Chapter 76: Sword Crafting

Stacks of books surrounded Xyenn and Yuuna as they sat on the library floor, flipping through the pages of yet another tome about King Samuel. The books described Samuel's countless achievements in agonizing detail—his battles, his reforms, his speeches, his laws, his favorite foods, even his preferred method of polishing armor. Every page was dense with glowing text and intricately illustrated images that seemed to hum faintly with light magic. 

"This is so boring," Xyenn groaned, leaning back against the shelf and holding up a book with one hand as he flipped through it lazily. "'Samuel led his army to victory against the beasts corrupted by dark magic on the Fields of Everlight.'. Who cares? Where's the juicy stuff? Where's the secrets and stuff?"

Yuuna, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a pile of books surrounding her, let out a frustrated sigh. She dropped the book she had been skimming onto the growing stack of rejects. "Do you know how many times I've read the word light in these books? I swear, if I see it one more time, I'm gonna start throwing shit."

Xyenn raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You're the one who insisted we split up the stack. Look, if you want, we can switch sides. Maybe your half has all the boring stuff, and mine has the—" 

"Darling." Yuuna smiled menacingly, grabbing another book and flipping it open with exaggerated force. "Don't test me, love."

Xyenn rolled his eyes, "Fineee fine."

The two of them continued flipping through the books, their frustration mounting with every page. 

"'Samuel's favorite type of bread was honey wheat,'" Xyenn read aloud, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, Yuuna, did you know that? Isn't that fascinating? Really useful stuff here. Surely will help me in the future."

Yuuna didn't even look up, slamming her book shut. "'Samuel's favorite battle hymn was sung by the Choir of Radiance during the Siege of Dawn..' Oh, goody! Let me just memorize this life-changing information." 

They groaned in unison, tossing their books onto the pile. 

Just as Yuuna opened her mouth to complain again, the librarian appeared out of nowhere, standing directly behind them. 

"Excuse me," the librarian said in his deep, tranquil voice, his golden tattoos shimmering faintly in the soft light. 

Xyenn and Yuuna both jumped, nearly knocking over their stacks of books. 

"We're sorry!" Yuuna blurted out, holding up her hands as if to defend herself. "We weren't being loud! We're just—uh—" 

"—just really excited!" Xyenn cut in, his voice cracking slightly as he forced a grin. "Yeah, we're just happy to be reading about King Samuel. What an inspiring guy, huh? Truly a legend." 

'He has to buy that. Samuel is all these weirdos talk about anyway.'

"Yeah! A legend!" Yuuna chimed in, nodding rapidly. "We're just… overwhelmed by his greatness! So overwhelmed we might've gotten a little loud. Sorry about that." 

The librarian stared at them for a moment, his calm expression unreadable. "I understand," he said finally, his voice as soothing as ever. "King Samuel's legacy often elicits… strong emotions. Please, though, do try to keep it down. Others are studying."

"Of course." Xyenn said quickly, giving a thumbs-up. "We'll be as quiet as mice. Promise." 

The librarian nodded once, then turned and walked away, his glowing robes flowing behind him. 

The moment he was out of earshot, Xyenn and Yuuna let out identical sighs of relief, slumping back against the shelves. 

"That was close," Yuuna muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. 

"Tell me about it," Xyenn replied. 

Yuuna snorted, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, but quickly regained her composure. She glanced at the pile of books between them and sighed. "This is hopeless. We've gone through almost all of them, and there's nothing useful. Just a bunch of boring achievements and glowing praise." 

Xyenn leaned his head back against the shelf. "Didn't Faera and the others tell us what we were supposed to look for? Like, specifically?" 

Yuuna blinked, tilting her head as she tried to remember. "…I think they did?" 

Xyenn gave her a skeptical look. "You think?" 

"I forgot, okay?!" Yuuna huffed, crossing her arms. 

"Well, so did I!" Xyenn shot back, throwing up his hands. 

They both groaned again, slumping in defeat. 

Just as they were about to give up, their eyes simultaneously landed on a small shelf tucked into the corner of the section. It was partially hidden behind a larger shelf, almost as if someone didn't want it to be noticed. On that shelf sat a single, glowing book. 

Xyenn and Yuuna exchanged a glance, their eyes lighting up with curiosity and determination. They both scrambled to their feet and lunged for the book— 

—only to bump heads with a loud *thud.* 

"OW!" Yuuna cried, clutching her forehead. "What was that for?!" 

