Ethan felt the air leave his lungs.
Sienna covered her mouth.
Jay clenched his shield, though it was only a memory.
Marcus closed his eyes for a moment… but couldn't stop himself from looking.
Tears welled in Elenya's eyes without permission.
Blood spilled across the white dress, staining the fabric a deep crimson.
Akashin caught her before she fell.
— N-no… no… — his voice shattered. — This wasn't… meant for you…
She lifted her trembling hand and touched his face.
The five felt the touch as if it were their own—the fading warmth, skin already cooling.
— Akashin… — she murmured, smiling weakly, filled with love. — I… love you…
The words echoed.
Akashin swallowed hard.
He opened his mouth.
They felt the effort of tearing loose something trapped for years.
He was going to say it.
He was.
But her body went slack.
Her eyes closed.
Her hand slipped from his face and fell, heavy.
She died… without hearing his answer.
— N-NO! — Akashin's scream thundered, vibrating in the chests of the five. — NOOO!
A second blade struck him from behind.
The world cut out abruptly—sound vanished, vision shook, the body went heavy.
He collapsed beside her.
The pain was unbearable.
And yet…
He crawled.
Each movement left a trail of blood. The armor weighed tons. Darkness closed in at the edges of his vision.
He reached out.
Slowly.
Finger by finger.
Until he grasped her hand.
And held it.
Even without response.
Even cold.
Even dead.
With a voice barely there, he said:
— I… will… protect you…
No matter the world…
No matter the time…
No matter the name…
I will always… protect you…
Not "I love you."
He never could.
And that promise bound his soul.
In that instant, something within him returned… not as a human, but as undead. Hatred and emptiness became a blade. He annihilated what remained of the invaders and swore to protect.
That room.
That throne.
That moment.
His beloved—forever.
The five were dragged back.
The burning hall vanished.
The castle in chaos disappeared.
Once more, they stood in the ruined throne room, before the broken throne, the kneeling skeleton, the cracked katana.
Akashin still stood on guard.
But now… shattered inside.
The vision faded.
The throne room returned.
Jay stood there, blood streaking down his cheek.
Marcus with sword raised.
Ethan with fire dancing around his hand.
Sienna gasping, mana circles still glowing.
Elenya with bow ready.
Akashin stood still.
The katana still in attack position…
But the lights in his eye sockets flickered strangely.
He raised his free hand to his head, as if feeling a pain he… could no longer have.
— I… — his voice broke. — I… couldn't… say it…
Marcus breathed deeply. He didn't lower his sword, but he didn't advance either.
— You were trapped in that moment — he said calmly. — In the guilt. In the "what if."
Ethan added quietly, firmly:
— And you forgot that she chose. She knew exactly what she was doing when she stepped in front of you.
Sienna wiped away a tear she hadn't realized had fallen.
— She didn't die because you failed. She died… because she loved you.
Elenya lowered her bow slightly, though she didn't let go.
— And you stayed here, reliving the worst moment of your life… alone.
Jay exhaled heavily, the blood drying on his skin.
— It's time for this to end, Akashin.
The Guardian lifted his head.
He looked at the throne.
At the chest.
And finally, to the corner of the room, where the queen's delicate skeleton lay, her cracked crown beside her.
The lights in his eyes trembled.
— I… promised… — he said. — I promised to protect her… anywhere…
— And you will — Marcus replied. — But not trapped here. Not like this.
Akashin stepped back.
His combat stance unraveled.
He knelt.
The katana was driven into the floor, its tip touching stone.
— Free me… — he pleaded in a breath. — Please…
Jay lowered his shield.
Ethan let the flames fade.
Sienna released a long breath she seemed to have been holding for years.
Elenya lowered her arrow.
Marcus approached.
Each step echoed loudly.
He stopped before Akashin, who kept his head bowed.
— Your watch is over — Marcus said, his tone mixing respect and sorrow. — You held this line beyond death. Now… it's our turn to move forward. And yours… to rest.
Akashin didn't answer.
But the lights in his eyes finally seemed… ready.
Marcus raised his longsword.
Not in attack.
In mercy.