I Drank The Water Of Forgetfulness

From the moment I was old enough to understand the world, I knew my parents didn't love me.

My father, the Duke of the Umbra-Kin, snatched the Soul-Core the High King had gifted me and handed it to my younger sister, Eva.

You owe her this. Be a good girl and don't fight it, he commanded.

My mother took a vial of my heart-blood every single day to nourish Eva's frail body.

"Sera, do you really want to watch your sister die? It's just a bit of blood. Why are you being so selfish?"

In the depths of my despair, Xander appeared.

"Sera, through every lifetime, whether as a creature of the night or a mortal, I will love only you."

But it only took a hundred years for Xander to show his true face.

"Sera, Eva's soul is fractured because of you. I'm only looking after her to help you pay for your sins."

Even my own flesh and blood, my son Leo, looked at me with nothing but disgust.

"I want Aunt Eva to be my real mommy!"

Finally, they tried to force me to perform a Soul-Swap to save Eva's life.

I stopped hoping. I stopped caring.

I drank the water from the River of Lethe, choosing to erase every single memory of them from my soul...

The banks of the River of Lethe.

I bowed deeply toward the towering, shadowy figure whose back was turned to the world.

"High King, I wish to take the mantle of the Guardian of the Void. I will watch over the lost souls of the Underworld for eternity."

Since the last Saint ascended, the River of Lethe had been unguarded for a thousand years.

The Underworld was overflowing with vengeful spirits, and it desperately needed a new master.

But the River was a place of absolute solitude.

No one wanted this miserable burden, so the position had remained vacant for centuries.

Hearing my voice, the High King slowly turned his head.

He stayed silent for a long time before letting out a weary sigh.

"To become the Guardian, you must drink the Lethe water for seven days. You will sever all ties, kill all emotions, and live in loneliness until the last soul is at peace."

"Even the ancient Saints couldn't endure it. Do you... truly understand what this means?"

I didn't hesitate for a single second. "I understand."

"Very well."

The High King pulled out a golden quill and began drawing symbols in the air.

"From this day forth, Sera, daughter of the Umbra-Kin, is the Guardian of the Void. You shall command the spirits and take your post in seven days. Do not fail me."

The royal seal descended, and a streak of golden light sank into the space between my eyebrows.

When I returned to the palace, I looked at the cold, empty halls and let out a bitter laugh.

My parents, my husband, and my child were likely all gathered around that woman right now.

I wondered if they even remembered that today was my birthday.

Half an hour later, they finally returned.

My husband, Xander, rushed toward me the moment he saw me standing there.

"Sera! Where the hell have you been?"

Looking at the panic in his eyes, I felt a brief moment of daze.

Was he actually worried about me?

Before I could speak, Xander's face twisted with impatience.

"It's good that you're back. Eva's condition is critical. You're both from the same bloodline. Your blood and your Heart-Core are the only things that can save her."

"Besides, the Umbra-Kin are immortal anyway. You won't actually die."

Immortal.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

I looked at my father and mother standing nearby.

Neither of them said a word. Their silence was the final nail in the coffin of my heart.

The Umbra-Kin were indeed hard to kill, but the Soul-Swap was a nightmare.

It required draining every drop of blood, extracting the bone marrow, and finally ripping out the heart while the victim was still conscious.

The pain was beyond anything a mind could imagine.

I curled my lips into a mocking smile. "And why should I?"

"What?" Xander's eyebrows shot up. "What did you just say?"

"I said, why the hell should I?"

"Because you're the one who left Eva alone in the Forbidden Forest! The dark energy poisoned her soul, and that's why she's dying!"

Xander spoke with such righteous fury.

But his words only made the rot in my heart grow deeper.

"I paid that debt a long time ago."

"Since we were kids, she got every relic, every herb, and all of our parents' attention. She even has my husband's devotion and my son's love. Isn't that enough?"

"And now, that bitch wants my life too?"

SLAPD

A sudden, violent blow landed on my face.

My mother stared at me with a face full of venom.

"If it weren't for a wicked girl like you, Eva wouldn't be suffering like this!"

"If anything happens to her, I will personally skin you alive!"

They hurried away toward Eva's room.

Even Xander only spared me one cold glance before following them.

In that moment, a wave of absolute exhaustion washed over me.

I was done.

I would rather forget everything than give my life for a family like this.

I poured a bowl of the Lethe water.

