𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 (𝟏) | 𝟏𝟖+

lvi. the end?

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‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐈𝐑, summoning a vortex of pure darkness and gloom, one meant to suck them deep into the caverns of hell. All her life, she never imagined that this is how it would all come to an end, with her and her blood-father staring straight at the reaper himself. Thorn pulls her closer with one arm, while the other ignites with tongues of pure light, his silver hues glowing with that same radiance.

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"The hellhounds were a nice touch," Thorn taunts.

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"They should've killed you," the god of darkness spits, "but who am I kidding? Nothing I can throw at you can kill the great Thorn of Pailon, descendent of the guardian of the eternal flame. You're a numbskull to me."

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Descendent of what?

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Thorn looks down upon Elowen and notices the confusion written across her matted face. Descendant of the guardian to the flame? How could she not have known? Why didn't he tell her? It must be true, given the way Thorn sighs as he completely pulls away from her and rises to his feet, his entire figure thrumming with pure ancient magic.

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"Where were you when I arrived here? Clearly you weren't doing your duties," Rhimme states with a cruel laugh. "Quite a mockery of your family name."

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"I may have left, but I am not the coward," Thorn retorts, pointing his finger at the Acropolis. "You and I aren't so different. We both agreed that this life in Pailon was shit, but you're so bent on destroying it rather than taking the time to fix what was broken."

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Rhimme ticks his head as he studies Elowen. She sits up, biting her lip to refrain from screaming out in torturous pain.

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"You were guarding the flame?" she breathes helplessly. It could've all been avoided... if he'd chosen to stay in Pailon and protect it.

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"Not now, Elowen," Thorn retorts.

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"Why did you leave when you knew this could happen to Aelethia?"

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎"You do realise there's more than just you and I in our fucked up bloodline, right? The fate of Aelethia wasn't just on my shoulders. It was on all of ours." Thorn keeps his eyes peeled on Rhimme. "Life in Pailon was falling to pieces. There were others in the family that would guard the flame, so they didn't need me to stay. I'll take part of the blame for this, but not all."

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Rhimme takes a cautious step forward, his dark ether spreading across the cobblestone path beneath them. "So she is yours. I could sense that strength in her, the power to relight the flame."

‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎It clicks in her mind instantly. Not all ancient magic can restore the torch. She might not be strong enough to destroy Rhimme himself, but she can chase him away with his greatest enemy, the grandest source of light known to the kingdom.