"I warned you."
No hatred.
No anger.
Just a simple statement.
Then—
his fingers touched the burning seal.
Mana gathered.
A single pulse spread outward.
The seal shattered.
CRACK.
The crimson flames vanished instantly.
The battlefield became quiet.
Edmund stopped screaming.
"..."
"..."
"...Master?"
I blinked.
Why...
Why wasn't he moving?
"...Master?"
I reached for him.
His body was warm.
But...
There was no heartbeat.
No breathing.
No mana.
Nothing.
My hands trembled.
"...What..."
"...what did you do?"
I looked up.
Apollo was already standing.
He looked at Edmund's peaceful face.
Then back at me.
A small smile appeared.
Not cruel.
Not joyful.
Simply tired.
"You asked me to make it stop."
His voice was calm.
"So I did."
The meaning of those words slowly sank into me.
No...
No...
"No..."
My voice cracked.
Apollo looked toward the sky then back at me.
"Brother look here"
He showed me the thing my master had put on his skin.
