Chapter 64

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“MY LADY.” Lumine’s voice broke through the haze of my thoughts. I turned my head toward him, his gaze steady yet filled with an unspoken weight. He extended his hand to me, his palm open, a gesture both commanding and comforting. “It’s over. You can seal the tree now,” he said softly.

For a moment, I just stared at his hand. It was steady, unlike the trembling resolve within me. Finally, I reached out, my fingers brushing against his as I accepted his help. My nod was curt, my movements cold, mechanical.

I couldn’t see my reflection, but I didn’t need to. I knew my eyes mirrored the darkness that surrounded us—empty, lifeless, like a void swallowing everything. Without a word, I turned and took the seal from Zacharias’s hands. His expression was grave, his usual sharp demeanor dulled by exhaustion and grief.

Lowering my gaze, I caught sight of Chewy at my feet. He rubbed his furry body against my calves, a faint warmth in the midst of all this despair. Then he paused, his green eyes locking onto mine as if he understood everything I couldn’t bring myself to say. With a low growl, he began to transform, his body expanding until he towered over me, his massive form casting a protective shadow.

I climbed onto his back, gripping his thick fur as though it were the only anchor to this shattered reality. Turning to the group behind me, I raised a hand in a silent farewell. My voice refused to form words. Without hesitation, Chewy surged forward, his powerful legs carrying us across the ruined kingdom.

The air was thick with smoke, the acrid stench of destruction clinging to every breath I took. Ashes swirled around us like snowflakes, remnants of the monstrous hordes that had once terrorized this land. Debris littered the ground, a graveyard of memories and dreams. I covered my mouth as tears welled up, blurring the wreckage before me.

“Sebastian…” I whispered, his name a dagger to my chest. My thoughts spiraled into chaos. What have you done? This wasn’t the Sebastian I had written—a selfish man who thrived on inflicting pain, a masochist reveling in torment. No. He wasn’t supposed to be this... this hero willing to sacrifice everything.

Anger and grief twisted inside me as I clawed at my hair, the frustration unbearable. “You idiot,” I muttered under my breath.

As we approached the Imperial Palace, my heart sank further. The once-majestic structure was now a crumbling ruin, its grandeur reduced to rubble.

“Chewy,” I murmured, my voice cracking. “Take me to the throne room.”

With a powerful leap, Chewy carried us into the heart of the palace, his movements precise despite the treacherous terrain. I dismounted and let my eyes roam the desolation. In the center of the shattered room lay an arcane circle, its eerie glow faint against the charred remains surrounding it. Ashes coated the floor, a stark reminder of the life that had been extinguished here.

I stumbled forward, my knees threatening to buckle. My shoulders sagged as I stood over the circle, my fingers trembling as I traced its edges. “I thought you’d survive,” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.

Tears streamed down my face, unbidden and unstoppable. I wiped them away hastily, but it was futile. The pain was too raw, too consuming. Straightening my back, I took a shaky breath and turned to Chewy.

“Let’s go,” I said, my voice firmer now. “We have to seal the tree. His sacrifice… it can’t be for nothing.”

With one last glance at the throne room, I mounted Chewy again. The cold determination in my heart was the only thing keeping me together as we rode toward our next—and final—destination.

We finally arrived at the colossal tree. The stench of rot clung to the air, heavy and unrelenting. Around the base of the tree lay the lifeless bodies of sacrifices, their forms grotesque and unmoving, feeding the unnatural life of this cursed behemoth. The remains of monsters were scattered like broken puppets, silent witnesses to the horrors that had taken place.

I slid off Chewy’s back, my boots landing softly on the damp, tainted earth. My every step toward the heart of the tree echoed with purpose, the silence broken only by the occasional groan of the twisted wood above.

Kneeling on one of the tree’s massive roots, I let my fingers trail across its rough, pulsing surface. The life it greedily consumed reverberated beneath my touch, sickening and cold. Pulling the orb from my Aether Pouch, I placed the seal atop it. The moment the two connected, a surge of energy spiraled outward, ruffling my hair and sending shivers up my spine.

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You have used your title: High Priestess.

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A glowing arcane circle materialized beneath me, its intricate symbols shifting and swirling in a hypnotic dance. The power radiating from it lifted me effortlessly into the air, my body defying gravity. My silver-white hair floated around me like a delicate veil, and the ginger hue of my eyes sharpened, now glowing with an otherworldly intensity.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth, and the words of an ancient language flowed from my lips like a spell etched into my soul.

“Vérithar nox alieth— Sariath ven mourthal!”

