Beyond Realities

Meanwhile the fierce battle between Vael and Dark unfolded in the distance, its sheer pressure still shook the air. Cael stood on the far edge of the broken buildings, eyes locked on the clash of legends.

His breath hitched.

The swirling blood—so much of it—was now flowing unnaturally, twisting through the air like crimson ribbons being controlled by a master puppeteer.

It was Dark.

Every droplet danced under his command.

But then—everything shifted.

In the blink of an eye, the two were gone.

Vanished.

The air stilled.

"What…?" Cael whispered, his gaze darting through the space they once occupied. "Where did they go?"

A cold sweat trickled down his neck. He had no idea what just happened.

Silence stretched.

Until—he saw it.

There, in the distance.

Vael.

Kneeling.

Breathing heavy.

His head hung low, cloak tattered and soaked with blood. One hand gripped the shaft of his scythe like a crutch, the other limp at his side.

And across from him…

Dark lay sprawled, unconscious. His once-dominant presence was now just a broken shadow of defeat, barely clinging to life.

Cael's heart pounded. He stepped forward, about to run to Vael's side—

But then—

A flash of motion.

From his right, a tall figure dashed into view, sprinting toward Vael like a golden streak.

Cael flinched.

An man—with long yellow hair, moving with the speed and grace of a seasoned warrior. His noble robes fluttered behind him, boots slamming the broken stone as he leapt across the debris.

Cael's eyes widened as the man passed by his side, barely a blur.

"Who… is that?" he muttered, instinctively stepping back.

The old man was heading straight toward Vael.

And something in the way he moved—

Felt dangerous.

-------

Meanwhile, Seraphina and Alcred moved swiftly through the battered streets, Clied and Kira close behind. The tension in the air thickened with each step as they neared the source of that overwhelming mana.

Then—they arrived.

There, beneath the red-tinged sky, they saw him.

Vael.

Kneeling.

Blood-soaked. Motionless. His scythe was planted into the ground like a cane, supporting his exhausted form. His cloak fluttered gently in the breeze, torn and darkened with blood.

Clied's eyes widened. "Pat…"

He broke into a sprint.

"Vael!" Kira cried, following close behind.

Tears streamed from Clied's face as he ran with all his strength, stumbling over debris, desperation in every step.

Vael heard the voice and slowly turned his head.

Despite the blood on his lips and the tremble in his limbs… he smiled.

A tired, gentle smile.

Alcred, standing just behind Seraphina, narrowed his eyes.

Then—he saw it.

A figure approaching silently from behind Vael.

Tall.

Dressed in noble regalia.

Sword in hand.

Alcred's expression darkened. "No…"

Before he could act, before Clied could reach Vael—

Time seemed to slow.

Cael, still watching from the other side, froze in horror.

"No… that can't be—"

His heart stopped.

The man behind Vael—

Was his father.

Simon Vaelen.

Without hesitation, Simon plunged the longsword into Vael's back.

The blade pierced clean through his chest.

Vael gasped.

Blood spilled from his mouth as his body stiffened in shock. His eyes widened—not in fear—but in disbelief.

His head turned weakly, and there he saw the one holding the blade.

"…Simon…?" he choked.

A soft, sorrowful smile crossed his lips as he whispered, trembling, "To think… my own younger brother would do this to me…"

Simon stood behind him, jaw clenched, tears streaming down his face—but burning with fury.

"Then why did you betray us?" he growled—and twisted the blade deeper.

Vael groaned, staggering forward slightly. His body no longer had the strength to resist.

"I'm… sorry," Vael whispered weakly.

And in that moment—

Clied and Kira saw it.

The man they loved—their protector, their family—stabbed through the heart.

"PAT!" Clied screamed.

But everything was too slow.

The world dulled. The air vanished. Time… stopped.

Clied could no longer hear his own voice. His tears floated in stillness.

He felt nothing.

Only emptiness.

