《Clipped Wings— Last Elegy》
Chapter 1: The Unforgiving Cycle
¡ºFrom the Cinders shall rise a world anew.¡»
¡º¡ªSo I plead, in short whispers untold. Let the World Burn ¡»
A girl stood on the edge of the ruined world, her body trembling as the weight of her actions sank in¡ª a sin witnessed only by the blood red sky.
Her once vibrant crimson hair now turned dull, and soot marred across her face alongside patches of dried blood that once dripped from her wounds.
Around her¡ª the charred remnants of what once was a thriving kingdom sprawled endlessly, blackened trees stretching toward a sky choked with ash.
Fires flickered¡ª like cruel, mocking stars.
Her hands¡ªbloodied and scarred, felt heavier than ever as the system¡¯s monotonous voice rang in battered conscience of her mind.
[Congratulations¡ªTask Completed: Prevent the Demon Lord¡¯s Apocalypse and Initiate the Hero''s Regressor Cycle.]
A gasp escaped her lips as the words flashed before her sullen eyes. It was done. The task she had slaved for, suffered for, sacrificed for.
Years of torment, of pretending... and commiting monstrous acts¡ªall of it was for this singular moment.
The system¡¯s cruel certainty had burned a singular purpose into her soul: to give humanity one last chance through her brother.
¡ªAnd now it was over.
She fell to her knees, tears rolling down her face as relief finally overtook her.
"It¡¯s done... It¡¯s finally over..." she whispered, her voice breaking into incoherrent cries.
"All those lives i''ve mercilessly taken, the countless sins i''ve done... they weren''t for nothing. They''ll have a chance now¡ªHe¡¯ll fix everything."
Her trembling hands reached for the ground as she collapsed further, resting her forehead against the soot-stained earth. For once in Nerina Morwen''s life¡ªshe let herself weep the first time in what felt like centuries.
For a fleeting moment, she felt free.
¡ªthus, nerina closed her eyes...
"I''ll go to hell for this... won''t I?"
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With a jolt¡ªNerina¡¯s eyes fluttered open, the blinding white lights above her slowly dimming into the soft golden glow of sunlight streaming through a window.
For a moment¡ª she was disoriented.
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The charred remnants of the world were nowhere to be found. Gone where the suffocating ash that had clogged her lungs, the burning ruins, the endless screams¡ªall replaced by the faint chirping of birds outside.
She bolted upright, her hands gripping the edge of the bed she found herself in. The fabric of the sheets were soft, foreign, and¡ clean.
Nerina blinked rapidly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Where am I?
Her eyes darted around the small room, taking in the elegant wooden furniture. The toys scattered on the floor, the small stack of books on the bedside table¡ª It was all painfully familiar.
Then it hit her¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just any room. It was hers.
The girl''s ragged breaths hitched as memories came flooding back. This was her room from before.
Before she became the villain, before she tore her family apart, before the world crumbled into ashes.
Nerina turned to the window balcony and swept her gaze across until she saw it¡ªa small, quiet village with children playing outside, the sun warm and inviting in the plain blue sky.
Blue¡ª the sky was no longer stained crimson red.
She pressed a hand to her chest¡ª as if to asses if this was real, that everything had only been a long nightmare.
Tears began to spill from her eyes without nerina knowing¡ª the pain of guilt which she had bottled up all these years finally began to flow.
"It¡¯s¡ it¡¯s all gone," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"It¡¯s really over."
Relief crashed into her like a wave, her tears spilling freely as she let out a shaky laugh.
It worked. Everything I did¡ªit worked.
Her brother would have a chance now. He would save the world properly this time.
For the first time in years, the crushing weight on her shoulders lifted. She touched her face, feeling the softness of her skin, unmarred by the scars and pain she had endured. She was alive¡ªShe was whole. She was free.
But then¡ªas she smiled through her tears, a sharp chime echoed in her mind. Her body froze, the sound sending a chill down her spine.
Slowly, a system panel appeared before her¡ª its glowing text etching like a dagger to her heart.
[New Task Initiated.]
[Objective: Become the Vessel of the Demon Lord.]
