Chapter 101: Resurfacing Trauma
This is the end.
Even Parnell, usually the optimistic one, could not deny it. Lucia, the natural pessimist, had long since abandoned hope. In truth, neither saw many options remaining.
As Parnell thought through their situation, she saw only three choices left :
Resist and face capture, take their own lives before defeat, or surrender at once to avoid further suffering.
Harmael had proven formidable even against their peak. Now, they were in the worst possible condition.
If they fought, they would be overwhelmed and inevitably taken prisoner. And it was best not to expect the Magic Tower or the Holy Kingdom to pay a ransom for their return.
Even if the Magic Tower poured out riches and the Holy Kingdom pleaded for their Hero, Harmael would not free anyone capable of opposing her.
And if she ever deigned to release them, it would be only after shattering their spirits, leaving once-mighty heroes as hollow echoes of themselves.
That would be no different from losing everything.
And that slim mercy hinged on whether the Holy Kingdom or Magic Tower would shoulder the cost of broken heroes.
Though not entirely hopeless, rescue odds were dismal. The likely outcome: negotiations collapsed, and the inevitable followed.