Chapter 140

Chapter 140


I gasped, my breath catching in my throat, as I saw Nigel get stabbed—again. The blade sank deep into his side with a sickening sound, and for a heartbeat, everything around me slowed. Erikson reacted in an instant, yanking Nigel behind him and shielding him with his own body. Without hesitation, he began to fight back, his sword clashing with the steel of the enemies pressing in on us from every direction.

“Please?” Celeste’s voice trembled with desperation.

I blinked rapidly, my vision blurring with tears as I watched Nigel crumble to his knees. He clutched his stomach, coughed violently—and then vomited blood. It spilled onto the ground like a warning sign of what was to come.

I heard Erikson scream something, but his voice was drowned by the chaos. Was he shouting for us to run? Was it a warning? A curse? I couldn’t tell. All the sounds—the clashing of swords, the ragged gasps, the distant thunder—fused into one deafening noise that numbed my senses.

Then, Celeste turned to me. Her hand gripped mine tightly, trembling. “T-thank you for staying with me, Astra,” she whispered, her eyes searching mine. “Just know that I see you as my sister. Please live. Your life is just starting…” Her fingers slowly slipped away from mine. “Thank you for everything, Astra.”

Her words stabbed deeper than any blade could.

I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the pain in my legs. With trembling hands, I reached behind me and pulled out the arrows I had left. I nocked one and fired without hesitation—right into the skull of a man who was sneaking up behind Erikson. His body collapsed instantly.

I sprinted forward and grabbed a discarded sword from the ground, planting myself beside Erikson.

“What the fuck, Astra? Stay back!” he yelled, anger and worry thick in his voice.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I refused to stand by and watch them die.

I fought alongside them—swinging, stabbing, blocking—but no matter how many enemies we took down, more seemed to come. It felt endless. Like we were stuck in a nightmare loop. I lost track of how many swords I picked up and dropped. My arms were screaming. My body was barely holding on. And yet… I couldn’t stop.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Celeste staggering to her feet. Bloodied but determined, she made her way to Nigel and helped him lean against a nearby tree. She ripped a piece of fabric from her pants and tied it tightly around his bleeding wound, her hands slick with crimson.

“Astra!”

I turned, confused by Erikson’s shout—just in time to feel the impact in my chest. I looked down, stunned to see the tip of a blade sticking out of me. Erikson had shoved me aside, taking most of the blow, but the weapon had still pierced me.

Blood welled in my mouth and trickled down my chin.

“Damn it!” Erikson cursed, yanking the blade free.

I staggered but forced myself to stay upright. The moment he turned away, I bent down, grabbed another sword, and charged again. Pain roared in my body, but I buried it beneath a wall of fury and desperation. I had to keep going. I had to.

Then, from behind us—more enemies. Their footsteps were like drums of war, closing in fast.

I froze when I saw Nigel again.

He was carrying Celeste in his arms, his legs trembling under the weight of his wounds and her limp body. His face was pale, drained of life. “S-she fell on the ground…” he said, his voice barely audible.

Then it happened.

One sword. Two. Three.

The blades pierced Nigel's chest from every direction, stabbing straight through him as if he were nothing more than paper. He dropped to his knees with a sickening thud, his arms loosening, letting Celeste slip from his grip.

The tears in his eyes turned red—then to blood.

Time stood still.

My scream ripped from my throat—but I couldn’t hear it. My body shook with it, my lungs burned, but it was like my voice had been swallowed by the void.

Suddenly, a dense fog rose around us like a spirit summoned by sorrow. It coiled through the battlefield, thick and suffocating, blinding the enemies. I heard them choking, gasping, falling back.

I didn’t know where it came from. I didn’t care.

I ran toward them—Nigel, Celeste, Randolf—my feet pounding the blood-soaked ground.

“S-she won’t last much longer…” Nigel whispered, dragging himself toward her. He coughed more blood, but still smiled weakly. “Shit. I’m tired.”

I dropped beside them, my hands trembling.

Celeste’s skin was cold and pale. Her lips barely moved.

“I-I want to see Randolf…” she mouthed.

“I’m here, Milove,” came a voice behind us.

Randolf dropped his sword, his armor clattering to the ground. He knelt beside her and lifted her head gently onto his lap, brushing her blood-matted hair from her face.

“I’m right here…”

From a distance, Oscar stood motionless, watching everything unfold.

“Where the fuck is Mr. Nadija?” Nigel rasped, coughing again.

We turned to see Erikson sprawled in the grass.

“Don’t think I’m dead. I’m just resting!” he shouted, his voice hoarse but defiant.

Despite the blood in his mouth, Nigel let out a small chuckle.

My own body began to give in, my muscles finally surrendering. I collapsed onto the grass beside them, staring at the gray sky above.

Is it over?

I just closed my eyes.

“I-I can’t feel my body anymore…” Celeste whispered.

“Yeah. It’s cold,” Randolf replied, his voice soft, cracking.

“The sky is spinning, Randolf…”

“Oh, I wish I could see it too. I bet it’s awesome, Milove.”

“My eyelids… they feel so heavy…”

“Mine too.”

“It’s getting cold and dark here…”

“I think that’s good,” Randolf said, trying to smile, his tears spilling freely. “You’ve been fighting all night. It’s okay to sleep now.”

“Is it okay, Randolf? If I sleep here?”

“Of course, Celeste. Don’t worry about me.”

“I won’t be able to go on our world trip anymore…”

“That’s okay,” he murmured. “My only dream was to be with you.”

“I’m sorry, Randolf…”

“No. Don’t be. But I’ll still go on that world trip, Celeste. I’ll take a lot of pictures… make lots of memories…”

“Please do…”

“I will…”

Her lips stopped moving. Her eyes stared softly ahead, unfocused, the life within them flickering out like a dying star.

“I will, Milove,” Randolf whispered again, holding her closer. His body trembled as he leaned down and pressed a final kiss to her forehead. “I promise.”