As I stared at it, a single, crystal-clear tear fell into the liquid.

Was I crying?

Then why didn't my chest feel tight anymore?

I reached out and wiped the blur from my eyes.

Without a second thought, I raised the bowl and drank the Lethe water in one go.

In seven days, I would never cry for anyone or anything ever again.

%%%

Xander didn't return until late at night, bringing our son, Leo, with him.

He saw me sitting quietly in the darkened hall, and a flash of guilt flickered in his eyes.

"I brought you a birthday gift."

I opened my eyes and looked at the box briefly before looking away.

"Just leave it there."

Xander frowned, clearly confused by my icy reaction.

"Are you still throwing a tantrum? Just because we weren't here for your birthday yesterday?"

Before I could answer, he rubbed his temples with irritation.

"Sera, you know Eva's condition. Her life is on the line. Did you expect me to throw a party while she's dying? Don't you think you're being a bit heartless?"

"You're her sister, yet you haven't asked about her once. Do you have any idea how much that hurts your parents?"

Listening to his blatant accusations, I felt like laughing.

Eva had used the same excuses for years.

Was it possible they were really this blind?

The Umbra-Kin were born from the shadows.

A little dark energy from the forest was actually a supplement for us, not a poison.

She was perfectly fine every other day of the year.

But every time my birthday rolled around, she suddenly had a life-threatening relapse.

Did they really not see the pattern?

I wanted to scream, but the words died in my throat.

There was no point.

Seeing my silence, Xander's expression darkened even further.

He opened his mouth to say more, but Leo suddenly looked up.

The boy didn't speak out loud, but his childish, hateful thoughts drifted into my mind via our blood bond.

"Daddy, why is Mommy always so annoying? Aunt Eva is never like this. She's so sweet."

"Daddy, can you just marry Aunt Eva instead?"

Xander smiled down at him and sent a mental reply.

"We can't rush these things, Leo. You can't say that in front of her yet, okay?"

"Once she agrees to the Soul-Swap, everything else will fall into place."

I kept my eyes closed, but my fists tightened slightly.

These two didn't realize that women of the Umbra-Kin royalty leave a drop of essence in their mates and offspring.

As long as I willed it, I could hear every dark thought they had.

I used to ignore it, but after they abandoned me last year to chase after Eva, I started listening.

The more I heard, the colder my blood became.

I looked at the father and son sharing their "secret" looks and smiled thinly.

"I agree."

Since they loved Eva so much, I would give them exactly what they wanted.

My sudden voice made them both freeze.

Xander looked shocked. "You... what did you say, Sera?"

I put on an innocent face. "I said I agree. I think I should go visit Eva."

"It's about time you came to your senses."

Xander let out a sigh of relief.

He stepped forward and took my hand, his voice softening into that fake tenderness he used to manipulate me.

"I remember the High King gave you a Thousand-Year Ice Crystal a while ago. You aren't using it anyway. Since you want to apologize, why don't you give it to Eva?"

My eyes narrowed.

No wonder he bothered to come see me.

He was still hunting for treasures for his precious Eva.

"Fine. Go get it yourself."

My sudden generosity actually made him suspicious.

He hesitated for a moment. "Sera, why don't you come with us to see her right now?"

I shook my head immediately. "No. I have things to do."

"What could be more important than your sister's life?!"

Xander raised his voice, his eyes full of blame.

He was back to acting like I was a disobedient child.

I gave a self-deprecating laugh.

No matter the time or place, my husband, my parents, and my child always put Eva first.

"No matter how weak she acts, she's still a Royal Umbra. Stop acting like she's going to drop dead any second."

I pushed past them, ignoring their ugly expressions as I walked out.

I left the palace and headed toward the Whispering Woods.

Years ago, during the Great Breach when the demons invaded, I was ambushed by a Hellhound.

Its hellfire was the only thing that could bypass the immortality of my kind.

Back then, not a single member of my family noticed I was missing.

As I lay dying, a young Ash-Phoenix saved me using its own essence.

After I healed, I wanted to bring the bird back to the palace, but I knew its blood was too valuable.

I left it in the woods to keep it safe.

I visited it every month during the full moon.

I was leaving for the River of Lethe soon, and the only thing I couldn't bear to leave behind was my Phoenix.

As I reached the clearing, a happy, sharp cry echoed through the trees.

