The Weight of Vengeance

The Reception Hall.

Inside the room given to Vera and Aiden, Vera sat alone.

Aiden, Edwin, Crescent, and Galen had all gone to meet with the people of Celestial Sword Sect.

Vera had quietly excused herself.

She had said she would stay in the room, and Aiden had permitted it.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Vera found herself overwhelmed by her thoughts.

Dark Emperor, the internal strife of the Everstone Clan, the conflict with the Celestial Sword Sect...

Death.

And death.

And more death.

"…Haa."

To be honest, it was exhausting.

When she resolved to seek revenge, she had known that it would be burdensome. She had braced herself for it.

But even knowing it in advance…

It was hard.

It was like bracing yourself for the pain of heated iron searing your skin. That foreknowledge didn't mean you could suppress the scream.

It was the same now.

She was tired, utterly drained.