Julian’s body flew across the roof and luckily had landed back to where he last jumped.
"Julian! are… are you okay?!"
Kyra’s eyes were concerned to see the state Julian was in.
He was bleeding, he was bruised, he was breathing heavily, but most importantly, it almost looked like he was a living ghost.
His eyes, once so full of life, now seed devoid of any spark.
It was as if the light within him had been snuffed out, leaving behind nothing but emptiness.
If there’s one thing that can be said with certainty, it’s that the eyes never lie.
They are a reflection of the soul, a mirror of one’s innermost being. And in Julian’s eyes, one could see the undeniable truth - he had lost all hope.
***
[Julian’s POV]
However long I had lived for, I didn’t think I’d rember those monts in my life.
Naturally, it wasn’t anything short of traumatic, but I still feel regret to this day for rembering such a mory.
I was only a child who knew nothing but to survive at all costs and ever since then, my life had been nothing but pain.
Only until I was born in this world.
I could only hope for more good mories in this life and reflecting on the past would only leave a sour taste in my mouth.
Even though the pain I was experiencing brought back too long ago, it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be.
Or so I thought... my mind feels like a damn ss. But been my body was actively trying to repair all the wounds without wasting any precious mana.
But I couldn’t get up however much I tried.
I could hear Kyra’s voice, thick with tears, but it sounded distant and muffled.
"Julian... I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I should just withdraw from the challenge. I’m not cut out for this..."
Her words pierced through the fog of my despair and whenever I hear soone trying to bla themselves for the actions I chose to do, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for what I’ve done .
It makes wonder if I truly deserve to live a second life like this one.
However, I needed to reassure her that it wasn’t her fault at all.
As I turned my head towards her, really look at her. Her green eyes were wide with fear and guilt, and she even had tears streaming down her dirt-streaked face.
In that mont, I saw myself reflected on her - that sa lost, hopeless child I once was.
"Don’t... Don’t give up, Kyra. It’s not your fault at all,"
I forced myself to sit up, ignoring the pain within my battered body.
"Listen to , don’t you have a dream you want to achieve? Sothing you’re fighting for?"
Kyra nodded hesitantly, wiping at her tears.
"My family... they’re counting on . But I’m not strong enough. I can’t do this."
Her words stirred sothing deep within . I rembered the countless tis I’d felt the sa way - weak, helpless, unworthy. But I also rembered the strength I’d found, the will to keep going despite everything.
"You are strong enough, so what’s the problem? After all, you’ve made it this far, haven’t you? That’s not nothing, Kyra."
I reached out, gently placing my hand on her shoulder.
"We all have our reasons for being here. Our dreams, our goals. They’re what drive us forward, even when everything seems hopeless."
[10 Minutes Remaining.]
Hearing the announcent, I moved my body to get up and even though the sharp pains of being stabbed hurt, this feeling I haven’t felt was bringing closer to change this part of I wanted to forget.
"Co on," I said, reaching down to scoop her up in my arms once more. "We’re not done yet."
I felt Kyra’s weight in my arms, her body trembling slightly as I carried her.
The pain in my own body was still intense, but I pushed it aside, I think it was best to avoid Cullen in any way possible.
But then Kyra placed her hand on my chest, stopping from moving.
When I looked down to see her face, she appeared relieved for so reason; all the worry and fear were wiped away, and instead, she was smiling happily.
"I’m sorry but thank you so much for the kind words Julian, I think… I think I understand what I want to do now… and even if this is the last ti we talk… I hope we can et again soday."
CRACK...
Before I could react, I felt her shift in my arms.
There was a sharp crack, and suddenly, golden pixels began to swirl around her body.
"Kyra, what are you doing?!"
But it was too late. She had broken the hourglass in her pocket, the one given to all participants as a ans of voluntary withdrawal.
"Goodbye and thank you so much…"
SHWAM!
[Kyra Deverauxe #0,005 - Has Withdrawn From The Challenge.]
In a matter of seconds, she was gone, leaving with the snake on the rooftop.
The announcent felt like a final, cruel break to the mont. I had failed in my objective, yes, but more than that, I had failed to protect soone who had trusted .
I had been tasked with eliminating her, and instead, I had tried to save her, only for her to eliminate herself.
Haah…
No matter what I do… I keep ssing things up.
Just like back then… I’m just a person who’s failed and always failed.
