"The Hall"
The vast hall trembled with tension.
Athena clenched her fists, barely holding back her temper.
Athena:-"Kyle… you promised," she said, her voice shaking. "You promised you would let us go."
Kyle tilted his head, a mocking smile spreading across his face.
Kyle:- "Oh?" ' he scoffed'. "You mean that deal? I must have forgotten it a long time ago."
(Athena took a step back, disgust flashing in her eyes.)
Athena:-"Don't touch me," she snapped. "Keep your filthy hands away from me, you coward."
(The sound echoed sharply through the hall.
Before she could react, a sudden blow sent her staggering.
From behind her—)
Alaric:-
"Kyle!"
Alaric's voice rang out, hollow and broken, filled with nothing but sorrow.
"Let her go."
Kyle:-
Kyle laughed softly, cruelly amused.
"Oh my… you still love her, don't you, big brother?"
He stepped closer, eyes gleaming.
"Even after she abandoned you. Even after
she chose someone else."
His laughter turned bitter.
"Let me tell you the truth,"
Kyle continued.
"That day—when you were chosen as the heir—she came to me."
"She begged me to spare you."
"She offered everything… even the throne."
Athena's breath hitched.
"In the end," Kyle sneered,
"I became king."
"And yet…"
He leaned closer.
"She still chose you."
His smile twisted.
"Even though she knew I loved her more than anyone.
More than you ever did."
Athena:-
Athena laughed softly—broken, trembling.
"I feel pathetic," she said, tears slipping down her cheeks,
"to be loved by someone as rotten as you."
Another sharp sound filled the hall.
Kyle:-
Kyle's voice turned cold.
"You dare insult royalty?"
Athena:-
Athena lifted her head, smiling through tears as she looked at Alaric.
"I wish," she whispered, "that a coward like you was never born."
"Chaos erupted."
"Athena collapsed to the floor, the world spinning as distant voices blurred together."
Alaric:-
"NO—!"
Alaric's scream tore through the hall, shaking with desperation.
Flames rose uncontrollably, swallowing the palace in blazing light.
Athena:-
Through fading consciousness, Athena forced her eyes open.
"Alaric…" she whispered.
Ignoring the pain, she searched for him—calling his name again and again until she found him.
She fell beside him, pulling herself closer.
"Please… wake up," she begged softly.
"I promise… I won't leave you again."
Her voice broke.
"I love you. I love you so much."
She rested beside him, her strength slipping away.
"If I had chosen you…" she murmured weakly, tears soaking the ground.
"None of this would have happened."
Her eyelids fluttered.
"But if I had another chance…"
Her voice faded into a whisper.
"I would never let you suffer again…"
Darkness closed in.
Then—
A voice, elegant and divine, echoed gently through the void.
"My darling…"
"Do you wish to return?"