"What do you mean, what was that for?!" Xyenn shot back, rubbing his own head. "You bumped into me."

"I think we're both just frustrated at this. Let's calm down, okay?"

"Yeah yeah. I agree."

They glared at each other for a moment before both of their gazes drifted back to the book. 

The title on the cover was written in elegant, glowing script that seemed to shift and shimmer as they looked at it. It read: 

"Samuel the King."

They stared at the book in silence for a moment. 

"This has to be it," Xyenn said finally, reaching for the book. 

"Obviously," Yuuna replied, rolling her eyes as she grabbed the other side of it. 

Carefully, they opened the first page. 

The moment Xyenn and Yuuna opened the first page of "Samuel The King", the world around them began to shift. The glowing words on the page stretched outward, unraveling like threads of light that coiled around their bodies. The library, its shelves, clerics, and faintly glowing orbs, dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind an infinite sea of white. 

"Uhhh… Yuuna?" Xyenn's voice wavered as he floated, weightless, in the blinding void. 

"W-What's happening?!" Yuuna shouted, her golden eyes darting around as she twisted in the air, desperately searching for something to grab onto. 

"I don't know!" Xyenn replied, his voice tinged with both frustration and worry. He flailed for balance, but there was no ground, no gravity—just endless white. 

"I hate when this happens to us all the time," Yuuna snapped, though she reached out instinctively, gripping Xyenn's hand tightly. "What if we're falling?!" 

"Into what?!" he retorted, though his fingers tightened around hers all the same. 

"If we're falling into an ancient abyss of death, I just wanted to say we should do it one more time while we're falling! We've never done it like that before!"

Xyenn's cheeks flushed red, "Huh?! Are you mad?!"

"Isn't it obvious?! You and the Tyrants mention it all the time!"

For a moment, the void was silent, its emptiness almost suffocating. Then, like the distant rumble of a mountain breaking apart, a deep, resonant pounding echoed through the space. 

'Where even are we…? It's quiet…can't feel any heat or cold..but I can smell…smells like metal..heat…' Xyenn thought, his eyes trying to adjust to the darkness.

CLANG!

The sound was heavy and metallic, reverberating through the void like the heartbeat of an ancient beast. 

CLANG!

Another strike. The sheer weight of the sound seemed to shake the air, and the void around them began to crack, faint fractures of darkness spreading like veins across the white expanse. 

"What is that?" Yuuna whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound. 

Before Xyenn could respond, the void shattered completely, fragments of white light raining down before dissolving into shadow. The two found themselves standing on solid ground. 

The air was heavy, thick with the acrid scent of molten metal, smoke, and ash. The surface beneath their feet was rough and uneven, dark stone that seemed to drink in the faint light that barely illuminated the cavern. 

The pounding sound was closer now, accompanied by the hiss of steam and the crackle of fire. 

Yuuna clung to Xyenn's arm, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Where… are we?" 

"Someplace we shouldn't be," Xyenn muttered, his golden eye scanning the dimly lit cavern. The shadows danced around them, their shapes twisting and writhing like living things. "Or should?"

'Magic was definitely involved with this book…'

In the distance, a faint grey light glowed from one corner of the cavern. As they approached cautiously, the sight before them made them freeze. 

Kaldor, the Dwarven Dragon God of the Forge, loomed over a massive black anvil, his colossal form illuminated by the fiery glow of molten steel. He was a being out of myth, a fusion of dwarven craftsmanship and draconic might. 

His body was massive, his scaled skin gleaming like tempered steel. Each scale was etched with ancient runes that pulsed faintly, as if infused with molten light. His thick, braided beard hung down to his chest, shimmering with veins of gold, silver, and copper, tied with glowing iron clasps. His horns were jagged and asymmetrical, curling outward like molten lava frozen mid-flow. 

Kaldor's arms were thick and muscular, covered with scars from centuries of forging divine weapons. His hands, encased in massive gauntlets carved with glowing runes, gripped a colossal hammer. The weapon was magnificent, its head engraved with mythic symbols that shifted and glimmered with every strike. Around his neck hung a necklace of crystalline shards, each one glowing faintly, as if containing the essence of fire itself. 

A thick, blackened leather apron covered his chest, reinforced with dragonhide and adorned with sigils of power. His wings, enormous and leathery, were folded tightly against his back, their veins glowing faintly like rivers of molten steel. 

