The Absolute Surrender

Chapter 31: Phoenix's Rebirth

Obene gasped, his chest heaving as he drew a deep breath. He found himself lying on the ground, disoriented and struggling to comprehend his sudden return to consciousness. The sky above was a canvas of drifting ash, remnants of a sacrifice that seemed too profound to understand. The searing pain from Marlin's blade, once a constant torment, had vanished. Bewildered, he touched his body, astonished by the absence of pain. He had been certain he was dead—how could he possibly be alive?

He struggled to his feet, his vision blurred by the cascading ashes. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ardan stirring. Their eyes met, a silent exchange of confusion and disbelief passing between them. With a helping hand, Obene assisted his brother, who leaned heavily on him, still reeling from the traumatic events they had just endured.

Kalen, too, was grappling with the surreal shift in his reality. The memory of Lilian's blade piercing his flesh and the sensation of his life slipping away seemed like a distant nightmare. Yet here he was, standing and breathing as if reborn.

Noah, still dazed, looked around and spotted Kalen beside him. His voice trembled with disbelief. "You were dead. I saw it happen."

The soldiers from Silla and Lavitica, slowly regaining their senses, rose from their stupor. Their collective astonishment mirrored the disbelief on the faces of the four men who had been miraculously revived. They gathered together, their gaze drawn to the drifting ashes that painted the sky, their thoughts swirling with questions and confusion.

Just then, Roma emerged from the clearing, his presence commanding attention as the first light of dawn broke through the canopy. His voice cut through the murmur of astonished voices. "It's Lilian."

The four men turned to Roma, their faces a mix of hope and trepidation. Obene's voice trembled as he asked, "What about Lilian?"

Roma's expression was somber as he explained, "This is all her doing. She pulled you all back from death by sacrificing herself. These are her ashes, healing all beings that she cared about."

Noah's hands gripped Roma's shoulders, shaking him in desperation. "What do you mean she sacrificed herself? What did she do, Roma?"

"She's gone, Noah," Roma said softly but with unyielding clarity. "She burned herself alive."

A shudder of denial ran through Kalen. "No... It can't be."

"Why would she do that?" Ardan's voice cracked with anguish.

Roma sighed, his face etched with concern. He pondered Lilian's actions, sensing that guilt had driven her to such an extreme. The enchanted tree, he surmised, had been the catalyst for her final act.

Obene's legs buckled as he absorbed the weight of Roma's words. The profound grief of losing Lilian, compounded by the guilt of unspoken feelings, left him reeling.

Ardan's gaze wandered over the fallen soldiers, many of whom were stirring to life. Relief washed over him as he saw that Marlin's body remained lifeless. The realization that Marlin would not return to life brought a small measure of comfort amidst the sorrow.

Obene's thoughts were tumultuous as he noticed a stark detail—Victoria's body remained still, unresponsive. He walked over to confirm his fears and turned back to the others. "Victoria's body is still here. She didn't come back to life."

The revelation hit them hard. If Lilian had sacrificed herself to heal those she cared about, her mother's continued absence from the realm of the living was a painful contradiction. Their eyes turned to Roma, seeking an explanation, but the sorcerer was equally perplexed by Victoria's fate. The mysteries of Lilian's sacrifice and its limitations left a heavy silence hanging over them, each person grappling with the profound implications of their loss and the enigmatic nature of Lilian's final act.