"Then. Let me grant you the end you long for."
Vitaliara leapt in front of Gabriela, her golden eyes blazing as her voice roared in his mind. [Lucavion! What are you doing?]
He didn't waver, his grip on the estoc firm. 'This is for the better,' he thought, his inner voice calm yet resolute as he directed his thoughts to Vitaliara. 'Look at her.'
Vitaliara glanced back at Gabriela, her celestial form trembling as she saw the truth. Gabriela didn't move to protect herself. She didn't protest. She simply sat there, lifeless, her gaze fixed on nothing.
[But she can recover!] Vitaliara's voice cracked with desperation, her plea ringing in his mind. [She's not beyond saving!]
Lucavion shook his head slightly, his smirk gone, replaced by a cold, pragmatic expression. "Recovery requires a desire to live," he said softly, his eyes never leaving Gabriela. "She doesn't have that anymore. She's already made her choice."
He raised his sword.