PROLOGUE
553 Words
PROLOGUE
The Last Promise
"Every ending leaves behind a question."
The bells had never rung after midnight.
Until tonight.
One.
The sound rolled through the mountains like a funeral hymn.
Two.
Ravens burst from the ancient towers, disappearing into a crimson sky.
Three.
Somewhere in the darkness...
Something woke.
The academy was burning.
Fire crawled across centuries-old stone, swallowing towers that had stood untouched for generations. Rain fell in sheets, hissing against the flames, but the storm could not save what destiny had already claimed.
The air smelled of smoke.
Blood.
And memories.
At the center of the ruined courtyard stood a young woman.
Rain hid the tears on her face.
In her trembling hands rested a silver sword.
Its point was aimed at the only person left standing before her.
No...
Not standing.
Kneeling.
The man never looked away from her.
His dark coat was torn beyond recognition, stained with blood and ash. One hand rested against the broken stone beneath him as though it were the only thing keeping him upright.
He could have fought.
He didn't.
The silence between them stretched so long that even the wind seemed afraid to interrupt.
Finally...
She spoke.
"...Look at me."
His eyes lifted.
For one impossible moment...
The world disappeared.
"You promised."
Her voice barely carried above the rain.
"You said this would never happen."
A long silence followed.
Then the man answered.
"I believed it."
She let out a hollow laugh.
"You believed it..."
Her grip tightened around the sword.
"...or you wanted me to?"
The question lingered between them.
He didn't answer.
Sometimes silence was an answer.
Sometimes...
It was a confession.
The flames crackled around them.
The bells rang again.
"I don't even know which part was real anymore."
Her words trembled.
"Was any of it real?"
The man closed his eyes.
When he spoke again...
His voice sounded like someone carrying the weight of too many years.
"The only lie..."
He paused.
"...was believing I could change what was already written."
She took one slow step forward.
The sword never wavered.
"You should have trusted me."
"I know."
"You should have told me."
"I know."
"You should have let me choose."
For the first time...
Something in his expression broke.
"I wanted your life."
His voice was barely audible.
"Not your forgiveness."
The rain fell harder.
Neither of them moved.
The storm seemed to wait.
She searched his face, as if hoping to find the stranger she wanted to blame.
Instead...
She found someone who looked unbearably tired.
"I don't know who you are anymore."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
Silence.
Then—
"So tell me."
Her voice cracked.
"Is this how our story ends?"
He looked toward the crimson moon hanging above the shattered academy.
"No."
His answer was quiet.
"This..."
A gust of wind carried glowing embers between them.
"...is where the truth finally begins."
The ground trembled.
A deep roar echoed from somewhere beneath the academy.
Ancient.
Hungry.
Waiting.
The bells rang one final time.
The man slowly opened his hands.
Not in surrender.
Not in defeat.
In acceptance.
"If you have to hate someone..."
He looked at her one last time.
"...make sure it's me."
The light swallowed the sky.
Everything vanished.
The story did not begin here.
- Writer
