Binding Strings of Fate

The cold wind blew fiercely, causing my natural white hair to dance with the gusts. The moon above cast a faint, silvery glow, stretching its light over the city. I stood at the edge of a towering building, looking down at the vast landscape below.

From where i stood, the world seemed distant and small. The asphalt roads were filled with a sea of cars that appeared like ants swarming, while countless windows lit up the smaller buildings that stretched to the horizon, a patchwork of life beneath me.

It was incredible to think how humanity had risen from nothing, from rocks and fire to this sprawling cityscape. Yet, no matter how grand the view, i knew that beneath the surface, evil lurked—driven by its own corrupt desires, tainting even the most beautiful of things.

I didn't understand what had compelled the person behind my kidnapping to go to such lengths, but at this moment, it was something i didn't need to concern myself with.

A soft, familiar voice drifted into my ear, breaking the stillness.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I turned my head to the left. There she was, standing just a step next to me. The woman who had been with me through everything. Her pale skin glowed under the moonlight, her golden blonde hair flowing with the wind, as if she, too, were a part of the night itself. Her sapphire blue eyes that reflected an endless calm ocean.

She took my cold hand in hers, her warmth a stark contrast to the chill in the air.

I glanced back at the view, my heart heavy.

"Yeah," I replied softly, my voice laced with sadness. "It's unfortunate that one day, i wouldn't be able to see all this."

Her voice was gentle, but firm, comforting me in my sorrow. "Don't be sad, Kane. This is our final moment. Let's make it memorable."

I nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "You're right." I haven't smiled once ever since i was taken.

I turned again to meet her gaze, and for the first time in years, a genuine smile tugged at my cold lips. Two years had passed since my disappearance, and during that time, the two of us had not crossed paths. But i had never stopped watching over her, keeping her safe from the shadows that threatened to consume her.

The memory of that night—the night i lost my parents—still haunted me. The way their lives were violently torn from this world, the blood splattered across the floor. He had witnessed it all, unable to move, unable to stop it.

[What happend after end of chapter one]

When the door had opened, she stood there, frozen in horror at the scene before her. The carnage, the blood that painted the walls like an artist's frantic strokes. She had gasped, her hand covering her mouth to keep from vomiting, her eyes wide with shock.

And there i was, kneeling amidst the chaos, blood-soaked and broken. My hands trembled, then, i violently scratched at my hair, trying to wake myself from the nightmare i couldn't escape. I wore a smile, one that wasn't real, trying to convince myself that this was all a dream.

"This is just a dream, right?" I whispered, my voice cracking as the tears flowed freely, desperate to believe the lie.

But the truth was clear. This wasn't a dream. It was reality, my fate now sealed in blood and despair.

After seeing the broken reflection of myself, Emilya, the bloned haired girl rushed to my side. Her arms wrapped around me, embracing me tightly with unforgetable warmth, her eyes filled with tears as she tried to comfort me. She pressed her face against his chest, desperately trying to help him gather the shattered pieces of himself, though she was clearly just as lost as i was.

For a while, i continued to sob, unable to escape the crushing weight of everything that had happened. But eventually, the tears began to subside, and i found myself staring blankly at the ground, my heart sinking deeper with each passing moment.

"This is just too much," I uttered, my voice barely audible, filled with raw despair. More tears followed, flooding down my cheeks as i could no longer hold back the agony that consumed me.

My family—those who i had sworn to protect, who had once made me the happiest person alive—were torn from me. Brutally murdered right in front of my eyes.

I wanted so desperately to believe this was just a nightmare, a cruel figment of my imagination, but the reality was too vivid, too real. Fate, it seemed, was determined to break me without reason, without mercy.

Despair, sorrow, grief, and regret were etched across my face, the pain was too heavy for my weak mentality. This unbearable agony of losing those who meant the world to me was more than i could process.

But why? Why did i have to face this fate?

What had i done to deserve such torment?

I didn't understand. I couldn't.

All i wanted was to be happy... with them. To have a life where i could laugh and love without the shadows of death haunting me.

But that's the cruel truth about life, isn't it? It doesn't care about what you want. It twists and turns, taking you down roads you never saw coming, leaving you to wonder what you did to deserve such pain.

***

Hearing Emilya's words, I felt an unbearable weight settle over me, crushing my very soul. My girlfriend—the person I loved with all my heart—had just said it aloud: everyone connected to us, everyone we cared about, had been taken away. Every single one.

Both our family, our friends, all gone. And i was the cause of it—my actions, my decisions, my failures—had dragged them all into this nightmare, leading them to their deaths for nothing. For no reason at all.