[Condition: Ensure the Hero¡¯s Triumph by Sacrificing Yourself.]
[Details: You must act as the final obstacle, allowing the Hero to ascend and save the world. This task is mandatory.]
The words blurred as Nerina¡¯s vision swam, her breath quickening. She clawed at the panel as if she could tear it away¡ª but it remained, the letters seared unto her mind.
¡°No¡ no, no, no,¡±
She whispered in a cry, her voice breaking in a gutteral scream.
Nerina''s heart pounded in her chest as the weight she thought she¡¯d shed came crashing back down¡ªheavier than ever.
Her trembling fingers clutched the sheets as she tried to steady herself.
¡°This¡ this isn¡¯t real,¡± she screamed, her voice shaking.
¡°It¡¯s over. It¡¯s supposed to be over!"
But the system only responded with its cold, unfeeling precision:
[Failure to comply will result in termination of the timeline.]
Nerina''s body convulsed as the words sunk in, her chest tightening painfully. She doubled over, head in her hands as she let out a broken laugh¡ª her tears now falling uncontrollably.
"Of course"
She whispered bitterly, her voice hollow as she clutched the edges of her bed.
"Why would I ever get a second chance? Why would I ever deserve one?"
The sunlight streaming through the window felt cruel now, mocking her with its warmth. This was no rebirth...it sure as hell wasn''t freedom. She was merely being reset¡ª to play the monster once again.
Memories of the past flooded back¡ªher brother''s innocent smile, Evelyn''s hopeful gaze, the warmth of their family before everything fell apart.
All of it gone. All of it sacrificed¡ªAnd for what?
Her body trembled as the realization sunk in: she was never meant to be free.
Her head snapped upward, glaring at the empty sky.
¡°You used me!¡± she screamed, her voice raw with fury and despair.
"You made me believe this was the end! You made me¡ª"
Her voice broke and she crumpled into her knees, gripping her arms tightly as though trying to hold broken pieces herself together.
Her mind reeled at the thought of what was to come. She had already been the villain once... sacrificing her family, her humanity, her soul.
And now she would have to do it again, but worse¡ªshe would have to become the monster they all believed her to be, the very vessel of the apocalypse she had worked so hard to prevent.
And at the end of it all, her brother and her friends, be the people she had done it all for¡ªwould be the one to strike her down.
A choked sob escaped her lips as she laughed bitterly, tears streaming down her face.
¡°Why him? Why does it always have to be them?¡±
¡°What kind of cruel joke is this?¡±
Her laughter faded to silence as she stared into the distance¡ªher tears finally running dry, to the point where shedding any more would draw blood.
The weight of the system¡¯s command pressed down on her, suffocating the girl with its inevitability.
Nerina''s trembling hands gripped her hair as she tried to suppress the scream budding in her throat. The fleeting hope she had felt moments ago shattered like glass, leaving nothing but jagged pieces behind.
¡°They¡¯ll hate me again,¡± she muttered, her voice barely audible.
¡°They¡¯ll kill me once more. And I¡¯ll let them¡ª Because that¡¯s what this damned world demands.¡±
If that was the case, then it would''ve been better to remain dead. Eternal rest was infinitely better than relieving the nightmares again.
Her body trembled as she forced herself to sit up, wiping her tears with shaking hands. The elegant, innocent room around her was a stark contrast to the turmoil within the broken girl''s heart.
Taking a deep breath¡ªNerina clenched her fists, untrimmed nails digging deep into her palms.
"Fine," she whispered, her voice grown cold¡ª gone was her hopeful reprieve.
"If that¡¯s what it takes to save them¡ I¡¯ll do it¡ª Again."
But deep down, as she stood and looked out the window at the idyllic world she had sacrificed everything for¡ªa single, bitter thought echoed in her mind:
How much more do I have to give?
The system¡¯s panel flickered one last time before vanishing, its task clear. Nerina stared at the peaceful village outside, her tears drying on her cheeks.
She straightened her back, her resolve hardening even as her heart fractured further.
The role of the villain awaited her once more, and this time¡ª there was no relief waiting at the end.
