Chapter 112: All is Lost
Givia walked aimlessly through a suffocating darkness, her feet touching solid ground, a cold breeze brushing against her skin, but she could see nothing, hear nothing but a faint ringing in her ears.
As she moved, a distant sound, muffled and distorted as if traveling through a long copper pipe, gradually emerged: a woman’s scream, the same haunting, despairing cry she heard every night in her nightmares.
A sliver of light appeared in the distance. She smelled wood, a faint mustiness, and the warm scent of fur.
The light grew brighter, the screams louder, the crackling of burning wood growing more intense. Acrid smoke filled her nostrils, making her cough.
“Your Highness! Please… Don’t come out!” The woman’s voice, raspy and strained from the smoke, pleaded with her.
“Cassandra!” Givia suddenly remembered the name, her voice a desperate cry. “Cassandra! Cassandra!”
“Your Highness… I’m here! Please don’t come out!”
“Cassandra! Come in here! I order you!”
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but I cannot obey! The wardrobe is too small… Aaaaaah!”
The smell of burning flesh filled the air. The aroma of roasting meat, usually so enticing, now filled her with horror, knowing its source. She gagged, her hand pressed against the locked wardrobe door.
Cassandra’s screams echoed through the darkness, growing louder, blending with the crackling flames. Then, other sounds emerged—crying, laughter, curses, singing…
The cacophony intensified, overwhelming her, as if thousands of voices were screaming in her ears. She covered her ears, but it was useless.
The human voices were joined by inhuman sounds, monstrous growls and shrieks, amplifying the terror, creating a nightmarish chorus.
The sliver of light vanished, plunging her into darkness. Then, after a few agonizing seconds, the darkness receded, revealing a vast, scorched wasteland. She stood atop a massive, black, undulating mass.
“Aah… Aah…”
A woman’s pained moans emanated from the black mass, its slow, undulating movements engulfing her feet.
Givia struggled, her fear mounting, but her feet were stuck, as if trapped in quicksand.
“Let me go! Let me go!” she screamed.
“Hahahahaha! Givia! My sweet darling! You’ve finally returned to my embrace!”
A voice, both male and female, echoed around her, its laughter mocking and triumphant.
“Who are you?!” Givia shouted, looking up at the burning sky.
“You’ve forgotten me so quickly, Givia? I thought we were old friends. Didn’t you dine with me every night?”
“The Lord of Nightmares!” Givia exclaimed, her voice filled with hatred.
“Hahahahaha! You finally remember!” the Lord of Nightmares roared with laughter. “You foolish mortals, you always need reminders to recall your precious memories. How does it feel, remembering the maid you crippled with your childish tantrum?”
A bone-chilling fear gripped her, and she clutched her head, a wave of nausea washing over her.
“You were so terrified that you buried this memory deep within your mind. You forgot the person you harmed, the person you never apologized to!” the Lord of Nightmares said, his voice gleeful, as if he were enjoying her torment. “You’re not worthy of being a princess, of standing with your people. You’ll never succeed! Imagine if I revealed this truth to them? Hmm? Do you think your Restoration Army would remain loyal? Hahahahaha!”
“You’re despicable!” Givia shouted, her voice cracking, her composure breaking.
“Despicable? That’s a word for lowly mortals. You dare use it to describe me, a god? I am the victor, and victors are always righteous. There’s no such thing as ‘despicable’ for a god!” the Lord of Nightmares boomed, his voice deafening. “You pathetic worm, savor your fear! It will consume you, crush your rebellion! My feast is about to begin!”
The Lord of Nightmares had clearly manipulated Cassandra, using her as a pawn to trigger Givia’s buried memories. He hadn’t intended for her to use the information. He had orchestrated this encounter, forcing her to confront the woman she hadn’t seen since childhood, unleashing the fear she had suppressed for so long.
“Tonight! This very night! I will reveal your selfishness, your cruelty, to every citizen of Ossi beyond Shodo Town! You made a grave mistake, and there’s no undoing it! I will amplify their disappointment, their shattered faith in you! When their trust crumbles, fear will reign supreme! You, their self-proclaimed righteous leader, will learn the meaning of isolation!” His voice whispered in her ear, inescapable, no matter how she struggled.
“You monster!” Givia cried, her voice filled with despair.
“Behold!” The Lord of Nightmares, relishing her torment, forced her to witness a scene of carnage. A vast execution ground appeared before her. “Kevin,” his face cold and impassive, stood on a raised platform. With a wave of his hand, countless citizens of Ossi, men, women, young and old, were beheaded, their blood staining the ground crimson. The screams of those awaiting their fate filled the air.
“Leave my people alone!” Givia screamed, tears streaming down her face.
“Hahaha! Is this your greatest fear? I can taste it! It’s delicious! You starved me for days. Now it’s time for you to repay me! Oh… It seems your companions are trying to rescue you. But they can’t change anything. Farewell, my sweet darling. You’re the perfect appetizer for my feast! It’s about to begin…”
“Givia! Givia!”
Flora’s voice reached her, and Givia opened her eyes, seeing Flora’s concerned face.
“Her Highness is awake!” Haina exclaimed, her voice filled with relief.
But Givia remained motionless, tears streaming down her face.
“We’ve lost… We can’t do anything…”
It was… over.
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