A flaming red bird with three heads swooped down from the sky and landed in front of me.

"Hey there, Ignis..."

The bird rubbed its small heads against my palm affectionately.

I gently stroked its feathers. "Ignis, in six days, I'm going to forget everything. I won't be able to come see you anymore. Promise me you'll take care of yourself."

Ignis couldn't speak, but it was intelligent enough to feel my sorrow.

It let out a low, mournful sound.

My heart ached, but I knew I had to let go.

When I tried to leave, Ignis followed me, refusing to stay behind.

"Ignis, you can't come back with me."

I looked into its glowing eyes.

"You're special. People will hunt you. If I'm not there to protect you, they'll kill you for your blood."

Ignis looked heartbroken, but it finally nodded and flew back into the deep woods.

I felt a weight lift from my chest and headed back to the palace.

Near the gardens, I saw Xander and Leo taking a walk with Eva.

The three of them were laughing and talking like a perfect little family.

I tried to walk past them without being noticed, but a screech echoed from above.

I froze as a ball of fire streaked across the sky toward us.

"Ignis?"

Why did it follow me?

Before I could react, Leo raised his hand.

A blast of dark energy shaped like a skull slammed into the fireball.

the flames died instantly.

Ignis, now blackened and charred, let out a scream and tumbled to the ground.

"Ignis!"

My heart stopped. I scrambled toward the bird to check its wounds.

But Xander was beaming with excitement.

"A rare Ash-Phoenix! Eva, with its heart-blood, your soul will be completely restored!"

"Don't you dare!"

I spun around, glaring at Xander with pure hatred.

"This bird is my friend. It saved my life. Anyone who touches it is my enemy!"

Leo huffed and complained loudly. "What's Mommy's problem? Is she really choosing an animal over Aunt Eva's life?"

I felt like my blood had turned to ice.

Xander nodded in agreement. "Sera, are you just making up excuses because you don't want to share the bird?"

Eva looked down, her face full of fake guilt.

"Sera, I know how much you love rare things. I won't fight you for it. Please don't be mad at Leo. He's just a child."

"Aunt Eva, it's not your fault!" Leo snapped, glaring at me with total defiance.

Looking at the three of them standing together against me, I realized I was the outsider.

I turned my back on them and used my power to heal Ignis's immediate wounds.

Then, I cast a teleportation spell to send the bird far away.

"Sera!"

Xander roared, sending a wave of dark energy at me, but I blocked it.

"As long as I'm alive, no one touches that bird!"

As we faced off, Eva suddenly dropped to her knees.

"It's all my fault! I'm too weak! Please, don't fight because of me!"

Xander and Leo panicked.

"Eva, what are you doing? You're too fragile, stand up!"

"Yeah, Aunt Eva! Your health is more important than anything!"

Right then, my father and mother walked into the courtyard.

Seeing Eva on her knees, my mother rushed over in a panic.

"Eva! My poor baby, why are you on the ground?"

My father gave me a freezing look and sent a palm strike flying through the air.

SLAPD

"You ungrateful brat! Are you bullying your sister again?"

That slap was heavy. He didn't hold back at all.

I was sent flying backward, crashing onto the cold stone floor.

A trickle of blood leaked from the corner of my mouth.

But no one cared.

My parents, my husband, and my son were all huddled around Eva.

Through the gaps in the crowd, I saw the tiny, triumphant smirk on Eva's face.

I forced down the bitterness rising in my throat.

It was okay. Soon, I would forget these people.

I would never have to see them again.

I held my bruised face and walked away into the shadows of the palace.

Xander glanced back for a split second.

Seeing my lonely, retreating figure, a flicker of unease crossed his mind.

He let go of Eva's hand to go after me, but she suddenly collapsed against his chest.

"Xander... I feel so dizzy..."

He panicked instantly, scooping her up into his arms and rushing away.

The rest of the family followed him like a pack of loyal dogs.

I didn't look back.

I didn't care anymore.

Once I was gone, Xander and Leo could truly belong to Eva.

Back in my room, I used my magic to heal my swollen cheek.

I didn't feel any pain during the process.

I had lived like this for centuries. After a while, the wounds just felt like nothing.

Late that night, Xander finally came to my room.

He saw me sitting by the window and hesitated before speaking.

"Sera, we need to talk."

I didn't say a word. He didn't seem to care and kept talking.

