Chapter 93
Silence filled the sanctuary.
The battle was over.
Yet nobody felt victorious.
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TAP.
TAP.
TAP.
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The Lord's footsteps slowly disappeared deeper into the ruins.
He didn't look back.
Not once.
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John stood still.
Watching.
John says quietly almost like and whisper
John:"Im Sorry.."
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Eventually—
even the footsteps vanished.
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The sanctuary became quiet.
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The wind passed through broken pillars.
Dust drifted across the battlefield.
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Chris.
Guinevere.
Vendetta.
The Princess.
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All scattered across the ruins.
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John lowered his gaze.
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The Princess lay motionless among broken stone.
Blood stained the corner of her lips.
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For several seconds—
he simply looked at her.
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Then he walked forward.
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Step.
Step.
Step.
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He stopped beside her.
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Silence.
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Slowly—
he crouched.
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His hand moved toward her face.
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A small streak of blood remained near her mouth.
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His thumb brushed against it.
Wiping it away.
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The Princess didn't move.
Didn't wake up.
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John stared at her for a moment longer.
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Then he slid one arm beneath her knees.
The other behind her back.
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And lifted her.
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The Princess rested quietly in his arms.
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John stood.
Turned.
And began walking toward the exit.
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TAP.
TAP.
TAP.
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"...ugh..."
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A groan echoed behind him.
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John stopped.
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Vendetta.
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Her fingers twitched.
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Then slowly—
her eyes opened.
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Everything was blurry.
The broken sanctuary.
The rubble.
The blood.
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Then she saw him.
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A man dressed in black.
Carrying the Princess.
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Vendetta's eyes widened.
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Vendetta: "...Princess..."
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Golden light flickered weakly around her hand.
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Vendetta: "Put her down."
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John said nothing.
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Vendetta forced herself onto one knee.
Pain shot through her body.
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Vendetta: "Who are you?"
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Silence.
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Vendetta: "Answer me."
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John continued walking.
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Vendetta clenched her teeth.
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Vendetta: "If you're one of them then finish it."
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John stopped.
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The wind blew through the ruins.
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Several seconds passed.
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Then—
John spoke.
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John: "Leave."
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Vendetta froze.
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John: "Take your people."
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A pause.
John: "And leave."
Vendetta stared at him.
Vendetta: "...Why?"
No answer.
Vendetta: "Where are you taking her?"
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John started walking again.
John: "Your ship."
Vendetta blinked.
John: "She'll be there."
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Vendetta tightened her grip.
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Vendetta: "Why should I trust you?"
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John didn't even turn around.
John: "You don't have a choice."
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Silence.
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Vendetta hated how true that sounded.
Chris was unconscious.
Guinevere was unconscious.
The Princess couldn't even stand.
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Vendetta(thinking) :If he wanted to hurt us—
he already could have.
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John continued toward the exit.
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TAP.
TAP.
TAP.
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Then—
something lightly caught his shirt.
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He stopped.
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His eyes lowered.
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The Princess's fingers had weakly grabbed a piece of fabric.
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Even unconscious.
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Silence.
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The wind moved through the sanctuary.
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John looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
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Several seconds passed.
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Slowly—
he freed the fabric from her fingers.
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Then continued walking.
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Without a word.
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Without looking back.
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Soon—
he disappeared beyond the entrance.
The Princess still resting in his arms.
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Vendetta watched him leave.
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Only after he vanished did she move.
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Step.
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Pain shot through her body.
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Another step.
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Guinevere lay against a broken pillar.
Unmoving.
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Vendetta grabbed her shoulder.
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Vendetta: "Wake up!!."
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No response.
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Vendetta shook her harder.
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Vendetta: "Wake up!!!."
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"...ugh..."
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Guinevere's eyes slowly opened.
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She stared at celling.
Then the ruins.
Then Vendetta.
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Suddenly—
everything came back.
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Guinevere immediately sat up.
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Guinevere: "Princess!"
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"Tch—!"
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Pain exploded through her injured arm.
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Vendetta grabbed her before she fell.
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Guinevere ignored it.
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Guinevere: "Where is she?!"
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Vendetta hesitated.
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Guinevere's eyes widened.
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Guinevere: "...Where is Princess."
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Vendetta: "She's coming."
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Guinevere froze.
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Guinevere: "What does that even mean?!"
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Before Vendetta could answer—
another groan echoed nearby.
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Chris.
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He pushed himself out of the rubble.
Blood covered half his face.
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Chris: "...Did we lose?"
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Guinevere immediately pointed at him.
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Guinevere: "Chris!"
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Chris blinked.
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Chris: "...huh?"
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Guinevere: "The Princess is gone!"
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Chris instantly became serious.
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Chris looked around.
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No Princess.
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No Lord.
No enemy.
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Chris: "...What happened?"
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Vendetta looked toward the entrance.
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The empty entrance.
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The place where John had disappeared.
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Vendetta clenched her fist.
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Vendetta: "We don't have time."
Chris frowned.
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Guinevere frowned.
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Vendetta: "Get up."
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Vendetta: "Both of you."
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Vendetta turned toward the exit.
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Vendetta: "We need to reach the ship."
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The wind howled through the broken sanctuary.
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And somewhere beyond the ruins—
John walked alone.
Carrying the Princess through the fading sunlight.
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Toward the sea.
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...CHAPTER 93ENDS...