Chapter 42

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MY EYES remained fixed on the figure before me. I let out a slow, weary sigh. He really doesn’t want me to leave alone, does he?

“Running away, hmm?” Reynald’s voice was smooth, almost mocking. His silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, his crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dark. “I won’t let you escape, especially when you have that traitor beside you.” His gaze shifted to Sebastian, narrowing with a dangerous intensity. His brows furrowed, creating sharp creases on his forehead.

Sebastian’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. “Well, I’ve woken up to reality, Reynald. Your grand plan? It’s all pointless now. I’ve seen it... You will fail,” he declared, his voice laced with a confidence that made my heart race.

Reynald’s expression darkened, a flicker of rage crossing his features. “Oh, really?” he scoffed, gripping the hilt of his sword. “Weren’t you the one who once assured me I’d succeed? Your words mean nothing now.”

Sebastian’s eyes glinted with something akin to pity. “After all you’ve done, your so-called success will lead you to nothing but despair and death. Is that what victory looks like to you, Reynald?” he countered, his tone mocking yet tinged with a hint of sorrow.

I tilted my head slightly, my neck aching from the strain as I tried to piece together their conversation. My brows knitted in confusion. What in the world are they talking about? It sounds like some sort of revenge scheme, but I can’t grasp the full picture.

Reynald’s laughter rang out, hollow and filled with bitterness. “Success, you say? My success will be the suffering of every soul in this wretched kingdom. I don’t care if I meet my end. If I can set things right, even if it means dying in the most horrific way, I’ll gladly embrace it.” His gaze suddenly shifted to me, eyes gleaming with malicious intent. “Now, hand over that useless wench beside you. It’s high time she fulfills the only purpose she’s good for.”

I narrowed my eyes, my jaw tightening in disgust. Useless wench? How charming. If only looks could kill, I’d have reduced him to ashes by now. The urge to spit on him was almost overwhelming.

Sebastian’s voice broke through my darkening thoughts. “Do you really think I’d hand her over to you?” There was a cold finality in his words, one that made the Emperor’s laugh erupt, sharp and grating.

“You’d choose an intruder over a friend you’ve known for years?” Reynald taunted, drawing his sword with a flourish. “How very hurtful, Sebastian.”

Sebastian’s expression softened, just for a moment, a flicker of sadness in his emerald eyes. “What’s truly painful,” he began, unsheathing his own blade, “is watching you spiral into misery with each cycle I’ve lived through.” His words seemed to baffle Reynald, whose brow furrowed as if trying to decipher a riddle.

Sebastian turned to me, his voice low and steady. “Stay back, my lady. I’ll handle this.” His tone left no room for argument, but something in his eyes told me this battle meant more to him than he let on. Perhaps, this was a fight only he could resolve. The way he looked at Reynald—like a man facing his own demons—was intriguing, to say the least. It was as if they were both bound to a fate only they understood.

As I reluctantly stepped back, a part of me yearned to join the fray, to prove that I wasn’t just some damsel in distress. But for now, I would respect Sebastian’s resolve. I watched, heart pounding, as he faced off against the Emperor.

Sebastian’s voice was calm, almost nostalgic. “Do you remember how many times I’ve defeated you, Reynald?” He smirked, stepping forward, his stance confident and unwavering.

Reynald’s eyes blazed with fury. “Oh, but tonight will be different...” he hissed, lunging forward with a speed that took my breath away.

I held my breath, a mix of dread and anticipation tightening in my chest. Sebastian... You better not die on me.

I stood hidden behind a thick tree trunk, my breath shallow as I watched the scene unfold before me. The air was thick with tension, almost suffocating, as if the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

Sebastian and Reynald faced each other like two predators ready to tear each other apart. The silver light of the moon danced on their drawn swords, reflecting the cold determination in their eyes. Sebastian’s usually calm, composed demeanor was now hardened, a fierce resolve burning in his emerald gaze. It was a side of him I had rarely seen—his usual indifference replaced by something far more intense.

My heart pounded in my chest as Reynald’s lips curled into a mocking grin. His red eyes gleamed like a predator’s, the moonlight turning him into something almost monstrous. “What’s the matter, Sebastian? Afraid to meet your end tonight?” His voice dripped with derision, echoing through the stillness of the forest.

