Golden Melody

Chapter 181

Chapter 181

Christmas Night

Ruzia - War Zone

Ruins smoldered under the night sky, flames licking at broken walls as smoke curled into the air.

Sarah stood alone.

Blue blood dripped from her arm, trailing down to her fingertips before falling onto the cracked ground below.

Each breath came heavier than the last.

She had won.

But victory had taken everything she had left.

Her brother's core lay somewhere behind her.

Sarah lifted a trembling hand, wiping the blood from her cheek.
Stay standing.

Her thoughts drifted-
To her daughter.
Miexha.

She needed to see her.
Just once.
To hold her, hear her heartbeat-
So she could keep fighting.

Sarah forced her body to move, turning slowly toward the exit of the ruined structure.

One step.

Then-
Space tore open.

A sharp, violent rip-
Like reality itself had been cut apart.

A body fell through.

"Soria...?" Sarah's voice broke as she rushed forward.

She caught her sister before she hit the ground.

Turquoise hair tangled.
Clothes soaked in blue blood.

And-
A dagger.

Forged from anti-Zenip steel-
Driven straight through her chest.

"Soria!" Sarah's hands shook as she held her.
"Who did this?!"

Soria's lips trembled.
Her voice barely a breath.
"R-run... they're-"

She never finished.

Her body shimmered.

Cracked like glass.

And then- Collapsed into light.

A crystal-clear orb remained in Sarah's hands.

For a moment-
Sarah didn't breathe.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"
The voice came from the shadows.

Sarah's grip tightened around the orb.

From the dim glow of the burning ruins-
He stepped forward.
Rex.

Their brother.

His armor gleamed faintly, stained with fresh blue blood.

Soria's blood.

He flicked the blade in his hand, careless.
Unbothered.

"She was a traitor," he said simply.

Sarah rose slowly.
Her entire body is shaking-
From rage.

"...Rex."
Her voice was low.
"Who ordered you?"

He smiled.

"The Elders," he replied.
"They found proof she was helping your little rebellion... along with the deposed king."
A slight tilt of his head.
"You knew how this ended, didn't you?"

Sarah's pulse thundered-
But her face remained still.

"If this was the Council's will," she said,
"you didn't have to drag her here just to die in front of me."