“My mother created it.”
The confession came out in a trembling breath, my hands shaking, my body bracing for judgment.
“She...she found an old alchemy book.Buried in the dirt.”
The memory was a phantom, whispering its cruel reminders into my ear.
“There were strange messages...written in blood.About Solaris.About how to use the flower.”
The Black Wraith didn’t move, but I felt his focus intensify, his being pressing in like a dark tide swallowing me whole.
“She crafted it to kill my father.To destroy his society.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, hollow, devoid of mirth.
“She thought she could control it.”
A pause.
A silence so thick it felt like the walls themselves held their breath.
“But it killed her.”
My voice broke, splintering under the weight of the words.
“That’s how she died.She didn’t know how to use it safely.”
The dungeon was deathly silent, and the air was taut and heavy, charged with something that felt too vast and too dangerous.
The Black Wraith leaned in, his shadow stretching over me like a phantom, swallowing the dim flickers of light that dared remain.
“So.”His voice was a low, menacing rumble, resonating through the stone walls.
“Your mother couldn’t control it—but you took over.”
It wasn’t a question.
It was an accusation.
I nodded, my lips parting as I dragged in a shallow, uneven breath.
“I had no choice!”
The words tumbled out, broken, raw with desperation and grief.
Tears slid down my cheeks, unbidden, unstoppable, staining my already fragile resolve.
“I was trying to master it!To use it for good!”
I gasped, my heartbeat pounding like thunder in my ears.
“I didn’t want anyone to die!I only wanted to stop those monsters from their cruelty!”
My chest heaved, my world spinning, the weight of my confession pressing against me like iron shackles.
“You crafted something you didn’t understand,” he accused, his gaze slashing straight through me.“And in doing so, you killed your brothers.”
Panic fluttered in my chest like a trapped bird.“No!That wasn’t my intention!You set the fire,” I shot back, my voice trembling despite my attempt at bravery.
