Chapter 459: To Stand on my Own
An eerie silence descended upon the cathedral, all eyes fixated on the lifeless husk that was once Lord Coufyx. His demise had been so swift, so unexpected, that none of the cultists had time to react. The complete annihilation of his soul had taken less than a single heartbeat.
Before they could recover from their shock, I struggled to one knee, reaching out desperately for Fable. Every nerve in my body screamed in agony, and the darkness at the edge of my vision threatened to consume me. Tears blurred my sight, but it was more than just that, something far worse. Perhaps it was the searing heat that scorched my eyes, or the overwhelming exhaustion and pain, but I couldn’t see clearly. It wasn’t until I felt Fable’s fur envelop me, his presence a tangible comfort, that I knew he was there.
I’d never felt so alone before as in that moment, surrounded by the flames and agony of the sunpurge, with the impending curse of the Soul Crest descending upon me. And now, as I wrapped my arms around his neck, I began to weep. For myself, for the pain, and for the two children whose death I had caused. For all the death and destruction I had caused here in this city.
"Grab her! Even if Lord Coufyx’s dead, we can’t afford to fail! She can’t possibly do that again," one of the surviving cultists shouted.
Fable shifted, and even though I clung to him with all my might, he gently slipped out of my arms. I collapsed without his support, falling to my knees, tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Please, don’t leave me," I sobbed, reaching for him in vain.
A sudden oppressive weight descended upon the cathedral, freezing the cultists in place, their faces draining of color. Fable’s form exploded with mana, swelling rapidly until he dominated the chamber. His silver fur hardened into shimmering armor, his claws and horns elongated into vicious weapons, and his eyes burned with a rage that could consume the world.
The cathedral shuddered as he threw back his head and unleashed a bone-chilling howl. The dreadful sound reverberated through the space, drowning out my own thoughts. It was a lonely, mournful sound, echoing the darkness that had taken root in my heart. I shivered, hugging myself tightly, the tears flowing freely.
Dozens of spells hurtled toward us, filling the air with a chaotic display of fire, ice, and light. I stared at the onslaught blankly, numbed by the cold grip of despair. My soul was weakened, and perhaps Adaptive Resistance with it, but none of that seemed to matter anymore. I couldn’t feel anything but the pain and the encroaching darkness.