Before him, on the anvil, lay the beginnings of a sword. Its molten surface shimmered with an otherworldly light, the metal humming faintly as it took shape under Kaldor's hammer. 

Standing before the forge was King Samuel, his regal figure bathed in the glow of the molten steel. 

Xyenn said, "Kaldor..dragon god of the forge..the ones Dwarven and his clan are bound to!"

Yuuna pointed, "I don't recognize that royal looking guy there."

"Me neither."

Samuel was the embodiment of nobility and power. His short, snow-white hair glowed faintly under the light, and his piercing golden eyes burned with resolve. His expression was calm and focused, though his stance revealed the weight of the burden he carried. And he was wearing a glowing white crown.

He wore a king's outfit that radiated both elegance and authority—a white tunic embroidered with intricate patterns of dragons and spires, trimmed with gold. A red cape flowed behind him, its edges glowing faintly as if kissed by embers. His armor, though light, was intricately designed, with golden accents that shimmered in the forge's light. 

Hovering above Samuel was a spirit-like woman. Her form was ethereal, her presence protective yet sorrowful. She watched the scene silently, her posture regal and motherly, though her features were obscured by the faint glow of her form. 

CLANG!

Yuuna noticed the woman, thinking with a slight gasp, 'She looks like the same spirit from the pool of light..! Mom…?!'

Kaldor's hammer struck the blade again, sending a shower of sparks into the darkness. The sound was deafening, yet rhythmic, like the pulse of a god's heart. 

"This blade," Kaldor rumbled, his deep, gravelly voice carrying a thick dwarven accent, "will be the bane o' darkness itself, forged from yer very soul, lad. It'll be tied tae ye as long as ye draw breath." 

Samuel nodded, his voice steady. "That is as it should be. The light cannot fall into unworthy hands." 

"Aye," Kaldor grunted, his fiery eyes narrowing. "The other dragon gods'll be grateful tae have a Jotyin wield such a weapon. Their fear o' the First Monarch an' the fires o' Hell'll be put tae rest… fer a time." 

The hammer struck again, the sound reverberating through the cavern. 

"But the cycle…" Kaldor growled, his voice lowering. "The damned cycle o' rebirth. A curse upon us dragon gods, makin' us die an' be reborn wi' no memory o' what came before. Like hollow shells, we are. An' yet…" He paused, his hammer hovering over the blade. "There's a way tae banish it. Using this blade."

Samuel's gaze sharpened. "Without taking Yuuna's heart?"

"Aye," Kaldor growled. "Her heart's tied tae Gabriel's, makin' her the conduit fer the curse."

The molten glow of the blade on Kaldor's anvil reflected in Samuel's golden eyes as the king stood tall, resolute. The rhythmic pounding of the hammer echoed through the cavern, its sound both deafening and mesmerizing. 

Kaldor continued, his voice a deep, gravelly rumble that carried the wisdom of millennia, each word punctuated by the powerful clang of his hammer. "The Prophets, lad. Everywhere. They see what we cannot. Seein' fate, they are. Invisible eyes lingerin' on every thread o' destiny. But where they come from? That, even I cannae say. The Lysfødt guards their secrets well. If ye can get yer hands on 'em, make 'em spill what they know...that could help.."

Samuel's jaw tightened. "You believe they know about the curse itself? If they can tell us if it'll be successful if I banish the curse with the sword?"

Kaldor nodded sharply. "Aye. If anyone knows, it'd be them. The King o' Sen vanished after creatin' the Ohnupilath Tree, usin' Lancelot's power tae do it. Gabriel built Kyrrin an' everythin' else through that tree. But why'd Sen disappear, eh? Where'd he go? I reckon the Prophets know th' answer tae that too. I'm sayin' they're conveniently good assets, gettin' our hands on em' is a top priority for us gods, eh?"

Samuel's gaze remained steady, though his voice grew firm. "If the Prophets see everything, then they already know what must be done. They've likely been watching, waiting." 

Kaldor struck the blade again, sending a shower of sparks into the darkness. "Aye. But watchin' and actin' are two different things. They may see all, but they're no gods. They're cowards, puppets to fate itself." 

Kaldor's eyes burned brighter as his hammer paused mid-air. He leaned closer to the blade, inspecting it with the precision of a craftsman who knew this weapon would change the course of history. 

"Now, lad," Kaldor continued, his voice heavy with meaning, "this sword… it's more than just a weapon. It's a beacon. A promise. As long as ye live, it'll hold yer light, vanquishin' th' shadows. But…" He turned his smoldering gaze toward Samuel. "Should ye fall, its power will fall with ye. Ye understand what that means?" 

