The Moon also disappeared

The silence was a graveyard of echoes.

Errica, eyes blazing with fury, stepped in front of the fallen Ryan and thrust her hand against the chest of the towering Beast Lord, forcing him back with an unexpected jolt of aura. Her voice rang like a sword being unsheathed.

"What are you doing?!" she shouted.

The Beast Lord snarled, "He is a devil. He should be killed—or exiled to the Devil Continent where monsters like him belong."

Errica's eyes glowed violet, her aura whipping around her like fire. "For now... he is my student. And you don't have the right—nor the power—to lay a finger on him in front of me."

The ground quaked slightly beneath her feet.

Luci ran to Ryan's side, her voice trembling as she pressed her hands on his chest. "He's… he's still alive!"

Errica let out a sigh of relief and began casting healing spells, her hands glowing as she moved them over Ryan's motionless body.

But then Luci's emotions erupted. Her voice cracked as she screamed, "Is this justice?! Kaiser tried to kill me—he would've succeeded—and Ryan… he saved me!"

She stood up, fury and pain in her voice shaking the heavens. "When he was about to win—when he was about to stand tall—your precious Lords stabbed him in the back!"

Her voice echoed through the battlefield.

"What kind of justice is this?!"

A silence deeper than the grave followed.

Errica's eyes widened. "He's opening his eyes!"

Ryan blinked weakly, his breathing shallow.

"I'm so glad you're alive," Luci whispered, her eyes welling up with tears.

Errica barked, "Bring the healing team—NOW!"

A group of white-robed healers rushed in and carefully lifted Ryan onto a stretcher. The crowd parted. All eyes were on him—some with pity, many with disdain.

And then… a voice thundered through the air.

"STOP!"

Everyone turned. Even the air froze.

The King stood tall on the golden staircase, flanked by Lords. And beside him, emerging from the shadows, stood the Fire Lord—face unreadable, eyes unreadable.

The King raised his arm and declared, voice sharper than steel:

"This boy… this devil… is none other than the son of my brother. The last surviving descendant of the traitor."

"Nightveil."

Gasps. Whispers. Silence.

Luci's body trembled. Errica's lips parted in shock. Even Kaiser and Arceus looked frozen in time.

The King's next words shattered what little hope remained.

"He will be executed tomorrow morning."

The announcement ripped through the air like thunder.

Luci dropped to her knees in disbelief. "No… no, you can't… you can't do that."

She turned to her father, eyes pleading. "Father, say something!"

But he lowered his gaze. "If it's the King's decision… I cannot oppose it."

Moonless. Empty.

Ryan slowly opened his eyes inside a dimly lit chamber.

Errica leaned close. "You're awake. Are you… are you alright now?"

Ryan coughed lightly. "I'm fine… Where's Luci?"

As if summoned, Luci entered the room. Her eyes were swollen, her hands trembling.

She walked to him, every step heavy with anger and heartbreak.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked in a whisper. "Why didn't you tell me you were Nightveil?"

"I didn't get the chance," he muttered.

"That's always your excuse!" she snapped. "You never let anyone in. You act like nothing matters… like we don't matter…"

Her voice cracked.

"Do you even care? About me? Your mother? Anyone?"

She broke. Tears ran freely.

"I don't want to lose you," she whispered, falling into his arms. "I won't let you die."

Ryan gently touched her head.

"I'm not going down that easily," he said with a soft smile.

She turned to Errica. "Is there any way to stop this? Please—anything!"

Errica looked hesitant. "My brother… he might help us. But—"

"I will attend the ceremony," Ryan interrupted.

Luci spun toward him. "Are you mad?! They're going to execute you!"

"If you help me, you'll be labeled traitors," Ryan said. "I won't let that happen."

Luci shook her head violently. "I don't care! I'm not letting you go!"

A knock came.

A guard stepped in. "It's time. Ryan must leave."

Luci clutched his arm. "Please… please just listen to me one last time. They're heartless. They don't care. You saved me. And they're still—"

Ryan gave a faint smile.

"Not everyone is meant to wear the crown," he said. "Some of us must bleed beneath it."