"Eva is getting worse every day. Her only wish is to be a bride once before she dies. Your parents think I should... play along."

"She's weak, Sera. You know that. She's emotionally unstable right now. I have to do this for her."

I stared at the man who had once sworn to protect me forever.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head.

The memories of our first meeting began to blur and fade.

Then, they vanished completely.

The Lethe water was working.

In five more days, I would be completely hollow.

Because of that, I felt absolutely nothing as he spoke.

"I agree."

My voice was flat. Xander looked even more worried and tried to explain further.

"It's just a ceremony, Sera. Nothing real will happen."

I tilted my head and smiled.

"If you're going to do it, do it right. Let's go to the Marriage Stone tomorrow and dissolve our bond."

Xander's breath hitched.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Nothing," I said calmly.

"Once you're married to Eva and she's better, we can always bond again later."

I didn't give him time to argue. "This is for Eva's sake. You aren't going to say no, are you?"

Xander's hesitation vanished as soon as I mentioned her name.

"Sera, I knew you were a good person at heart. You understand."

"How is your face? Does it still hurt?"

I shook my head and stayed silent.

As soon as he left to go back to Eva's side, I drank another bowl of Lethe water.

Five days left.

Soon, nothing they did would ever be able to hurt me again.

The next morning, a maid summoned me to the dining hall.

By the time I arrived, the whole family was already revolving around Eva.

My mother was carefully serving her soup. My father was piling food onto her plate.

Xander was dabbing her mouth with a silk cloth, and Leo was acting like her little servant.

When I entered, only Xander's movements stiffened for a second.

Eva's eyes sparkled with triumph, and she gave me a sweet, fake wave.

"Sera, come sit with us!"

But my eyes were fixed on the bracelet on her wrist.

It was the Soul-Gem. The gift Xander had given me when we got engaged.

I vaguely remembered his vow in front of the Marriage Stone.

"Sera, this Soul-Gem is linked to my very life. I give it to you because you are the only one I will ever love."

I had given it to our son, Leo, to keep him safe.

And now, it was on Eva's wrist.

Xander couldn't have missed it.

That meant they had made this decision together.

Xander opened his mouth, probably to make up some pathetic excuse.

But I looked away and sat down as if nothing was wrong.

Seeing me ignore her, Eva immediately put on a pouting, victimized face.

"Sera, are you still mad at me? It's my fault. I shouldn't have ruined your birthday..."

She broke into a fit of fragile coughing.

My parents immediately started rubbing her back and fussing over her.

Xander reached out to grab my hand, looking for a way to soothe the tension.

I pulled my hand back before he could touch me.

"It's fine. It was just a birthday. I don't care."

I wasn't just saying it to Eva. I was saying it to Xander.

My parents finally realized they were ignoring their eldest daughter again.

But years of favoritism had killed their ability to feel guilty.

My mother said indifferently, "It's just one birthday. We can celebrate it later, after Eva and Xander's wedding in five days."

Five days?

I blinked, then a small smile touched my lips.

What a perfect coincidence.

In five days, they would have their wedding.

And I would lose the last of my soul and leave for the River of Lethe.

My father nodded. "Eva's health is the priority. Sera, you're the older sister. You need to be understanding."

There it was again. You're the older sister. You owe her. You have to sacrifice.

I had heard it my whole life, regardless of who was actually right or wrong.

Leo, who was busy fanning Eva, suddenly spoke up.

"After the wedding, can Mommy finally give Aunt Eva her Heart-Core?"

My hand froze. I looked up to find everyone staring at me.

The food in my mouth suddenly tasted like ash. It was hard to swallow.

I gripped my silverware and forced the lump down my throat.

"The Umbra-Kin are immortal... but do you even know what happens when you lose your Heart-Core?"

Before I could finish, they all started talking at once.

My father frowned. "It's just one core. You're royalty. You'll grow a new one in a thousand years or so."

My mother added, "Exactly. You'll just be a little weak for a while. I'll make sure the maids look after you."

Leo grumbled under his breath, "Mommy is always making so many excuses."

I didn't say anything. I looked at Xander.

He stayed silent for a moment before sighing. "Sera, I've already prepared the rarest herbs for you. Once the swap is done, I'll help you recover as fast as possible."

I started to laugh. I laughed until my eyes turned red.

"Fine. I'll do the Soul-Swap for Eva."

I was willing to give it to them.