Kira's legs gave way, but she pushed forward, running toward Vael through the haze of grief.

"No… no… no!!" she cried.

Vael's knees gave in, his body collapsing slowly, crashing against the side of a broken wall.

Blood spread beneath him like a dark flower blooming in silence.

Seraphina fell to her knees, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Tears spilled uncontrollably.

The vision… it was real.

It was happening.

"No…" she whispered, trembling.

Kira finally reached him, collapsing beside his broken body.

She grabbed his hand and sobbed uncontrollably. "Pat… Pat! Don't you dare leave me!"

"There's still so much… I wanted to give you…" she whispered through her tears.

Vael's fading eyes looked up at her, and he smiled gently.

His hand moved, trembling, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

"…Take care of your little brother, Kir…" he whispered. "Be a good girl…"

His voice was almost gone, but the warmth in it remained—like a fire dying, but not extinguished.

Clied stood there.

Frozen.

He stared at Vael—his mind blank, his soul hollow. He moved slowly, step by step, until he knelt beside Kira.

His small hands reached out, touching Vael's torn cloak, feeling the warmth slipping away.

"Pat…" Clied whispered.

Memories flashed behind his eyes—the kindness, the laughter, the safety… the man who saved him from the darkness.

Now bleeding before him.

Now dying in his arms.

A soundless sob shook his chest. And then—

Clied cried.

He cried harder than he ever had in his life.

A scream without sound.

A sorrow without end.

Cael stood frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe.

He had seen everything.

His father—Simon Vaelen—had stabbed Vael from behind. His own brother.

Cael's heart sank into a void of disbelief and horror.

Why…?

Why did you do that, Father?

Before he could react, movement flashed in the corner of his eye.

Alcred.

Without a single word, without hesitation, Alcred shot forward like lightning. His blade was already half-raised, fury burning in his eyes.

He lunged straight toward Simon Vaelen, murder flashing through every step.

But just as the blade was about to reach its mark—

A tremble ran through the ground.

Blood—thick, dark, and humming with energy—rose like a tide.

It swirled unnaturally, forming a towering crimson wall between Alcred and Simon. It pulsed like a living thing, dripping and quivering as if reacting to the heartbeat of something hidden.

Alcred skidded to a stop, snarling. "Coward!"

Then—from within the crimson wave—a flicker of movement.

Dark.

He was still alive.

Bloodied, half-conscious, but his hand rose just enough… and with that one motion, the blood wall thickened, expanded—like a cocoon enclosing them both.

Simon looked back through the bleeding curtain one last time. His face was pale, eyes heavy-lidded, as though sleep had come to claim him. He didn't speak.

But a single tear rolled down his cheek.

Not many.

Just one.

And then—

They vanished.

The blood surged downward, spiraling into the ground like a drain swallowing water, pulling both Dark and Simon into its depths.

Gone.

Silence.

Only the wind remained.

Alcred stood still for a moment, teeth clenched so tight it hurt. Then, with a roar of frustration, he raised his sword high—and slammed it into the ground with all his strength.

The earth cracked beneath the weight of his rage.

"Damn it!!" he shouted.

His breath trembled.

Behind him, Seraphina was on her knees, her hands covering her face. Her body shook with sobs that wouldn't stop. She had seen it all. She had felt it all.

The vision she feared…

It came true.

Her voice cracked through the air like glass. "Why…?"

Clied remained kneeling beside Vael's lifeless body. His eyes were red, but no longer crying. He was empty. Lost.

And Kira clung tightly to Vael's hand, whispering softly between her own tears.

Meanwhile, Cael turned slowly.

He couldn't take it.

He couldn't bear the sight of his father's action.

Of Vael's death.

Of the silence.

He stumbled away, tears blinding him, his legs trembling beneath him. He didn't look back. He couldn't.

The wind howled as he disappeared into the distance, vanishing down the broken road—heading home to the palace with a shattered heart.