The Last Step Chapter 7: Betrayal

But instead of feeling his lips on mine, I felt sothing cool press against my forehead. My eyes snapped open in shock.

Kaiser's hand was gently resting on my forehead, his expression now serious. "You're burning up," he murmured, his voice softer than before.

I blinked, trying to process what was happening. My face flushed even more, but now I understood. He wasn't teasing or making a move—he was checking if I was sick. I let out a breath of relief, but my heart was still racing, though for a different reason now.

Kaiser pulled back, his usual grin returning. "Don't go worrying like that," he teased, though I could see the concern in his eyes.

I let out a shaky sigh, my hands still trembling slightly. "You really like to stress out, don't you?"

Kaiser chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with amusent. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."

"I see," Kaiser said softly, looking down at with a touch of amusent in his eyes. "You're suffering from a fever, that's why your face is all red often. It's not because I'm getting too close, huh?"

I blinked, utterly stunned. Was this guy for real? After all that, he was just checking if I was sick? I felt my frustration build, and without thinking, I pushed him back. He stumbled, falling onto the ground with a loud thud.

I hadn't realized how hard I'd pushed him until now. My mind was still racing from everything that had happened, and in the heat of the mont, I hadn't considered how much force I used. Kaiser had hit the ground so suddenly, and I hadn't ant to hurt him... Did I?

Panic bubbled up in my chest. What if he was actually hurt? I quickly turned to look at him, guilt and worry flooding my thoughts.

I gasped, suddenly worried. "Oh no, are you okay?"

Kaiser lay there, laughing, rubbing the back of his head where it had hit the ground. "Woah, princess! First, you push down to the floor, then co back asking if I'm good after you push ?"

I opened my mouth to scold him, but the sight of him laughing—genuinely laughing—stopped . My anger fizzled away, replaced with a strange warmth.

It was surreal, really. Just a few hours ago, I had been crying alone, consud by my grief. And now, here I was, laughing, talking to soone who didn't even know the weight of my pain... but still made smile.

Kaiser broke the silence, his voice suddenly softer. "The night sky... it's beautiful, isn't it?"

I nodded, looking up at the stars. "Yeah. It really is."

Then, as if he hadn't just fallen flat on his back a minute ago, Kaiser smiled at . "Celestine is sure beautiful, isn't it, Lia?"

I couldn't help but smile back at him. "Yeah, it is."

He sat up, rubbing his head exaggeratedly. "I still don't know what I did to deserve being pushed to the ground like that, though. You're cruel, you know that?"

I laughed lightly, shaking my head. "You had it coming."

Kaiser leaned in again, this ti with a mischievous grin. "Maybe you thought I was trying to kiss you, huh?"

My face turned crimson. "It's nothing like that!" I shouted, backing away quickly.

"Sure, sure," he teased, smirking. Then, he put a hand on my shoulder, looking dead in the eye. "Don't worry, Lia. I'll remove you from my heart. You're really ant for Kiel."

I raised my fist this ti to punch him, furious, but before I could act on it, Kaiser clasped his hands together, looking mock-serious. "Sorry if I was teasing you too much! I just like seeing you smile after all."

I stopped, my fist still raised, and for a mont, I realized he wasn't just being a goofball. He saw , saw how sad and closed off I was... but now, he made laugh. Made forget for just a while.

It wasn't romantic, not in the way I'd thought. But it still felt comforting, like a step forward in a world that had been so heavy.

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself. "You really know how to get under my skin."

And yet, there was a feeling of happiness spreading through . A sense of lightness that I hadn't felt in so long.

Kaiser suddenly turned to with a glimr in his eyes, the kind he always had when he was about to say sothing that would leave flustered. "I think I've got a really good na for you."

I blinked, stunned by his statent. "What? How?"

He smirked, leaning in as if to study my reaction. "Well," he began nonchalantly, "I needed so inspiration. So, I got closer to see your flustered face up close... and to check if you had a fever."

My face burned red. "You're so annoying!" I huffed, folding my arms tightly.

