Golden Melody (Editing)

Chapter 104

Chapter 104 – “The Field of Farewells”

Miexha drifted again.

The field again.

Tall grass brushed her knees. The same two black bunnies played in the distance, tumbling over stones slick with dew. A brown one darted after its shadow, chasing something it could never catch.

And beneath the dying tree—unchanged—the white bunny lay still. Blood pooled beneath it like a crushed rose.

But this time, Miexha didn’t cry. She didn’t run to cradle it.

She only sat barefoot at the edge of the field.

The golden bunny sat in her lap. Its fur shimmered like dawnlight, its eyes glowing too bright—like memories that refused to die.

“You’re not sad anymore,” it said, voice soft as chimes in a storm.

“No,” Miexha whispered.
“I’ve run out of tears.”

The golden bunny tilted its head. “Are you curious?”

She blinked slowly. “Curious?”

“What happened… to the world you left behind?”

Miexha hesitated, then nodded. Barely.

The bunny smiled.

And shifted.

Fur melted into skin. Limbs lengthened. A small, delicate body unfolded—nine years old, golden hair cascading like sunlight. Still sitting in Miexha’s lap. Still smiling.

Still—Xefariel.

“They’re at war now,” Xefariel said lightly, as though sharing gossip over tea.
“Since I was always with you, I got bored of the others. I used to play with humans, you know… bend them, break them. Like dolls.”

Her tone darkened. Eyes gleamed.
“But then they came.”

“Who?” Miexha asked, her voice a fragile whisper.

Xefariel’s tiny hand wrapped around her wrist, grip too cold for something so small.

“Damian. That immortal freak from Zenips. He broke into my palace—with your Zatariel, my husband Aurelei, his little whore Shellie, even Ariel and Xiejay.”

Her smile twisted.
“They didn’t come to talk. They came to kill me.”

She blinked once, mock-innocent. “Like I did something wrong.”

Her voice cracked.
“I never asked for the crown. I just wanted to survive. I married the man. I wore the mask. I ruled the nightmare they left me in. And what did I get?”

“Betrayal.”

Miexha’s heart thudded painfully, but she couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.

Xefariel’s gaze dimmed. “They called me a monster. But I was the one they fed to the fire. I was the one they left behind.”

Then her eyes flicked up, glimmering wet.
“But you knew, didn’t you, Mama?”

Miexha froze.

“You knew I was pretending,” Xefariel whispered.
“You knew your love was made of glass. I saw it crack every time you thought I wasn’t looking. But I held onto it. Because even fake love…”

Her voice faltered, trembling. “…is better than none.”

Tears welled in those inhuman eyes.
“You gave it. So I stayed soft. For you.”