Chapter 9: The Ashes Of Home
925 Words
Chapter 9: The Ashes of Home
The barrier faded.
Its violet glow dissolved into thousands of tiny particles that drifted through the air like glowing snow.
For a few moments, the entire city remained silent.
No screams.
No panic.
Only disbelief.
Then...
Cheers erupted from every direction.
"We're alive!"
"The attack stopped!"
"Someone saved us!"
People embraced one another in the streets. Mothers hugged their children. Merchants dropped to their knees, thanking the heavens. Those who had been certain death had arrived now looked toward the ruined district with eyes full of hope.
None of them knew the name of the young man who had saved them.
But somewhere, that name was beginning to return.
Aiden slowly lowered his hand.
His body trembled violently.
The moment the barrier disappeared, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashed into him.
His knees buckled.
Before he could hit the ground, Seraphina caught him.
"You i***t," she muttered, struggling to support his weight.
"You've barely awakened, and you used a spell that even legends feared."
Aiden forced a weak smile.
"I couldn't let them die."
"I know."
She looked away.
"That's exactly what worries me."
The Void Sentinels had not moved.
Their leader stared at Aiden without emotion.
Then, unexpectedly, he drove the butt of his spear into the ground.
The other Sentinels copied him.
Black light surrounded their bodies.
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
"They're retreating."
Seraphina frowned.
"Just like that?"
"No."
Lucien's expression grew darker.
"They've accomplished their true mission."
"What mission?"
"Confirming his awakening."
As if to answer him, the leader spoke.
"Identity verified."
"The Sovereign lives."
"Phase Two will commence."
The black light swallowed the seven Sentinels.
One after another, they vanished, leaving behind only empty streets and cracked stone.
The battle was over.
But the war had only just begun.
Aiden looked around.
What had once been his neighborhood was almost unrecognizable.
His little wooden house...
The place where he had laughed with Mira.
The place where he had spent lonely nights reading old books by candlelight.
The only place he had ever called home...
Was gone.
Nothing remained except charred beams and scattered ashes.
He slowly walked toward the ruins.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
He knelt where his bed had once stood.
Among the ashes lay a small wooden carving.
It was a bird.
Crude.
Uneven.
He had carved it himself when he was twelve after Mira told him that birds always found their way home.
His fingers shook as he picked it up.
"It's gone..."
he whispered.
"Everything..."
Seraphina stood several steps behind him.
She wanted to comfort him.
But no words came.
She had lost homes before.
She knew there were moments when silence was kinder than sympathy.
"You're alive."
The familiar voice made Aiden turn.
Mira stood at the edge of the destroyed street, still holding her old umbrella despite the rain having stopped.
She slowly walked toward him.
Aiden immediately lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
She looked around at the destruction.
"What are you apologizing for?"
"My house..."
"The neighborhood..."
"If I wasn't here..."
Mira gently placed a wrinkled hand on his cheek.
"You foolish boy."
Aiden looked at her.
"When did you start believing every tragedy was your fault?"
Tears gathered in his eyes.
"I brought them here."
"No."
Her voice remained calm.
"Evil chooses its own path."
She smiled softly.
"You chose to protect people."
"There is a difference."
Aiden closed his eyes.
The tears he had been holding back finally escaped.
He had survived battles.
He had awakened impossible power.
Yet it was the kindness of one old woman that broke the wall around his heart.
He leaned forward.
Mira embraced him as though he were still the frightened orphan she had met years ago.
"It's alright," she whispered.
"You don't have to carry the whole world today."
Lucien quietly watched from a distance.
Seraphina stepped beside him.
"You knew he would save the city."
Lucien nodded.
"I never doubted him."
"Even after everything?"
A faint smile crossed Lucien's face.
"You don't understand."
"The man history called the Immortal King..."
"...was never remembered because he was the strongest."
Seraphina looked at Aiden, who still stood with Mira among the ruins.
"Then why?"
Lucien answered without taking his eyes off him.
"Because whenever the world asked someone to suffer..."
"He always volunteered first."
As night fell, the city guards finally arrived.
Their captain, a broad-shouldered man with silver armor scarred from countless battles, surveyed the devastation.
His gaze settled on Aiden.
"You."
Several guards surrounded the group.
"By order of the Royal Council, you are to come with us."
Seraphina's hand immediately moved to her sword.
Lucien remained expressionless.
Aiden stepped forward before either of them could act.
"What have I done?"
The captain hesitated.
His voice softened.
"You saved this city."
Aiden blinked.
"Then why am I being arrested?"
The captain lowered his eyes.
"Because the nobles are afraid of you."
Silence spread through the ruined street.
Fear.
Once again, Aiden saw it in people's eyes.
Not gratitude.
Not admiration.
Fear.
The same fear he had seen in fragments of memories from a thousand years ago.
At that moment, he understood something that made his heart ache.
Power could save lives.
But it could also make the world fear the very person who used it.
Far above the kingdom, hidden beyond the stars, a pair of ancient golden eyes slowly opened.
A deep voice echoed through the heavens.
"The game has begun."
"And this time..."
"There will be no second chance for the Immortal King."
- Writer
