Chapter 148: Mercy's Cost

Chapter 148: Mercy's Cost
Chapter 148: Mercy's Cost

Melissa’s POV

I had the option to let her die.

I ought to have.

However, I didn't.

Selene was lying in my arms, her wound leaking blood. She breathed shallowly and faintly. She fluttered weakly, her silver eyes no longer burning with darkness.

My heart hurt.

I was unable to do it.

I was unable to let her go.

I brushed her hair away from her face and carefully placed her on the stone floor. I put my trembling hands over her heart.

"You're still here," I said. "You're not."

From behind me, Kane yelled my name. Others were running toward me, I heard. I didn't glance up, though.

She was all I could see.

"Selene, you have my forgiveness. You may not be able to forgive yourself, in my opinion. However, I do. I always have.

A cosy glow grew in my chest. There was no fire. It wasn't anger. Something divine, something softer.

Heavenly.

The force of the goddess rushed through me, more intense than before but also more agonising. I was aware of my obligations.

I said, "I'll give you my light."

I pushed all of my energy into her, pressing my palms to her chest. My might, my love, and my soul.

The dark stones were illuminated by the increasing brightness of the glow emanating from my hands. I shuddered. I swam my head. My internal energy throbbed and then broke.

I could feel myself cracking.

Individually.

Selene, however, gasped.

And she was free of the darkness.

The sky started to shift.

While I was kneeling next to Selene's body, still shining dimly, the dark curtain covering the sun began to change.

The holy eclipse was coming to an end.

I raised my head.

Like a gentle breath, a solitary golden beam swept across the battlefield after piercing the darkness. The stars dimmed, one by one. The sky became more radiant. My skin felt warm.

Balance was back.

People gasped behind me. There was a cheer. The ground buzzed with life once more after rumbling with anxiety.

Below me, Selene stirred.

She blinked.

Melissa? Her voice was tiny and hoarse as she whispered.

I let out a sigh of relief. "You're still here."

She broke down in tears. "I... You were heard. In the absence of light. You gave me a call back.

I said, "I wasn't going to lose you."

She cried, "I tried to kill you." "I hurt a lot of people. I'm not worthy of this.

"You were also in pain," I murmured. "You can now recover."

Not a goddess, not a weapon, nor a queen, Selene wept like a child. Just a scared and broken girl.

As the sun came out again, she gripped my hands and looked around.

She declared, "I want to put things right." "Allow me to make amends."

My vision became blurry as I nodded.

Everything has been consumed by the power I granted her.

My legs failed me.

My body's light flickered.

Kane's voice called out to me, "Melissa!"

I then collapsed into his arms.

I never thought I'd end myself in Kane's arms.

But I didn't want to be anywhere else.

He murmured, "Melissa," and held me close as he lowered us both to the floor. "No, no, no— hang on to me."

I opened my eyes a little. It appeared as though the universe was composed of golden vapour, with everything surrounding me gleaming and soft. My hands were hardly perceptible. I could hardly hear my heartbeat, like a distant whisper.

I whispered, "I'm here."

He put his forehead on mine. "You ought not to have done that."

"I had to," I whispered feebly. "She is my sister."

Kane raised his head. Now, Selene was kneeling, her silver hair glistening in the sun's healing rays. She was still living. She had freedom.

However, I was fading.

Like a candle on its final breath, my body was throbbing with light, not just glowing but flickering. I could feel myself becoming lighter and lighter as parts of me fell apart.

As if I no longer belonged here.

"Kane," I said.

I saw the ferocious, desperate look in his eyes. "Avoid saying farewell. You dare not.

With my hand just able to touch his cheek, I gave him a gentle grin. "You made it possible for me to forgive. Everything I lost was given to me by you.

He said, "I'm not prepared to lose you."

"But I believe..." I stopped, gasping for air. "The goddess seems to be calling me home."

He gave a violent shake of his head. "No. I will not let you leave.

Zephyr, Lydia, Selene, and even the supernatural council started to assemble. They all gave me the same expression.

As if everything they had battled for were about to be lost.

My surroundings started to become hazy.

Under me, the ground no longer felt firm.

My fingertips glistened like water reflecting sunshine. As though clinging to the last remaining solid aspect of me, Kane grasped them tightly.

His voice cracked as he continued, "I won't let you fade."

My eyes began to water. "Perhaps I wasn't supposed to stay."

"Please don't say that," he pleaded.

Selene moved forward and knelt next to us. Her hands shook. "There must be a method."

"I was already saved by you," I answered softly. The sacrifice was me. This has always been that way.

"No!" Selene sobbed. "That isn't atonement. That is a form of discipline.

I saw the light move between the clouds as I stared up at the sky.

Once more, the world was lovely.

I said, "I've given everything I had." "And if this is my demise... I'm all right.

"No," Kane answered in a harsh, brittle voice. "You're not permitted to leave in this manner."

I looked into his eyes, eyes that had supported me through every struggle, scar, and setback.

I said, "Then love me enough to let me go."

My body felt a last surge of warmth.

My chest glowed with a gentle, golden, holy light.

My name was shouted by Kane.

Selene grabbed me.

However, I had lost control.

I was overwhelmed by the brightness.

Also, right before it happened...

I heard a voice in my head.

"Melissa, this is not your end. You are becoming this.

Then...

Everything turned white.