronger than Artheris, and Liberia's soldiers had regained their strength thanks to his arrival, but Artheris was a much more cunning man than the enemy.
"He organized secret meetings with the Kingdom of Clover with a view to forming an alliance and overthrowing Liberia together, but the latter were still reluctant. Clover had remained neutral throughout the war. They knew that by allying themselves with Drakar or Liberia, they could turn the tide of war, but they were a warrior people who believed in only one thing: religion. In their sacred text, a saint who was God's messenger would come and show them the way.
Layla conjured up another memory.
"Artheris then decided to send me to the front. I was reluctant at first, as I had never killed anyone in my life, so it was naturally difficult for me. I eventually gave in because I loved Artheris. He was my whole world, and if Drakar lost this war, we would never be able to be together."
Another memory appeared.
"He dressed me so that I wouldn't be recognized and made me wear priest's clothes. At first, I thought it was strange that he wanted me to use my magic to form wings behind me, but I followed his instructions anyway. The news spread quickly that a saint had appeared in Drakar, and not only did Artheris convince Clover to join him, but he was also able to find soldiers from Liberia who believed firmly in the cause. The most vehement among them was Sir Joseph Silvermoon, a commander from Liberia."
"Are you talking about Silvermoon, one of the founding knights?" Selen asked.
"Himself."
"During one of the secret meetings organized by Artheris, he was present with a few soldiers from Liberia. Thanks to this story of the saint, Artheris was able to take control not only of Clover but also of the traitors from Liberia. From that moment on, everything was already decided. Silvermoon betrayed his country and personally beheaded the leader of the Liberian armies, while I took care of the rest of the armed forces. The war was finally over."
Layla brought up another memory.
"The war was over, Artheris was busy being hailed as a hero by everyone, while I was confined to my room. Why do you think that was? Simply to protect me, he told me. Many people were after me because I was a stranger to the kingdom, and he didn't want me to get involved in these political intrigues. So I stayed there waiting, waiting for him to come see me, hoping, always hoping...
"Are you okay?" Selen asked.
Since the beginning of her story, Selen had seen no expression on Layla's face except at that precise moment.
She didn't answer and instead changed the subject.
"I remember that day well. The weather was beautiful. There was a lot of activity in the castle, and even I, who spent my days in my room could sense it. I was running out of patience. I wanted to see Artheris. I knew that given all the commotion, he must be there. I evaded the guards' surveillance and went into the garden, since that was where the commotion was. The sight that awaited me took my breath away."
Even Selen herself gasped in surprise.
"He was getting married. To someone else. Even though he had left me to rot in that room all this time. He was magnificent, and so was she. They looked alike, both elegant and clearly from the same social class. While I sat on my knees in tears in a corner of the garden, she occupied the center with the man I wanted."
The memory changed.
"Despite the fact that I felt like I had been beaten up, that I had a fever and was shaking so much I felt betrayed, I was determined to hear his side of the story. He had an explanation, I told myself, and believe me, he did."
"I was waiting for him in his bedroom, which I had broken into. Deep down, I was hoping that he and his new wife would come in at the same time so that I could spit on him and break all his limbs. I wanted to be the only one in his life, and I had already decided to kill his new wife after talking to him. What good were my powers if not to get what I wanted?"
Selen didn't know what to think. She had never known love and could never have imagined going so far for a man.
He entered the room, but alone. He couldn't miss me since I was standing in the center of the room.
"Layla, what are you doing here?" Artheris asked.
"I'm not invited to your wedding?" Layla asked him.
Selen saw Artheris sigh.
"I was going to come and talk to you about it," he said, reaching out to take Layla in his arms.
"Talk to me about it? So you're really married to this woman? What about me? What about us? You said you loved me. I gave you everything. What can she give you that I didn't?"
"It's not like that, Layla. Please sit down. I'll explain."
"Selen saw Layla sit down with Artheris on the bed, and he took her hand."
"I've already told you, but I'm the second prince of the kingdom, remember? I was promised to this woman since childhood, I couldn't do anything else."
"Really? What about me? You made a soul bond with me. You can't marry someone else."
"I know that, and besides, it's you I love, Layla. It was all just a charade. It's you I want to be with."
"I don't want to share you," replied Layla.
"Neither do I. I will make you my wife, but to do so, I must change the laws of the empire. You may not know this, but a prince cannot easily marry a foreigner."
"How long will it take to do that?"
"In reality, as the second prince, I can't do anything, but if I became emperor, it would be different. I would make you my queen, my Layla."
Selen saw Layla's eyes light up with hope at Artheris' words, and she promised herself she would never stoop so low for anyone.
"How are you going to do that? Will your brother let you take his place as emperor?"
"Let me?" Artheris asked, standing up suddenly. "He won't let me have anything. He would kill me if he could, so I'll have to take it."
Layla stood up, moved behind Artheris, and took him in her arms.
"You have me. With me, you can have everything."
Artheris turned to her and kissed Layla on the lips.
"You're right, my Layla. With you, I can have everything."
The memory changed and was replaced by an image of a castle on fire.
"Artheris quickly organized his coup. He had to strike while the iron was hot, and with his new reputation as a hero, he was adored by the people. He was supported by the Ravenhurt family, who at the time were known to be the first opposition to the first prince, and thanks to this, Artheris was able to extend his power to the high-ranking nobles. Soon the capital was stormed and the coup was a success. Artheris himself stabbed his brother and father in the heart and sat on the throne with his father's blood on it."
The memory now showed Layla and Artheris standing in front of the throne room. Corpses surrounded them, and the king's corpse was right below the throne.
"We did it, Layla. The time has come. Close your eyes," Artheris said to her.
