The battlefield was chaos incarnate, a swirling vortex of violence and desperation as the Kraken’s monstrous tentacles continued their relentless assault. Adventurers and mercenaries fought valiantly, their blades flashing and spells crackling against the overwhelming force of the beast. The air was thick with the mingled roars of the sea monster, the cries of the wounded, and the crashing of waves.
From her vantage point, Aeliana gripped the armrest of her chair, her knuckles white as her veil fluttered in the breeze. Her eyes darted across the projection, taking in the sheer scale of the carnage. The platforms were crumbling one by one, the ships barely managing to stay afloat amidst the monster’s onslaught. The smaller sea creatures had returned in droves, attacking in coordinated waves that made it impossible for the adventurers to focus solely on the Kraken.
“This isn’t a battle,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “It’s a massacre.”
Madeleina, standing by her side, nodded grimly. “The knights have engaged, my lady. But even with their intervention, this… thing is beyond anything we prepared for.”
In the projection, Aeliana could see the knights joining the fray, their gleaming armor catching the dim light as they charged onto the platforms. Their formations were tight, their movements disciplined, but it was clear they were outmatched. Even the most seasoned warriors were struggling to withstand the Kraken’s devastating blows.
“Push it back!” Captain Eryndor’s voice rang out, his command cutting through the chaos. “Hold the line! Protect the mages!”
The knights rallied under his orders, their shields locking together as they formed a defensive wall. Behind them, the mages unleashed their most powerful spells, bolts of fire and arcs of lightning streaking toward the Kraken. The beast roared in response, its massive tentacles lashing out with renewed fury, sending knights and adventurers flying like ragdolls.
Aeliana’s heart clenched as she watched the futile struggle. For every blow they landed, the Kraken retaliated with a force that seemed insurmountable.
“This isn’t working,” Madeleina said quietly, her voice laced with tension. “They can’t hold out much longer.”
Aeliana nodded, her gaze still fixed on the projection. “The expedition wasn’t prepared for this,” she said, her tone cold and matter-of-fact. “This monster… it’s beyond anything they anticipated. They need to retreat.”
As if in response to her words, a signal flare shot into the sky from one of the ships. The bright red light illuminated the battlefield briefly, cutting through the oppressive darkness.
“That’s the retreat signal,” Madeleina said, her voice steady despite the chaos. “They’re pulling back.”
The mages began retracting the platforms, their spells faltering under the strain of the battle. Adventurers scrambled to retreat, their movements frantic as they fought to board the remaining ships. The Kraken’s tentacles slammed into the water, creating massive waves that threatened to capsize the vessels.
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“Fall back!” Captain Eryndor’s voice boomed across the battlefield. “All units, retreat to the ships! We can’t hold this position!”
The knights moved with practiced efficiency, covering the retreat as best they could. Mages cast barriers to deflect the Kraken’s attacks, their faces pale with exhaustion. The adventurers clambered aboard the ships, their weapons bloodied and their armor battered.
THUMP!
Just then, right at that exact moment, the chaotic scene unfolding on the projection blurred for Aeliana as a sudden, searing pain shot through her chest. Her breath hitched, her lungs burning as though they were being compressed by an invisible force. The edges of her vision darkened, a pulsating haze creeping inward as the room tilted around her.
Her hands instinctively reached out, grasping the armrest of her chair for stability. Her skin began to tingle, then burn, the sensation spreading like wildfire through her veins. It was as though the very mana in the air had turned against her, reacting violently to something unseen.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips, and her veil fluttered as her breathing grew ragged and shallow. “M-Madeleina…” she managed, her voice trembling.
“My lady!” Madeleina was at her side in an instant, her steady hands gripping Aeliana’s shoulders. The attendant’s calm demeanor faltered as she took in her mistress’s state—pale, trembling, and visibly in pain.
Aeliana leaned into Madeleina’s support, her body heavy and unsteady. “It’s… happening again,” she whispered hoarsely, her fingers clawing at her veil as though it were suffocating her. The sensation of her skin burning beneath the fabric was unbearable, yet exposing herself was out of the question.
The mana in the air seemed to thrum with a strange, chaotic energy, responding to the monstrous presence still dominating the battlefield. Aeliana could feel it coursing through her, amplifying the torment her illness had already inflicted.