***
[Aethel Academy - Ziverard’s Grand Hall]
SWAM…
As the golden pixels dissipated around her, Kyra found herself back in the grand hall of Ziverard Zagata.
The sudden transition from the ruined city to the opulent surroundings was jarring, and for a mont, she felt dizzy and disoriented.
The polished marble floor beneath her feet seed to sway, and the ornate chandeliers overhead blurred into a dazzling array of light.
But as her vision cleared, she saw a familiar figure standing before her: Lady redith, the overseer of the Royal 8 Challenge.
The elegant woman’s black hair shimred in the hall’s soft lighting, and her piercing blue eyes were fixed on Kyra with an expression that seed... proud?
"Welco back, Kyra,"
redith spoke in a warm and lodious voice, she didn’t have a face that showed any kind of hatred or disappointnt.
"You’ve shown great courage today."
Before Kyra could respond, redith raised her hand, a soft blue glow emanating from her palm.
HWAM...
With a gentle gesture, she swept her hand over Kyra’s body.
Instantly, Kyra felt a tingling warmth spread through her, and to her amazent, she watched as her injuries began to fade. The pain in her leg vanished, the cuts and bruises on her skin knitted themselves closed, and even the dull ache in her head subsided.
"H-how did you...?" Kyra stamred, flexing her newly healed leg in disbelief.
redith simply smiled, a knowing glint in her eye.
"I’m sure this healing spell is nothing like you’ve ever seen before, but it’s nothing to worry about."
As the initial shock of her sudden healing wore off, Kyra beca acutely aware of redith’s gaze.
The older woman was looking at her with an expression that seed almost... proud? It was disconcerting, to say the least. After all, Kyra had just withdrawn from the challenge. Shouldn’t redith be disappointed in her?
"Lady redith," Kyra began hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper, "why... why are you smiling at like that? I failed. I gave up."
redith’s smile softened, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and understanding. She took a step closer to Kyra, placing a gentle hand on the young girl’s shoulder.
"Kyra, my dear, you haven’t failed at all, In fact, you’ve shown remarkable growth and wisdom."
Kyra blinked in confusion to how anything redith had said made any sense.
"But... I withdrew from the challenge. I couldn’t keep fighting. How is that not failing?"
Her brow furrowed as she spoke.
"The Royal 8 Challenge isn’t just about raw power or the ability to defeat others in combat. It’s about wisdom, judgnt, and knowing when to make difficult decisions."
redith chuckled softly, shaking her head.
She gestured around the grand hall, her voice taking on a more serious tone.
"Look around you, Kyra. How many other participants do you see?"
Kyra glanced around, suddenly realizing that the hall was empty except for the two of them.
"I... I don’t see anyone else."
"Exactly," redith nodded. "You’re the first to return. And do you know why?"
Kyra shook her head, still not understanding.
"Because you were the first to truly understand the nature of this challenge," redith explained.
"You recognized a situation where continuing would have caused more harm than good, not just to yourself, but to others. You made the difficult choice to withdraw, putting aside your own ambitions for the greater good."
Kyra’s eyes widened as she began to grasp what redith was saying.
"So... you an..."
"Yes, Kyra," redith smiled. "Your decision to withdraw wasn’t a failure. It was exactly the kind of judgnt the King was looking for in a Royal Blade."
Tears welled up in Kyra’s eyes, a mix of relief and disbelief washing over her.
"But... my family... I promised them I’d beco the Royal Blade. I can’t let them down."
redith’s expression softened further. She knelt down, bringing herself to eye level with Kyra.
"Listen to carefully, Kyra. Your family’s expectations are important, but they should never co at the cost of your own integrity or the well-being of others. The fact that you were willing to set aside those expectations to do what you believed was right... that shows true strength of character."
She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing.
"Besides, who said your journey ends here? This challenge was just one step. There are many paths to becoming a great mage. Although you may not have succeeded in becoming the Royal Blade, I’m confident you’ll beco soone worthy of the Kingdom’s notice."
Kyra wiped at her tears, a small, hopeful smile beginning to form on her lips.
"Really? You... you think I still have a chance?"
redith nodded, her eyes twinkling.
"More than a chance, my dear. After all have you ever wondered who had you as their objective?"
Kyra’s eyes widened in surprise at redith’s question.
"I... I never thought about that. Who was it?"
That was when redith’s smile reached the top of her cheeks, it was almost like a woman seeing her daughter fall in love for the first ti.
"It was Julian Ryker Uzziel."
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