Chapter Eight

The battle had left nothing but devastation in its wake. Solene stood amidst the ruins, her chest rising and falling heavily as the glow of her sigil began to dim. The dazzling light that had once engulfed her body faded, yet it still shimmered faintly like embers refusing to die.

Her mind slowly caught up with the destruction she had caused. The charred remains of buildings, the lifeless bodies of those who had dared to stop her guards, sorcerers, men who had tried to kill her. Her hands trembled as she looked down at them, raw power still running in her veins.

What have I done?

Her breath came in short gasps. Horror settled deep within her as her gaze darted across the battlefield. The scent of scorched flesh and burned stone filled the air, suffocating her. The weight of her actions pressed down like an iron chain around her neck.

Then, the sound of hurried footsteps. Shouts. More were coming. Reinforcements.

Panic surged through her veins. She couldn't stay. If she hesitated, if she allowed herself to be caught, she would be imprisoned, experimented on, or worse executed.

With one last glance at the destruction, she turned and ran, her breath ragged as she disappeared into the shadows of the ruined city.

Moments later, several officers arrived at the scene. Their faces twisted with shock and disbelief at the sheer level of destruction. The scent of charred flesh and smoldering rubble lingered in the air as they stepped carefully through the wreckage. The remnants of guards and sorcerers who had attempted to stop her lay scattered, their bodies burned beyond recognition and the rest who were terribly injured and may not live to see another day.

Among them, a warrior in gleaming obsidian armor stepped forward Lady Vera Luthien. She observed the aftermath with an unreadable expression, taking in the sheer force of the battle. Yet, as she folded her arms over her chest, a cold smirk touched her lips.

"Impressive? Perhaps," she murmured, her voice calm despite the devastation around her. "But this? This is nothing compared to the might of King Malrik Draven."

The officers turned to her, eyes filled with uncertainty.

Lady Vera continued, her tone unwavering. "She is powerful, yes, but raw, untamed. No Hollow, no matter how gifted, will ever surpass the king." She turned to the assembled officers. "Send word to the palace. The king must be informed immediately. We are dealing with something unprecedented, but make no mistake this girl is no match for His Majesty."

With that, she turned away from the destruction, her gaze hardening as the officers nodded in agreement and hurried to carry out her orders.

Deep within the grand palace, in the lowest chamber where only the trusted few were permitted entry, King Malrik Draven sat upon his throne of blackened stone. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and old magic. Opposite him stood Elder Cassius Veldane, a man whose presence exuded a chilling aura, his dark robes flowing as he stepped forward.

"The girl must be found, Your Majesty," Cassius said, his voice smooth, yet insidious. "We cannot allow a Hollow of such power to roam free. You know what she could become."

The king's fingers tapped slowly against the armrest of his throne. His face remained impassive, but in his eyes lurked something unreadable. "Tell me, Cassius," he said after a long pause, "is it true? Did she burn the beasts alive? With fire of her own?"

Cassius smirked. "Oh, it is far worse than that, my king." He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "She is unlike any Hollow we have encountered. She does not just manifest power, it seems she absorbs it, reshapes it, and evolves beyond it. If left unchecked, she could become something even we cannot control."

The king's jaw tightened. "And yet, you propose we let her live?"

Cassius let out a dark chuckle. "Live? No, Your Majesty. We should capture her. Bend her power to your will. If we harness what she has, imagine the possibilities. The strength you could wield."

Malrik studied him. He had ruled for decades, his reign maintained not only by fear but by an unnatural vitality. His strength came from his powers and also the dark magic that Cassius himself had refined, a magic that drained the essence of captured Hollows and fed it to the king, keeping him at the height of his power.

But this girl… she was something else. A force unlike any they had consumed before.

"And if she cannot be controlled?" the king asked finally.

Cassius's smirk widened. "Then we destroy her before she destroys us."

Malrik exhaled slowly, his fingers curling into a fist. "Send every force at our disposal. Find her."

The flames in the chamber flickered wildly, as if responding to the command.

.

.

Solene ran deeper into the forest, her breath ragged and her legs weak from exhaustion. The branches and thorns scratched against her skin, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. The fear of being caught and the horror of what she had just done kept her moving until her body could no longer keep up.

She finally collapsed against a thick tree, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. The cool night breeze whispered through the leaves, rustling softly around her. The silence of the forest was deafening compared to the chaos she had left behind.

Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she hugged her knees close to her chest. Everything was a mess. Nothing made sense. One moment, she had been an ordinary girl, struggling to survive, and the next, she had become something she could not understand. She had burned monsters alive. S

She held out her trembling hands, trying to summon the fire and powers she had unleashed in the arena and on the street . She focused, clenching her fists, willing something, anything to happen. But there was nothing. No heat, no ice, no shadows.

Her hands dropped to her lap as another wave of frustration and confusion crashed over her. Was it all just a cruel trick? Had she imagined everything?

Tears streamed freely as she whispered to herself, "What is happening to me?"

She tried to summon the fire again, to test if she still had control over it, but nothing happened. Panic gripped her chest. Why couldn't she do it now? Why had it happened in the arena but not now? She was lost, alone, and powerless once more.

Frustration bubbled within her, and she let out a scream. "Why is my life such a mess?!" she cried out, her voice echoing through the empty forest. She didn't know where to go or where to start. Everything she had known was gone in an instant. The peaceful, quiet life she had while working for Lira, she missed it. It was simple, predictable, safe. Now, she was sure the entire city was hunting for her. There was nowhere to hide, no one to turn to. She was truly alone.

She hugged herself tightly, trying to steady her breathing, but the weight of the unknown pressed heavily on her. What was she supposed to do now?