I looked down at them. Fina reached a trembling hand toward me. Mia whispered, “Riol… please…”
The Unyielding Ember
Then, Lilith, the high priestess who prayed for my success. She whispered that my faith was too small, that Leon’s destiny was greater. She blessed his sword instead of my heart. I looked down at them
The next morning, Leon laughed. “Still here, Riol? You’re useless without us.” She whispered that my faith was too small,
Finally, even Mia, the childhood friend who swore she’d always be my home. She didn’t say a word. She just walked past me into Leon’s tent, her hand in his. “Still here, Riol
I didn’t sleep that night. I learned curses. I learned to convert my healing touch into a rotting grip. I learned to steal the very life energy I once gave freely.
I sat outside the camp, the rain soaking my robes. My staff felt heavy. My healing spells felt useless. I could hear them laughing inside— his laugh, their voices. The betrayal cut deeper than any monster’s claw.