Chapter 5- The Awaiting End

Kael, ready for battle, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. He was prepared. Ywain drew his blade. Before Kael could even comprehend what was happening, a sword pierced his body from behind. He lost his balance and fell to the ground. A loud thud echoed.

Beatrice screamed:

"Kael!"

With a sorrowful voice, she cried and said:

"I'm sorry... I had no other choice. The time I spent with you, though short, was beautiful. I'm sorry, Kael... This is hard for me too. Please, try to understand..."

Then, she fell silent.

Ywain spoke calmly:

"I am my lady's sword. Her will is my will... There was no other choice. I'm sorry, my former comrade. There is nothing more to say."

Kael felt strange, but he wasn't angry. He had been betrayed. Only one question echoed in his mind:

"Why?"

Why did he have such a wretched life? Why? Why? Why?

Slowly, his life flashed before his eyes. Even in death, he would find no peace.

His mother, lying in a pool of blood.

His friends.

His comrades.

His homeland, Aetwa...

All of it played over and over again in his mind. Like a nightmare.

Aetwa burning… The city collapsing under the monsters… The fall of the walls… People fleeing in desperation…

The only thing he felt was pure despair.

Yet, he had always walked forward. And he would continue walking.

Then, he remembered. Why he walked.

He had to live. To understand how truly pathetic he was.

He had to live. To see the difference between himself and the blessed ones.

He had to live. To take the revenge that fate owed him.

At that moment, he remembered what he had to do. There was only one thing left—to fight. He didn't need to think about the outcome. He just had to fight.

With sudden fury, he lunged forward, shouting:

"Die, you wretched insect!"

The spider was startled but also impressed by his will to live. Yet, it spoke with amusement:

"You are just a human… How could you possibly defeat a Karnak like me? Don't be foolish, human."

Beatrice muttered in disbelief, "Impossible..." She collapsed to the ground, unable to comprehend what she was witnessing.

Ywain silently observed.

Kael leaped toward the spider like a true predator. His battle cry echoed. He slashed through the webs with his sword. The spider instinctively thrust its legs toward him.

But it was in vain.

Kael swiftly cut them down.

The spider gasped:

"How…? A mere human… A mere child like him… How could he—"

Before it could finish its sentence, its body was cleaved in two.

Losing its balance, the spider collapsed to the ground.

Covered in blood, Kael leaped off the corpse and landed beside Beatrice. Slowly, he walked away.

"There's no need for payment. Keep it." He spoke before leaving.

Beatrice wept. But it wasn't out of grief.

It was out of joy.

She thanked him and began to speak… Her story.

Her father had died in the war against the Hushi Empire. Years had passed. Her mother was ill. Every day, she claimed to see her husband in the garden. She had slowly begun to lose her mind.

She couldn't take it anymore. Despite her sickness, she left to follow him.

However…

The next morning, when Beatrice woke up, her mother was gone.

Only knights were wandering about.

Her mother's shoe was found at the entrance of a cave.

But that place was forbidden territory.

The soldiers dared not enter.

And so, the incident was forgotten.

But Beatrice did not give up. She went inside. Alongside her knight, they ventured deeper and deeper…

Until they saw glowing red eyes in the darkness.

They were paralyzed with fear.

The spider spoke in a chilling tone:

"I've been waiting for you."

And it gave them two choices:

1. "Bring me the sacrifices I desire, and you will live. Your mother is still alive. If you care about her life—and your own—you will do as I say. Otherwise, you will all die."

Beatrice agreed immediately.

Ywain, trembling with fear, remained silent.

But there was one thing they did not know…

Her mother had already died.

Beatrice looked at Kael and said, "I'm sorry."

She wanted to atone. For all those she had betrayed for her mother.

She wanted to atone. For all those who had died in vain.

She turned to Kael and cried out:

"Kael!"

Then, she added:

"I cannot undo what I've done… But at least let me pay the price. Let me come with you!"

She fell to her knees.

Kael simply said, "Do whatever you want."

And he walked away into the darkness.

Ywain bowed his head in silence. And said nothing.