Lyria's POV
The castle was dying.
The ceiling above us groaned like a wounded beast before another section collapsed. Giant slabs of stone crashed to the floor, shattering into countless fragments. Dust swallowed everything. Every breath tasted of dirt and blood.
There was no way back. The entrance we had used had completely disappeared beneath a mountain of rubble. For one terrifying moment, I thought…This is where we die.
Then Raven appeared in front of me. Her face was pale, streaked with blood and dust, yet somehow she still managed to wear that tiny smile she always forced whenever she didn't want me to worry.
She bent down and lifted me effortlessly into her arms. "We're getting out of here," she said softly. Her voice was calm…"So hold on tight."I wrapped both arms around her neck as tightly as I could. My entire body was trembling.
"I-I'm ready…"She nodded once. Without another word…She jumped. The force behind her leap made the ground explode beneath us. Everything blurred. I shut my eyes immediately. The wind roared against my ears while stones rained around us like a deadly storm.
Crash!
Raven landed on a narrow slab of rock jutting from the collapsing shaft. The impact shook her entire body.
"…Mgh…"
A faint groan escaped her lips. It was so quiet…I slowly opened my eyes. "Raven…"
She didn't even look at me. "I'm fine." A lie. An obvious lie. Her jaw was clenched so hard the muscles trembled. Her breathing had become uneven. Every time she landed, I could feel her body shudder from pain.
And then…Warmth. Something warm soaked into my nightdress. I looked down. So much blood. The wound…The wound I had inflicted while I was under Malvias' control…It had opened again. Fresh blood continued pouring from her side and back with every movement she made.
My throat tightened. I did this. I stabbed her. I tried to kill the person who came to save me. Tears blurred my vision. I quickly shut my eyes before they could fall. I rested my forehead gently against her chest.
Her heartbeat was incredibly fast. Yet…Steady and Strong. Still fighting. Stone after stone. Leap after leap. She forced her exhausted body higher through the collapsing castle.
Each landing grew heavier. Each breath became rougher. Yet she never once slowed down. Never complained. Never blamed me. Not even once.
Finally…The cold air changed. The darkness disappeared. A ray of orange sunlight broke through the dust. We had escaped. Raven landed atop an enormous ancient tree whose branches stretched above the forest like a giant's hand.
She carefully adjusted her footing before looking toward the ruins below. I followed her gaze. My breath caught. "…Malvias…" He should have been dead. After everything Raven had done…He should have been dead.
Instead…An enormous black mist surrounded him. Dark mana exploded from his body in endless waves. Even from this distance…I could feel its pressure pressing against my skin. It felt…Not human.
Raven quietly spoke. "Hold on." Before I could answer—She jumped again. The descent happened so quickly that the forest became nothing but streaks of green beneath us.
She landed before Kara, Kalina and several soldiers. Without hesitation she gently placed me into Kara's arms.
"Take care of the princess." She reached for her sword. "I'll take care of Malvias."
Kalina immediately stepped forward. "You're not fighting him alone this time. We are going with you."
Raven didn't even look back.
"No."
"Raven—"
" No one will interfere in this fight." There wasn't anger in her voice. "The farther you stay from him…The safer the princess will be." She began walking away.
I couldn't let her leave without saying something. "Raven!" She stopped. "Please…" I swallowed the lump in my throat. "…be careful."
She never turned around. …and continued walking. Moments later…She disappeared into the thick black mist. Silence settled around us.
Kara slowly lowered me onto the ground. Her hands trembled. She tried smiling. "Lyria…" Her eyes shimmered with tears. "Are you alright? Did that bastard hurt you?"
I wanted to reassure her. But my eyes remained fixed on the place where Raven had vanished. I'm alright…but she isn't." I looked at both of them. "Please…Go help Raven."
A deafening boom suddenly echoed through the forest. The ground beneath us shook violently. Kalina turned toward the sound. "What was that?!"
Kara's expression darkened. "The fight has already started…" Kalina looked at me. "But Raven ordered us not to interfere."
"I know." I nodded. "But…"I stared toward the distant explosions. "…something is wrong. Malvias should have died. He did something. He became even stronger."
"And Raven…" My voice became barely audible. "…she's fighting him alone."
Kara and Kalina exchanged uncertain looks. After a long silence…Kara sighed. "Fine. We'll watch from a distance. But we do not interfere. My priority is still protecting you."
I nodded. We moved carefully through the forest. The closer we came…The heavier the air became. Kara suddenly stopped. She covered her mouth. "…What is this pressure?, It feels like…My stomach is turning."
Even breathing had become difficult. Every instinct screamed at us to run away. Kalina stared ahead. "…Who is that monster? …Where's Malvias?"
I looked toward the battlefield. I froze. The creature standing there…Couldn't possibly be human anymore. Towering over Raven…Covered in monstrous muscles…Dark energy poured endlessly from its body. Its claws crashed against Raven's sword—
BOOM!
The collision sent a shockwave across the forest. Trees bent violently. Leaves exploded into the air. The ground trembled beneath our feet.
Kalina whispered in disbelief. "That thing…it's overwhelming even Raven."
I couldn't breathe. Every exchange forced Raven backward. Every block made her arms shake. The monster swung again. Raven barely intercepted the attack. The impact drove her backward.