It was too much to bear, the guilt, the overwhelming sense of loss. It was suffocating.

Then, Emilya proposed an idea.

Her face still pressed against my back, i could feel the warm trail of her tears running down my spine. Her voice, thick with despair, broke the silence.

"Let's join them, Kane. I can't take it anymore. I want to see them again... I want us to be happy again. Like the old times."

It took a few agonizing seconds for her words to sink in, for me to understand what she was asking. And when i did, i felt my heart shatter, but i didn't hesitate. He held Emilya's cold hands, the hands that had wrapped around him for comfort, with mine—hands that were coated in blood.

I spoke,y voice steady but devoid of any emotion, as i tried to push the horrors around us away.

"At the top of the tallest building," He said. "That's where we're going to do it."

[Back to Present]

And now, the two of us stood atop the tallest building in the continent of Vrania.

The wind whispered around the two of us, carrying the last remnants of the world we were about to leave behind. Our final goodbyes were unspoken, yet each glance, each breath shared between them, carried the weight of everything they had once known.

"Kane," Emilya said, her voice soft but filled with resolve. "Before we die, I have a wish for you to fulfill."

I turned to face her, mirroring her posture, my heart heavy with anticipation. I wanted nothing more than to fulfill whatever it was she needed, no matter how impossible.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice steady but thick with emotion. "What wish do you want me to fulfill?"

Emilya hesitated for a moment, her gaze searching mine as if weighing her words carefully. "It might not happen, but if it does… I want you to follow what I say, no matter what."

She paused, her breath catching slightly as she gathered her thoughts.

"And when that time comes," she puased, her voice barely above a whisper, then continued "promise me you'll live."

"If you were given a second chance at life, I want you to forget about me," she said, her voice soft yet steady. "Have many new friends, treasure your new family, and have your own family with the person you truly love. Even if we're not together... that's my wish."

Her gentle smile, despite the words, seemed to carry a weight that i couldn't bear. While she radiated peace, a deep sadness gripped my heart as i heard her only wish for me.

i couldn't stop myself from retaliating.

"But we promised we—"

I was cut off by the delicate touch of her hand pressing gently over my mouth.

"Forget about our childhood promise," she whispered, her eyes filled with an understanding that pierced through me. "I know we both wanted to marry each other... but that promise is impossible now, in our current situation. So please, Kane... I want you to be happy, at least."

She slowly retracted her hand and leaned her head against my chest, her breath warm against him. A single word escaped her lips, barely a whisper.

"Warm."

And then, i felt it—a single tear that slipped down her cheek, landing softly on i chest. It was as though her sorrow had found its place there, and all i could do was stand still, holding her as the tears she had fought to keep hidden finally slipped free.

I raised his right hand and gently lifted her chin, my touch soft, almost tender. With a smile that i hoped conveyed everything i felt, i closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss her.

The moment there lips met, warmth and softness flooded through us both, and for an instant, everything else—the pain, the uncertainty, the tragic weight of the night—disappeared. All i could feel was the happiness of finally being close to her like this.

When i pulled away and open my eyes, i saw the surprise in her eyes. A few seconds passed before her expression softened, her face lighting up with a smile, and tears welled in her eyes—tears of joy.

"You said to make our final moment memorable, right?" He said, his voice filled with a quiet hope. "this is the only memorable thing that came up in my mind. Hope I didn't mess it up. It's my first time."

She giggled softly through her tears, her voice trembling with emotion. "No. It was perfect. You made me really happy, Kane. Thank you… for being with me and making me happy."

Kane curled a gentle smile at her.

"Good."

But before the two of them could say anything more, the door behind them suddenly busted open.

Two figures appeared at the top of the tall building.

The first was a short, fat old man, his face marked by slight wrinkles, his expression twisted in madness.

Beside him, stood a tall young man, his golden hair neatly styled and his green eyes sharp but calm, a stark contrast to the old man. He was clad in black scientific metalic body armor, faint blue light radiating from specific spots on the surface. Floating beside him was a black cube, pulsing with a glowing blue circle at its center—an ominous, dangerous presence.

I stepped forward, positioning myself between them and Emilya, shielding her with my own body.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?! KANE MALRIK?!" The old man screamed, his voice cutting through the air despite the short distance—barely ten meters away from us. His voice was shrill, dripping with venom.

"DO YOU WANT ME TO—"

I ignored him, pushing his words aside as if they were nothing more than noise. I raised my left hand, open and steady, bringing it to the same level as my shoulder, preparing for what was to come.