Samuel nodded, his expression unflinching. "I do. That is why the burden must be mine alone." 

Kaldor grunted approvingly, then struck the blade again. 

As the hammer fell, a low hum filled the cavern, resonating with a strange, otherworldly energy. The molten steel of the blade began to shift, glowing brighter and brighter with each strike, until it seemed as though it were absorbing the very essence of the king who stood before it. 

Samuel's body remained still, but a faint, ethereal glow began to rise from his chest—a fragment of his soul, pulled from within him and flowing toward the blade. 

Above him, the spirit-like woman hovered closer, her faintly glowing form becoming more defined. Her presence was calm and maternal, yet tinged with sorrow, as though she were watching her loved one prepare to sacrifice a piece of himself for a cause greater than any mortal could bear. 

"Yer soul," Kaldor rumbled, his hammer poised above the sword, "is what binds this blade to ye. It'll be yers and yers alone. An' when ye wield it, it'll sing wi' yer light." 

Samuel's voice was calm, yet resolute. "The other dragon gods will understand. They will know that this sword is the key to ensuring the balance of light and dark. And Kota has prepared for me this. Lancelot has as well, though…his goals don't align with mine yet."

Kaldor nodded, though his expression darkened. "Aye, they'll understand, King Samuel. But don't forget, lad—this blade's not just fer the gods or yer people. It's fer the cycle. The curse that binds us all. Freina… Death… Orin…" His voice grew thick with disdain as he listed the names. 

Samuel's gaze flickered, his tone sharpening. "Freina, the goddess of motherhood and fertility, betrayed Gabriel alongside her allies. She believed that overwhelming him would bring peace to his realm. That her actions would stabilize the land of gods. She was one of the ones who orchestrated the rebellion…"

"Aye," Kaldor growled, his hammer striking the blade again. "But Gabriel's realm was a land o' gods! His power was infinite, a force beyond reckoning. Freina's nature blinded her, makin' her think she could control what she couldn't. She saw herself as a mother of Gabriel'a realm, in which in a way, she was. She turned to Death himself, th' reaper who governs us all, an' Orin, the dragon god o' blood, tae stand against Gabriel. Together, they caused an uprising. Having followers with them, and it was like a damn branch, others helped lead the charge."

Kaldor paused, his fiery eyes narrowing as he spoke with bitter certainty. "An' fer their betrayal, they became the conduits o' the cycle. The three pillars that hold th' curse together. Like Yuuna's heart, they're bound to it. They cannae die permanently. Even if Freina's killed, she'll return. Always." 

Samuel nodded solemnly. "As long as the cycle lives, so do they." 

"Aye," Kaldor rumbled, his voice heavy. "An' as long as Yuuna's heart beats, the cycle endures. Her heart's the key, forged from Gabriel's own essence, an' the First Monarch knows it. He wants her to be his Hell Maiden, tae bring the end o' Kyrrin an' unleash damnation upon us all." 

The spirit-like woman above Samuel lowered her gaze, her voice breaking the silence for the first time. Her tone was beautiful and majestic, carrying the weight of a mother's love and pain. "My daughter… Yuuna… is the key to more than destruction. If her darkness can be severed, if she can be freed from the First Monarch's grasp, she can become what she was meant to be. A pure human." 

Samuel looked up at her, his golden eyes meeting her ethereal gaze. "Your daughter holds the balance of light and dark within her. If I can cut her down with this blade…" He hesitated, his voice softening. "...it may drive Hell's darkness from her body. She could become human, free of her torment." 

Yuuna said, "Mother…"

'Cure me…? It's actually possible…?'

Xyenn thought, 'So that's King Samuel..and Yuuna's mothers name is Kota…?'

Kaldor's hammer struck the blade once more, the sparks flying like a burst of stars. "Aye, lad. If ye succeed, she'll be free. Free to wield her grandmother's magic, like Kota mentioned. But as long as the First Monarch's power binds her, she'll never be whole. She'll never escape her fate." 

The spirit, now fully visible, was revealed to be Kota, Yuuna's mother. Her face, now clear, was breathtakingly beautiful. Her features were delicate yet regal, her skin glowing faintly with a soft, golden light. Her eyes, the same golden hue as Yuuna's, shimmered with a mixture of love and sorrow. 

