Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds, Book 2

[224] A Happy Ending?

Chapter 224: A Happy Ending?

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The wind whispered through the desolate landscape, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and the faint rustle of distant trees. The sky above was a canvas of muted grays, heavy with the promise of an impending storm.

He raised a hand, looking at her. "Sangha," he said, "let's catch up on what we've missed."

A strange stillness hung in the air, broken only by the sound of her breathing. Shallow and hesitant.

Sangha stood frozen, her gaze locked on the outstretched hand before her. The memories flooded her mind in a torrent, each one more vivid than the last. The days of training, the quiet moments under the stars, the bond they had forged through pain and perseverance. It was all there, etched into the fabric of her being. Her heart pounded in her chest, torn between disbelief and a desperate hope that this was real.

With a trembling breath, she extended her hand, reaching out to accept the gesture, to grasp the familiarity of his touch. Her fingers brushed against his, and for a brief moment, it felt like everything would be okay.

Old memories crashed into her vividly. Her eyes grew blurry.

But then, without warning, a flash of red.

Pain.

Her eyes widened in shock as the world tilted, her body instinctively jerking away. Blood sprayed through the air, a crimson arc that splattered against the barren ground. The searing pain in her shoulder was nothing compared to the cold realization that followed.

Her arm was gone.

She staggered back, clutching the stump of her severed limb, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The man she had known, the man who had guided her, had just...

"M-Master?!" she choked out, her voice barely more than a whisper, trembling with a mix of fear and confusion.

The man before her—a figure she had once trusted with her life—stood with his hand covering his face. For a moment, he remained still, as if contemplating her words, his posture calm, almost relaxed. But then, slowly, he lowered his hand, revealing a small, amused smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Mhm, impressive, quick as always," he said, his voice laced with a casualness that sent a chill down her spine.

His eyes, however, held a glint of something darker, something she had never seen before. Seeing her trembling eyes, his smile widened, as if savoring the fear he had invoked. A low chuckle escaped his lips, growing in volume until it echoed through the empty expanse.

"Oh, Sangha, you've changed," he continued, his laughter bubbling up from deep within, a sound so twisted it seemed to mock the very bond they once shared. "To think you'd fall for the trick of a demon! Your senses have dulled, my dear little girl."

His words cut through the air like a blade, each syllable dripping with malice. Sangha's heart pounded in her chest, the coldness of his tone sending shivers down her spine.

What... what was going on?

This was not the master she remembered, not the man who had cared for her, trained her, been her only family. The person standing before her was a stranger wearing his face, a cruel mockery of the one she had once known.

"W-who..."

Her voice faltered, the words catching in her throat as her mind struggled to grasp the reality of the situation. Rage and confusion warred within her, twisting her features into a mask of anguish. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, began to blaze with fury.