But in five days, I would be gone, bound to the River of Lethe where no one could leave.

If they wanted me for their ritual, they'd have to figure out how to drag me back from the void.

Once I agreed, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

Maybe they felt a tiny bit of guilt, or maybe they just wanted to keep me compliant.

Suddenly, they tried to act nice to me.

But they had spent so long ignoring me that they didn't even know how to be kind.

My mother tried to put food on my plate, but her hands were so clumsy she dropped it.

My father tried to pour me some wine, but he almost spilled it across the table.

Since the day Eva lied about me abandoning her, they hadn't smiled at me once.

I didn't call them out on their awkwardness.

Every dish on the table was something Eva loved.

The only soup I liked was the one my father had just spilled.

Eva spoke up again, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Sera, thank you. It's all my fault that you have to..."

Xander immediately grabbed her hand. "Don't blame yourself. Sera owes you this. After the swap..."

I didn't wait for him to finish. I stood up.

"Enjoy your meal."

I turned and walked away.

I hadn't gone three steps before I heard Leo's voice in my head.

"Mommy is so rude. She doesn't have any manners at all."

My heart twinged, but the pain was distant, like a fading echo.

I went back to my room and used my magic to heal my face one last time.

I had lived this life for hundreds of years. I was numb.

Late that night, Xander came in.

Seeing me sitting in the dark, he hesitated, then sat beside me.

"Sera, I have to be honest with you."

I didn't speak. He continued anyway.

"Eva's getting worse. Her only dream is to be a bride. Your parents want me to... perform a mock wedding."

"She's so fragile, Sera. You know that. I have to make her happy."

I looked at him. This was the man who once swore his soul to me.

Suddenly, my head throbbed.

The memory of our wedding day started to dissolve.

It was gone.

Because the Lethe water was working, I didn't feel a single spark of jealousy.

"I agree."

My voice was hollow. Xander seemed even more uneasy.

"It's just a show, Sera. It doesn't mean anything."

I smiled thinly.

"Actually, I think we should go all the way. Let's go to the Marriage Stone tomorrow and cut our bond for real."

Xander froze.

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing special," I said.

"You'll be married to Eva. After she gets better, we can just redo the bond. It's better for her this way."

I looked him in the eye. "You wouldn't want to hurt Eva's feelings by staying married to me, would you?"

Xander's guilt vanished as soon as I framed it as being for Eva.

"Sera, I knew you were understanding. You're a good woman."

"Does your face still hurt?"

I shook my head. I didn't say another word.

When he left to go back to Eva, I drank a third bowl of the Lethe water.

Only four days left.

Soon, I would be free of all of them.

The next morning, the palace was buzzing with wedding preparations.

I decided to leave the palace for the day.

"Where are you going?" Xander asked, catching me at the gate.

"To the mortal world. One last time."

Once I became the Guardian, I could never leave the Underworld again.

"I'll go with you."

I paused. Years ago, Xander and I had lived as a mortal couple for decades.

Fine. Let him come.

Let him watch as I erase those memories right in front of him.

But as we reached the gate, Eva called out to us. "Xander! Sera! Where are you going?"

"To the mortal world," Xander said.

Eva rushed over. "I want to go too! I'm so bored in this palace. I've never seen the mortal world. Please take me!"

Xander looked worried. "You're too weak..."

Eva's eyes welled up with tears instantly.

Xander sighed and looked at me. "Sera, maybe we should..."

I didn't give him the satisfaction of an argument. "Do whatever you want."

I snapped my fingers and vanished, leaving them behind.

The Mortal World, Zen Temple.

The Bodhi tree in the center of the courtyard was covered in Marriage Locks.

When Xander and I were pretending to be mortals, we had placed one there too.

"Xander and Sera, together for eternity."

The vow was still there, etched in iron, but the reality was dead.

I turned my head. Nearby, Xander was standing with Eva in front of a golden statue.

I heard Eva's whispered thought. "Xander, my only wish is to be with you forever."

Xander froze for a second, then smiled gently.

"I know."

They both lit incense and knelt down to pray.

I watched them, my hand tightening into a fist.

The next second, I reached out.

The Marriage Lock at the very top of the tree flew into my hand.

I closed my palm, and black fire erupted.

As the lock turned to ash, every single memory of our time in the mortal world burned away in my mind.

When Xander turned around, the fire in my hand was gone.