The chant reverberated through the air, each syllable slicing through the oppressive darkness surrounding the tree. The arcane circle flared brighter with each word, casting the area in an eerie light that twisted shadows into grotesque shapes.

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The seal is now activated. Please endure a while longer to completely seal the portal.

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Before me, the portal began to form, a swirling vortex of pitch-black shadows and ominous crimson light. Dark tendrils reached out from its depths, the air crackling with malice. From within, grotesque monsters clawed at the edges, their twisted forms eager to escape.

My face twisted in disgust. You can do this, I thought bitterly as I gritted my teeth, pouring more of my energy into the chant. The ancient words flowed faster, more urgently now.

“Vérithar nox alieth—Sariath ven mourthal!” I shouted, my voice carrying a sharp, commanding edge.

The strain was unbearable. My muscles ached, and my vision blurred as the portal resisted my efforts.

“Damn it!” I hissed, sweat dripping down my brow. I clenched my fists, the arcane energy swirling violently around me. The seal glowed brighter, pushing back against the portal’s relentless pull.

The monsters screamed as the light burned them back into the abyss, but the portal was far from closing. With a final burst of determination, I dug deeper into my power, my voice rising in defiance of the darkness that threatened to consume everything.

The portal let out a deafening howl, its monstrous tendrils flailing wildly as if in desperation. My chant reached its crescendo, each syllable a blade slicing through the malevolent force before me. The arcane circle beneath me blazed with an intensity that threatened to consume everything, its light cutting through the thick darkness like a beacon.

“Vérithar nox alieth— Sariath ven mourthal!”

With the final word, the seal unleashed a surge of radiant energy. The power erupted outward, slamming into the portal like a tidal wave. The monsters let out ear-piercing screams as the light consumed them, pulling them back into the abyss.

The vortex began to shrink, its crimson glow flickering like a dying flame. I felt the strain in my body lessen as the portal’s pull weakened, the tendrils retreating one by one. Then, with a final, agonized wail, the portal collapsed in on itself, vanishing into nothingness.

The colossal tree groaned, its once-pulsing roots shuddering violently. A chill spread through the air, and frost began to creep up its massive trunk. The dark, rotting bark hardened, turning gray as cracks spiderwebbed across its surface. The grotesque, writhing life it had once displayed was now utterly still.

Before my eyes, the tree transformed into a frozen monolith, its twisted branches locked in place as though captured in time. The sickly glow that had radiated from within dimmed, replaced by an eerie, icy sheen. It was no longer a tree but a lifeless, petrified husk—a grim monument to the horrors it had spawned.

I stumbled back to the ground, my knees buckling as my feet touched the cold earth. My body felt like it had been wrung dry, every ounce of strength drained from me. Chewy was there in an instant, nudging me with his massive snout. His golden eyes were filled with worry, and I managed a weak smile, resting a hand on his warm fur.

“It’s done,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.

The system’s notification appeared before me, faint and subdued, as though even it was affected by the weight of what had just transpired.

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The portal has been successfully sealed. The colossal tree is neutralized.

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A strange silence settled over the area, broken only by the faint crackling of the frost consuming the tree. I turned to look at what was left of it, my heart heavy. It was over, but the cost...

I clenched my fists, tears brimming in my eyes. My reflection in the frozen surface of the tree stared back at me—tired, broken, yet determined.

“Your sacrifice wasn’t in vain,” I murmured, my voice trembling but resolute. “It’s done... you made it possible.”

Chewy let out a low rumble, his warmth grounding me. I leaned against him, allowing myself a moment of weakness. Just one moment. Then I stood, brushing away the tears and gripping the Aether Pouch tightly.

I was about to turn my back on the frozen tree, when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Well, I can say you did your best, Faerie...”

The sound was like a dagger piercing through my thoughts. My eyes widened, and my lips parted, trembling as if to form words. That voice—it was impossible.

I spun around, my gaze frantically searching for the source. And there he was, standing amidst the frozen branches of the colossal tree. His familiar smile greeted me, warm and maddeningly calm, yet there was something raw and unsettling about him—he was completely bare.

I froze, the world tilting as disbelief washed over me. My knees felt weak, but anger, relief, and confusion battled in my chest. Without a word, I ran toward him, my steps unsteady but desperate.

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The ability [Evoke] has been activated.

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When I reached him, I didn’t hesitate. My dagger was in my hand, the blade cold against his skin as I pressed it to his neck. My breath hitched, and my tears, no longer contained, streamed freely down my face.

“You...” I whispered, my voice shaking, the single word carrying the weight of everything I couldn’t bring myself to say.

