The sound of Noah's voice barely reached through the ringing in my ears.
My body didn't move fast enough as the world tilted before .
Sothing cold, sharp, and impossibly heavy tore through my chest.
For a mont, there was no pain, just surprise, then my eyes dropped, and I saw the obsidian blade buried deep in , black and slick with my blood.
The Kalki's monstrous form towered over , its breath steady, as burning red eyes locked on mine.
"Do you see now, old man?" it said, voice rough yet calm, almost sorrowful as if it was reminiscing sothing.
"Even kings bleed the sa as the rest."
I wanted to reply, to make so witty remark, but when I opened my mouth, only blood ca out.
I could taste iron and smoke. My knees dropped to the floor, and I stumbled backward, crashing to the ground as the dagger in my hand slipped away.
I tried to hold it, to lift it one last ti, but my fingers trembled too much to hold anything anymore.
"GRANDPA!!"
Noah's voice tore through the silence. I turned my head weakly and saw him crawling across the broken stonss, dragging himself through the dust and debris, his eyes wide with horror.
I wanted to tell him to stop, to stay back...but no sound ca out.
Only a strangled breath.
The Kalki turned to face him, its massive fra blocking the last light of the fading sun. "So this is the one you risked your life for?" it said, almost curious. "The fragile heir? This is the one she loved?"
It stepped forward, dragging its blade along the ground, the sound screeching like a scream.
"Tell , old king. Was it worth it? To die for a boy who cannot even stand?"
I forced my head up, my vision blurring. "...Yes," I whispered.
The creature paused, as if that one word had almost annoyed him to death.
It crouched low beside , its pristine face inches from mine. I could see its eyes more clearly now, beneath the rage, there was grief, and pain
mories older than anything I could imagine.
"You are a fool," it said quietly. "I searched for her…for years.
Through ruin and ti.
Through death itself.
And now, she sleeps in your world, in your care, wounded by your kind and you expect not to take her back?"
It looked toward Pixie's still body lying a few feet away, golden hair tangled in dust. For a mont, the monster's expression softened, almost human.
"She was our light," it murmured. "The only warmth we knew before the darkness took ."
I coughed, the pain finally catching up, each breath slicing through like fire. "Then don't…let that light burn others," I said weakly.
"You think taking her will bring peace? You'll just bury her in the sa darkness you live in."
The Kalki's lips curled into sothing between a frown and a smile. "Spoken like a man who has lost everything."
"...Maybe I have." I smiled faintly, blood trickling down my chin. "But I still had the strength to protect them…even if it was just for a little longer."
Noah reached then, hands trembling, eyes watery. "Don't talk, Grandpa…please. We'll get you help, ju-just hold on—"
I put a shaky hand on his shoulder, the sa way I used to when he was a boy afraid of thunder.
"Noah…listen to .
It's okay."
Tears stread down his face. "It's not! You can't. You're not dying!!"
"Hey," I whispered, forcing a weak grin. "You still owe that drink, rember? You said…when this madness is over…" He shook his head violently, refusing to let go of my arm. The warmth in his grip was fading fast against the chill risinb up my fingers.
I could hear my heartbeat slowing. The sounds of battle, the roars of the monster, all of it faded into a dull hum. The sky above was dimming into crimson and ash.
I turned my eyes to the horizon.
"Sylvie's gonna kill for real this ti…"
Noah laughed too, but it broke halfway through into a sob. "Stop…please stop talking like that…"
But there wasn't much left to say. I'd lived too long, fought too many wars, lost too many faces.
Maybe this was where I was supposed to end.
Protecting the ones I still could.
"Listen, Noah," I said softly, pressing my bloodied hand against his cheek. "A king isn't soone who rules. He's soone who stands when no one else can.
You have that in you.
Don't…don't lose it."
I smiled faintly, my vision blurring into shapes and shadows. "Take care of her, for …"
Then, with the last of my strength, I turned my gaze to the Kalki. "And you… monster or not… I hope you find peace too."
The creature looked at , expression unreadable. Then it slowly raised its sword again, not in rage, but almost in reverence. "You fought well, King of Shadows.
You can rest now."
Everything stopped.
The pain vanished.
...and the world went quiet.
I could faintly hear Noah screaming, my na, my title, his voice breaking. But it all felt distant, like echoes from another life.
I saw flashes of mories: Sylvie's laugh, Dragneel's grin, the sun over Gaia, the weight of a crown that never really belonged to .
And then…nothing.
The Kalki pulled its blade free and turned away. Noah was still there, trembling, tears falling down his face, as he was unable to move, unable to speak.
"You see, boy," the Kalki said, its deep voice almost mournful, "this is what your world does. It takes…and takes…until only silence remains."
It stepped toward Pixie, scooping her limp form into its arms with surprising gentleness.
"My princess has returned to , and now I will take her ho."
Noah's lips moved soundlessly, his body shaking, but no sound ca.
Not a cry.
Not a scream.
Just silence.
The Kalki turned once more, looking at him, almost pitying him before flying into the air and turning into that small speck in the sky.
The winds stilled.
The courtyard was quiet again.
Only the sound of Noah's small breaths filled the air, his trembling hand still holding mine long after my pulse had stopped.
He didn't cry anymore.
He didn't move.
He just stared at the empty air where the monster disappeared, his eyes hollow and broken.
The boy who once smiled like sunlight…had turned to stone.
And as the night fell over the Roro estate, the last words I ever heard from my grandson were the very ones I never could bring myself to say to him.
"I love you, Grandp—"
***
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