He only laughed, brushing off my annoyance. "What can I say? I'm an innovator." He puffed out his chest jokingly, then added, "But yeah, I think you'll like this one."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity winning over my irritation. "Alright, let's hear it."

He hesitated, a rare softness overtaking his usual smirk. "You might think this is silly, but... you remind of hope and happiness. There's sothing about your smile—it makes smile too, even when I don't want to admit it. I know I sound awkward, but bear with ."

I froze, my heart skipping a beat as his words sank in.

Kaiser continued, his tone more sincere than I'd ever heard. "That's why I want to call you Celia. I kept the 'Lia' because I know you liked it, and I added the start of Celestine because... well, it suits you. I know it's not the most creative, but it's the best I've got."

I stared at him, utterly speechless.

All my life, people gave nas without asking—nas that served their needs, not mine. My parents, my friends, even my sister... none of them had ever cared enough to ask if I liked the nas they chose for . They were labels, convenient ways to call , but none of them felt like they were truly mine. Each one was a mask, a role I had to play, never sothing I could own. It was as if my true self was hidden behind these nas, and no one ever bothered to see the person beneath.

But then, there was him.

He asked if I liked the na. Just a simple question, but it was the first ti anyone had ever cared about what I thought. The first ti soone saw —, not the curse, not the mask, not the label. It was as if, for a mont, I wasn't just the girl who everyone feared. I was Celia. I was soone who mattered.

I hadn't realized how much I longed to be seen until that very mont. How much I'd craved to be sothing more than the na others forced on . My heart twisted painfully at the thought of how long I'd gone without this simple acknowledgnt.

Looking back, I saw all the little things he had done—small gestures, quiet kindnesses—each one aid at making smile, at pulling out of the darkness I had lived in for so long. Every laugh he brought , every warm mont we shared, made feel sothing I hadn't felt in years: hope. He was showing , in every way he could, that I deserved to be happy. That I wasn't just a burden or a weapon or a curse.

And now, he had done the one thing no one else had ever done: he had given a na, sothing I could truly claim for myself. A na that wasn't ant to hide , but to bring into the light.

Tears blurred my vision as I thought about it. For four long years, I had been hunted, alone, living a life of fear and false hope. A life where I thought I had no place, no future. A life where I was only ever a shadow, moving through the world unnoticed. But now, I felt sothing I hadn't dared to feel in so long: happiness. It was a fragile thing, just beginning to bloom, and I wasn't sure if I even deserved it.

But for the first ti in my life, I was given sothing I could hold onto. A na. A piece of myself that no one had ever let claim.

I felt seen. And it hurt, because I didn't know how to hold onto it.

Kaiser noticed my tears and leaned closer, alard. "Is it that bad?"

I quickly wiped my eyes, shaking my head. "No! No, it's not bad at all!" My voice cracked as I stamred through my tears. "I-I love it."

He offered a relieved smile, extending his hand toward with an inviting gesture.

"Alright, Celia," he said warmly, his eyes eting mine. "How about it? Would you like to be my friend?"

I froze for a mont, staring at his outstretched hand. After everything—the fear, the loneliness, the despair—here he was, offering sothing I hadn't dared to hope for in so long. My heart ached, and warmth spread through , chasing away the cold I had carried for years.

Tears prickled my eyes as I reached out, my fingers trembling slightly as they touched his. "Yes," I whispered, my voice barely steady. "I'd like that. I really would."

For a brief mont, everything felt perfect.

But it didn't last.

Out of nowhere, a fiery streak of light shot toward . My eyes widened as the fireball closed in, too fast to dodge.

Ti slowed as Kaiser scread, "Watch out, Celia!" He threw himself in front of , his right shoulder taking the brunt of the attack. The explosion sent smoke and heat billowing around us, and I gasped in horror as his arm burned, blackened from the flas.

"Kaiser!" I cried, but there was no ti to react. More attacks rained down, forcing him to shield with his body. Before I could stop him, a burst of wind magic slamd into him, sending him hurtling through the air.

I reached out instinctively, but the ground beneath shifted violently. Jagged roots of earth sprang up, coiling around my legs like iron chains, trapping in place. Panic surged through as I struggled against them, my hands clawing at the air. My voice broke as I scread, "Kaiser!"

