When the light finally subsided, I found myself lying on the cold stone floor. My vision swam as I forced myself to sit up, searching for Elesis.
She stood near the pedestal, her back to me. The dark aura that had surrounded her was gone, replaced by a faint golden glow that seemed to pulse with her heartbeat. Her red hair was damp with sweat, and her shoulders rose and fell with each ragged breath.
“Elesis?” I called out cautiously, struggling to my feet.
She turned to face me, and my breath caught in my throat. Her red eyes were now a dull amber, their once-fiery intensity subdued. Her expression was one of exhaustion, but there was also a strange calmness to her that I hadn’t seen in months.
“Zach,” she said, her voice soft and trembling. “It’s gone... the darkness... it’s gone.”
I took a step toward her, my heart pounding. “Are you... are you okay?”
She nodded slowly, but tears began to stream down her cheeks. “I... I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just... I wanted to keep you safe. I wanted us to stay together.”
I reached out to her, my fingers brushing against hers. “We’re still together, Elesis. We’ll figure this out. We’ll move forward.”
But she pulled away, shaking her head. “No, Zach. You don’t understand. I let it consume me. I hurt people. I... I almost hurt you.” Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands. “How can you still look at me like that? How can you still love me after everything I’ve done?”
“Because I know the real you,” I said, stepping closer. “The you that’s always been there, even under all that darkness. The you who fought to protect me, who stood by my side no matter what. That’s the Elesis I love.”
She looked up at me, her amber eyes filled with doubt and longing. “Do you mean that?” she whispered.
I nodded, taking her hands in mine. “Every word.”
For a moment, the world around us seemed to fade away. The ruins, the artifact, the chaos—all of it was gone, replaced by the quiet connection between us. But as much as I wanted to believe that everything would be okay, a lingering unease settled in my chest.
The artifact’s golden glow dimmed, its energy spent. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the end. The darkness might have been purged from Elesis, but it had left its mark—on her, on me, and on the bond we shared.
YOU ARE READING
(17+) Elesis : Reign Of The Bloody Queen (2024) "END"
FanfictionSynopsis: In a world where strength and cunning determine survival, Zach, a humble weaponsmith turned adventurer, rises to S-rank alongside his childhood friend and love, Elesis. Known for her fiery red hair and unparalleled beauty WARNING !!! Do no...
