Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 94: Brotherly Farewell

The night enveloped the cult in a deathly silence, and Narinder, upon returning, felt almost alien to the world around him. He had gone from the celebration of the work to the solitude of Silk Cradle, and now he found himself in the refuge of his cult, facing a much harsher reality. Without saying a word, he went to the cabin where Shamura slept. The door creaked slightly as it opened, and the sight of his brother, resting peacefully in bed, filled the space with an unusual calm.

Narinder felt a weight on his chest as he looked at Shamura's peaceful face. The scars on his wrists began to burn, as a reminder of everything he had endured, of the betrayal and the chains that bound their destinies in a cruel and irreversible way. As he sat on the bed next to his brother, he noticed the unusual comfort of the cotton, much softer than he himself was used to. It was clear that these beds were created for the twins Aym and Baal, with a care that he had never asked for himself.

He lay back in bed, his gaze fixed on Shamura, while the memory of the warmth and softness of the cotton enveloped him in a nostalgia that seemed to want to capture his heart. Narinder wished, for a moment, that he did not have to carry the burden of that relic in his crown nor the promise of destroying his brother. He wanted to be the brother he used to be, before the war, before the exile, before the prison. But he knew that those days would never return.

Thus, as the night progressed and the world continued to turn in its impassive indifference, Narinder stayed awake, watching Shamura sleep. Each quiet breath of his brother seemed to be a distant echo of lost times, and Narinder, knowing that this would be the last time he would see him like this, kept the moment in his memory, recording in his mind every detail, every whisper of the wind, every shadow in the cabin.

Dawn began to break, turning the sky a dark blue, and Narinder, tired but unable to sleep, silently rose and approached the reclining Shamura.

Narinder looked at Shamura's skull, and an idea began to form in his mind. He hesitated for a moment, aware of what he was about to do, but the desire to speak to his brother without that curse outweighed any warning in his mind. Slowly, he lifted the skull and activated the power of invincibility it contained. He focused his magic on the skull, extending the effect, ensuring that Shamura had the time he needed to regain his lucidity.

As the power flowed, the change in Shamura was almost immediate. The signs of confusion and the marks of his curse slowly faded away, leaving in their place the wise and tired look that Narinder remembered from his brother. Shamura opened his eyes clearly, conscious for the first time in a long time, and his first words were an echo of the past that hit Narinder hard.

"Hello, Narinder," Shamura said in a deep, slow voice, stroking the skull in his hands. "I see... the Lamb has fulfilled its purpose."

Narinder, feeling the weight of the truth, sat down beside his brother and nodded. "Indeed, brother. I have finally been freed from the veil. You and our brothers... were all defeated by the Lamb." He looked at Shamura's face, noting the acceptance in his gaze, the calm of one who has finally understood his destiny.

Shamura took a moment, his eyes shining with a spark of curiosity and sadness. "How am I here? Why am I still breathing on this plane, Narinder?"

Narinder sighed and explained, "When the Lamb defeated you, your soul was trapped in purgatory. But you were disturbing that place... a disturbance that could not be ignored. And since I am the god of death, that burden fell upon me, and I had to face the chaos you caused."

Shamura listened in silence, his eyes reflecting deep understanding, but also the exhaustion of a life that seemed to have lasted for centuries. He pondered his brother's words, processing the details, and after a long moment, he looked at Narinder, his expression filled with pain and gratitude.