Chapter131

Chad's POV

As the engines roared to life, I pushed the throttle forward, sending the craft hurtling toward its maximum speed. The deafening hum filled the cockpit, but it couldn't drown out the storm of emotions raging inside me.

The journey to Hybrasil felt endless, every second dragging on as if time itself were rebelling against me. And yet, paradoxically, it also felt too swift, as though time itself was conspiring to rob me of the chance to process everything that had just transpired. The flying craft tore through dark, turbulent skies, unwavering in its path toward our destination.

But my thoughts refused to stay in the present. They kept dragging me back—back to her.

Months ago, Deborah and I had journeyed this exact path together. I had brought her to Hybrasil, to the Lee estate, to fulfill one of her deepest wishes. She had wanted to see it with her own eyes—the hidden underground armory, the secret sanctuary of her family's legacy.

I could still see her in my mind's eye: the curiosity that lit up her face, the hope that shimmered in her gaze as she explored the depths of the estate. It was a rare moment of light amidst the shadows that had defined our lives.

How could I not help her achieve what she longed for? How could I not give her everything?

The craft landed with a smooth hum in the garden of the Lee estate.

The place looked unchanged. The towering trees stood sentinel around the grounds, their skeletal branches casting jagged shadows that clawed at the stone pathways. Fallen leaves blanketed the earth, a quiet reminder of how much time had passed since this place last saw life.

I stepped out of the craft, my footsteps echoing as I made my way through the silent halls. The estate felt heavy with memory, as though the walls themselves carried the weight of the lives that had once thrived here.

I descended quickly, my path leading me straight to the basement—a journey I had taken before, but never alone.

The last time, she had been by my side, her presence a beacon of warmth and determination. Now, it was just me, and the cold emptiness of the halls.

I reached the end of the corridor, stopping before a massive folding door. My hand instinctively went to the chain around my neck, pulling out the small, intricately carved key that I always carried with me.

The key slid into the lock with a soft click. The door creaked open, revealing the room beyond.

Everything was as it had been.

The air inside was cool and still, carrying the faint scent of stone and earth. Rows of coffins lined the room, each one a silent sentinel guarding the past. Their dark wood surfaces gleamed faintly in the dim light, undisturbed and untouched.

I approached them, my footsteps slow and deliberate.

One by one, I opened the lids of the coffins.

Her family lay inside—her father, her mother, and every other member of the Lee bloodline. Their faces were pale and lifeless, their chests pierced by silver blades that anchored their souls to Magmell.

Finally, I came to her.

Lianora.

Even in death, she was beautiful. Her features were serene, almost regal, though her skin had taken on a bluish hue from the absence of life. She looked as though she was simply sleeping, waiting for someone to wake her.

"Soon," I murmured, my voice barely audible in the stillness. "Soon, everything will be as it was."

I reached for the silver blade embedded in her chest, my fingers trembling. The moment I pulled it free, a rush of cold air swept through the room, as though her body exhaled a long-withheld breath.

One by one, I removed the blades from the others, taking care not to disturb the delicate balance of the space.

When I was done, I stood in the center of the room, my chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths.

It was time.

Closing my eyes, I began to chant.

"Anima ad corpus, vita redde. Ex tenebris, in lucem."

The words echoed softly in the room, their power rippling through the air.

The coffins around me seemed to stir faintly, a ghostly movement flickering within their stillness. The room grew colder, the energy thickening like a storm on the verge of breaking.

But it wasn't enough.

I turned back to Lianora, my gaze lingering on her face. She remained still, unresponsive.

Of course.

Her soul wasn't in Magmell—it lingered elsewhere, tethered to a body that no longer lived. It had been pulled from the void, tethered to Deborah's body by the Necrobind spell.

And now, Deborah's soul was adrift, fading with every passing moment.

There was only one way to save her, to save them both.

I would have to cast Necrobind again.

And I knew what that meant.

One life for another.

The cost was steep, but there was no hesitation in my heart.

From the moment I realized she was Lianora, I knew this day would come.

I just hadn't expected it to come so soon.

I knelt beside her coffin, my hand reaching out to gently hold hers. Her skin was icy cold, but I squeezed it tightly, as though my touch alone could will her back to life.

"Anima tua, in proprium corpus, Transfere virtute arcana."

The words spilled from my lips, their force reverberating deep within my very soul.

The room erupted in light, a dazzling, ethereal glow that filled every corner. The air buzzed with an energy so intense it felt like it would tear the world apart.

I felt my strength draining away, my body growing weaker with each passing second. My vision blurred, and I could feel the essence of my being slipping through my grasp, flowing into her.

I held on as long as I could, my grip tightening on her hand.

"Wake up, Lianora," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Be happy. That's all I want."

As my consciousness faded, I caught one final glimpse of her face. There was a faint flush of color returning to her cheeks, a spark of life igniting within her.

And then, everything went dark.

No matter the outcome, I carried no regrets in my heart.