Another swing. Another explosion. Another retreat. She wasn't winning. She was surviving. The monster suddenly slammed both claws downward. Raven caught the attack with her sword. Her knees bent.
For the first time… I saw her struggle to hold her ground. "Kara!" I took a step forward. "We have to help her!"
Kara grabbed my wrist. "Look. She's still standing."
As if proving Kara right…Raven twisted sideways and escaped. But before relief could reach me—The monster's tail whipped across the battlefield.
CRACK!!
It struck Raven directly. She was launched dozens of meters before crashing into an enormous boulder. Stone shattered. Dust exploded everywhere.
A few seconds later…She slowly stood again. Barely.
"…No…" My voice trembled. "Kara…We have to help her. Please. She's going to die."
Kara tightened her grip around my arm. Her face was filled with agony. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, Lyria. But we can't. If even Raven…can't defeat that thing…I can't risk losing you again. I'm really sorry."
Tears finally escaped my eyes. "You don't understand…" My voice broke. "…It's my fault. I stabbed her. I…My hands…They were controlled…But I stabbed Raven. In her back In her side her arm. With a dagger that seals mana."
They both looked at me Their faces turned pale. Kalina's eyes widened. "…What?" Kara stared at me in disbelief. "You… stabbed Raven? . You… but why."
I lowered my hea. "…She can't use her powers. She's still bleeding because of me. So please…help her."
Before either of them could answer—The monster appeared behind Raven. Its claws tore across her back. Blood sprayed through the air. My heart stopped.
The next attack came instantly. Raven barely raised her sword. The force drove her onto one knee. She was shaking. The monster drew back one massive fist. Times slowed.
"No…"
.
BOOOOOOM!!
It punched .The sound was like thunder. Even from this distance I felt the shockwave strike my chest. Raven's sword blocked part of the attack…But it wasn't enough.
She flew across the battlefield. Her body slammed into an ancient tree so hard that the trunk cracked down the middle.
Then…Nothing. She didn't move. The monster slowly walked toward her. It intended to finish her.
"No!"
Without thinking—I started running. But before I could take more than two steps—Two figures shot past me. Kara. Kalina. They crossed the battlefield in an instant. Both drew their swords simultaneously. Steel met claw.
BOOOM!!
The impact forced both women backward several meters…Yet they refused to yield. They stood shoulder to shoulder. Between the monster…And the unconscious Raven.
I kept running toward Raven. Praying…Begging…That I wasn't already too late. I ran as fast as my trembling legs would carry me.
The battlefield behind me echoed with explosions, steel, and monstrous roars as Kara, Kalina, and the remaining soldiers desperately held the creature back.
When I reached Raven, my heart nearly stopped. She was slumped against the broken trunk of an ancient tree, her head hanging low. Her sword had slipped from her fingers and lay half-buried in the dirt beside her. A pool of crimson blood had already spread beneath her.
"…Raven…"
My voice came out as nothing more than a whisper. I collapsed onto my knees before her and cupped her face with both shaking hands. Her skin was cold.
I slowly lifted her head until I could see her face. There were cuts everywhere. Blood ran from the long wound across her forehead, down beside one eye. Her lips were pale.
"…Raven…" She didn't respond. "Raven… can you hear me?"
No answer.
Behind me the sounds of battle grew louder. Kara shouted. Kalina yelled. "Hey, Princess, get Raven out of here right now! The monster is trying to get past us and kill Raven." Metal screamed against claws. Another explosion shook the forest.
But none of it mattered. All I could see was the girl in front of me. " Please…Please don't…" My fingers trembled harder as tears blurred my vision. "Raven…" My voice cracked. "Please wake up…"
She remained completely still. The fear inside me tightened until it became impossible to breathe. "No…" I shook her. "Please…Raven!" The tears finally escaped. I almost screamed. "Please don't die in front of me! I beg you…Open your eyes you idiot …I don't want to lose you, I still haven't made you fall in love with me…please.
For several unbearable seconds. Nothing happened. Then—Her eyelashes twitched.
"…!"
A tiny movement. Slowly…Her eyelids opened. The golden eyes that had stood before countless monsters finally looked back at me. Relief crashed into me so suddenly that I almost laughed and cried at the same time. A smile escaped me through my tears.
"Raven…"
At first her gaze was empty. Unfocused. As though she couldn't remember where she was. She stared silently at me. Then her eyes slowly moved past my shoulder. Toward the battlefield.
Something changed. She lowered her gaze. Her eyes stopped on her own hands. They were covered in blood. She slowly tightened her fingers. So tightly that her knuckles turned white.
I hurriedly grabbed her arm. "Raven…We need to leave. Come on. We have to get you away from here."
She said nothing. Instead…She reached toward the ground. Her hand found the hilt of her sword. Her fingers wrapped around it with quiet determination. Using the sword for support—She began forcing herself to stand. Every movement looked agonizing. Her body shook violently.
I immediately reached out. "Let me help you." Before I could touch her—She pushed my hand away firmly.
"…No." Her voice was quiet. Cold. So cold that I barely recognized it. I tried once more. "Please… let me help—"
"I said…" She slowly looked at me. "…No."
I froze. Those weren't the eyes of the Raven I knew. There was no warmth. No teasing smile. No calm confidence.
Only determination. Only something frighteningly empty. Without another word…She began walking. One slow step. Toward the monster. And she kept muttering, "I am weak, I am weak." Over and over.
