When the Walls Fall

The thunder of the giants became unbearable. Every strike against the walls made the stones creak like bones about to snap. Soldiers on the battlements exchanged fearful glances, aware that the castle could not hold much longer.
Cicilia shouted orders tirelessly, her voice firm despite the despair. —Reinforce the gates! Archers, aim for the cracks in their armor! Mages, maintain the fire line!
But even her words seemed to lose strength against the roar of war.

A massive mace slammed into the main gate. Wood and iron splintered with a painful roar. Another strike, and the hinges flew apart. The gate was seconds from giving way.
—Fall back! —Rei shouted, running to the point of impact. —When it falls, they’ll be on us!
I ran alongside him, the Lance of the Veil glowing in my hands. Its vibration grew stronger, as if the weapon itself knew destiny would be decided in this moment.
"Release me, and no wall will fall, Kaoru."
The voice inside me was a knife in my thoughts. I shook my head, determined to resist.
One last strike, and the gate collapsed. The roar shook the entire castle. The doors shattered into pieces, and a tide of devotees poured in like a dark river. Their screams were inhuman, as if extensions of Kiseki herself.
—To arms! —Cicilia bellowed.

The inner courtyard became a hell. Swords clashed, arrows flew, spells exploded in flashes of fire and light. The ground ran with blood.
Rei threw himself at the front with deadly precision, his slashes felling devotee after devotee. Lysbeth moved beside him, her shield protecting the soldiers still standing. Nara summoned pillars of fire, incinerating entire groups, each spell drawing cries of pain from the effort.
Aria shone like a beacon amidst the darkness. Her light kept enemies at bay, healing the wounded while she fought with a determination that broke my heart.
I plunged into the heart of battle, the lance slicing through shadow with each strike. Every enemy that fell dissolved into black smoke, yet for every one down, two more took its place.
"Do you see? Useless. Your efforts are drops against an ocean."
I ignored the voice, gritting my teeth. I couldn’t afford to yield.

A greater roar shook the ground. I looked toward the walls and saw one of the giants striking with such force that an entire section collapsed. Stones rained down, crushing soldiers and opening a hole through which more devotees poured.
—The wall has fallen! —a soldier shouted, panicked.
Fear spread like wildfire. Some began to retreat; others dropped their weapons, unable to face the unstoppable tide.
Cicilia drew her sword and raised her voice in fury. —If you fall back, we all die! Hold the line, damn it! Hold the line!
Her bravery restored hope to some, but the truth was clear: we were being overwhelmed.
Aria ran to me, her breathing ragged. —Kaoru, we can’t hold them much longer!
I looked at her, sweating, the lance trembling in my hands. —I know… but we can’t give up now.
Her gaze hardened. —Then we must counterattack. If Kiseki wants to break us, we’ll show her we will not bend.

Nara shouted from the top of a tower, sending a blaze that consumed dozens of enemies. —Don’t think you’ll die without me, idiots!
Rei appeared, covered in blood but wearing a ferocious smile. —We’re still standing!
Lysbeth raised her shield, blocking an onslaught that would have wiped out a group of soldiers. —As long as I breathe, no one passes here!
Seeing them fight, seeing them hold on when all seemed lost, ignited something inside me. A fire stronger than the voice within.
—All together! —I shouted. —Do not fall! This is our home!
The cry spread among the soldiers, and for a moment, the castle roared back to life.

The echo inside me raged. “Don’t you understand? This is all useless. Only I can save them. Let me out.”
—Shut up! —I muttered, driving the lance into another devotee. —I don’t need you.
But deep down I knew the truth: it was getting harder to resist. Every strike, every roar, every pleading look from Aria weakened my defenses.

On the hilltop, Kiseki watched everything. Her lips curled in a dark smile.
—What a beautiful spectacle. —Her voice was calm, yet every word cut deep. —The castle burns, its heroes bleed, and they still believe they can resist me.
Her shadow spread, covering the sky like a second night. The air grew heavier, and soldiers began to fall to their knees, unable to withstand the pressure.
I felt it too. The echo inside me vibrated in my chest with cruel jubilation.
"Yes… let her in. Let me out. Only then will you respond to her power."
I gripped the lance with all my strength, trembling. —No… I will not give in.
But my legs failed me, and I fell to my knees in the blood and mud.

Aria ran to me, holding me. —Hold on! Don’t listen to her!
Her light tried to shield me, but even that was insufficient against the shadow. Kiseki stopped, watching, and spoke with chilling calm.
—Do you see, sister? He is not the savior you believe. He is a vessel, a broken vessel that will shatter with the slightest push.
Aria screamed, her voice breaking. —Shut up! You don’t know what we’re capable of!
Kiseki laughed softly. —Oh, I know very well. Because I am part of you. And sooner or later, you will accept it too.
Her gaze fell upon me, and I felt the echo within respond with cruel delight.
"Yes… soon we will be one. You, me, Kiseki. True power."

A roar cut through the air. Lysbeth had gathered a group of knights, forming a human wall against the devotees. —We will not fall! —she shouted, and her voice returned a bit of hope to the soldiers.
Nara rose again, flames surrounding her hands, though her body trembled. Rei held the line fiercely, cutting down any shadow approaching.
Aria held me tight, her eyes shining like stars. —Kaoru, look at me. You are not a vessel. You are not a monster. You are my hero.
Her words pierced the darkness, giving me a reprieve. I took a breath, and with a roar, lifted the lance once more.
The weapon’s light blazed, cutting through part of the shadow Kiseki spread. The echo screamed inside me, furious, as if wounded.
—We have not fallen yet! —I shouted, standing once again.
The castle was still burning, walls shattered, blood running like rivers. But we were still breathing. And as long as we did, Kiseki would not win.
The limit was near. We all knew it.
Yet still, we chose to keep fighting.