EMILIA'S POV
The battlefield slowly returned to motion after Apollo's departure.
Yet my body remained frozen.
Not because of fear.
But because of his words.
Words that felt like a shackle pressing down on my shoulders.
"I'll tear my brother apart."
The sentence echoed repeatedly inside my mind.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each repetition felt like a blade being dragged across an old wound.
My breath became shallow.
My fingers tightened around my sword until my knuckles turned pale.
The cold metal pressed against my palm, yet I barely felt it.
The screams around me.
The clash of weapons.
The roar of magic colliding.
Everything became distant.
All I could hear was his voice.
That calm voice.
That terrifyingly calm voice.
I lowered my head.
The shadow of my hair covered my expression.
Because I knew...
if anyone saw my face right now, they would understand.
Ever since this mission began, I knew what I needed to do.
I had a role to fulfill.
A purpose.
