Chapter 3

"What does this have to do with me?" I continued sorting through my belongings.

Roran suddenly leaned close, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper: "You've been reborn too, haven't you? Stop pretending."

My chest tightened, but my expression remained unchanged: "So what if I have?"

"Megan, I know I wronged you in our past life..." Pain flashed in Roran's eyes. "I owe you everything. I swear I'll spend this lifetime making it up to you—"

"After all this time, that's all you've prepared to say?" I cut him off.

"I mean it." His voice dropped lower, more urgent. "But right now, Zephyra's in danger. Come with us to bring her back, and then—then we can talk about us. About everything I owe you."

Before I could respond, he pulled me into his arms, holding me so tightly I could barely breathe: "I swear on my life—I won't let you suffer like that again. Just help me save her first."

I struggled against his grip with everything I had: "Can't you see? This has been her trap from the very beginning!"

Roran's gaze flickered: "I... I have no proof..."

Was it truly a lack of evidence, or just unwillingness to believe?

Drakon urged impatiently: "Enough! Zephyra doesn't have much time!"

I stopped what I was doing without comment and coldly followed in their footsteps. Along the way, the suffocating stench of sulfur grew increasingly oppressive.

When we pushed through layers of fog and reached the deepest part of the Forbidden Abyss, the scene before us made everyone hold their breath.

Zephyra was imprisoned in a Soul-Lock Dragon Array covered with ancient runes, surrounded by swarms of Abyssal Demons.

"Save me... please..." Her voice was so weak it was barely audible.

The Abyssal Demons circled closer but seemed blocked by the flowing runic light on the barrier, unable to actually touch Zephyra.

Just as Roran was about to rush forward, a cold voice echoed through the darkness.

"I'd advise against acting rashly."

A towering figure emerged from the shadows—Cassius, leader of the Abyssal Demon clan.

"The ancient contract of the Soul-Lock Dragon Array," Cassius's lips curved into a mocking arc, "if you want to save her, someone of the same bloodline must take her place."

Roran's face went pale: "What are you talking about?!"

"Otherwise, when the Crimson Moon reaches its peak, the Abyssal Demons will devour her dragon soul and turn her into a soulless husk wandering for eternity."

Roran's gaze slowly turned toward me, a chilling hesitation surfacing in his eyes.

Something inside me froze in that moment, until Roran slowly spoke: "Megan also carries the dragon blood of the Silvaris family..."

Cassius looked us over with keen interest: "Ah, infighting within the family? How delicious."

"It was Megan's heartlessness that drove Zephyra to desperately venture into the Forbidden Abyss!" Drakon's voice grew more heated. "Megan should pay for what she's done!"

Hearing this, Roran clenched his fists tightly, but said nothing to deny it.

My heart dropped. Once again, he agreed to my death with his silence.

Zephyra's shrill cries echoed through the hollow dragon array: "Roran... I'm scared... please don't leave me..."

The Crimson Moon continued its ascent, the shrieks of the Abyssal Demons growing more piercing.

That sound completely shattered Roran's last hesitation.

He turned to me, his tone pleading: "Megan, take Zephyra's place. I swear I'll find a way to save you."

I pulled my lips into a bitter smile: "You want me to die so she can live?"

"I will save you!" The guilt in Roran's eyes looked pathetically hollow.

Cassius snorted dismissively: "Why the agony? One person has to be sacrificed either way."

As his words fell, several Abyssal Demons suddenly closed in from both sides, their sharp claws restraining me, half-dragging, half-guiding me toward the Soul-Lock Dragon Array.

"No!" I pretended to clutch desperately at Roran's arm, my nails digging into his skin. "You can actually watch me die here?!"

Roran raised his hand as if to stop them, but Zephyra extended a trembling arm from within the array's ghostly light: "Roran... save me..."

That single plea made Roran's hand drop without hesitation.

All the struggle vanished from his eyes as he turned to face Zephyra: "Zephyra must survive."

Of course. Of course he chose her without a second thought.

"So I'm the one who should die?" A desperate laugh escaped my lips.

Roran no longer looked at me, his gaze locked solely on Zephyra.

Under the imperceptible guidance of the Abyssal Demons, I abandoned my "resistance" and walked step by step toward the center of the array's focal point, the crimson moonlight pouring over me.

"Megan!"

In that instant, the false hope in Roran's eyes completely shattered. As if only now realizing what cruel decision he'd just made, he rushed forward in blind panic.

Only now afraid?

Cassius blocked his path with a cold laugh: "Too late. The ritual has begun."

The Crimson Moon continued rising. I stood at the array's center, allowing the eerie crimson light to wrap around me layer by layer.

"No... don't..." Zephyra struggled weakly to crawl from the array's edge. "Megan, it's my fault... all my fault..."

Her body swayed unsteadily, looking ready to collapse at any moment.

"Zephyra!" Roran immediately rushed to support her.

Drakon hurried over as well: "She needs treatment now!"

"And Megan? What happens to her?" Roran looked back at me, his eyes full of anguish.

Cassius revealed a cruel smile: "The Crimson Moon Soul Ritual cannot be interrupted once begun. Your regret changes nothing."

Roran looked at Zephyra dying in his arms, then at me trapped in the array's focal point.

The Crimson Moon climbed higher. Zephyra's breathing grew more labored.

Finally, Roran clenched his jaw and made his choice: "Take Zephyra back first!"

Just as I expected.

"Megan, I will come back for you!" he shouted hoarsely.

Drakon lifted Zephyra and disappeared into the darkness of the Forbidden Abyss.

The Crimson Moon reached its zenith. I stood at the focal point, completely shrouded by that layer of crimson light.

Roran stood at the cliff's edge, taking one last look at me. From his angle, I appeared completely consumed by the Crimson Moon Soul Ritual.

But in the end, he still turned and left without looking back, just as in our past life.

Once his figure was completely swallowed by the darkness, I straightened my spine, shed all pretense, and allowed the seemingly terrifying crimson light to disperse docilely around me.

Cassius emerged from the shadows, the mockery gone from his eyes, replaced by utmost respect: "My Queen, we can begin the severance ritual."

I took a deep breath and raised my right hand.

In my palm, the dragon bond mark we'd carried since birth pulsed with faint red light.

"Begin." I looked at the mark, my lips curving into a smile devoid of warmth. "Sever the bond. Cut him out of my life for good."