Using my blessed ability, the air around my hand twisted and coiled, forming sharp silver shards that fused together like puzzle pieces, materializing into a silver razor-sharp dagger.

Once the weapon was fully formed, i flicked my hand, sending the dagger hurtling toward the whining fat bastard. It moved with such speed that no normal person would have been able to track it.

But the young man clad in black armor reacted quickly.

He dashed forward, using a cube floating beside him. The cube, transforming into a massive black shield adorned with glowing blue spots. Despite the cube's small size, the cube transformation was enough to create a massive shield that could withstand my attack.

The dagger collided with the shield, shattering into a thousand silver fragments that disappeared into thin air.

Though the dagger was small, the force behind it was enough to push the young man back a few inches.

"Your ability is really starting to get on my nerves," he muttered, his voice low and controlled. "Is this really what you wanted Kane Malrik? Suicide?"

"This is our choice. I won't let any other people use me as a weapon. I am a human who desired freedom. And i won't forgive any of you for killing the people i cared."

The young man, one of the revered protectors of this continent, let out a sigh heavy with disappointment.

"Such talent wasted on a idiotic individual."

"Guess i have no choice, remember Kane. I won't hold back."

"Do your worst."

He reformed the shield into a single-edged metalic black sword, its sharp edges glowing faintly with blue light.

I concentrated, gathering the silver material in the air and shaping it into a double-edged sword. The blade caught the moonlight, its surface gleaming coldly in the night.

Me and the man in armor stared at each other with a calm expression for a few good secconds.

Without another word, both of us lunged at each other. The clash of our blades was deafening. The force of the impact caused the flat rooftop to tremble, and a massive crater formed beneath the calm warriors from the shockwave. But the crater look small compared to the width of the tall building.

I tried to minimize the damage to the building, but the armored man wasn't concerned with protecting anyone. He had heavy intent on killing me, and nothing else seemed to matter to him.

Our swords met again and again, each strike creating a load clang throughout the night. The upper part of the structure groaned under the pressure, as if it couldn't take much more.

Then, i saw my opening.

I parried the Collective man's sword upwards, throwing off his balance, in that brief moment, i acted. I clenched my left hand into a fist and drove it into his solar plexus, knocking him back with enough force to send him stumbling.

But it wasn't enough to finish him.

He quickly regained his footing, dropping to one knee, but the fight wasn't over. I dismantled my sword and summoned a silver spear, its tip gleaming with deadly intent.

The young man, realizing my next move, quickly reformed his sword into a massive, more defensive shield.

Exactly what I was hoping for.

I steadied myself, gripping the spear tightly, and took a single step forward, the ground beneath me cracked even more. Then, with all my strength, I hurled the silver spear at him.

Launching him out the flat platform of the tall building.

It was a success.

"KRAN!!!" The fat bastard screamed, his voice grating and sharp.

'Damn, he's loud and obnoxious.'

Kran Meywill was indeed a talented fighter, however, i was called as the youngest prodigy for a reason.

A voice rang out, cutting through the stillness behind me.

"Kane!" It was Emilya, her face filled with concern.

"Don't worry, I'm okay," I said, trying to reassure her.

She glanced at me, her brow furrowed. "How about your enemy?"

I let out a soft sigh. "He's still alive. I told you, didn't I? I'm not going to kill anyone anymore."

Her worry seemed to melt away, replaced by a faint smile.

I stepped closer, moving to stand beside her. We both gazed out at the city below, the lights shimmering in the night like scattered stars. I reached out, my fingers brushing against hers, then entwining them, holding her hand as if it were the only anchor in a world that was slowly slipping away.

"Shall we?" I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

She nodded softly, her eyes shining in the dim light before she murmured, "I love you, Kane."

The words, like a final promise, sank into my chest. "I love you too," I replied, my voice thick with emotion.

With a shared, silent understanding, we closed our eyes, our fingers intertwined. Together, we let go, falling headfirst into the abyss.

As the ground rushed toward us, the cold wind cut through our skin, seeping into our very souls. The air screamed around us. As we fell, i pulled her closer, my arms wrapped around her, embracing her with my entire body, I felt only warmth—her warmth. The only thing tethering me to this world, to life.

We were free. Free to join the ones we had lost, to escape the slavery and the betrayal. We would be together, as we were meant to be.

But then, something shifted.

The wind, once so sharp, faded. The weight of gravity disappeared. It was as if I no longer existed, as if the world itself had erased me from its memory. The sensation of falling was gone—replaced by a profound stillness.

I felt nothing.

Not the cold, not the warmth of her body pressed against mine. Not even the breath in my lungs.

Just... emptiness.

End of Chapter.