His smile didn’t falter. “Is this how you greet the one who made a heroic sacrifice?” His tone was light, teasing, as if he were brushing off the weight of everything that had happened. He raised his hands in mock surrender before letting them fall to his sides.

“I’m back, my lady,” he said softly, his words cutting through the storm in my mind.

I couldn’t hold on any longer. The dagger slipped from my fingers, landing with a dull thud. In an instant, I closed the space between us, throwing my arms around him. My sobs tore from my chest as I clung to him, burying my face against his shoulder.

He wrapped his arms around me, his touch gentle but firm. His hand rested on the back of my head, stroking my hair in a soothing rhythm. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over my cries. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to the crown of my head as if to offer comfort, though it only deepened the ache in my heart.

I wanted to scream, to curse him, to make him understand the weight of his actions. Yet, as I held onto him, the anger in my heart twisted into something else—something more painful.

“I want to slit your throat and kill you truly,” I murmured against his chest, my voice breaking. “You made my heart heavier than it ever was. You bastard... I’ll make sure you regret every reckless decision you’ve made.”

“Yes, yes. But, Faerie... I’m naked... and you’re hugging me,” he murmured, a teasing chuckle escaping his lips.

A smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth as a wicked idea crossed my mind—something that would make this bastard regret his decisions.

“I know,” I replied, my tone laced with mischief. Without another word, my hand shot down, grabbing him where it hurt the most.

A strangled yelp tore from his throat. “What the—ahhh! It hurts!” he screamed, his voice reaching an octave I didn’t know he was capable of. His hands flew to my shoulders, frantically trying to pry me off, but I tightened my grip with a deliberate squeeze. His legs buckled, and he stumbled, trembling like a newborn deer.

I leaned in closer, my face now level with his, a wicked grin plastered on my lips. “Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again,” I warned, my voice dangerously low, dripping with mock sweetness.

He nodded frantically, his wide, pleading eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Y-Yes, my lady! I swear I’ll never do it again!” he croaked, his words strained as he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously.

Satisfied, I gave him one final, punishing squeeze before letting go. He collapsed to his knees with a pitiful groan, his hands cupping himself protectively as he rocked back and forth. His face was a mix of pain, regret, and sheer disbelief, his mouth agape as if silently questioning his life choices.

I shook my hand in the air as if I’d touched something utterly revolting, my nose wrinkling in exaggerated disgust. “That’s your punishment,” I muttered nonchalantly, grabbing a fistful of his hair and tilting his head up to meet my gaze.

His teary eyes looked up at me, his lips trembling as he stammered, “I’m really sorry...” He pouted, his expression so pitifully childlike that it was almost endearing.

A laugh bubbled from my chest, and before I could stop myself, I leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

He froze, his eyes going wide as his brain clearly short-circuited. For a moment, he just sat there, stunned and speechless, his pain momentarily forgotten as he stared at me in disbelief.

“It’s okay. It’s all over now, isn’t it?” I murmured softly, my voice trembling slightly with relief.

Before I could process the words hanging in the air, his hands found my waist. In one swift, fluid motion, he lifted me effortlessly as if I weighed nothing at all. My breath hitched as I found myself inches from his face, his gaze burning into mine, filled with something raw and unspoken.

“Yes, my lady,” he whispered, his voice deep and reverent. Then his lips claimed mine.

The kiss was firm at first, almost tentative, but it didn’t stay that way. His lips moved against mine, coaxing, demanding, and I gave in willingly. My heart raced as I matched his rhythm, my lips parting to meet his intensity.

My mind swirled with disbelief. He’s alive. I’m alive. Arthemice’s body didn’t perish, and the war is truly over. None of this was supposed to happen in the story I created. Yet, here I was, rewriting the ending with every breath I took. Despite the absence of my memories for so long, I managed to change it all. And now… now, I was free.

A smile curved against his lips as our kiss deepened. My fingers trailed up, tangling in his hair, while the other hand wrapped tightly around his neck. His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer as if he feared letting go might shatter this fragile moment.

Our breaths mingled, warm and ragged, as the kiss grew desperate, consuming. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a release of every fear, every ache, every longing we had endured. It was the raw promise of a future neither of us had dared to hope for.

As the world around us faded into silence, I finally pulled back, just enough to rest my forehead against his. Our breaths came in soft pants, our gazes locked, brimming with emotions too vast for words.

“I’m not letting you go,” he murmured, his voice hoarse but resolute.

“And I’m not going anywhere,” I replied, my voice steady despite the whirlwind in my chest.

fin.