"Raven!" I stood and ran after her. "Where are you going?, Please stop! Your body can't keep fighting! You'll die!"
She never slowed. She never looked back. Black mist slowly leaked from her body, curling across the ground like living shadows. Every step she took left drops of blood behind her. The forest itself seemed to grow quieter. Then—A terrifying pressure burst from her body.
BOOOOOM!!
A massive explosion of mana erupted around Raven. The shockwave swept across the battlefield, bending trees and sending dust flying into the sky. Even I was forced to shield my face.
Far ahead…The monster turned. Even he seemed surprised. He smiled. "So…You can still fight."
I stared at Raven. The air around her distorted beneath the sheer density of her mana. She kept walking. Closer.
Kara and Kalina were already struggling beneath one of Malvias' enormous arms. Both had fallen to one knee. Their swords trembled as they desperately tried to keep the monstrous claw from crushing them. Another second…And both of them would die.
Raven disappeared. She simply…Vanished. The next instant—She appeared directly in front of the monster. She clenched her fist. She threw a single punch.
BOOOOOOOOM!!
The impact sounded like a mountain splitting apart. A deafening shockwave exploded in every direction. The force blasted Kara, Kalina, and the nearby soldiers backward several meters away.
The monster's enormous body left the ground completely. It was launched through the air like it weighed nothing. Before it could even fall—Raven disappeared again. She appeared above him. Her body twisted in midair.
CRAAAASH!!
Her kick slammed into Malvias' chest with enough force to send him hurtling even farther across the forest. But she didn't stop. She never gave him the chance. Again. And again. Each strike drove him farther away.
The air exploded with every impact. Within moments…The battle had moved so far away that we could barely follow it. Kara and Kalina rushed back toward me. Both were breathing heavily. Both carried fresh wounds.
Kalina stared into the distance. "I… don't understand. How is Raven still standing? She should have collapsed long ago."
Kara remained silent for several moments before speaking. "No…Forget standing. How is she fighting that thing by herself?" She looked toward the distant explosions. "I still can't believe Malvias transformed into that monster. If Raven hadn't arrived when she did…" She glanced toward me. "We would've died."
I slowly clenched my fists. "…Then my suspicion was right. That creature…really is Malvias."
Kalina frowned. "But, Princess…You told us Raven couldn't use her abilities anymore. Then what was that explosion just now.? Where did that strength suddenly come from?"
I watched another distant explosion illuminate the evening sky. "…I don't know." My voice was barely audible. "But…that wasn't the Raven I know." The memory of her eyes sent a chill through me. "Something happened…When she lost consciousness. For a moment…It felt like. she became someone else. So cold…So distant…I couldn't recognize her."
Silence fell. Even the forest seemed to hold its breath. Then I took a step forward. "I can't leave her alone. What if she collapses again? What if…this time she doesn't get back up?"
Kara immediately looked at me.
Kalina looked toward the battlefield. "Even if we wanted to help…but How?. We couldn't even hold him down for five minutes. Listen."
Another explosion thundered through the mountains. The ground trembled beneath our feet. The trees swayed violently. "That's not a battlefield ordinary people like us can enter."
I shook my head. "I don't care." My voice surprised even me. "I refuse to abandon someone who risked her life to save mine. If Raven is walking into hell…then I will at least walk as far as I can beside her."
Kara sighed. A tired smile appeared on her face. "…That suicidal idiot. She always insists on carrying everything herself." She tightened her grip on her sword. I'm not leaving her either."
Kalina grinned despite the blood running down her cheek. "My curiosity has officially become stronger than my fear. There are far too many mysteries surrounding that girl. And I'm not letting her die before I uncover every single one."
The three of us exchanged one final look. No one needed to say another word. Together…We began climbing toward the high cliff where the earth itself continued to shake beneath the clash between Raven…and the monster called Malvias.
The closer we got…The louder the explosions became. At first, they had sounded distant—like thunder rolling somewhere beyond the mountains. Now they sounded as though the sky itself was breaking apart.
BOOM!
The ground trembled beneath my feet. A moment later—Another explosion illuminated the night sky.
BOOOOOOM!
I instinctively stopped. The pressure in the air had become so heavy that breathing itself felt difficult. It wasn't ordinary mana. It was something far denser. Far more violent. Every breath felt as though I were inhaling through water.
Several soldiers behind us had begun whispering among themselves. "What the hell is happening over there? Are we really supposed to go any closer?."
"I don't think we should interfere…That isn't a fight anymore. That's a disaster. We'll only get ourselves killed."
I heard every word. But I kept walking. I couldn't stop. Not when Raven was still fighting. Not when she was fighting alone. I tightened my hands around the edges of my cloak and continued forward.
Kara noticed.
"Lyria…"
"I know." I didn't look back. "I know it's dangerous."
Another explosion interrupted me. The entire forest shook. Birds fled from the trees. Branches snapped. Dust fell from the cliffs. And the night sky flashed white for a brief moment.
I swallowed.
"…But I'm not leaving her alone."
We continued carefully until we finally reached the edge of a high cliff. Kara raised her hand. "That's enough." We stopped. She looked toward the battlefield. "We can't get any closer. If we do, we'll only become a burden."
She was right. The distance between us and the battlefield wasn't enormous. We could still see them. Barely.
But the sheer pressure coming from the fight made it impossible to approach safely. Even standing here, my clothes were constantly being pulled by the violent winds created by their movements.