Layla did as she was told, her heart pounding as she imagined Artheris on his knees, ready to propose. She held out her hand, but instead of a ring, she felt handcuffs being put on her. She tried to pull away quickly, but it was too late. Both her hands were cuffed, and worse than that, she could no longer feel her magic.
"This is the moment when you disappear from the scene, Layla."
"What have you done to me? Artheris, set me free," Layla cried. "You said you loved me. I gave you everything."
She was on her knees, trying to hold him back by pulling on his knees.
"I spent so much time making these handcuffs for you, so be proud of them. Guards, take this criminal away. This is an order from your king."
Selen watched as Layla was dragged away by the guards. She screamed and struggled, but Selen knew better than anyone that those damn handcuffs were really nasty.
The setting changed, and Selen saw Layla, who was imprisoned and handcuffed in a prison, being tortured by priests. They were doing the same thing to her that she had experienced. They took her blood and put it in bottles.
"At this point, I couldn't remember much of what was happening. When you form a soul connection with someone and they reject you, a deep wound forms in your soul and plunges you into despair. However, one day, I finally came back to myself thanks to someone. Someone I wasn't expecting."
Selen saw a woman enter the cell. She was tall, with silvery gray hair, and appeared to be pregnant up to her eyes.
"She was my replacement, or rather, Artheris's real wife. I could never claim that title anyway."
Selen saw the woman approach Layla and lift her head.
"So you're still alive? They take good care of you here. I waited all year for news of your death, so I had to come and see for myself."
Layla raised her head to look at the newcomer, and Selen saw the transformation on her face. As she lay there like a rag doll, her face was contorted with hatred.
"Do you hate me that much? Very well, because I hate you with all my heart too. Having to take on the role of saint that you built for yourself, you filthy peasant, does not delight me in the least."
The woman took Layla's face in her hand.
"Look at me, you filthy savage, and remember my name well, for it is the one that will be remembered forever. Belladore, the saint, will be known throughout the world, while Layla, the savage, will remain in this miserable prison for the rest of her life."
Selen saw Layla throw her head back and burst into hysterical, almost demonic laughter.
"You think you've won," Layla said to her. "I will kill you, that traitor Artheris, and all your descendants. I will erase your very existence from this world."
Belladore flew into a rage and violently slapped Layla, who continued to laugh loudly. Then a blinding light suddenly appeared and the memory disappeared.
"What happened?" asked Selen.
"I died that day."
"How? Was it Belladore who..."
"No, I killed myself by exploding my soul into a thousand pieces. I didn't even know it was possible, and I hadn't planned it either.
"Without my knowing it, my rage and desire for revenge triggered a kind of curse that causes each piece of my soul to be reincarnated as a person, and if that person commits suicide as I did, they end up in this space with me."
"So if I understand correctly, you're the real saint, Belladore is a bitch, Artheris is scum, Silvermoor is a traitor, and our entire empire was built on a lie?"
" You have a piece of me inside you. You know very well that everything I've shown you is true, so why are you asking me this question?"
"And me in all this? I didn't ask for any of this. Why do I have to be involved in all this? Why was I raped and tortured? In the name of what? Your revenge? Justice? Answer me."
Selen could no longer control herself. She understood that Layla had suffered, but she had nothing to do with any of it and would have preferred never to have been involved in this story.
Layla burst out laughing.
"So you think all your misfortunes are because of me? Was it me who raped you, tied you up, drugged you, tortured you, and exploited you? Your brother—do you really think he's a good person? Your mother? And your father? Your husband? Are they good people, or am I the one who forced them to do all that to you? And you? Weren't you happy to have awakened your powers? The only reason you're angry with me is because things didn't go the way you wanted them to."
Selen couldn't breathe properly and had to sit down to catch her breath.
"What's the point? It's over anyway. They got away with it, while I'm already dead."
"Really? But you're here, aren't you? Do you see a god anywhere? Or an angel?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I can send you back there, and even better, I can go back in time and send you back a year."
"And how would you do that? The magic of time is divine magic, and you yourself said that God isn't here."
"True, but I told you, didn't I? I sacrificed my soul, and that resulted in a curse, and thanks to that curse, I can send you back in time to a year before your death."
Selen looked suspiciously at Layla. She felt that she certainly shouldn't do this for nothing.
"I imagine there are trade-offs."
"Exactly. If I send you back, you'll have to grant my wish and break the curse."
"And what is that wish?"
Layla smiled at her.
"I want you to lay waste to this empire. I want nothing to remain but ashes of everything Artheris and Belladore have built. I want you to kill every last descendant of Artheris and Belladore."
"But I am one too, aren't I? My mother is the emperor's cousin, have you forgotten?"
"True, but you are already dead, are you not? From the moment you die and are reborn with my soul, you become my reincarnation and not a descendant of Artheris."
"And if I fail?"
"Then you will die."
Selen felt she could do it. After all, she herself had scores to settle with a number of people.
"How many before me have tried? How many reincarnations have there been?"
"There have been far too many reincarnations, but as I told you, only those who have committed suicide return to me. Besides, if you go back there and fail, you will die for good. And to answer your question, about ten tried to fulfill my wish, and they all failed. Some ended up committing suicide again, others died because they didn't want to do it, and others were captured by the temple and ended their lives exploited to feed the empire's magical source."
"I see," said Selen, getting up. "I'll do it then. Believe me, it will be either me or them. I will kill them and burn this empire with my own hands."
Layla smiled at her. She conjured up a sword and handed it to Selen.
"Take it, you'll need it when you wake up. Don't forget that your power will be useless against the descendants of Artheris, so you'll have to identify them all and, above all, find allies and other ways to bring down those bastards. Don't forget, even a sword without magic is capable of piercing all your enemies."