The common room feels colder than usual, a hollow space echoing with silence. Months have passed since Rylan's execution, and the weight of that loss hangs heavy in the air, suffocating any remnants of hope. Yuma sits in a corner, his back against the wall, staring at the flickering fluorescent lights. His once vibrant spirit is now muted, the fire of rebellion extinguished. Therin paces restlessly nearby, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Yuma, we can't let them take her. We have to do something!" His voice is filled with urgency, but Yuma simply watches, his expression vacant.
"Why bother?" Yuma replies, his voice quiet and devoid of emotion. His hair was covering his eyes.
"It won't change anything. We're trapped here." Therin shakes his head, frustration boiling over.
"You can't just give up! Lira is counting on us. She won't let them take her without a fight!" Yuma glances at Therin, but his heart feels heavy. His gem-like purple eyes are emotionless. The passion that once fueled him has turned into a dull ache. He feels like a spectator in his own life, unable to connect with the anger and fear swirling around him. Instead, he remains silent, resigned to the inevitability of their grim fate.
The heavy steel door creaks open, and two guards enter, flanking Lira, who walks in with her head held high, through her eyes betraying her fear.
"Yuma!" she calls out, her voice trembling but determined.
"I'm not afraid! I'll keep fighting!" Yuma meets her gaze for a brief moment, but the flicker of hope in her eyes feels like a weight he can't bear.
"Lira, don't…" he starts, but she interrupts him.
"No, listen! You have to promise me you won't let this break you. You're stronger than you think!" Her defiance is palpable, but Yuma feels only emptiness. As the guards pull her away, Therin steps forward, desperation etched on his face.
"We can still fight! We can't let them win!" But Yuma shakes his head slowly, his voice barely a whisper.
"It's over, Therin. We're powerless." He watches as Lira is taken from the room, her spirit unyielding even as the door slams shut behind her.
The television flickers to life, displaying the desolate courtyard where Lira is being led. Yuma's heart sinks as he sees the crowd gather, their faces a mix of indifference and anticipation. Ikati's voice booms over the speakers, announcing Lira's fate, and Yuma's stomach twists.
"This is what happens to those who defy me!" Ikati declares, and Yuma's mind races back to Rylan's final moments. The memories are too painful, yet he can't tear his gaze away from the screen. Lira stands resolute in the courtyard, her eyes fierce despite the circumstances.
"You won't break me!" she shouts defiantly, her voice cutting through the tension. Yuma watches, a part of him wanting to scream for her to run, but he remains silent, trapped in his own despair.
The guards position her on the wooden block, and Yuma feels a familiar knot tighten in his stomach. He clenches his fists, but the anger that once fueled him feels foreign now. The crowd's excitement grows, and he can hear their jeers and cheers, drowning out Lira's voice.
"No…" he whispers, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes, but he doesn't reach out. He's too far gone, too broken to act. The guards lift the sword, and Lira looks out over the crowd, her gaze steady. In that moment, she becomes a beacon of strength, her defiance shining bright. But Yuma feels hollow, a shadow of the person he used to be. He knows he should feel something—rage, grief, anything—but all he can muster is silence.
"...Goodbye…" As the blade descends, time seems to stretch endlessly. Yuma's heart stops, his breath hitching in his throat as the screen fades to black. The moment feels surreal, as if it's happening to someone else, not to him. Therin collapses to the floor, his cries breaking through the silence, but Yuma remains still, trapped in his thoughts. The weight of despair pulls him deeper into darkness, and he turns away, unable to face the reality of what has just happened.
In that moment, he understands his new existence: he is no longer a warrior but a mere observer of the tragedies around him. The fire of rebellion has been extinguished, leaving behind only ashes.
The flickering lights above feel like a mockery of his situation as he sinks into his own mind, devoid of desire, hope, or the will to fight. He is simply a spectator now, watching the world burn around him while he remains untouched—lost in the silence of his own surrender.