Kalina stared ahead in disbelief. "What…" She narrowed her eyes. "I can't even follow them."
I looked toward the battlefield. Raven and Malvias were moving so quickly that my eyes couldn't properly track them. One moment they were on the ground. The next—They were in the trees. Then—High above the forest.
Then—A flash. Another explosion. Another shockwave. They were moving faster than anything I had ever witnessed. I couldn't even tell which one was attacking. All I could see were flashes of steel and darkness colliding.
Kalina slowly raised her hand to shield her face from the wind. "What kind of fight is this?" She laughed nervously. "They're…They're actually equal."
I stared at the battlefield. She was right. Neither of them was falling. Neither was retreating. Every time Malvias struck—Raven answered. Every time Raven attacked—Malvias blocked. The entire forest seemed to tremble beneath their battle.
"I feel like I'm going to be blown off this cliff."
Kara didn't answer. She was staring too. Then—Another explosion erupted. A shockwave swept through the forest. The trees bent violently. Dust rose into the air.
And this time…I saw Malvias. His massive body crashed into the ground. The impact created a crater.
For a moment, everything became silent. I saw Raven. She stood several dozen meters away. Completely still. Her sword hung loosely at her side. Her clothes were torn. Blood covered her body. But she didn't appear to feel any of it. She simply stared at Malvias. Emotionless. Her golden eyes were glowing. Like two burning embers in the darkness.
I frowned.
"…What's wrong with her eyes?"
I had seen those eyes before. But not like this.
I remembered When she saved Extraction the curse and the moment she had saved me from Malvias. When Raven had held me in her arms…Her eyes had changed. For a brief moment, they had become red.
I remembered it clearly. And now…They were glowing like the sun. "What are you hiding, Raven…?" I whispered.
They moved again. The battle resumed. Every few moments, another explosion illuminated the sky. The battlefield seemed to move across the forest. Trees were torn from the ground. Rock formations were shattered. The earth itself was being destroyed beneath them.
Then suddenly—They stopped. Raven and Malvias stood facing each other. Malvias was covered in wounds. Deep cuts covered his enormous body. Blood ran down his arms and chest. His breathing was heavy. He looked exhausted. Raven wasn't much better.
But Malvias was clearly losing. Then he raised both hands. I felt it before I saw it. Mana began gathering. My entire body froze. A small sphere appeared between his hands.
At first…It was no larger than a fist. Then it grew. And grew. The sphere became enormous. Red flames spiraled around it. Inside those flames, razor-sharp blades of wind rotated violently. Blue lightning flashed through the sphere, each bolt exploding against the ground beneath it. Dark energy surrounded everything.
The pressure was unbearable. Even from here…My knees began trembling. The red flames formed rings around the enormous sphere. Every rotation produced a deafening roar.
Kara's expression changed. "What is that?" Her voice trembled. "I…" She swallowed. "I can't breathe properly." She looked at us. "We need to move. Now. If that thing explodes anywhere near us…We'll die." Kalina stared at Raven. "But…Why isn't she moving?"
My heart sank. Raven was still standing there. She wasn't retreating. She wasn't running. She wasn't even trying to avoid the attack. She simply watched Malvias.
Malvias' attack continued growing. The sphere became so large that it seemed to swallow the darkness around it. The pressure became monstrous.
Even the soldiers behind us began stumbling backward. "Princess!" One of them shouted. "We need to retreat!" I ignored him. My eyes remained fixed on Raven.
Then—She slowly raised her sword. Both hands wrapped around the hilt. Black mist began pouring from the blade. It crawled up her arms. Wrapping around them. Layer after layer. It looked almost like armor.
The sword ignited. Not with ordinary fire. Black fire. A darkness so deep that it seemed to consume the light around it. The flames didn't illuminate anything. They devoured the light.
Even from this distance…I could feel something wrong about them. Malvias' mana was terrifying. But Raven's…Was different. It was quieter. Darker. And somehow…Far more frightening.
My heart began pounding. "Raven…" I screamed. "RAVEN!" She didn't respond. Perhaps she couldn't hear me. Perhaps she didn't care.
The next instant—Both disappeared. My eyes widened.
"They're coming!" Kalina turned toward the soldiers and screamed. "SHIELDS!"
Several soldiers immediately raised their hands. Mana erupted around us. A massive barrier formed over our heads. A dome of protective energy surrounded everyone. And then—They collided.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The world disappeared. For one terrifying instant…There was no forest. No cliff. No sky. No darkness. Only light. A blinding white light swallowed everything. The explosion illuminated the entire night sky as though the sun had suddenly risen. The ground beneath us violently shook.
I lost my balance. I fell. Kara grabbed me before I hit the ground and wrapped both arms around me. The shockwave arrived. Trees were ripped from the ground. Branches flew through the air. Rocks were launched like arrows.
The soldiers struggled to maintain the barrier. "Hold it! Don't let the shield break!" The dome trembled violently. Cracks appeared across its surface. Kalina shouted—"What the hell is happening?!"She looked at the barrier in panic. "I don't think this shield can hold much longer!"Another explosion even greater than the first.
BOOOOOOOM!.
The barrier cracked again. I covered my ears. Kara pulled me closer. "Stay down!" The wind screamed around us. The entire forest looked as though it were being torn apart.