Madeleina’s voice was calm but firm. “You need to rest, my lady. This attack is worse than before. Lean on me; I’ll help you.”
Aeliana’s grip tightened on Madeleina’s arm as she struggled to stay upright. Her body felt as though it were fighting itself, the burning sensation intensifying with every passing moment. “The mana…” she murmured, her eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment before snapping open again. “It’s reacting. It’s… too much.”
Madeleina guided her carefully, her movements deliberate and steady. “We need to get you to your chambers. You can’t stay here in this state.”
Aeliana clung to Madeleina’s arm, her breaths coming in short, pained gasps. Each step was a battle against the violent mana surging within her, amplified by the chaos on the battlefield. Her vision blurred intermittently, the dark edges creeping in and threatening to consume her entirely.
The high vantage point offered an unobstructed view of the carnage below. Adventurers and knights fought desperately against the Kraken’s onslaught, their efforts valiant but ultimately futile. The sea churned with the monster’s fury, and in the distance, a whirlpool began to form, its pull threatening to engulf everything nearby.
“We need to retreat,” Madeleina said firmly, her voice cutting through the chaos. “My lady, this position is no longer safe.”
Aeliana nodded weakly, her grip tightening on Madeleina’s arm. “I… know,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Just… help me…”
But as they moved, something shifted. The steady, reassuring presence of Madeleina by her side felt different—colder, detached. Aeliana’s foggy mind barely registered it until she felt the sudden, vise-like grip on her arm.
“Madeleina—” Aeliana began, but her words were cut off as her attendant’s voice, quiet and chilling, pierced the air.
“Young Lady… please, just die silently, so that he can finally move on.”
Aeliana’s entire body stiffened, her heart pounding in disbelief. Her wide eyes darted to Madeleina’s face, searching for any hint of familiarity, of the loyalty and care she had always known. But what she saw instead was an expression of cold resolve, devoid of the warmth that had once been so constant.
“W-what…?” Aeliana stammered, her voice trembling. “Madeleina… what are you…?”
Before she could finish, Madeleina shoved her with unexpected force. Aeliana’s footing slipped, the ground beneath her tilting perilously as she teetered on the edge of the platform. The roar of the whirlpool below grew deafening, its pull threatening to drag her into the abyss.
Her body trembled, not just from the burning agony of her illness but from the shock of betrayal. She clawed at the railing, her hands scrambling for purchase as the world spun around her.
“Why?” Aeliana gasped, her voice breaking as she struggled to keep herself from falling. “Madeleina… why?”
Madeleina stepped back, her expression a mask of cold indifference. “You were never meant to survive this long,” she said, her tone emotionless. “Your existence… it’s a chain. For him. For everyone. You should have died years ago.”
Aeliana’s body trembled violently, her mind spiraling as Madeleina’s words echoed in her ears. Each syllable struck like a hammer against her fragile resolve, the betrayal cutting deeper than the pain wracking her body.
The world around her spun faster, the rushing water below a cacophony that blended with the thundering in her chest. Her stomach churned, the nausea and dizziness overwhelming her senses. She gripped the railing desperately, her strength failing her as her fingers began to slip.
“Madeleina…” she whispered, her voice weak, her breath hitching as her vision blurred further. “You… were supposed to protect me.”
But there was no response. Only the cold, unyielding expression of the woman she had trusted with her life. Aeliana’s heart clenched painfully, her chest tightening as a hollow realization settled over her.
‘This is what it feels like… to be truly abandoned.’
Her veil fluttered as the wind tore at her, slipping from her face as her balance gave way. The stark cold air brushed against her exposed skin, a cruel reminder of the vulnerability she had fought so hard to conceal.
As Aeliana fell, time seemed to slow. The last thing she saw was Madeleina’s face, her cold, detached expression etched into her mind. It was the same look she had seen countless times before, from the maids, the knights, the people who averted their gazes in disgust or pity.
‘Ah,’ she thought, her heart sinking as the familiar wave of despair washed over her. ‘That face… I know it too well.’
The wind roared in her ears, her body weightless as she plummeted toward the churning abyss below. Her vision darkened at the edges, and the world blurred further until all she could see was the faint flicker of the distant horizon.
And then, there was nothing but silence.
