She stood frozen at the entrance of the ballroom. Her breath caught in her throat.
The aftermath was haunting.
Broken glass, fallen banners, mutilated bodies. It was all too familiar. Her mind flared with memories of her throne room.
No. Not now.
She clenched her fists and swallowed the rising emotions.
This wasn't the time to fall apart.
Rhenvar lay unconscious in the center of it all. Willow and Viir were by his side. Two girls lingered nearby, and Clive stepped up beside her.
"Best keep your distance, my Goddess," Clive warned, his hand resting on his side. "I've never felt any blessing like that. Even my Blessing of Power wasn't enough."
"It's fine, Clive," Sinephilim said gently, eyes never leaving Rhenvar. "He's my partner. We're going to him."
They approached slowly. The air still buzzed with residual blood magic.
So Willow… why did you destroy the Worldheart?
"How is he?" She asked.
Willow sprang to his feet at the sound of her voice.
"Demon Queen…?" His eyes widened in despair. "I- I can't…." His words tumbled. "Everything that happened. I don't- I don't know what to say, I'm sorry."
He dropped to his knees, trembling. Flames began to crackle across his skin.
Just seeing my face has broken him. He knows what they did. What he was part of. The destruction of my kingdom, my family. But…
She knelt and placed a hand on his head.
Time to use the blessing this world's Gods gave me again.
The Blessing of Purify surged through her fingers, warm and steady. It sank into Willow's skin, the light flashed and his skin absorbed it. His flames dimmed. His breathing slowed. The chaos in his mind began to ease.
No one should suffer like this. Not Willow. Not Rhenvar.
I won't let Aucteros destroy anyone else.
It's not his fault, not really. He was manipulated, yet… I can't forgive them. Just like Rhenvar.
Willow blinked, stunned. "What…?"
"Willow," Sinephilim said softly. "I think you have some explaining to do. Now that your mind is clear, how did you get here? From our world?"
He hesitated. Then, slowly, he told her everything.
After the fall of the demon kingdom. Aucteros's alliance with Zerva and the Church. The enslavement of Rhenvar. The pursuit of Aucteros and their fight. Him destroying the thing Aucteros was desperate to gain.
Sinephilim listened without interrupting, expression unreadable.
"You chased Aucteros," she said at last. "And in the fight, you destroyed our world."
"I… I don't know what that means," Willow whispered, his voice empty.
"That thing Aucteros wanted. Was the heart of our world, you destroyed it and our everything with it."
He remembered. Slowly. Painfully. She let him sort through it himself.
Sinephilim turned to Viir, who was slumped against Rhenvar's head; her wings dim. Sinephilim knelt beside her.
"Viir. How is he?"
"Broken," the fairy whispered. "He's dreaming… of the past. His home. Black flames. They're consuming our soul. I can't…" And then Viir collapsed. Her glow flickered and faded.
Of course. Their bond is real. If he breaks, she breaks too.
"Oh, hi!" chirped one of the girls suddenly. "I'm Felicia and this is Veronica!"
Two girls approached casually, unbothered by the carnage.
Are they just pretending they did not witness a monster? Regardless, it's impressive.
Sinephilim rose. "I am Sinephilim," she said formally. "Partner of the cursed knight Rhenvar."
Veronica arched an eyebrow. "Oh? So, you were sent here to save the world, too?"
She knew our purpose?
"Did Rhenvar not mention me?"
"No." Veronica replied sharply. Her voice was calm, but her tone dripped with venom.
Jealousy? Or suspicion?
Before she could respond, Felicia gasped. "Guys, we need to go. The king and crown prince return around this time!"
"Oh, right… the corpses." Veronica glanced around, frowning.
Then the doors burst open.
A booming voice echoed through the hall: "Gods above…"
King Gerald and Crown Prince Theodore entered with a dozen elite guards. Their expressions turned grim at the destruction, the bodies, the blood-slick marble, the place in ruins.
"You there! Explain yourselves!" The King demanded, his voice echoing with thunder.
Veronica and Clive dropped to one knee immediately. Felicia stumbled awkwardly, doing her best imitation of a curtsy. Willow remained frozen, guilt and shame still written across his face.
Sinephilim didn't kneel. She met the king's gaze with quiet power.
Then, a red-haired man stepped forward, cutting through the tension.
"No need for them to explain, Father," he said smoothly, straightening his royal sash. "I saw everything. Sir Var is a monster. He slaughtered the nobles unprovoked."
Sinephilim narrowed her eyes, but before she could speak-
Felicia stepped forward.
Everyone turned.
Her face was pale, but her hands were clenched into fists. "That's not true," she said, voice shaking. "I mean it is, kind of, but not the way you're saying it!"
Prince Charles blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You did something to him Prince Charles," she said, her voice gaining strength. "You were the one who gave the toast. That wasn't even supposed to happen like that. And then right after… he snapped."
"What exactly are you accusing me of?" Charles asked coldly.
"Idiot…" Veronica whispered.
"I…" She swallowed. "I read- I know you have a blessing. Blessing of the Mind. You can manipulate thoughts and control people."
Charles's smile froze.
Veronica's face looked like she aged ten years.
"You pushed him," Felicia continued. "You broke him."
The whole room fell silent. The King's eyes narrowed.
Charles recovered quickly, gesturing like a fool. "I- I have no blessing with such power. And even if I did, do you expect anyone to believe you, a scatterbrained girl who stumbled through her introduction and curtsied like a commoner!"
Felicia froze.
"Regardless- look at this room father! I think immediate execution should be his judgment."
Sinephilim stepped beside Felicia.
"I think a fair trial should be held, not an immediate execution."
Charles turned to her. "And you are…?"
"Someone who's been blessed by the Gods of your world."
Charles's smile twitched.
Felicia suddenly flared. "If Prince Charles wants to accuse Rhenvar, then it's only fair that he is investigated as well. Fairness is the crown's virtue, is it not? At least in my kingdom it is!"
Prince Theodore looked between them all. His jaw was tight.
The King's eyes glowed faintly.
Was that magic?
"Enough," the King said. "Guards! Seize the murderer. And bring Prince Charles to the new court Mage for confirmation of these words."
"What?!" Charles exclaimed.
"If you are innocent," the King said coolly, "you have nothing to fear."
As Rhenvar's unconscious body was lifted and carried away, Felicia turned to Sinephilim with wide eyes. "I… I think I fucked up."
"No," Sinephilim said softly. "You bought us time."