Chapter 2: Repeat
Nerina sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the faint glow of the system panel before her. The words lingered, hanging in the air like a noose tightening around her neck.
[Additional Condition: Key individuals have regressed alongside the Hero.]
[Details: Evelyn Arkwright, Roselyn Ashbourne and Lyra Veyl will retain their memories from the previous timeline.]
[Note: The Hero''s memories will awaken at the age of 18.]
Her stomach churned as she reread the words. Evelyn¡ She couldn¡¯t stop the image of Evelyn¡¯s piercing gaze from flashing in her mind¡ªthe coldness, the fear, the ruthless determination that came after their friendship shattered in the past timeline.
Her hands trembled as she clasped them tightly in her lap, biting down on her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
It wasn¡¯t just Evelyn. There were two others. Two more people who would remember everything. Every atrocity she did.
Her chest ached as a sob threatened to escape her throat, but she swallowed it down, forcing herself to think rationally.
This wasn¡¯t just a punishment¡ªIt was a trap. The system was ensuring that no matter how hard she tried, no matter how much she wanted to change, those who knew her as the villain would never allow her to.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
They¡¯ll be watching me from the start, she thought bitterly.
I¡¯ll never have a chance to show them I¡¯m different.
Her mind raced as the reality of her situation sank in. They would suspect her of manipulation the moment she did anything kind.
They¡¯d view her every action with suspicion, every smile as a mask. And eventually, they would destroy her¡ªjust as they did before.
Her nails dug into her palms as she fought the rising despair. She wanted to scream, to cry out at the unfairness of it all¡ªbut she couldn¡¯t. Not here. Not now.
And yet¡ª as the suffocating weight threatened to crush her, the system¡¯s last note echoed in her mind like a faint glimmer of light in the darkness:
[The Hero''s memories will awaken at the age of 18.]
Her breath caught as she clung to the words, her mind latching onto the small reprieve they offered. Her brother wouldn¡¯t remember. Not yet.
Tears welled in her eyes again, but this time they weren¡¯t entirely born of despair. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the faint flutter of hope beneath the storm of her emotions.
He won¡¯t know who I really am¡ªnot for years, she thought. There¡¯s still time.
She could still spend these years with him, even if it was fleeting. She could make up for her regrets even if she knew it would all come crashing down when he finally remembered, she could still hold onto these moments.
And there was more, her awakening this time had come much earlier. She was only six years old¡ªhalf the time it had taken in the previous timeline.
That meant there was more time to plan and prepare, to be with those she cared about.
Her lips trembled as she whispered to herself.
¡°Evelyn will despise me, but¡ maybe I can still spend time with her before everything falls apart.¡±
The thought gave her a small sense of purpose, even as the weight of the system¡¯s demands pressed down on her.
This time¡ª she swore;
I¡¯ll make sure to give them something worth remembering.
"Even if they never trust me again."
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and stood, her legs shaky but steadying with each step she took.
Nerina walked over to the balcony window and gazed at the quiet village, her heart heavy yet determined.
The system might have robbed her of a true second chance, but it hadn¡¯t taken everything. Not completely.
She placed a hand on the windowpane, her reflection staring back at her. For now, she had time¡ªtime to be the sister she wanted to be, to be the friend she wished she could¡¯ve been.
The future loomed over her like a dark veil, the shadow of it''s inevitabilty marked her future as bleak¡ª but she wasn¡¯t going to let it swallow her whole.
Not yet.
Chapter 3: The Weight of Knowing
[Evelyn P.O.V]
Had it been real amnesia, or had something else driven her to change?
She needed to clear her head.
And then she saw her...
Nerina.
Evelyn¡¯s chest ached as she watched her...
Just her friend¡ª
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It won¡¯t last¡ª
something will happen. Something will take this Nerina away.
What if I stopped it? What if I kept her from losing herself? What if I changed her fate?
No¡ªYou can¡¯t. If you change her fate, you might destroy everything. What if the world crumbles early on without the villain? What if something worse takes her place?
I¡¯ll cherish these moments while they lastEven if it kills me inside¡ªI¡¯ll let her go when the time comes.