I looked exactly the same as I had a moment ago, but something was different.

Xander stared at me, a strange look of fear crossing his face.

He felt like I was a stranger. But he couldn't explain why.

He tried to step toward me, but Eva grabbed his arm. "Xander, let's go look over there!"

He didn't pull away. He followed her, but he kept glancing back at me.

I stood there, motionless, as he felt me slipping further and further away.

When we returned to the Underworld, Eva was leaning heavily on Xander, acting exhausted.

"Xander, the mortal world is so beautiful. When I'm healthy again, you have to take me back there."

Xander looked at me, hesitant to answer.

As we passed through the Forbidden Forest, a wave of killing intent exploded toward us.

I looked up just in time to see a streak of red fire diving at us.

I moved to dodge, but a sudden blast of dark energy from behind pinned me in place.

SCREECH!

Sharp talons ripped through my chest, leaving three deep gashes.

I stared at the giant bird in front of me. "Ignis?"

It was my Phoenix. It had attacked me.

I looked back. Xander was holding Eva protectively behind him.

The dark energy that had pinned me had come from his hand.

To protect Eva, he had used me as a human shield.

I coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell. Xander's face turned pale as he ran toward me.

"Sera!"

I felt a cold, hollow laugh in my soul.

If he was going to throw me to the wolves, why bother acting worried now?

"Sera!"

My parents arrived, alerted by the commotion.

Seeing me covered in blood, they looked terrified.

"Quick! Get the healing herbs! All of them!"

My consciousness was fading, but I heard my father's next words clearly.

"Sera can't die yet! If she dies, there's no one to do the Soul-Swap for Eva!"

Those words were like a frozen blade through my heart.

My only value was as a battery for Eva.

I felt a single tear roll down my cheek before I slipped into total darkness.

When I woke up, three days had passed.

Xander was sitting by my bed. When he saw my eyes open, he stood up quickly. "Sera! You're awake. How do you feel?"

I didn't answer. I told him I was thirsty to get him out of the room.

The moment he left, I pulled out the remaining Lethe water. I drank three large gulps.

With every swallow, my past faded.

By the time I finished, I barely remembered who he was to me.

Even the memory of him using me as a shield felt like something that happened to a stranger.

Xander returned and tried to feed me water with a spoon.

I turned my head away and looked him in the eye. "It was you, wasn't it?"

Xander's face went white. "Sera, I... I didn't mean to. That beast was aiming for Eva. I just reacted..."

I let out a jagged, mocking laugh.

"Eva has your Soul-Gem. Ignis couldn't have hurt her even if it wanted to."

Xander flinched, his face turning even paler.

I didn't want to deal with his lies anymore.

"Where is Ignis?"

"The bird is in the Soul-Dungeon. Your father caught it. It attacked you, so we're going to use its core and its blood to heal your wounds."

"No! It was being controlled!" I tried to sit up, my heart racing.

In the chaos of the attack, I had seen the madness in Ignis's eyes. It wasn't itself.

Xander stayed quiet for a long moment, then looked at me with suspicion.

"Sera... that bird was going for Eva."

"Did you order it to kill her?"

I stared at him, my hands shaking with cold fury.

"What did you just say?"

Xander looked away. "I'm just asking. Don't take it to heart."

But we had been married for centuries. I knew exactly what he was thinking.

"You've already decided I'm the villain. I bet my parents and Leo think the same thing, don't they?"

Xander hesitated.

"No, Sera. We just care about you."

I almost laughed out loud.

My father's cold words while I was unconscious. My husband's accusations now.

In their eyes, if I weren't useful to Eva, they would have let me rot.

I turned my head to the wall.

"Get out. I don't want to see you."

Xander frowned, looking annoyed, but he eventually stood up and left.

Once the door clicked shut, the tears finally came.

Even with most of my memories gone, the echoes of the pain were still there.

I wiped my eyes roughly. This was the last time.

Only two days left.

Father, Mother, Xander, Leo... soon, I'll be gone, just like you wanted.

The next day, the palace was decorated for the wedding.

I didn't care.

My wounds were mostly healed. I headed straight for the Soul-Dungeon.

When I saw Ignis, my blood boiled.

The bird was dying. Two of its three heads were gone. Its body was shriveled.

They had tortured it beyond recognition.

I placed my hand on its remaining head. I saw its memory.

