King ► N.RK

16

The palace was a pure of chaos, a once-grand structure now marred by the violent clash of steel and the cries of the wounded. Hera's heart raced as she knelt beside Ni-ki, blood pooling around him from the rubble that had pinned him down. The world felt surreal, the sounds of battle fading into a dull roar as she focused solely on him.

"Ni-ki, hold on! I'll get you out," she cried, panic gripping her throat. She frantically clawed at the debris, her hands trembling. But the stone was heavy, and each movement only seemed to deepen her despair.

"No, Hera..." Ni-ki's voice was a whisper, strained and labored. "You have to go. You need to protect the King. It's... it's too late for me."

"Don't say that!" she shouted, her voice cracking. "You can't leave me. We can get through this together! Just hold on a little longer!"

But as she dug deeper, a chilling reality settled over her. The weight of the rubble felt like the weight of the world, and with every passing second, his strength waned. She looked into his eyes-those familiar, warm eyes now clouded with pain. They held so much love, but they were also filled with resignation.

"Hera," he said, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You have so much potential... so much power. Don't let this be the end for you."

"No!" she cried, her heart shattering. "This isn't the end! I won't let it be!"

A loud crash reverberated through the chamber as another part of the ceiling fell. Dust filled the air, and Hera coughed, blinking through the haze. The rebels were regrouping, and she could hear their shouts growing closer, a reminder of the danger that threatened to consume everything she loved.

"Promise me," Ni-ki gasped, his grip on her hand tightening. "Promise me you'll fight. Promise me you'll protect the King and save our people."

"I promise, I swear!" she replied, tears streaming down her cheeks. "But you have to stay with me. You can't leave me like this!"

"Just... remember what we talked about," he said, his voice fading. "You're stronger than you know. You're a leader... you can unite them."

With a final, deep breath, Ni-ki's body relaxed, the light in his eyes dimming. "I... love you, Hera."

"Ni-ki! No! Please, stay with me!" she screamed, desperation clawing at her heart. But it was too late. He lay still, a tragic casualty in the war that had spiraled out of control.

Hera's world shattered in that moment. The battle around her became a distant echo, the weight of her loss pulling her into a dark abyss. She felt hollow, as if all the air had been sucked from the chamber, leaving only the crushing silence of grief.

"Ni-ki!" she wailed, cradling his lifeless body in her arms. "You can't leave me! Not like this!"

But the truth was undeniable. The love of her life, the one who had stood beside her through the storms, was gone. Anguish coursed through her, igniting a fire within that threatened to consume her entirely. She felt the world shift beneath her, the ground tremble with the intensity of her sorrow.

Suddenly, a loud crash brought her back to the present. The rebels were breaking through the remaining defenses, the guards unable to hold them back. Hera's heart raced with renewed determination, fueled by grief and rage.