Chapter 4: Where Everything Began
¡ºStories. The soul of people are stories.¡»
¡º¡ªnarratives told and forgotten under the gaze of the divine.¡»
What is a person but the sum of their choices?
Of course¡ª we each want to believe that our lives are shaped by the grand acts we perform, by the legacies we leave behind.
But it is the small, quiet moments¡ªthe setsuna when you stand at a crossroad and choose¡ªwhere a person is truly defined.
Every decision you make, every small sacrifice, every risk, even the moments where you fail¡ª they all add up.
And sometimes¡ it¡¯s the fall that matters most.
I used to believe that people were only as valuable as their success. That a person¡¯s worth could be measured by what they achieved, how they were remembered.
I was wrong.
It¡¯s not the destination, but the journey. It¡¯s not the victories that matter, but how you march forward even after you''ve lost everything.
People are molded by the choices they make when the world demands too much.
A person is not their name nor their bloodline. Their worth is not determined by where they began, but by how far they''ve come¡ªtheir actions when faced with an unyielding fate.
How far they fall.
And whether they manage to stand back up again.
Because life has a way of breaking people.
Challenging them.
Twisting them.
Forcing them to choose, even when there are no good choices left.
And in the end, it is the ones who stand back up that shape history.
Before all of this, I thought I was content. I had everything anyone could want¡ªa noble family, wealth, status.
Born and raised with dignity, my every need fulfilled, surrounded by the warm glow of respectability.
Yet, no matter how much I had, no matter how many people admired my position, there was always a gnawing emptiness deep inside.
It felt like I wasn¡¯t doing anything¡ªlike I was nothing more than a mere ornament clinging to the life I was born into, weighing down the shoulders of those who truly mattered.
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I watched others shape their destinies, take risks and make choices that carved their paths¡ªeven at the expense of everything they knew.
But could I accomplish that? What was I doing? What was my purpose?
All my life I believed that what I had was enough¡ªuntil it wasn¡¯t. This foolish girl wished for something more, something grand.
The child in me wanted to be someone who changed the world, an individual who wasn¡¯t just¡ existing.
I wanted to feel the fire of something truly meaningful burning inside me.
I wanted to be different from the masses. To do something grand and meaningful. To leave behind a legacy earned, not inherited.
I used to think that was a noble dream. A tender longing for purpose.
And the gods heard my wish.
¡ªJust not in the way I expected.
The price of my ambition was steep, far steeper than I could have ever imagined. I thought I wanted to be the hero, but what I became¡ was far more complicated.
The question isn¡¯t whether I¡¯m worthy.
¡ªit¡¯s if I can find the strength to keep moving forward. No matter how much I must sacrifice, despite the monster I might become.
"The world does not weep for the fallen, nor will it pause for those who bleed and scream¡ª until their soul shatters into a thousand pieces."
But as long as I¡¯m still breathing, this story isn¡¯t over.
If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned¡ªit''s that even the greatest of falls can lead to the highest of rises.
I used to think I was powerless. Just another noble girl who would live a quiet, uneventful life.
But then¡ªfate intervened.
The life I knew shattered, burned to embers before my very eyes.
The wings that kept me afloat¡ª turned to ashes by the very fires of my ambition.
It was only when I slowly began my rapid descent¡ª did I realize that they were merely made of wax, poorly adorned in sparkling jewels that my family had earned.
And when the cinders marred my very soul...
It was then¡ªmy role in this story began to change.
Chapter 5: A Smile Like Spring, A Heart Like Winter
[Nerina P.O.V]
¡ºVows are made in whispers. In the quiet of the soul, in the stillness of night.¡»
¡ºBut vengeance¡ vengeance is a tale written in blood.¡»
It is an easy claim to say that time heals all wounds.
That with ample distance, enough years, and proper moments spent laughing under the warmth of the sun¡ª the pain will fade.
That scars will become mere echoes of what once was, nothing more than ghosts of a life left behind.
But there are wounds that do not heal.
No¡ªsome wounds fester.
And there are memories so deeply carved into the soul that not even time may dull their edges.
People say that hatred is a heavy bind to bear. That it weighs you down, chains you to the past and makes you a prisoner to your own grief.