Ahead, I could only watch in horror as he was flung through the air. His body twisted mid-flight, his voice echoing faintly: "Take care, Celia!"

"No!" I scread, tears blurring my vision. My heart plumted as he hit the ground far away with a bone-chilling crash. He didn't move. His limp form was barely visible through the dust and smoke.

Kaiser... Is he...? No, no, no. He can't be gone. He just can't. Not after everything.

Despair clawed at , tightening around my chest like a vice. My legs trembled, but the earth held firm, refusing to let move. I strained against the roots, my breaths coming in panicked gasps. I couldn't reach him. I couldn't help him.

"No, please!" I begged the unyielding ground, pulling at the roots with all my strength. "Let go! I have to save him!"

But before I could muster another cry, a voice cut through the chaos—a voice I hadn't heard in years, one that sent chills down my spine.

"Well, well, Stella. I'd almost forgotten how annoying you could be."

I froze, my body stiffening at the na. My blood ran cold. Slowly, I turned toward the source, dread pooling in my stomach.

"Kiel?" His na left my lips like a whisper, barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

There he stood, his familiar form cloaked in darkness. Beside him was Ronan, his ever-loyal shadow, his eyes just as cruel. For a fleeting mont, my heart swelled with hope. He's here. He found .

"Kiel," I said again, louder this ti. Relief washed over like a wave. My lips trembled into a shaky smile. Maybe he misunderstood what happened. Maybe he thought Kaiser was hurting , and he's here to help. He wouldn't hurt ... right?

But the hope I clung to shattered like glass when Ronan spoke, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Now, now, witch. Don't move a muscle."

The word witch hit like a knife. My smile faltered, confusion rushing in. "Witch?" I whispered.

Kiel's eyes locked onto mine, and my chest tightened. His expression was cold, twisted with fury, a face I didn't recognize. His hand ignited, flas curling around his fingers as he wielded magic, the fire flickering and crackling with intense energy.

His clothing seed to react to the fire, a deep orange garnt draped over his shoulders. It was almost like a blanket, but not just for warmth—it was a protective layer, designed to shield him from the intense flas emanating from his hand. The fabric shimred with faint magical symbols, glowing faintly in rhythm with the fire, as if it was enchanted to withstand the heat.

The garnt billowed slightly as he moved, its fabric thick and sturdy, yet still light enough to allow freedom of movent. The fire's raw power licked the edges of his clothing, but the material seed to absorb it, offering him protection even as the flas grew more intense. His eyes remained locked on , filled with an emotion I couldn't fully understand, and my heart raced, unsure of whether to fear or trust the man before .

"I finally found you," he said, his voice venomous. "You bitch. It's ti to pay for your cris—and die."

I couldn't breathe. My world crumbled around .

Cris? What cris? My mind raced, a storm of thoughts. Why is he so angry? Why is he looking at like this? He was supposed to care about ... wasn't he?

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at him, desperately searching for the Kiel I once knew. The boy who had protected , who had laughed with , who had been with . But all I saw now was hatred.

"Kiel..." I choked out, my voice trembling. "Why...? Why are you saying this?"

He took a step forward, fire ball in his palm. "Don't play dumb with , Stella," he snarled. "You know exactly why. You ruined everything, and now, you'll pay."

My knees buckled, and I gritted my teeth, trying to hold myself together. No, this has to be a mistake. Kiel wouldn't... He wouldn't.

But the fire in his eyes burned brighter, his intent clear.

"Kiel, please," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face. "It's ... Stella. Don't you rember?"

He laughed bitterly. "Oh, I rember. And I'll make sure you never forget."

I felt my heart shatter, the pieces scattering like shards of glass. In that mont, hope abandoned .

Kaiser... Kiel... Everyone. I've lost them all.

But deep inside, a flicker of resolve sparked. My tears dried as anger and determination replaced despair. I tightened my fists, glaring back at Kiel. If I couldn't save him... if I couldn't save anyone... I wouldn't go down without a fight.