Ignis had been playing near the forest when Eva approached.

She had used a Forbidden Seduction spell to take control of the bird's mind.

The attack wasn't meant for Eva. It was designed to force Xander to choose.

And he had chosen to sacrifice me.

"It was her," I whispered.

I knew the truth now. Eva didn't need a Soul-Swap. She was perfectly fine.

I used my own heart-blood to gather Ignis's fading soul.

"You saved me once. I'll take you to the River of Lethe. After nine cycles of rebirth, you'll be whole again. Will you come with me?"

The bird's soul was weak, but it let out a soft, happy chirp.

I realized then.

The only one staying by my side at the end was a beast.

A few hours later, I stood before the Marriage Stone.

The old Priestess, Agnes, walked over. "Sera? What are you doing here today?"

I didn't answer. I drew my blade and sliced through the names of Xander and Sera.

At that exact moment, in the palace, Xander suddenly clutched his chest, overcome by a wave of terror.

He couldn't focus on the wedding plans for the rest of the day.

When I returned, he was waiting for me.

"Sera! Where were you?"

"Just a walk," I said blankly.

He wanted to ask more, but Leo was in the garden trying to cheer up Eva.

Xander walked over and grabbed Leo's arm. "Leo! Your mother is hurt. Why aren't you by her side?"

Leo pulled away, his voice small and cold. "Mommy is mean. She isn't nice like Aunt Eva. I don't want to be with her."

"YouD"

Eva interrupted. "Xander, it's okay. Leo is just a child. It's my fault. I'm so weak I might never have my own kids, so I love Leo like he's mine. Don't be mad at him."

Seeing Eva's tearful eyes, Xander's anger vanished.

I smiled. "If he likes her so much, let him stay with her."

Tomorrow, Leo would get his wish. Eva would be his mother.

And as for the Soul-Swap... they were in for a rude awakening.

I turned to leave, but Eva called out. "Sera! I'm trying on my wedding dress. Can you help me?"

I stopped. I didn't refuse.

Inside the room, it was just the two of us. Eva's dress was stunning, covered in rare gems.

The moment the door closed, Eva's face changed. She grabbed my hand.

"I really should thank you, Sera. You've given me everything since we were kids."

"And now you're giving me your life. I promise, once you're dead, I'll take real good care of Xander."

She smiled like an angel while speaking like a demon.

I smiled back. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell them the truth?"

"Afraid? Sera, who would believe you?"

"No one loves you. No one trusts you. If I were you, I'd just die and get it over with."

I didn't reply. I helped her into the dress and walked out.

Xander and Leo were waiting outside. Xander gasped when he saw Eva.

"Eva... you're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."

Eva blushed and leaned into him. "Oh, stop. Sera is right there."

Xander stiffened. "Sera, I didn't mean..."

"It doesn't matter," I said. "Spend time with her. I'm tired."

I walked away.

Xander watched me go. For a second, he felt like I was walking out of his life forever.

But he shook it off. This was my home. Where else would I go?

I walked through the palace grounds. Everything was decorated for a massive celebration.

It wasn't a "small ceremony" like Xander had promised.

He was telling the whole world he was marrying Eva.

My heart stung for a second, then the feeling vanished.

It was time to go.

Most of my memories were gone now.

I went back to my room and summoned every possession I owned.

With a wave of my hand, I set it all on fire.

There was nothing left of me in this room.

I walked out without looking back.

I reached the banks of the River of Lethe as the sun began to rise.

Today was the wedding.

The High King appeared in the air above the water.

I knelt. "High King."

"The time has come. Are you ready to forget everything and guard the souls for eternity?"

I looked up and held out Ignis's soul.

"High King, I have one request. This creature saved me. Please send it into the cycle of rebirth. Let it never forget me."

The King nodded.

"Anything else you wish to remember?"

"Nothing."

"Then it is done."

Ignis's soul turned into a streak of light and vanished into the cycle.

I picked up the final bowl of Lethe water and drank it.

"The Guardian has risen. From this day on, you have no heart, no love, and no hate."

I felt the memories of my parents, Xander, and Leo being sucked away.

"Sera is our princess. She deserves the world."

"Sera, I love you. We'll be together forever."

"Mommy, I love you most!"

One by one, the images turned to white.

I opened my eyes. I was standing in the sky above the black river.

"Today, I am the Guardian of the Void."