A Blade of Justice and Tears

Seraphine stood before Darius, her sword steady in her trembling hands. Her breathing was ragged, her body battered, but her resolve burned bright. The once-proud guardian to her father knelt in the dirt, a man brought low by his own greed. His eyes refused to meet hers, staring instead at the blood-soaked ground beneath him. 

"Why did you do it?" Seraphine's voice cracked, raw with pain. Her grip on the sword hilt tightened as she waited for his answer. 

Darius lifted his head slowly, his face etched with years of suffering and regret. "I- " 

He let out a deep exhale, his gaze locking with hers. In that moment, memories flooded his mind—his entire life flashing before him, every step that had led him here. He remembered the days spent in the capital, the towering halls, the weight of duty, and the quiet moments shared with her father. It all came rushing back, vivid and unrelenting.