Then—The barrier began collapsing. "No!" One of the soldiers shouted. "It's breaking!"
Kara immediately stood. She raised both hands. Mana gathered around her. A thick wall formed directly in front of us. The next wave struck. CRASH! The wall shattered. Kara immediately created another. CRASH! It broke again. Another. And another.
Each time the shockwave destroyed the wall, Kara created a new one. Her arms began trembling. Blood appeared at the corner of her mouth. But she refused to stop. Another wall. "Again!" Another and another. Her breathing became ragged. Yet she kept protecting us. I could do nothing but watch.
Then—Suddenly…Silence. The wind stopped. The trembling ceased. The explosions ended. The final wall remained standing for several seconds. Then it slowly dissolved.
I lifted my head. Dust floated through the air. Ash drifted down like snow. The forest…was silent.
I slowly looked toward the battlefield. My heart tightened. "…Raven?" I couldn't see her. I couldn't see Malvias either.
Only a massive cloud of smoke and dust remained where they had collided. I clenched my hands against my chest. Please…Please be alive. Don't you dare disappear now. I slowly pushed myself to my feet. My legs were still trembling from the force of the explosion, but I barely noticed. My eyes searched through the smoke. I couldn't see her.
"Raven…"
I took a step forward. Before I could take another, Kara suddenly grabbed my wrist. "Where are you going, Lyria?" I turned toward her. "I'm going to Raven."
Kara's expression immediately hardened. "No. We don't know what happened after that explosion. Malvias could still be alive. The entire area could be unstable, and you could be captured again."
I frowned. "I don't care." My voice came out more firmly than I expected. "What if Raven is hurt? What if she needs our help?" I pulled my wrist slightly, but Kara didn't let go. "We have to find her."
Kara's expression became angry. "My job is to protect you from danger." She pointed toward the devastated battlefield. "And right now, you're walking directly toward it." Her voice softened slightly. "I should have taken you straight back to the Duke's estate after Raven rescued you."
I lowered my eyes. I knew she was right. But I couldn't leave. Not now. Not after everything Raven had done for me.
Before I could answer, Kalina placed a hand on Kara's shoulder. "Calm down. I understand you and I know you're worried about the princess's safety and that it's your duty to protect her, but we're worried about Raven too." Kalina looked toward the enormous cloud of dust. "We'll go with princess . We won't let her go alone."
Kara clenched her jaw. For several seconds, she remained silent. Then she finally sighed. "Fine." She pointed toward me. "But you stay behind us."
I nodded. "Alright."
"And don't leave my side."
"I won't."
Kalina turned toward the soldiers. "Everyone, move carefully." She pointed toward the front. "Keep the soldiers ahead of us. If anything happens, raise a shield immediately."
The soldiers nodded. We began moving. Slowly. Carefully. The forest we had walked through only minutes earlier…No longer existed. There were no trees. No bushes. No birds. Nothing. The landscape had been completely erased.
We walked through what had once been a forest and now looked like a wasteland. Broken tree trunks lay scattered across the ground. Boulders had been thrown hundreds of meters away. The earth itself had been torn apart.
When we finally reached the battlefield, I stopped. My breath caught. Half of the mountain had collapsed. The other half was barely standing.
And in front of us…There was a crater. A gigantic crater. It stretched so far that I couldn't comprehend its size. One of the soldiers stared at it in disbelief.
"What…"Another whispered, "By the gods…This is…" He slowly looked around. "This is the first time I've ever seen destruction on this scale." Another soldier swallowed. "They destroyed the entire forest. What kind of power can do this?"
I ignored them. My eyes continued searching.
Kalina suddenly shouted. "RAVEN!" Her voice echoed through the ruined landscape. "Can you hear me?!"
For several seconds…Nothing happened. Then the dust began to clear. A figure appeared through the fog.
There she was. Raven. Standing completely still. She wasn't moving. She was simply staring ahead. Her arms hung at her sides. Blood dripped from both hands. Drop. Drop.
Her clothes were torn almost beyond recognition. Deep claw marks crossed her back. Blood continued running from them. Then I saw her face. There was a long wound stretching from her eyebrow down beneath her eye. Blood flowed freely from it.
My heart clenched.
"Raven…" Kalina called her name again.
Raven slowly turned her head. Her golden eyes found us. They were glowing in the darkness. her expression was empty. blank. Then her eyes narrowed. She began walking toward us. Slowly. Each step heavy. Each footfall leaving blood behind. When she finally reached us, she stopped.
"What are you doing here?"Her voice was cold. Almost angry. "Didn't I tell you to stay away?"
Kalina frowned. "What do you mean, what are we doing here?" She gestured toward Raven. "We were worried about you! You've been fighting that monster alone!, And you still expect us to sit somewhere safe while you risk your life?"
Raven's expression didn't change.
"Yes."
Kalina stared at her. "You're unbelievable."
I couldn't listen anymore. I stepped forward. "Raven…" She looked at me. My lips trembled. "I'm sorry." Her eyes remained on mine. "This is my fault." I lowered my head. "I'm the one who insisted on coming here."
I slowly raised my hand toward her face. There was blood running down from the wound in her eye. I wanted to wipe it away. I wanted to ask if she was alright. But just as my fingers were about to touch her…
Raven turned her head away. My hand froze in midair. Slowly, I lowered it. Something inside my chest hurt. She was exhausted. And yet she still wouldn't allow anyone to see her weakness.