The room felt heavier. Errica closed her eyes, biting her lip.

As the guards chained his wrists and ankles, Ryan looked up at the night sky through a slit in the wall.

But there was no moon tonight.

Only blackness.

Maybe this was the end.

The morning sun blazed, merciless and hot.

The arena was overflowing—nobles, peasants, lords, students. Everyone had come to watch the execution of Nightveil.

Drums pounded. Trumpets blared. And in the middle of the colosseum, Ryan was dragged in chains, each step echoing like the final beat of a dying heart.

His arms and legs were bound in enchanted shackles. Blood from yesterday still crusted on his shirt. His silver hair was matted.

The King stood at the viewing platform, golden robes billowing in the breeze.

"Step forward," he commanded.

The soldiers shoved Ryan to his knees in the center of the arena.

"Ryan Elenoir," the King announced, "noble-born fraud. Hiding under a false name. A devil's descendant. An attempted assassin of my son. I, King Diamond, sentence you to death."

A roar of approval followed.

Ryan smirked.

"Says the man who betrayed his own brother for a throne," he muttered.

The crowd quieted.

Ryan raised his voice.

"I did what I had to do. I saved Luci's life. I protected someone I care about."

He turned to Luci's father in the crowd. His voice shook now.

"Tell me… did I do wrong by saving your daughter? Does that make me a traitor?"

Luciana's father clenched his jaw. "Mind your words, boy. You saved her, yes—but you struck against the son of our King. And for that, you'll be punished."

Ryan looked broken. "So… the one who tried to kill her walks free… and the one who saved her dies in chains."

The King's eyes narrowed. "So you feel no regret?"

Ryan raised his eyes defiantly. "I regret nothing."

All I did is what I feel the best.

The King raised his hand. "Very well. I will not give you death."

Everyone gasped.

"I will give you… PAIN."

He turned to the guards.

"Bring her."

Ryan's head snapped up.

His heart stopped.

From behind the royal guards, a woman was dragged forward—chained, bruised, bloodied—but her face unmistakable.

His mother.

"No," Ryan whispered. "No no no no no…"

The King sneered. "Had you not rebelled, I might've kept her in prison—untouched, unfucked by another Nightveil dog—but now…"

"Cut. Her. Head."

The arena froze.

(It's not her fault! Don't drag her into this! Please!—)

Ryan screamed, voice raw and broken.

"DON'T! PLEASE! PLEASE—I BEG YOU! SHE'S DONE NOTHING! SHE'S INNOCENT!"

He struggled against his chains. His body bled trying to break them.

Tears flooded his eyes.

His mother looked at him… softly.

"I love you… my dear son."

The blade came down.

SHHHHHINK.

And then—

A heavy, wet thud.

They threw the head at Ryan's feet.

He collapsed to his knees.

(It's not her fault. Why… why… why…?)

His scream ripped through the sky like a dying wolf.

Luci sobbed in the corner. Her heart shattered.

The King stood tall.

"Now," he said. "Throw stones and eggs at him. The more you throw, the more gold you earn."

And the people cheered.

Stones. Rotten tomatoes. Mud. Rotten meat. Eggs.

They rained down.

Luci screamed. "STOP IT! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

Errica held her tightly, tears falling down her own cheeks.

"Don't look," she whispered. "Don't look…"

---

Ryan didn't feel pain anymore.

His body was red—blood, yolk, pulp, filth.

But in his mind, he saw her.

Her smile.

Her hug.

Her soft hands.

He whispered, barely audible.

"I'm sorry… I'm coming too…"

---

And then—

A shadow fell over the arena.

A dark wind gusted.

A colossal black dragon descended from the sky, wings blocking the sun.

Atop it, a cloaked figure in black armor leapt down, landed with a massive thud, and grabbed Ryan by the collar.

Gasps filled the air.

He lifted Ryan's broken body like it weighed nothing.

Mounted his dragon.

And flew.

---

High in the sky, wind tearing at his face, Ryan stared at the burning city beneath him.

The cheers. The hate. The lies.

And then he whispered one final thing, as the dragon carried him away:

"No matter what… I will not leave anyone here alive."

"I promise you, Mother."