"Lady Viessa..."
A figure appeared within the confines of the small, dimly lit room, kneeling down.
He was an elf, his hair a vibrant shade of green. His gaze remained fixed on the woman before him, who stood gazing out of the window, her back turned to him.
She was a vision of beauty, her long green hair flowing like a cascade of erald waves, framing a face that seed both young yet there was long maturity in her expression. Her hazel eyes, though soft, were etched with a depth of emotion as they focused on the chaos unfolding in the streets of Valachia. Below, the city writhed in turmoil, its foundation trembling under the onslaught of the Blood Elf King, Elashor Sarkian's army. The distant sounds of clashing steel and the crackling of flas reached them.
"It's nearing."
Lein, concerned, dared to lift his gaze, his erald eyes seeking hers, though he could see little more than the weariness in her posture.
"Milady?" He called.
Viessa's expression was a complex mix of emotions-fatigue, sorrow, and perhaps, a quiet acceptance. Her gaze lingered on the distant chaos, as if searching for sothing-or soone.
"I saw these walls burning in the Prophecy she gave ," Viessa muttered, her voice distant, as though speaking to herself rather than to Lein.
"Which Prophecy, Milady?" Lein asked, his brow furrowing with confusion.
"The Prophecy of my death," she replied. Slowly, she turned to face him. "What were you going to say?"
Lein hesitated, but he spoke up. "Yes. As you requested, I spotted among the Blood Elves near the Eastern Gates... a High Elf woman. She stands apart from the others. White hair. She is the only one."
A wry smile curled on Viessa's lips, though it lacked warmth. "You may leave."
Lein's eyes widened in disbelief. "Milady, we can change the future! Why must you die? I will strike him down, end it all before-"
"Lein."
Lein closed his mouth.
"I apologize," he muttered, bowing his head.
"No." Viessa's gaze softened, but there was no turning back. "I apologize. You have served faithfully for these last fifty years. Your loyalty was warming for , and for that, I am grateful. But... I can no longer tie you to my destiny."
"But-"
"You should leave," she repeated, "I ask this of you as my final request."
Lein's hand trembled against the stone floor as he clenched his fist, a bitter smile twisting his lips. "Yes... It has been an honor."
With a final, lingering glance, he left, the door closing softly behind him.
Viessa stood there for a long mont, her eyes once more turning toward the chaos outside.
"Goddess Freyja..." She whispered. "If you hear ... I apologize. I never ant to betray you." Her hands clasped together in silent prayer trembled. "I thank you. For all you've done for , for my people, for Sancta Vedelia. For saving us, for blessing us. Intentional or not, I am forever grateful."
Her mind wandered to the mories of Freyja, of a ti long past when the goddess had co to her in her darkest hour. Without her, Viessa knew she might have succumbed to madness long ago. She had served Freyja to the best of her abilities, but now, the ti had co for her life to end-not by her own hand, or Freyja's hand but by the will of another.
"I would never betray you. In ti, I am certain you will understand. My only wish is for your happiness, Freyja. May Fate grant you the joy you deserve-above all others."
Viessa ended her silent prayer, her lips pressing into a thin line as she opened her eyes.
She didn't know if Freyja could hear her.
It didn't matter.
Death awaited her, and Viessa had long since accepted it.
The mont she had killed the bird Freyja had gifted her-a creature bound by the goddess's divine will-she knew there would be no forgiveness. To Freyja, the act would be the ultimate betrayal, a severance of the bond they had shared. And Freyja, above all else, despised lies and betrayal.
Viessa's hand reached out, her fingers brushing against the cold glass of the windowpane. Her gaze fell on the eastern gates in the distance, where flas flickered in the darkness, illuminating the battlefield.
"After five hundred years..." She whispered, her voice trembling a little. "You've finally co to free , just as you promised, Edward."
***
The battle at the walls of Valachia raged, stretching into the night. Every gate and every side bore the brunt of the Blood Elf King's assault.
The rhythmic cast of spells filled the air followed by deafening explosions. The skies were illuminated by swirling mana circles, their patterns glowing brightly as they ford. Defensive spells from the Tepes forces clashed against the offensive magic of the Blood Elves, their collisions erupting into blinding bursts of light.
Not a single mont passed without the air vibrating with mana.
