Chapter 7

"Legacy and reputation are things we value – worthless things people have lost their live over."

••••

The sun was burning on my neck, and the floor was wet, a metallic smell surrounded me. Something so strong, so pungent – there was a weight in my arms. A body, someone, I didn't know who, my thoughts blurring and flitting all over the place. It was… Are…tis. 

Who was Aretis?

She had a strong grip on my arms, nails digging in, latching on and drawing blood from me. The floor was cold and the ceiling was high, but we were not the only ones in the area. There were other bodies–

Other…bodies?

My mouth felt dry, and I continued to look around. There seemed to be nothing–

A dawning horror crept up on me and it felt as if all the air had been sucked from the areas around me and my lungs started burning–

The corpses around me started stirring, movements jerky, and the crunching of bones rearranging from the movement they were not supposed to do. 

A shadow, darker than the rest loomed over me, and the fire seemed to burn more brightly than ever before. 

There was fire?

My movements were sluggish, and I looked up at the thing that was looming over me. A hooded figure, their arms showing and rippling with lean muscle. A sword in hand. 

I–

****

I woke up with a gasp. Breathing heavily, I looked around the room, panicking slightly over nothing but the dream I had. 

••••

My heart ached as I watched my body being brought before her. My hair matted with sweat and grit, my face covered with grime and dirt, blood on the side of my face – there was a numbness spreading through me. 

She should not have gone in my stead, something so stupidly obvious. 

She had no magic, why would a simple charm protect her – leading under my guise because of my magic, she only had her sword and her knights that charged into battle with her. Xianlan only had her skill and planning with her, Eflua was known for its superior weaponry, and we were known for our archmages and extensive knowledge of magic. She had never wanted to fight – it was against her upbringing as a whole. Yet she had joined me because of her care for me. 

I had driven her to her grave. Somewhere that she was not to be until she had lived a fruitful and long life yet—

No! No! It wasn't like that! I wanted to because I couldn't stand you being in danger.

She crumpled to the floor next to my body and screamed. Swinging her blade at one of my commanders who tried to pull me away.

Aretis cried and screamed, all her soldiers looked away from the scene. Their hearts are stirring with grief and also erupting in anger. They had lost someone that was willing to help them and guide them – keeping nearly all of them safe and wounds had all been tended to. Sending the ones too wounded home, doing her best to minimise the damage to the Myrrhine ranks.

She pulled at her hair, fistfuls of blonde hair fell to the ground. Cradling the body, rocking back and forth. 

"Lady Aretis. Xianlan had left something for you."

A soldier came running up and handed a small bag to her. She did not look at him, nor anyone for that matter, but gently picked up my body and retreated back to her tent.