In the midst of this desolation, Ruel knelt on the cold, hard floor, clutching the lifeless body of Saintess Elara. Her once radiant face was now drained of colour, her eyes closed as though in eternal sleep. Her blood seeped into his white robes, staining them deep red, a stark contrast to the purity they once symbolized. His heart, shattered beyond repair, pulsed with agony so profound that it choked the breath from his lungs. Each ragged inhale felt like fire in his chest, his mind struggled to process the horror before him.

Across the desecrated hall stood Zeran, her reflected a presence a dark silhouette against the backdrop of destruction. Her sharp green eyes-once seemed warm, now cold and malevolent-gleamed with a twisted satisfaction. " You may resent me as much as you wish, my dear Ruel…but your tears will soon dry, just like the blood on my hands. And even if it takes longer than I expect, I can wait… After all You and I… we are all that's left now. We are bound to live for a long, long time…for eternity. I will wait for you to accept my heart, even if it takes forever." A twisted smile danced on the corner of her lips as she spoke, her voice carrying a eerie blend of sweetness and malice.

Her words slithered into his ears, but Ruel could barely hear them over the thundering sound of his own heartbeat. His hands trembled as he cradled Eirlys's body closer, her warmth already fading, leaving only the chill of death in his arms. His gaze was fixed on Eirlys—the woman he had sworn to protect, the woman who had given her entire life to the people. The weight of his grief pressed down on him, crushing his soul, breaking it to thousand pieces.

The temple that once stood as a sanctuary of peace now lay in ruin. Shattered columns, once gleaming in the sunlight, were now fractured into jagged stones strewn across the bloodstained floor. The sacred halls, which had echoed with the soft hums of prayers and the whispers of the devoted, were now silent—choked by the heavy air of death. The serene light of the stained-glass windows had dimmed, casting eerie shadows over the lifeless bodies scattered across the temple grounds. Ruel's fellow followers—his brothers and sisters in faith—were now motionless, their white robes soaked crimson, their final breaths stolen by the hand of betrayal.

Despair choked his voice, but Ruel forced out the words, his eyes blurry with tears. "You…why…why did you…?"

Zeran tilted her head, her voice cut through Ruel's anguish, taunting and triumphant. "Why?" She stepped closer. "Because I wanted what Eirlys had. The power, the respect, the love of everyone. But most of all, I wanted 'you'." Her voice echoed.

His heart twisted, and his vision blurred with tears of rage. "You think... because you did all this… because you've killed my family, my brothers and sisters, my beloved Eirlys…that you've won?…that I’ll just fall into your arms?" His voice, trembling with fury and agony, barely masked the grief that threatened to consume him whole.

“I wouldn’t have had to kill them if they had just seen reason, if they had stood with me. But they were stubborn—too loyal to that… Saintess.” Her eyes darkened as she sneered the last word. "As for Elara, what choice did I have? You never even looked at me as long as she was around. She was always in the way."

"I wouldn't have had to kill them if they had only agreed to join my side. They were stubborn to the last, clinging to their loyalty to their revered Saintess," Zeran’s expression shifted into one of false sympathy, her voice sickly sweet. " As for Eirlys-what choice did I have? You never spared glance at me while she was by your side. She held your heart…so I plucked the thorn by my side." Zeran's eyes flashed, her lips curling into a smile that did not reach her eyes.

Ruel asked, his voice trembling but steady, "You think killing Eirlys will make me yours?"

Zeran's gaze darkened, her smile widening as she replied, "Of course. I'm certain that in time, you will come to see the truth. Without her standing in the way, you will have no choice but to look at me... and eventually, you'll understand my reason."

Regret clawed at his heart, a bitter reminder of his absence that fateful day. If he had not strayed so far from the temple, if he had returned sooner, perhaps he could have sensed Zeran's treachery, could have thwarted her cruel conspiracy. No one had ever suspected her, the Saintess Eirlys's one of the trusted follower. She had donned the guise of loyalty so perfectly that no one imagined the darkness lurking beneath. Ruel had been blind, caught in the mundane trivialities of his duties, while shadows conspired to tear apart everything he held dear.

Ruel's eyes burned with hatred, his voice thick with contempt. "You're wrong, Zeran. Power doesn't give you everything. There's always something you cannot have no matter what you do."

A low chuckle escaped Zeran's lips, her voice dripping with arrogance. "But I already have everything, Ruel. I've slain the almighty Saintess, and with her gone, my power will only grow. The creatures of darkness obey me, and soon, the rest of world will kneel before me. No one will even remember Eirlys's name. Her light, her legacy, will be nothing but a forgotten whisper."

Her eyes gleamed with madness, an unholy lust for control as she stepped closer, her gaze locking onto Ruel. "But you... you will remain by my side. For eternity. Together, we will rule this world, and you will be mine. My eternal lover."

A sudden hollow, broken laugh escaped Ruel’s lips, cutting through the thick air like a jagged blade. It was the laughter of a man who had lost everything, a sound that reverberated through the ruined hall like a death knell. His eyes, once full of warmth and love, were now ablaze with defiance. "You foolish, blind soul," he spat, his voice heavy with bitter sorrow. "You might conquer the world. You might even make it tremble beneath your feet. But you will never erase Eirlys."

His hand moved slowly, trembling as he reached for the pendant that hung around Eirlys's neck. The delicate crescent moon, once a symbol of hope and light, was now cracked and jagged, a mirror of the broken lives scattered around them. He clutched the pendant tightly to his chest, its sharp edges digging into his skin, a physical manifestation of his inner torment. "…you will never have me-not in this life, or any other."

Zeran's eyes widened in horror as she realized what he was about to do. "No... no, you can't do that!" she shrieked, her calm facade shattering as she rushed toward him, her hands outstretched in desperation.

It was too late for her too do anything to prevent Ruel. In one swift motion, he plunged the sharp edge of the pendant deep into his chest, piercing his heart. A surge of blood gushed from the wound, warm and thick, spilling over his hands, but he did not flinch. His breathing became ragged, each breath more labored than the last.

Zeran fell to her knees beside him, her face twisted in shock and disbelief. "Why you!" she screamed, her voice breaking with a mixture of rage and sorrow. "Why would you do this? We could have had everything!" She pounded her fists against the blood-soaked ground.

But Ruel’s gaze had already turned away from her. His eyes, once filled with the agony of loss, now softened as he looked down at Elara’s peaceful face one last time. His trembling fingers reached out, brushing a strand of her hair from her face, his touch gentle despite the weight of his sorrow. He pressed his forehead against hers, his tears falling freely now, mingling with the blood, straining the temple floor.

Ruel's voice, though faint, carried the weight of truth. "Do you want to know what is truly immortal?" he whispered, his words laced with finality. "Memories. Love. As long as life exists, so too will these."

With his final breath, Ruel made a prayer-a plea to the heavens. "If there is any mercy left in this world... grant me this one last wish. Let me find her again... in another life. Let me protect her... love her... even if it takes an eternity. Please... let me see her once more."

His hand fell limp as the last vestiges of life left him. His body collapsed beside Eirlys's, his head resting against hers, as though they had found peace in each other's embrace, even in death.

The silence that followed was deafening with Zeran, left kneeling in the pool of blood, stared at the lifeless bodies before her. Her victory, once so assured, now felt hollow and meaningless. She had gained everything- except the one thing she had longed for most.

___

Thanks for reading!

Your support means a lot to me. If you enjoyed the story, please don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your opinions and feedback—it helps me improve and keeps me motivated to keep writing. Stay tuned for the next chapter!