Her face didn't show much. No anger. No sympathy. Just detachment at first.
But when she saw him begging, her lips parted slightly, yet no words came.
She remembered the boy who used to follow her around the estate—always one step behind, always full of ideas
Unlike the other nobles who acted proud and distant, Kash was always kind, genuinely gentle in a way most weren't.
Back then, he didn't follow her to show off. He did it just to make sure she was okay.
At night, they would lie under the stars and talk about things too big for their age. He used to smile without hiding anything.
However, everything changed the moment she received her mark.
She rose through the ranks, placed on a path that forced her to grow up fast.
Not wanting to give him false hope that they could stay together, she pushed him away—for his sake, and hers.
But he never stopped trying.
And she never forgot him.
Even from afar, she watched him work, saw how he struggled to catch up in his own way.
He didn't have the same resources or the same support, but he pushed forward anyway.
That was why she kept giving him a chance. She knew the odds were low, but deep down, she wanted him to succeed.
And maybe, if a miracle happened, he would become a great summoner too. Someone worthy enough to stand beside her.
It did happen.
His summoned beast was unique, possibly even stronger than most Warlords. With enough time and effort, it could even reach King Rank.
She just never imagined it would lead here—to burned corpse on the streets, a prison in flames, and him standing in front of her, begging not for his life, but for someone else's.
'Why? Why did fate have to be this cruel?'
"I don't want to kill you... but what you did in unacceptable."
She couldn't just turn a blind eye.
Not after what happened.
Not after the screaming.
Not after the bodies.
Not after the children left without a father.
Still, her hands trembled, just a little.
She forced herself to bury all her emotions. There was no need to confess the truth now; it would only make things harder for both of them.
It would be easier if he believed they never had a chance to begin with.
"You've made your choice. Now face the outcome."
Kash jumped from the carriage, and Elecy wondered why.
Perhaps he was planning to fight until the very end.
THUD!
He dropped hard, palms scraping against the gravel. Dirt pressed into his skin as he slammed his forehead down.
"I beg you, please, spare my family," he pleaded, his voice hoarse. "Just kill me, or capture me. Let them torture me to death. I don't care… as long as my family survive."
Elecy opened her mouth, ready to tell him to stop, but before she could speak, the carriage door creaked open.
One by one, his family members, including Keisha, stepped out and bowed their heads to the ground, their voices trembling with desperation.
"Please, Big Sister Elecy, spare my brother," Keisha cried. "He only did this to protect us...to keep us from being executed... and to stop me from being taken advantage of."
Then Kaden spoke, his voice filled with resolved. "You can kill me too. Just spare my wife and daughter. She's from a different family, and... she's innocent."
"No, Kaden! Don't!" Alicia voice cracked, filled with sadness. "I can't lose you both... I won't let you sacrifice yourselves!"
"Alicia, listen. You need to be stronger now... for Keisha's sake." Kaden kissed her forehead.
Elecy's eyes moved from Kash, kneeling in the dirt, to his family, all of them trembling, crying and pleading for mercy.
Her heart tightened at the sight, but as much as the words swayed her , another thought crept in.
Could she really face the families of those who died if she let them go?
Would they really believe her if she said that they managed to escape her? One of the youngest and strongest summoners in the empire?
Elecy closed her eyes, thinking hard. This was an important decision that would affect her future.
When she opened her eyes, they were steady, but her shoulders didn't quite relax.
"Get up," Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of struggle in it.
The four of them slowly got to their feet. Their lives were now in her hands.
Kash, on the other hand, already accepted that he would either be killed or imprisoned.
He knew he deserved whatever punishment came his way, and he wouldn't blame her if she took his life.
SWOOOOSH!
A gust swept through the road, kicking dust into the air. Grit stung their cheeks as they shut their eyes, bracing for the end.
Then came the silence.
When they opened it again, they realized they were still alive. Safe.
Elecy was already flying far in the distance. She spared them.
Kash let out a heavy sigh while the rest of his family dropped to their knees, their bodies giving out from the sudden relief.
He stared at the sky, watching the wyvern grow smaller and smaller as it flew away.
'Thank you. I promise I'll repay you one day.'