Yuuna, who had been silent as she watched the scene unfold, took a shaky step forward. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Mom…?" 

Kota's gaze shifted, and though she could not see her daughter.

Yuuna's eyes filled with tears as she stepped closer, her voice trembling. "You're… still as beautiful as the last time I saw you…mom."

Kota's lips curved into a gentle smile, though her eyes remained sorrowful. She turned, her glowing form radiating warmth and love, and Yuuna took another step forward, reaching out toward her. 

Yuuna gasped, locking eyes with her mother. Wasn't this supposed some scene in a book?

'She fucking looked at me…' Yuuna gritted her teeth.

The cavern's glow began to fade, the molten steel on the anvil dimming as the scene dissolved into shadow. The rhythmic pounding of Kaldor's hammer grew fainter, like an echo reverberating through an immense void. Xyenn and Yuuna floated there, suspended in the emptiness, the world around them crumbling into fragments of light that vanished into the darkness. 

Yuuna stared into the void where the forge had been just moments ago, her eyes trembling with unshed tears. The image of Kota's face was burned into her memory—so vivid, so achingly familiar. She brought a hand to her chest, clutching her heart as if trying to steady the storm of emotions surging within her. 

'The same face…that same radiance, she had the same face when she was in Hell, taking care of me, watching over me, and also a captive of my damned father..was this entire thing meant for us? For me?'

Xyenn floated silently beside her, watching her carefully. He knew better than to interrupt her thoughts, but he couldn't ignore the way her shoulders quaked, the way her lips pressed tightly together as if holding back a flood. 

Finally, Yuuna broke the silence, her voice soft and trembling. "Seeing her again… seeing my mom's face…" She paused, her voice cracking as tears began to spill down her cheeks. "It did something to me, Xyenn. It's like… it's like I finally understand. She's trying so hard… she's doing everything she can… just to make sure I'm not tied to the darkness of Hell anymore." 

She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, though the tears kept falling. "If her plan works, the First Monarch's hold on me will be gone. I'll finally be free…" Her voice trailed off, a single tear trailing down her cheek as her lips curved into a small, hopeful smile. "I've wandered Kyrrin for years upon years, hating myself in the process because of what I was bound to. Maybe I took my anger out on innocents, tied in with me just wanting to survive. But it all rooted from feeling like a puppet, a pet of my father. Feeling tied down heavily, it pissed me off. My reign as an evil bitch rooted from that feeling of being controlled, watched, and a target. My father wanted me back, and yet, the dragon gods wanted me as well."

For a moment, Xyenn thought she might actually smile, due to the fact that Yuuna would actually wipe off her sad face and start smiling and making jokes and acting crazy, just so no one would see her in her sad state; but then she turned to him, her expression twisting into worry. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "But… what about you?" 

Xyenn blinked, startled by the question. "What do you mean?" 

Yuuna's grip on her chest tightened as she took a shaky breath. "You're my vessel, Xyenn. Part of your soul is bound to mine—to the darkness of Hell. If my mom and Samuel's plan works, and I'm cured… what happens to you?" Her voice cracked as the words spilled out, her eyes wide with rising panic. "If I'm freed from the darkness… does that mean you'll… does that mean you'll die? You know the only way for any vessel to separate from their contract with their dragon god is death and death only. If any magic tries to seperate it, I fear it's the same concept.."

Xyenn's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides as he processed her words. He had thought about it before, of course. He wasn't stupid—he knew their contract wasn't without risks. But hearing her voice tremble like this, seeing the fear in her eyes, made the weight of it all hit him harder than he'd expected. 

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand tall, even as the truth clawed at the back of his mind. "Yuuna," he said firmly, his voice steady even though his hands trembled, "you deserve to be free. You deserve to live your life without being tied to Hell… without becoming your father's Hell Maiden." 

Yuuna's breath hitched as she stared at him, her tears falling freely now. 

"You've come so far," Xyenn continued, his eyes locking with hers. "This… this is what you wanted, right? No more feeling like you're bound to something. No more chains holding you down." 

Yuuna's lip quivered as she looked away, her hands trembling. "You don't mean that," she whispered, her voice barely audible. 

"Yuuna…" 

"You don't mean that," she said again, louder this time. Her shoulders shook as she repeated it, over and over. "You don't mean that, Xyenn. You don't mean that, darling!" 