But I do not feel such weight .
I feel nothing at all.
And that is far¡ªfar worse.
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.
.
The corridors of House Morwen are always alight with golden chandeliers, their soft glow illuminating the marble floors, the high ceilings, the ancient tapestries woven with stories of heroes long gone.
A home steeped in history.
A house built upon the weight of its own expectations.
Evelyn walks beside me, her fingers curled lightly around mine, her presence as gentle as ever. She hums as she speaks, voice light, careless¡ª free.
Despite her stoic and rational mind, she could not deny the softness of her childish heart when it comes to people she loves.
¡ªand the fact that I belong to such cherished people will always be my eternal pride, and my most haunting regret.
She does not know that I memorize each sound, each expression, each flicker of warmth she gives me¡ªhoarding them like a starved beast, terrified that one day they would slip through my fingers once more.
Because I have seen a world without Evelyn Arkwright.
And I refuse to see it again.
So I took her hand and made our way to the library, clutching it for dear life like it was my lifeline.
And when we turn the corner¡ª there she stands.
Seraphina Vael.
That unforgivable wench.
Tall. Steady. A figure carved from discipline and duty, her presence unmistakable.
The head knight of House Morwen, a woman known for her unwavering sense of justice, a woman who had once been Evelyn¡¯s shield.
A woman who had failed¡ª unforgivably so.
Seraphina Vael was once an honored knight, renowned for her unwavering sense of justice and loyalty to the Morwen family.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
She prided herself as the moral backbone of the guard squadron, the voice of reason in a world of shifting morals.
But in the end, her blind faith in an idealized version of justice led to Evelyn¡¯s death¡ªand for that, Nerina would never forgive her.
She greets us with a polite smile, her tone measured, composed.
"Lady Evelyn. Lady Nerina. A pleasant afternoon to you both."
Evelyn curtsies, a bit hesitant and conflicted as she scoured the woman''s face.
"Good afternoon, Seraphina¡ª Are you here to train?"
Seraphina nods, her expression firm.
"A knight must always hone their craft. Discipline is the foundation of strength."
In response to that¡ªI tilt my head, my gaze unwavering as the bellows of my vile nature began to surface a barrage of curses underneath.
"That is an admirable belief, Commander,"
I inwardly scoff despite my voice flowing smooth, warm, pleasant.
"If it would not trouble you, I would like to train alongside you today."
Surprise flickers in her gaze at my ''sincere'' request, before it is quickly replaced with approval.
"Of course," she replies, nodding. "A knight¡¯s spirit is forged in hardship. I welcome any who wish to grow stronger."
Strength.
She speaks of it as though it is something pure. Something noble.
I only smile.
¡ªfestering the venom that threatened to escape my lips, waiting for them to ripe like fermented wine.
And then, turning to Evelyn¡ªI take her hand one last time, my touch soft with an expression tender enough to melt even the coldest of hearts.
"Go on to the library without me," I murmur.
"I¡¯ll join you soon."
Evelyn hesitates but nods, prompting me to swear an oath as if afraid to lose me should I not comply.
"Don¡¯t push yourself too hard"
A promise I will never keep.
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.
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Training went as expected.
Seraphina was strong, disciplined, relentless.
She moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, and each strike she delivered was fueled by the belief that she was upholding a creed¡ª just and righteous.
She is everything a knight should be.
Everything Evelyn once believed in.
And yet¡ª
She is the reason Evelyn died.
Not by her hand.
But of unrelenting failure.
So I met her blade with unwavering skill, my movements fluid, precise.
I let her see what she wanted to see¡ªa young girl filled with promise, a knight in the making¡ªsomeone who would uphold the very same ideals she so stubbornly clung to.
I let her believe in me.
And when she smiled at me, filled with approval, with pride¡ª
I knew that, one day... I would take that very pride and grind it into dust. And then, I will shatter that hopeful, desperate trust.
Yes. Believe in me. Trust in me. Put your faith in me.
And when the time comes, I will be the one to break you.
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.
.
When the training ends, I step away¡ªleaving Seraphina behind as I wash the sweat and blood from my skin, letting the warm water cleanse me of the day''s battles.
