Chapter 22 A Hero's Fall and Another’s Rise.

Liora paused. Eyes closed. Her mouth opened slightly, hesitating — for once, no polished lines or sugar-coated smiles. Just quiet.

“We lost, Rein."

“What…?”

“We lost. The Demon Lord… He was too strong. His forces overwhelmed us. Aura… she couldn’t defeat him.”

Rein took a step back.

“No. No—That’s a lie! How could she lose?! She’s—she’s the strongest! You saw her! You saw us train! This has to be a mistake—”

Liora cut him off, “She lost, Rein! She entered the Demon Lord’s castle after we baited out his generals. Her party kept them occupied. Aura had a chance to face Demon Lord without interruption. We led the army against the demon host. It was brutal, but we hold out. A stalemate.”

She opened her eyes. Cold. Grim. And empty.

“Then… the Demon Lord appeared. He walked out of the castle gates… barely injured. And in his hand… he was holding Aura’s head.”

Rein staggered as if struck.

“No… your lying! No!”

“He raised it. For all to see. He smiled. Then he unleashed his magic across the battlefield. It was like… the world turned to fire. I used everything I had left to teleport the survivors back. If I hadn’t— we would have lost hundreds. Maybe more.”

Rein dropped to his knees— sorrow and disbelief choking each breath.

“No… She… She promised… She was going to end it… She was going to stop him…”

The sadness tried to surface — but it drowned beneath something far stronger.

Rage.

Rein screamed and slammed his fists into the floor. A deep crack shot through the stone beneath him. The walls echoed with the sound of fury and heartbreak.

Liora stood there in silence. Watching. She knew what this moment was. A hero's fall. And another’s rise.

“I should have been there! I should have gone! I knew it. I knew it… And I let you stop me! I let myself hesitate, again. Always a step behind. I wasn’t there to protect her. Damn this kingdom… Damn the politics! The titles! The lies! I was locked away in these gilded halls while she faced him alone!”

He slowly stood up and clenched his fists.

“This war ends with me. I’ll do what Aura couldn’t finish. No matter what it costs. No more restraints. No more waiting for someone to tell me it’s okay. Demon Lord… I’m coming for you. You stole my world once. Then you took the one person who made this world bearable.”

He turned toward the medical wing where the wounded lay, then back to Liora.

“I don’t care if you or the king forbid me. I don’t care if you try to stop me. I’m done asking for permission. I’m done being second. You want to know who I am now? I’m Rein. I’m no prince. I’m no future king. And I’m not the one who’s going to cry over the ruins of a failed war. I’m the one who will end it!”

Liora stood still for a moment, looking down at Rein. 

“…I’m deeply sorry, Rein. I truly am. I never wanted things to turn out like this. You can punch me if it eases your pain, for stopping you then. But I made a choice that day. To stop you. To knock you out. It wasn’t out of cruelty. But even if I hadn’t... even if you had been there, if you’d gone with her, Rein… you would’ve died too. You know very well how powerful Aura was. But she couldn’t even seriously wound him with all that strength."

She paused, looked away, then added, “…and maybe I couldn’t bear to watch another one of you fall. But you’re alive. And now… you still have time. To grow. To prepare. Maybe… to find a way she couldn’t.”

She turned to leave.

“I'm sorry Rein, I have to go. The king must know what happened."

As she passed, Rein glanced up and saw it — beneath her brave, calm voice, her calm posture, and closed expression, she was hurting.

Blood soaked through her side beneath a torn coat. Her steps were steady, but each one cost her. And yet, she walked on, shoulders high, back straight. Just like Aura. Just like a soldier. Just like someone who had no choice but to keep moving.

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The grand throne room shook with a sudden violent echo just as Liora finished her report to the king.

BANG!

The massive doors slammed open, sending a wave of pressure through the marble hall. 

“Grandfather! You and I need to talk—not tomorrow, not next week, not when you're ‘done with matters of the realm.’ Now! Right now!”

The king slowly rose from his throne.

“Now, now, dear boy. I know you're upset—believe me, we all are. I heard the bad news. But no need to throw your anger at us. That cursed Demon Lord is to blame for all of it. But yes, let us talk, as you wish, my boy. I will not stop you from speaking your mind—never. Say what you came to say.”

Rein stepped closer to the throne.

“No more waiting! No more selections! No more ceremonies or pointless ranks! I’m done standing back and watching everyone I care about get taken away! I’m going to be the next hero. That’s it! No discussions, no approvals, no selection! This kingdom needs one, and I’m the only one left who’s willing to stand where she fell. I will avenge Aura. I will avenge everyone that monster has taken—my parents, our soldiers, every innocent life crushed by his war. I don’t care if I have to crawl through fire to reach him.”

He took another step forward.

“And if you try to stop me—if you tell me to sit in this castle while more people die—then I’ll leave. On my own. No guards, no army. I’ll find that cursed Demon Lord myself. I’m not asking anymore. I’m going. With or without your blessing.”