Xyenn's fists tightened so hard his knuckles turned white. She was right. He didn't want to say those things. He didn't want to think about what might happen to him if she was freed from the darkness. The thought of dying—of ceasing to exist after everything they had been through—terrified him. 

"I don't want to die," he admitted, his voice low and raw. "Not after everything we've been through. Not after coming this far. To not see this to the end… it'd feel like a waste!"

Yuuna's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide and filled with heartbreak. 

"But," Xyenn continued, his voice softening, "I meant what I said. You deserve better, Yuuna! You deserve to be free. To not feel like you're bound to anything—or anyone. Not Hell, not your father, not me." 

"I felt free with you and the Tyrants! Mertha, Sethrak, Zyphira, Draeven, Illyana, Quinara, Gorran, Kivorn, hell even Gridd! And even that day I have birth to your child!" Yuuna's tears spilled over as she screamed, her voice echoing through the void. "What about you?! What happens to you, Xyenn?!" 

Her words hung in the air, heavy and desperate. She took a step closer to him, her hands trembling as she clutched the fabric of her shirt over her heart. "You've been there for me since the beginning. You've fought for me, protected me—" Her voice cracked as she continued, her tears streaming down her cheeks. "You've stayed with me through everything, Xyenn. You've always been the one constant in my life. I can't… I can't imagine a future without you in it." 

Xyenn flinched at her words, his fists still clenched tightly at his sides. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, his heart thundering in his chest. 

'A future without me…?'

Yuuna stepped closer, her voice trembling, almost poetic in its pain. "You saw me for me. Even when I told you the stuff I did in the past, you didn't judge me. You're the only one who's ever made me feel like I'm more than just some tool for Hell or some pawn in my father's plans. You're the reason I've come this far. Without you, I wouldn't have survived any of this. And that goes for my Tyrants as well. But YOU, Xyenn. You're special to me."

Her eyes burned with anger as she stared up at him, her voice breaking again. "But if my mom's plan works, if she can split me from the darkness… where does that leave you? If I'm free, and the darkness is gone, does that mean there's no room for you in my future? How could I possibly continue to walk around like everything is okay after that?"

Xyenn's breath caught in his throat, and his eye glimmered faintly in the dim light of the void. He wanted to say something—anything—but the words wouldn't come. 

Yuuna's voice grew quieter, shaking as she wrestled with the impossible choice before her. "I want to be free. I want to live without feeling tied to Hell or my father or… or any of this. I don't want to be his Hell Maiden. I don't want to feel this weight anymore. But…" She choked back a sob, wiping at her tears with trembling hands. "But I can't live without you, Xyenn. I just… I can't. I know I keep repeating it, but you see how desperate I am. Because there's a high chance you would die if I'm hit with Samuel's sword. The same sword we came here to release from the tree itself."

Her words hit Xyenn like a punch to the gut. He closed his eyes tightly, gritting his teeth as he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn't let her see how much this hurt him. 

"…Don't let me hold you back." 

Yuuna shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks as she whispered, "You don't understand…" 

"Yuuna—" 

"No!" she screamed, her voice raw and filled with anguish. "You don't understand, Xyenn. You're not just my vessel! How many times do I have to explain it to you? You're my partner. You're my… you're my damn everything!" 

Her words hung in the air, echoing through the void. Xyenn's jaw tightened as he stared at her, his chest aching with emotions he couldn't fully process. 

Yuuna took another step closer, her hands trembling as she reached for his. "I don't care what my mother says. I don't care what anyone says. I don't want a future without you in it. If being free means losing you, then maybe I don't want to be free after all." 

Xyenn's breath hitched, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. He didn't know what to say. Part of him wanted to tell her that she was wrong, that she needed to let him go, that her freedom was worth any sacrifice—even his own life. She wouldn't be able to be the First Monarch's Hell Maiden any longer. But as long as she's bound to Hell's magic, which is her affinity, she has the potential to be turned into a Hell Maiden.

But the other part of Xyenn, the selfish part he tried so hard to ignore, whispered that he didn't want to die. That he didn't want to lose her either. 

After a long moment, he sighed, his shoulders slumping as he unclenched his fists. "Yuuna," he said softly, his voice heavy with emotion, "I meant what I said. You deserve your freedom after all you've done. And if that means I have to…" He hesitated, swallowing hard before continuing, "...if that means I have to let go, then so be it. I can't just fucking sit here and allow myself to continue roaming around and I could've been the key to your freedom. And what if you do become a Hell Maiden? Kyrrin gets destroyed, everyone dies, the Tyrangs die, then what? I'll be alone again…and I told you and myself I don't want to experience that. Not again. But I don't wanna die. I don't..I don't.."

