Amal stood above them, his eyes full of disappointment and pain.He looked at Si's broken form, then turned to Exile, whose chest barely rose with breath.
"Exile…" Amal said coldly. "Should I kill him?"
Exile didn't answer right away. Blood lined his lips. Bones cracked when he moved. But his voice—though faint—held pride.
"No, Amal," he said. "I lie here with shattered bones and a torn soul… but still I say, no. I came to fight him… and I have seen what I needed to see."
Si coughed and forced himself to sit up, even as the pain screamed through his body. His voice came softer than before—not with hatred, but with rare respect.
"Noble beast," he said, his tone quiet yet firm. "Today… I saw greatness in you."
Exile turned his head slightly. His golden eyes—fading, yet unbroken—locked with Si's."Commander," he replied weakly, "what you saw… was not greatness. He paused, then gave a slight, painful smile.
"Have you spoken… wonder upon me?"
Si smirked, his lips twitching as blood rolled down his chin."Do not get used to it, beast," he said. "But today… you earned it."
Amal stepped back, the rage in her voice trembling with sorrow.
"Enough," she said. "I've had enough. My time in this land is over."
She turned to Exile, her expression torn between duty and heartbreak.
"Exile… you have failed. Si would have won—if I hadn't interfered. And now… the weight of that choice is mine to carry."
Exile, barely standing, looked up with wide, confused eyes."What are you saying…?"
Amal's gaze hardened.
"Lock him up," she said. "He will be charged with murder. Please… do this for me. I have to return. My friend needs me."
Exile's body trembled as he forced himself to his feet, blood still dripping down his arm. His voice cracked, low and desperate.
"Do not leave my side."
Amal's eyes softened for a moment—but she didn't stop.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Soldiers are coming. They'll help you. But I… I cannot stay."
She turned. Exile cried out, stumbling forward.
"Amal—!"
He ran to her, arms outstretched—but just as his fingers neared her shoulder, her body crumbled into a cloud of ash, swirling in the wind like a memory fading too soon.
And then she was gone.
An hour later, Si was dragged away in chains, his head low, his body bruised but his pride still burning. The soldiers said nothing—they dared not speak in the presence of the man who had once been called a noble beast.
Exile sat in silence upon the ancient stone throne, deep within the Bear Realm. The people had begun to chant his name—"The Strength of the Realm." Some even whispered the word king.
But he did not feel victorious.
His crown was a heavy one, carved from sorrow and ash.
"Why… did she leave?" he muttered under his breath. "I needed her… I needed to hear her truth."
Far away, on the windswept mountains of the east, Amal stood alone, the cold wind brushing through her hair like a whisper from the past.
Ahead of her, a small fire crackled. Around it sat Sai, Tai, Xei, Shi, and Trasam, sharing roasted meat and quiet laughter.
Her heart ached. Her voice trembled as she stepped forward.
"Sai… I'm back."
Sai turned slowly. His eyes locked with hers.
But what he saw was not the fierce warrior who once saved him.
He saw only weakness.
And Amal felt it too—the weight of choices, the pain of exile, the loss of something unnamed.
Sai stood up, walking toward Amal."Amal… what happened?" he asked gently.
Amal looked down for a moment. "A lot," she replied, her voice soft but steady.
Behind Sai, Xei stood up from where he had been sharpening his blade, his eyes sharp as ever. Amal noticed.
"Oh? Xei," she said with a small smirk. "You finally stopped crying?"
Xei rolled his eyes. "Barely," he muttered, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
Then Tai chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Look who's back. The scared girl returns."
Amal raised an eyebrow. "Ewe… you're still a snake. Can't you guys change into humans already?"
Tai laughed. "We can, you know."
Amal smirked. "Good. Then I can finally prove why humans are better than you snakes."
Before Tai could react, Amal raised her hand. A swirl of ash formed around her fingers and—boom!—she blasted Tai high into the air with a playful grin.
"Whaaa—!" Tai shouted, spinning midair.
Sai blinked. "Wow… you got way more powerful."
The group burst into laughter as Tai floated helplessly above them, still yelling in disbelief. Amal just crossed her arms proudly, smiling like the sun had finally risen after a long storm.