I wanted to scoff, to roll my eyes at Reynald’s arrogance, but something about Sebastian’s stance made me pause. There was a fire in his eyes, a stubborn determination that told me he wasn’t just fighting for survival. No, this was personal. And for the first time, I felt a strange flicker of... concern? No, it couldn’t be that. Not for someone who was supposed to be my enemy.

Sebastian stepped forward, his sword steady in his hand. “Afraid?” he echoed, his voice low and cold. “The only thing I fear is failing to stop you.” He shifted his weight, his movements fluid, like a predator about to strike. “This ends tonight, Reynald. No more bloodshed. No more of your twisted games.”

Reynald’s expression darkened, his grin fading into a snarl. “Then come, Sebastian! Let’s see if you can back up that empty bravado.”

Without warning, Reynald lunged, his blade a blur as it cut through the air. The clash of steel rang out, a sharp, jarring sound that reverberated through the forest. Sparks flew as their swords met, the force of their collision sending vibrations through the ground beneath me.

I could only watch, my fingers digging into the rough bark of the tree behind me. Their movements were so fast, so precise, it was like watching a deadly dance. Each swing, each parry, executed with lethal intent—a single misstep would mean death.

Reynald fought like a man possessed, his strikes wild and brutal. “You think you’re a hero, Sebastian? You think you can save anyone?” he spat, his voice a venomous hiss.

Sebastian remained unyielding, blocking every attack with a calm, almost eerie precision. “I’m not a hero,” he retorted, his blade locking with Reynald’s. “I’m just someone tired of watching you destroy everything in your path.”

The forest seemed to hold its breath, the clash of steel the only sound breaking the silence. I could feel the tension, thick and electric, coursing through the air. The stakes were higher than ever, and I found myself holding my breath, my mind racing. What history lay between these two?

Suddenly, with a burst of speed, Reynald charged, aiming to end it with one final strike. But Sebastian was ready. He sidestepped, pivoting with the grace of a dancer, and drove his sword deep into Reynald’s side. The Emperor’s eyes widened in shock, a strangled gasp escaping his lips as he staggered back, clutching the wound.

For a heartbeat, everything went still. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath as Reynald dropped to his knees, blood soaking the ground beneath him. Sebastian stood over him, his chest heaving, eyes filled not with triumph but with a hollow sorrow that made my heart tighten.

“Is this what you wanted, Reynald?” Sebastian’s voice was barely a whisper, raw and strained. “To die in the dark, alone, with nothing but your hatred to keep you company?”

But Reynald only laughed—a weak, wet sound as blood trickled from his lips. “You... you’ll see... this kingdom... it’s already... lost...” His voice was nothing more than a rasp, yet his eyes still gleamed with malice.

Sebastian raised his sword for the final blow, hesitation flickering in his emerald eyes. But just as the blade was about to fall, a sudden whistle cut through the air. My eyes widened as an arrow pierced Sebastian’s shoulder, the force of it sending him stumbling back.

I spun around to see Lady Athena, standing on the ridge, her bow still raised, her expression fierce. “That’s enough, Sir Kyle,” she called out, her voice cold as the wind that swept through the trees.

Sebastian’s eyes widened in shock, pain twisting his features as he clutched the arrow lodged in his shoulder. His lips curled into a bitter smirk, even as his knees buckled. “Poisoned...” he muttered, realization dawning as his strength began to fade.

The world seemed to slow as he dropped to one knee, blood seeping through his clothes, his breaths growing shallow. My heart lurched, panic clawing at my throat. I had seen this poison before—slow, agonizing, and impossible to cure without the right antidote.

Lady Athena’s gaze was unwavering, her eyes locking onto mine with a silent challenge. “Did you think I’d let you two have all the fun?” she asked, her voice carrying an edge of cruel amusement.

The forest was deathly silent, save for the ragged sound of Sebastian’s breathing. I could feel the weight of the situation crashing down on me, the cliffhanger leaving my mind spinning with questions. This fight wasn’t over—not by a long shot.

fin.