Raven looked toward the others.
"You all need to leave."
Kara frowned. "Where's Malvias?"She looked around. "And what was that explosion? We nearly turned to ash because of it."
Raven lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Kara stared at her. Then sighed. "Raven." She pointed toward her wounds. "Sit down. Let us take care of your wounds."
Raven didn't answer.
"Look at yourself. You're bleeding everywhere. How are you even standing?" She stepped closer. "Forget fighting. You can barely remain upright."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not. You need to rest."
"I'm fine." Raven's voice remained flat. Then she looked past us. "But you need to leave."
Kara frowned.
"The fight isn't over yet."
Raven didn't answer. She simply stared into the fog. Then—A sound came from somewhere ahead. A low, distorted sound. I couldn't see anything. But Raven immediately reached for her sword. Her fingers wrapped around the hilt. "Stay here." She started walking.
"Raven!"
She didn't stop. she already decided she wouldn't stop until everything was over. "Don't follow me." She disappeared into the fog.
I stared after her. until the fog shifted. A massive silhouette appeared. My eyes widened. Malvias. He was on his knees. His monstrous body was covered in blood. A gigantic wound stretched from his shoulder all the way down toward his abdomen. It looked as though his body had nearly been split in two.
Yet somehow…He was still alive. Raven stood in front of him. They appeared to be speaking. But we couldn't hear them. Then Malvias slowly stood. His body trembled. And yet…He smiled. A horrible smile. I felt something cold crawl down my spine.
Then—He vanished. "What?!" We looked around. Nothing. Then I looked at Raven. Her expression suddenly changed. Her eyes widened. She was looking directly at me. Fear flashed across her face.
My heart stopped. I slowly turned around. Malvias was standing behind me. His enormous hand wrapped around my arm.
"Lyria!" Kara screamed.
The last thing I heard was Malvias's voice, "If I die, I will take your princess with me." I didn't even have time to react. Then The ground disappeared beneath my feet.
Malvias jumped. And suddenly…We were falling. The cliff vanished above us. The wind screamed past my ears. My stomach dropped. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't understand what had happened.
I looked down. Nothing but darkness beneath us. I'm going to die. The thought came strangely calmly. Then I heard something. I looked upward.
Raven. she jumped. My eyes widened. "Why did you jump after me?! You're going to die!"
Raven descended rapidly. She reached us. Her sword flashed. The blade pierced Malvias through the heart. His grip loosened. I fell—But Raven caught me Then she pulled me tightly against her chest.. Using Malvias' body as leverage, she pushed herself away from him.
She wrapped both arms around my body. I could feel her heartbeat. Fast. Violent. She twisted her body in midair. She positioned herself beneath me. Protecting me.
"Hold on."Her voice was barely audible. I buried my face against her shoulder. Then—We hit the trees. Branches shattered around us. Each impact shook my entire body. Raven never released me. Then the final impact came.
BOOM!
Everything went black. The last thing I felt…Was Raven's arms still wrapped tightly around me. And the last thought that crossed my mind was—Why…Why would you risk dying for me again?.
I think I was unconscious for several minutes. Or perhaps longer. Time had become meaningless. There was only darkness, silence, and the fading sensation of falling. Then, slowly, painfully, I began to feel something beneath me.
Something warm. Something that was breathing. My eyes opened. For a few seconds, I couldn't understand what I was seeing.
The world was blurred, my ears were ringing, and everything around me seemed strangely quiet after the deafening explosion we had just survived.
Then I realized. I was lying on top of Raven. My breath caught in my throat.
"Raven…?"
She didn't answer. I pushed myself up slightly, my heart pounding. Raven was lying beneath me, completely motionless. Her arms were still wrapped tightly around my body. Even unconscious, she hadn't let go of me.
My hands began to tremble. "Raven?" I touched her cheek. It was warm. "Raven…" I placed my fingers beneath her nose. A faint breath brushed against my skin. I nearly collapsed from relief.
"She's alive…"
The words escaped my lips as little more than a whisper. Thank the gods. She was alive. But the relief lasted only a few seconds. Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw the blood. There was blood everywhere.
Raven's clothes were torn almost beyond recognition. Deep claw marks ran across her back, blood slowly seeping from them. Her arms were covered with cuts and bruises, and the wound near her eye had opened again.
And then I noticed the blood covering my own clothes. So much of it. My stomach twisted. I was terrified that it was mine.
"Lyria!" I turned my head. "Kara!"Kara and Kalina were running toward us through the broken trees. They looked battered and exhausted, but they were still standing.
Kara reached me first. She grabbed my shoulders and immediately began looking me over. "Lyria, are you alright? You're alright, aren't you?"
"I…"
She suddenly looked down at my stomach. Her expression changed. "Lyria!" She dropped to her knees. "You're bleeding!"
I looked down. My clothes were soaked in crimson. But I looked at Raven. The blood wasn't mine. I shook my head quickly. "No. It's not mine." I looked at Raven again. "It's hers. It's Raven's blood." My voice trembled.
Kara's expression became grim. Kalina had already moved beside Raven. She carefully rolled her onto her side and examined the wounds across her back. Her face paled.
"The wound…It is very deep." Her fingers hovered above Raven's back. Then she looked at me. "Princess, you still have mana, don't you?"
I nodded.
