Chapter 142

Chapter 142


“What’s wrong? Not again, please?” Erikson asked, alarmed.

Something was wrong—but not with me.

Before I could figure it out, the fog that had blanketed the area—the one that pushed away the enemies—vanished.

The cool air dropped.

It suddenly became hard to breathe.

“A-Astra... your eyes,” Nigel muttered.

I wiped my eyes.

Blood.

Erikson tore my clothes open. I weakened as we saw my chest turning black. It was rising quickly—like a flood blocking my breath.

“You are...” Erikson’s eyes widened in horror.

Oscar suddenly sprinted back. I heard him mutter a curse.

We looked up to see black crows flying overhead, circling in the air like they had been disturbed from sleep.

Erikson held onto me tighter.

“Brixton...” I cried out.

I pushed Erikson away and ran back.

Something happened to him.

No. Brixton Wenz Cardinal.

Of all your promises, I only wanted you to live.

At the edge of the forest, I already knew something was wrong. Erikson felt it too, trying to stop me—but I refused.

I was right. What I saw was a nightmare.

Lady Vienzara sat on the ground, her father’s head on her lap. She was hunched over him, hugging him tightly. Her shoulders trembled.

Lady of Vienzara...

Then I saw Lady Nathalia, slumped against a tree. She was motionless. A blade was stuck in her chest, blood trickling from it.

Nathalia Cardinal...

The next image broke me.

Brixton. Kneeling before The Fifth. Several swords were pierced into his chest. He wasn’t moving. I couldn’t feel him anymore.

Did we lose?

“P-Papa!” Nigel ran to his fallen father.

I tried to step forward—but a force knocked me back. I felt like I was being pulled from my body. My senses, my vision... they were fading.

I was going numb.

Please... let me hold him one last time.

My knees gave out and I collapsed. I crawled past fallen comrades until I reached Brix.

I smiled. “Hey...”

No response.

I held his hand—it dropped lifelessly to the ground. My eyes filled with tears... or was it blood? One by one, I pulled the swords from his chest.

I coughed blood and leaned on my arms.

Darkness blurred my vision, and I collapsed beside him. I whimpered and slowly hugged him. I had so much to say, but I couldn’t find my voice.

Is this the end?

I looked up at The Fifth—still standing, still watching us. His cloak was torn. He was panting, clearly wounded too.

“You will never win against The Cloaks,” he said again.

And in that moment, I knew he was right.

This war should’ve never happened.

If it hadn’t, so many would still be alive—Albina, Celeste, and the others who died in this fight.

Then I saw Oscar attack from behind.

Our enemy moved fast. His hand pierced through Oscar’s chest, and his sword fell to the ground.

I think... that’s it.

I stared at the crows circling the sky. Everything blurred.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

I’m sorry, Aya.

Silence.

Finally... the war has ended.

We really lost.

I felt a cold wind brush against my cheek. Slowly, I managed to open my eyes. All I could see was white.

It felt like I was inside a cloud.

What is this?

But no—it wasn’t a cloud.

It was fog.

A different kind of fog.

It wasn’t Brix’s.

It felt stronger… more powerful.

Even if it wasn’t the same familiar mist I knew, I recognized the feeling that came with it: longing, fear, the very root of it all—

Hyacinth.

I felt Brix stir beside me.

“A-Astra?” he croaked.

I turned my head to look at him.

“Brix...”

He looked confused. “I’ve already lost my fog ability,” he muttered.

I nodded.

His lips parted slightly in disbelief. “My princess...”

“It’s not the end,” I told him.

Slowly, I pushed myself up and looked down at him, offering my hand.

Hesitantly, he took it. We both managed to stand.

I felt strength slowly returning to my body—and so did Brix.

The fog healed our wounds and restored our energy, bringing back what we’d lost.

Brix looked around the thick mist, and I saw a smile peek from his lips.

He looked relieved. Proud.

“Our daughter wants you to live,” I said softly.

His eyes locked on mine. “Our daughter...”

“Aya wants to see you, Brix. Will you fail her?”

His eyes glowed red—deeper than I’d ever seen.

“Who am I to refuse her?” he smiled.

Slowly, the fog began to fade. As it disappeared, I saw that all of our allies had stood up again. Nathalia was scratching her arms.

“Oh, my feels! There were so many ants on that tree!” she complained.

Nigel and Lord Hezuera had recovered too. I noticed Nigel clinging tightly to his father, the worry in his eyes turning into resolve as he stared at The Fifth.

Everyone was healed—except for Lord Vienzara.

Lady Vienzara gently laid her father under a tree. She kissed his cheek, then stood up and walked toward us. Her eyes were blazing with rage.

Nigel released his father’s hand and joined us. Randolf arrived too. Though still devastated by Celeste’s loss, like the rest of us, he knew—

We have to keep fighting.

Brixton, Oscar, Lady Nathalia, Lady Vienzara, Nigel, Erikson, Randolf, and I stood in front of The Fifth.

And for the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.

“Y-you already lost,” The Fifth told us.

“We can’t lose, Fifth...” Lady Vienzara spoke, her voice strong. “Not when you killed my father. Not when he died believing we’d win. We can still fight.”

“You forgot something...” Brix stepped forward. “The second generation has already started.”

The Fifth scoffed. “You never learn.” He sighed, summoning his allies again. “Then I will end it this time.”

The night had been long.

But the sun was rising—chasing the darkness away.

A new day was about to begin.

The war would end soon.

And this time, it had to be in our favor.

For the second generation of vampires.

\---

I now understood why our enemy was so strong and fast—how he singlehandedly brought us all down, and why he was one of the highest leaders of The Cloaks.

I was thrown back from a blow, but Brix caught me. He nodded to me before stepping away and diving back into battle. I paused for a second, stunned.

Despite everything that had happened—

He was smiling.

“Good job!” he called out before rushing back in.

The war felt endless.

Maybe I had underestimated The Fifth Cloak. He wasn’t just strong—he could read our moves. His cane seemed to have a will of its own, moving to protect him at all costs. His ability was terrifying.

Nathalia staggered back after taking a hit. I ran to her side. Immediately, we were surrounded again by the enemy’s endless forces.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the sun finally peeking over the horizon.

Our swords were shattered.

We had no choice but to fight with our fangs.

It was harder—brutal, close combat. You had to snap their necks to bring them down.

“Ah!” I screamed when someone grabbed my arms and twisted them behind me. I gasped as a sword plunged into my chest.

Blood trickled from my mouth.

But even then, I believed—

We still have a chance to win.

It's possible.

But to win a war without losing any lives?

Impossible.

In war, it’s never just the enemies who die.

And that’s okay.

It’s okay—as long as we win in the end.

Erikson carried me away from the fray. I noticed Nigel, Erikson, and Yngritt were all barely standing. We exchanged glances—our bodies nearly giving up.

“S-so fast...” Nigel whispered. “We can’t even get close.”

“The cane... that’s the problem,” Yngritt hissed.

“I’m sorry... I couldn’t do anything,” Erikson muttered.