4: c) Cedric's End

Cedric was the last. Aric saved the most elaborate plan for him. He orchestrated a scenario where Cedric would be isolated in the Darkwood Forest, the same place where he had betrayed Aric. The forest was dense and foreboding, its twisted trees casting long, eerie shadows. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the silence was oppressive.

Aric used his abilities to create illusions, making Cedric believe he was being hunted by the very monsters he had once commanded. The shadows seemed to move, and ghostly whispers filled the air. Cedric's heart pounded in his chest as he stumbled through the underbrush, his mind unraveling with each passing moment.

"Who's there?" Cedric shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. "Show yourself!"

The only response was the rustling of leaves and the distant howl of a wolf. Cedric's eyes darted around, seeing phantoms in every shadow. His once-steady hands now trembled with fear.

Aric watched from a distance, his eyes cold and calculating. He had waited for this moment, meticulously planning every detail. The psychological torment drove Cedric to the brink of madness. When Aric finally confronted him, Cedric was a shell of his former self, his eyes wild with terror.

Cedric fell to his knees, his voice a broken whisper. "Aric… how are you still alive?"

Aric stepped forward, his face illuminated by the pale moonlight. "I was given a second chance, Cedric. And I used it to bring you down."

Cedric's eyes widened in disbelief. "This can't be… I saw you die."

Aric's expression hardened. "You saw what you wanted to see. Your betrayal left me for dead, but I survived. And now, I've come to make you pay."

Cedric's voice trembled. "Aric, please… we were friends once. You don't have to do this."

Aric's eyes flashed with anger. "Friends?"

Cedric's shoulders slumped, his spirit broken. "I was wrong, Aric. I see that now. But killing me won't change the past."

Aric's grip on his sword tightened. "No, it won't. But it will ensure you never betray anyone again."

With a final, decisive strike, Aric ended Cedric's life. The blade cut through the air with a deadly precision, and Cedric fell to the ground, his eyes staring blankly at the sky. Aric stood over him, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

The forest was silent once more, the echoes of the past fading into the night. Aric looked down at Cedric's lifeless body, a mixture of triumph and sorrow in his eyes. He had avenged his betrayal, but the victory felt hollow.

Aric whispered to the wind, "Your legacy is one of disgrace and failure, Cedric. And I will make sure the world remembers it that way."

He turned and walked away, the weight of his actions heavy on his shoulders. The path of vengeance had been long and arduous, but it was finally over. Aric knew that he could never truly escape the shadows of his past, but he had taken the first step towards a new future.

To Be Continued...