Yuuna's tears continued to fall as she stared at him, her heart breaking with every word. She shook her head slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I…"

As the void consumed them, Xyenn fell silent, his body weightless in the endless darkness. But in his mind, it felt as though he was being crushed under the weight of everything—Yuuna's words, the truth of their situation, and the impossible choice that loomed over them both. 

'You don't mean that…'

Her words echoed in his head, cutting deeper than he would ever admit. He gritted his teeth, his hands trembling at his sides as he tried to push the thought away. But it clung to him, refusing to let go, repeating over and over like a relentless mantra. 

'You don't mean that.'

And maybe… maybe she was right. 

His mind told him one thing: to be selfless, to risk it all for her. It told him that this was the right thing to do. That Yuuna had suffered long enough, that she deserved to be free of the darkness, of Hell, of her father's grasp. She deserved to be free of the cycle that had bound her since the day she was born—a cycle she never asked for, a fate she never chose. 

And Xyenn did believe that. He had believed it since the day they'd formed their bond, since the moment he'd realized what kind of life she had been forced to endure. 

But his heart… 

His heart told him something else entirely. 

He didn't want to die. 

The thought hit him like a punch to the gut, sharp and visceral. His breathing quickened as the realization settled in. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms as his chest tightened. 

He didn't want to die. 

It wasn't just fear—it was anger, frustration, and desperation all tangled together in a knot that he couldn't unravel. He had come so far, after all. They both had. Together, they'd fought and bled and clawed their way through impossible odds. They had survived what should have killed them. They had endured pain and loss and despair, all for the hope of something better. 

And now, just when things were beginning to feel different—just when Xyenn had started to feel like maybe, *maybe* there was something worth living for—he was being asked to let it all go. 

He had finally found a sense of happiness, fleeting though it may have been. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't just surviving; he was living. 

And now, all of that was at risk. 

"You don't mean that."

Yuuna's voice rang through his head again, and this time it stung even more. Because she wasn't wrong. He didn't mean it—not entirely. 

Xyenn closed his eyes, his jaw tightening as he fought the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He wanted to mean it. He wanted to be the kind of person who could look at her and say, "Yes, I'll do whatever it takes to set you free, even if it costs me everything." He wanted to believe he was selfless enough to make that choice without hesitation. 

But he couldn't. 

He couldn't ignore the voice in his heart, screaming at him to hold on. To fight. To survive. 

Because it wasn't just about dying. It wasn't just about the fear of losing his life. It was about everything they'd been through. Every battle they'd fought, every step they'd taken to get here. If he died now, it would all feel like a waste. 

And staying alive and feeling like Yuuna's anchor, would torture him.

What was the point of coming this far if it only ended with him being erased? 

What was the point of finally finding something—someone—worth fighting for, only to lose it all in the end? 

Xyenn's thoughts felt like a storm, each one crashing against the other in an endless battle. His mind told him to let go, to give himself up if it meant Yuuna could finally be free. But his heart, his selfish, aching heart, screamed at him to hold on, to fight for himself just as much as he fought for her. 

And then there was Yuuna herself. 

She was the one who had shown him love for the first time in his life. Real love—not the hollow, fleeting kind that came with ulterior motives, but something genuine. She had chosen him, and in doing so, she had given him a reason to keep going. 

He loved her. He didn't know exactly when it had happened, but he did. He loved her in a way that scared him, in a way that made him vulnerable, in a way that made him question everything he thought he knew about himself. 

And because of that, he did mean it when he said she deserved better. Yuuna deserved to be free, to live a life without fear or pain or darkness. She deserved to have a future, one that wasn't dictated by the First Monarch or Hell or anyone else. 

But what about him?

Was he being selfish to himself, to Yuuna? Or both?

Could he really let her go? 

The thought twisted in his chest, a sharp ache that he couldn't ignore. He didn't know. He didn't have the answer. 

And maybe that was what scared him the most. 

He opened his eyes, staring into the void around him as Yuuna's voice echoed in his mind once more. 

You don't mean that…

She was right. 

And she was wrong. 

He didn't know what he meant anymore. He didn't know how to reconcile the war between his mind and his heart, between what he wanted to do and what he should do. 

All he knew was that he loved her. 

And for now, that would have to be enough.