But there are marks no amount of water will wash away.
By the time I make my way to the library, the sky has deepened into hues of orange and violet. The sun is setting. The world turned quiet.
And there¡ªbeneath the shade of an old tree...
Evelyn sleeps.
Her book rests against her lap, her silver hair catching the last rays of light. Her breathing is soft, steady, peaceful.
I stop...
And for the first time in a long while¡ª
I hesitate.
Thus, slowly¡ª I sat beside her.
The garden is still. The wind is gentle.
And yet¡ª
The silence does not bring me peace.
Because no matter how much I wish to forget¡ª
The memories always come.
Blood. So much blood.
It stains the marble floors, thick and glistening, reflecting the dying light of the chandeliers above.
Evelyn lies motionless, silver hair matted with crimson, her skin pale, cold.
The screams¡ª oh how they still make my blood run cold.
Her eyes¡ª
Those beautiful stars of magenta no longer shine.
And this audacious wench¡ªseraphina kneels beside her, hands shaking with lips parted in a silent prayer.
¡ªher face pale, fingers trembling as she kept whispering.
''No. This¡ this wasn¡¯t supposed to happen.''
But it had.
Because Seraphina had chosen her beliefs over reality.
And in that moment, Nerina had learned something far crueler than death¡ª justice meant nothing if it was built on blind faith.
The woman does not weep.
But she should.
She should scream. She should wail. She should realize what she had done.
But she does not.
Because Seraphina Vael is a knight.
And knights do not break.
Even when they should.
So as the assassin struck, Evelyn died because no one would listen to her.
And Nerina had burned that image into her soul.
I would never forget¡ª I would never forgive.
Because Seraphina had never acknowledged her mistake¡ªinstead, she drowned in her own righteousness...telling herself that she had simply been ¡°deceived.¡±
But Nerina knew better.
This wasn¡¯t just naivety¡ªit was willful ignorance. It was hypocrisy disguised as virtue.
Seraphina had not been "deceived."
She simply didn''t want to accept the truth¡ª because it didn¡¯t align with her version of justice.
And for that, Nerina would break her.
So I smiled¡ªjust as I had smiled that day when Seraphina looked up at me to plead for answers, for guidance.
Because one day ¡ªSeraphina would look at nerina like that again.
One day, once her justice had failed her, when her confidence had crumbled and after everything she had believed in had turned to ash¡ª
Seraphina would reach for Nerina.
And this time, I would not be there to save her.
¡ªThus, the nightmare temporarily comes to an end.
I inhale, pressing my fingertips against my lap, grounding myself in the present.
Evelyn shifts slightly in her sleep, her small hand reaching out¡ªher fingers brushing against the fabric of my sleeve.
My chest tightens.
And for a moment¡ªI do nothing, I couldnt.
Then, carefully¡ª I lift a hand, brushing my fingers over her hair to tuck a stray lock behind her ear.
She does not wake.
She trusted me.
And I will protect her.
No matter what.
Even if it meant destroying their belief in me and comitting even more unforgivable sins.
Seraphina Vael will believe in me.
She will place her faith in me.
She will trust me completely.
And when the time comes¡ª
I will break her.
Not through death.
No.
That would be far too kind.
I will strip away her convictions. I will unravel the foundations she has built her life upon. I will show her that her justice is a lie¡ªthat her honor means nothing.
And when she is left with nothing¡ªwhen she finally sees the world for what it truly is¡ª
I will be there to watch as she falls.
And then¡ª once I, the last crutch of seraphina''s crumbling belief am punished for my sins...
That will be the final, cruelest cut.
The last piece of this story, of the fate I have already accepted.
I''ll sink unto that abyss once more¡ª so I do not lose more than I already had.
I pledge such an oath as I caress the fragile light that I had failed to protect¡ª one of the many whom I could not shield from the unfairness of the world
Evelyn sighs softly in her sleep, perhaps because she vowed to do everything better this time around.
But there would be no need to sully her hands, as that duty lies solely on me.
So I close my eyes and smile.
Because vengeance has never tasted so sweet.
End of Chapter.