The few Blood Elves who managed to scale the towering walls were swiftly cut down, their lives ending before their boots could touch the stones of Valachia's interior.
The first day's skirmish ended in a stalemate, though to many, it felt like a defeat for the Blood Elves. Despite their strong assault, they had failed to breach the walls. Even Elashor Sarkian, the Blood Elf King himself, had been unable to find an opening.
But Elashor's expression didn't show any frustration.
He stood with calm smile on his lips. Victory, he understood, would not co in a single day.
As the true night descended upon Valachia, the order was given for his armies to retreat and rest. Before he left the battlefield, Elashor cast one last glance at the figure standing atop the
city's walls.
Bathed in the glow of the moonlight, she was a sight to behold.
Elizabeth Amaya Tepes.
Her crimson eyes shimred in the silver light, and her lips curved into a faint smile, though
it held no warmth. Without a word, she turned on her heels, and disappeared into the shadows
of Valachia's walls.
Elashor's gaze lingered for a mont longer before he, too, turned away.
***
"Loki! Give a hand!" Edryn shouted, his voice strained as he pressed a trembling hand against a gaping wound on a convulsing man sprawled on the blood-soaked ground.
I didn't hesitate. I crouched beside him and steadied the man's thrashing body, my hands firmly holding him..
Edryn fumbled for a vial at his waist, uncorked it with a swift motion, and poured its contents over the jagged wound. The liquid hissed on contact, a faint wisp of smoke curling into the night air. Without missing a beat, he wrapped the wound tightly with bandages, his fingers
slick with blood.
"Ugrghh!!!" The man writhed in pain but after a mont, he slumped into unconsciousness.
I straightened, glancing around at the others who had traveled with us. The scene was chaos -bodies scattered across the clearing, so groaning in pain, others deathly still. I swallowed hard, knowing so were beyond saving.
For the next hour, we worked tirelessly. Edryn and I, along with a handful of others, moved from person to person, patching wounds and offering what little solace we could.
When the last bandage was tied, I staggered away from the grim scene, collapsing against the rough bark of a tree. My chest heaved as I fought the bile rising in my throat.
I thought I was going to vomit again.
The image of soone's torn abdon flashed in my mind. I had literally pushed their
intestines back into place, my hands slick with gore. And that wasn't even the worst of it.
I stared at my trembling hands, caked in dried blood, and exhaled shakily. "Don't. Don't. Don't," I whispered to myself, repeating the words like a mantra. I clenched
my jaw, forcing the nausea back down.
"You did well today."
Shuria said.
I hadn't heard her approach.
"I did nothing..." I muttered.
I wasn't about to use Vysindra's Flas here. What use were they outside those cursed walls? I wasn't strong enough to face a city like Valachia on my own.
"Still, I saw you," Shuria said. "You dragged the injured out of Valachia's spell range. I never thought a High Elf could show compassion to other races, but you did. You saved lives today.
For that, I thank you."
I said nothing, my fists tightening against the bark.
"And," she continued, "I noticed you didn't throw up this ti. Progress." She smiled faintly.
"I asked the cook to prepare sothing suitable for you. You should thank him."
She turned to leave, her soft footsteps fading into the night.
I bit down hard, gritting my teeth.
"Don't..." I whispered to myself, the words trembling in the air.
Don't be kind to .
My fists clenched until my nails dug into my palms.
We are enemies.
After a mont, I took a swig from my waterskin, the cool liquid soothing my parched throat.
The campfire flickered ahead, and I made my way to the cook's table after washing my hands.
"The vegetarian one for the Princess!" The Blood Elf cook grinned as he handed a plate.
"Thanks..." I muttered, avoiding his gaze.
"Loki! Over here!" Edryn called, waving at . He was seated with a few of the survivors we had tended to earlier.
"Hey, Princess! Co on, I'll teach you how to eat like a man!"
I ignored them, choosing a lone seat beneath a tree. As I leaned back against the trunk, I
stared at the food on my plate, my appetite as absent as the peace I once knew.
"Cleenah..." I whispered.
[]
"I don't know what to do... or even how to think about this war," I mumbled.
[]
"I know," I replied, my fists clenching at my sides. "But... I'll have to breach the walls just to
find that woman—a woman I know nothing about. And then... I'll have to kill her."
I clenched my fists.
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