"Then heal her." Her voice became urgent. "Quickly. She's losing too much blood."
I stared at her. "But…" Kalina looked at me. "What's happening to you, Princess? Come on, heal her."
I hesitated. I didn't know whether I should tell them. But Kara spoke first. "There is no point." Kalina frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Raven doesn't respond to healing magic." Kara's eyes remained fixed on Raven. "We've tried before. Healing magic doesn't work on her."
Kalina looked between us in disbelief. "Then how did she survive wounds that should have killed her?"
"I don't know." Kara's voice was quiet. "But I've seen it myself. Healing spells don't work on her."
Kalina cursed quietly under her breath. "Then we need another way." She reached into one of her pouches and pulled out a small green vial.
"What is that?" Kara asked.
"A healing potion." Kalina uncorked it. "It may not work, but we don't have the luxury of doing nothing." She carefully lifted Raven's head. "Come on…drink it." She poured the liquid between Raven's lips.
We waited. Nothing happened. Kalina's expression darkened. "As I thought." She immediately placed both hands against the wound in Raven's side and applied pressure. "Then we'll stop the bleeding ."
Blood continued slipping between her fingers. There was so much of it. It slowly gathered beneath Raven's body, forming a dark pool against the earth.
I reached for Raven's hand. It was cold. I held it tightly between both of mine. "Raven…" My voice cracked. "Please…" I lowered my head. "Please don't give up. Please…" Tears gathered in my eyes.
"You saved me." I squeezed her hand. "You protected me when I was the one who hurt you." My voice became smaller. "You can't die now."
Then—A faint sound escaped Raven's throat. All three of us froze. Raven's lips moved. I leaned closer.
"Raven?"
Her voice was barely audible. " This… so fucking hurts…"
I blinked. I stared at her. "…Fucking?" Even in that moment, the strange word caught me completely off guard.
Kalina looked at me. Kara stared at Raven. Then Raven's fingers twitched. Her eyelids slowly opened.
"Raven!" I leaned over her. "Can you hear me?"
Her golden eyes stared blankly toward the sky. For several seconds, there was no recognition in them. Only confusion. Then her gaze shifted. She looked at me.
"Sam…" Her brows furrowed. "What is happening here sis…?" She looked around weakly. "Where am I?" Then she winced. "Why does everything hurt?"
Kara frowned. "What happened to her, what is she talking about.?"
Kalina examined Raven's eyes. "Her mind is confused . She may have hit her head."
Raven's eyelids slowly closed again.
"Raven?" I squeezed her hand. "Can you hear me?"
Her eyes opened once more. This time, she seemed to recognize me. But before she could say anything, she tried to sit up. A sharp groan escaped her. Her hand immediately moved toward her side.
"Don't!" I placed both hands on her shoulders and gently forced her back down. "Don't move."
She stared at me. "Are you alright?"
I almost laughed from disbelief. Instead, my lips trembled. "I'm the one who should be asking you that." I took her hand. "I'm fine. You need to worry about yourself."
Raven gave me the faintest smile.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
She tried to sit up again. I pushed her back down. "I said don't move!" My voice came out much angrier than I intended.
Raven blinked.
"You're not fine, Raven. You can barely breathe."
"But Malvias…" Her expression suddenly became serious. "I need to make sure he's dead."
Kara looked toward the distant trees. "He's dead."
Raven's eyes shifted toward her.
Kara nodded. "I checked. His body isn't far from here. The fight is over."
Raven remained silent. Her head slowly sank back onto the ground. She stared upward at the night sky. The stars were visible between the broken branches. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then—
"Kara. My sword. Can you bring it to me?"
Kara looked at her and nodded . " of course."
"But don't touch it directly." Raven's voice was weak. "Use something to carry it."
Kara understood immediately. "Alright." She stood. "I'll be careful." As she turned away,
Raven spoke again. "And… the book. The black book Malvias used." Raven's breathing became slightly heavier. "The one that turned those people into monsters."
Kalina's eyes widened. "You think you can reverse the spell?"
Raven nodded faintly. "When my mana recovers… I should be able to." She closed her eyes for a moment. "The book must still be with him."
Kalina immediately stood. "I'll find it."
"Keep it somewhere safe," Raven added. "Until I recover." Kalina gave her a small smile. "Leave that to me." She turned and followed Kara.
Soon, their footsteps disappeared into the darkness. And then…There were only Raven and me. I remained beside her. Still holding her hand. For a while, neither of us spoke.
The forest around us had been destroyed. Trees that had stood for centuries were now scattered across the ground. The mountain itself had been torn apart.
And yet, beneath all that destruction, Raven simply lay there beneath the stars. Her breathing was slow. Her body was covered in wounds. And somehow…She was still alive.
I looked down at our intertwined hands. Then at her face. I simply held her hand tighter. As though letting go for even a second might make her disappear.
She looked at me with a tried smile. "Don't worry. I'm not going to die from these little scratches. They don't even hurt."
How could she say that?
She was covered in wounds. Blood had soaked through her clothes, pooled beneath her body, and continued to seep from the deep gash across her back and the wound at her side. Her breathing was shallow, uneven, and every few seconds her expression tightened as though she were fighting against pain she refused to acknowledge.
I stared at her for several seconds. "Little scratches?" Before she could react, I placed my hand against her side and pressed lightly.
