Charlotte’s POV
Sothing snapped back to reality, like a cold slap across my face. Maybe it was that woman’s voice—ordering to die, telling to be grateful for the chance to be her sacrifice. That jolted out of whatever haze I was in. And then I saw him—Professor Sesillian—standing on a platform, draped in won’s clothes.
"P-Professor?" My voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The man I’d loved for so long—the only one I ever loved—was standing there dressed like a woman. My mind reeled, trying to make sense of it.
"Why?" Professor Sesillian’s voice quivered with restrained fury as he lowered his head, his fists clenched so tight I could see his knuckles whitening. "Why do you only see this body I’m trapped in? This
man
? Can’t you see the
woman
that I truly am, Charlotte?!"
I stood there, frozen. I didn’t understand. I
couldn’t
understand.
"Why do you still look at like this?!"
His voice exploded in a shout, raw and seething with anger. The rage in his eyes burned, and every bit of it was directed at , scorching with its intensity.
"You know what? Never mind." His voice grew colder. "I won’t waste my anger on soone who’s about to beco the key to my answers… the resurrection of darkness. Otherwise, I might kill you right here."
"P-Professor, w-what are you saying? S-Sacrificing ? You’re joking, right? T-Tell this isn’t real. Please... you don’t actually want dead, do you? Please, tell this is all so twisted joke!"
"What?" His eyes flickered with amusent. "Of course you should die—for the sake of my darkness, for my sake, and for everyone who desires the return of darkness."
"B-But...!"
"What? Did you really believe I cared about you? That I would
love
soone like you?" He spat the words out. "The only reason I ever got close to you was to turn you into a sacrifice! Why else would I bother with you? I don’t even love won. I love
n
, Charlotte!"
My legs buckled beneath , my entire body trembling. It felt like the ground had fallen away, like everything I believed was crumbling into nothingness. All those monts we shared, the feelings I thought were real, shattered in an instant.
"Do you know how revolting it was to touch you? To hug you?" His words hit like physical blows. "How much I cursed you in my mind every ti you asked for comfort? Every. Single. Ti. I hated it—probably cursed you hundreds of tis."
I tried to block it out, tried to shut his voice out, but his words slithered into my soul, tearing at it, gnawing away at whatever was left of . The pain was unbearable.
"It’s a lie..." I whispered to myself, desperately clinging to so hope, trying to escape this cruel reality. My mind refused to believe it, refused to let it sink in.
"It’s fine," Sesillian said, his lips curling into a twisted smirk. "At least you’ll finally be useful. Maybe then,
maybe
you’ll be soone I can tolerate. Doubt it though, because I
hate
you, Charlotte."
The tears ca then, burning hot as they stread down my face. Each one felt like a piece of breaking, shattering beyond repair.
"Well then, I guess it’s ti to begin the Ordeal. Grab her."
The crowd tightened around , their faces blank, eyes filled with nothing but purpose. I didn’t even bother to resist. My energy was drained, completely burned out. There was nothing left in to fight with.
"Let’s head to the plaza. The ritual’s about to start. Finally, I’ll get to see it!"
***
Leon’s POV
After a mont, I let out a sigh, raising my head, which had slamd into the table from the bullet impact. The bullet that had been lodged in the back of my skull rolled off, clinking softly onto the floor as I straightened up, blood trailing down the sides of my face. I blinked a few tis, then chuckled.
"Hahahahaha! That was
priceless
. Watching Charlotte’s spirit break when she found out her beloved man had been into n all along—absolutely
hilarious
."
I couldn’t give enough credit to both Charlotte and Sesillian. Their whole dramatic little scene had struggling not to burst into laughter. But even then, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. It was just too damn funny.
"Well, the situation’s getting pretty intense, so I guess it’s ti to stop holding back." I reached into my suit, pulling out the faceless mask I always carried. This was it. I was going to beco phisto now.
***
Sesillian’s POV
Everything was coming together. After years of planning, orchestrating every detail, it was all about to co to fruition. The excitent bubbling up inside was almost too much to contain. My plan, after so many years, was finally about to be completed. Naturally, I was ecstatic.
The only thing left was to lay Charlotte on the altar and offer her blood to Lord Xyroskhaal. Once He drank, He would reign supre over this world once again, and my wish would finally be granted.
With the Magic Knights stuck outside the capital, blocked by the thousands of people filling the streets, there was no one left to stop us.
"Chant it for !" I commanded, my voice booming across the plaza.
"In the shadows, we find truth, and in the darkness, we are reborn. The world will bow to our will, for we are the harbingers of the Eclipse, where light ets its end, and our power begins."
The crowd joined in, their voices blending into one.
"In the shadows, we find truth, and in the darkness, we are reborn. The world will bow to our will, for we are the harbingers of the Eclipse, where light ets its end, and our power begins."
Again, their chant filled the air, growing louder with each repetition, feeding into the tension that was building around us.
I grabbed Charlotte from the man holding her, walking slowly up the steps toward the altar, the ritual site prepared by the mbers of the Eclipse. Each step felt heavier than the last as I approached the platform. Once there, I laid her down on the cold stone surface, her body limp beneath my hands.
I picked up the knife from the side of the altar, its blade gleaming wickedly under the pale light. I raised my eyes to the sky, feeling the energy swirling around .
"Our Lord! With this sacrifice, you will be reborn! Bless us once again, cover this world in your darkness, and reign supre!"
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