Lucen
I stood amid the remnants of destruction and the fading noise of night.
The air still held traces of magic, and before my eyes, only shadows remained—growing farther and farther away.
She... was taken.
I clenched my fists. The magic chains binding me still glowed faintly, as if mocking me. I could feel their heat. The bruises and pain from my fight with Sylas. But none of that hurt the most.
What hurt the most... was Rae's final gaze before she was taken away. She didn't cry. Didn't plead. But I saw it—her eyes, filled with deep wounds, as if she'd betrayed herself just to save me.
"Damn it," I muttered.
Ezric ran over, face flushed, breath short. "She... they just took her like that. Are you okay?"
I didn't answer.
Not because I didn't want to.
But because I knew... I wasn't okay.
I stood up, rotating my shoulder a little. The chains had begun to loosen, just as Sylas said. But it still felt humiliating. Humiliated in front of the one I wanted to protect.