Raven's entire body stiffened. "Ow—ow—ow… stop! Please! That fucking hurts. I think my ribs are broken."
I immediately pulled my hand away. "You see?!" My voice came out louder than I intended.
"If it hurts, then say it hurts! Why do you keep pretending you're fine when you're clearly not? Why do you always act like you're invincible? Why do you insist on doing everything alone? Why won't you let anyone help you?"
Raven looked away. For once, she didn't have an immediate answer. After a long silence, she finally spoke. "I don't want to depend on anyone to save me." Her voice was quiet. "Even if I'm at my weakest… I would rather fight alone."
"You're an idiot. And now be quiet and save your strength. We'll talk about this later. Do you understand?"
Raven slowly turned her eyes toward me. She blinked. "I'm an idiot?"
"Yes." I crossed my arms. "A very big idiot."
For a moment, Raven simply stared at me. Then she let out a quiet laugh. "Ah…" She immediately winced and grabbed her side. "Ow, ow… please stop making me laugh. I can barely breathe."
My anger disappeared instantly. I looked at her with concern. She noticed.
"I'm really fine."
"You're obviously not."
Raven sighed. "Maybe." Then she looked at me. "But can I ask you for something?"
I paused. It was the first time I had ever heard Raven ask someone for help so openly. I nodded. "Of course. Anything."
Her eyes moved toward the forest. "The dagger that wounded me."
My fingers curled into a fist. "You mean the dagger I used to stab you?"
Raven gave me a faint smile. "No." Her voice was gentle. "You didn't stab me. Malvias did. He was controlling you."
My throat tightened.
"So don't blame yourself for something you didn't choose to do."
I lowered my head. A tear escaped before I could stop it. Raven noticed. She reached out weakly and closed her fingers around my hand. " It's not your fault princess." She gave me that same stubborn little smile. "And I'm not planning to die yet."
I nodded. "What do you need me to do?"
"The dagger." Her expression became serious. "I dropped it somewhere when we fell from the cliff. It should be somewhere nearby." She took a slow breath. "can you Find it for me."
"Why?"
"so I can Break it. If we destroy it, the spell binding my mana should disappear."
I stared at her.
Raven's fingers loosened around mine.
"Please."
I nodded. "I'll find it." I carefully released her hand and stood. "Don't move and don't you dare get up ."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't planning to."
I gave her a suspicious look. "You'd better not." Then I turned and disappeared into the trees. The forest was eerily quiet. After everything that had happened here, the silence felt unnatural.
I searched between the rocks for several minutes. Then I saw it. Something glimmered beneath the moonlight. I crouched down. The dagger lay between two stones.
It was impossible to miss once I knew where to look. Its blade was black and crimson, shimmering faintly beneath the moonlight. I felt a strange pressure the moment I approached it. Even without touching it, I could feel something wrong coming from the weapon.
I carefully picked it up. The moment my fingers closed around the handle, a cold sensation traveled up my arm. I immediately released it. The dagger fell against the stone.
I took a breath. Then I wrapped it in a piece of cloth and picked it up again. "Raven is right…" I stared at the blade. "This thing is dangerous."
I hurried back. But when I reached the place where Raven had been lying—She was gone. "Raven?" There was no answer. The ground was still stained with her blood.
I looked around frantically. Then I noticed something. Drops of blood. A trail leading toward the edge of the forest. I followed it. My heartbeat grew faster with every step.
Then I saw her. Raven stood at the edge of the forest. She was barely standing straight. One hand was pressed against her ribs, and blood continued to seep from her wounds.
She was staring into the darkness. I followed her gaze. Someone was standing there. A figure completely covered in black clothing. Raven seemed to be speaking to them. I couldn't hear the conversation.
Then the stranger turned. Without saying another word, they began walking deeper into the forest. Within seconds, the darkness swallowed them.
I hurried toward Raven. I reached her and immediately raised my voice. "Didn't I tell you not to move?!"
Raven stared at me. She looked exhausted. I stared at her in disbelief. Instead, she looked back toward the forest. I tightened my grip on the dagger.
"Raven…" She looked at me. "Who was that person?"
Her expression changed. "What person?"
"The person you were talking to."
Raven stared at me. "What are you talking about?, There wasn't anyone there."
I froze. "What?, But I saw them."
Raven's brows furrowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
I looked toward the forest. "But… I saw them."
Raven looked at me as if she genuinely didn't understand. Then her eyes suddenly lost focus.
"Raven?" Her body swayed. "Raven!" Her knees gave out. I caught her before she hit the ground. I lowered her carefully and cradled her head in my arms.
"Raven, wake up!" Her body felt frighteningly cold. Her breathing was slow. "Please…" My voice trembled. I held her tighter.
Footsteps suddenly approached from behind. "Princess!" I looked up. Kalina and kara rushed toward us with several soldiers.
"The soldiers from the city arrived just now ," she said quickly. "They brought a mage. He can teleport us directly to the palace."
"Then hurry... please." I looked down at Raven. "She needs a doctor immediately."
The mage stepped forward. He carried a long staff and stopped several feet away. "Everyone, stay close." He struck the ground twice with the bottom of his staff. A circle of light appeared beneath our feet. The air began to twist.
I tightened my arms around Raven. "Please hold on."
The world disappeared in a flash of light. And one heartbeat later—We were standing inside the grand throne hall of the palace. Raven was still unconscious in my arms.