I sat outside the camp, the rain soaking my robes. My staff felt heavy. My healing spells felt useless. I could hear them laughing inside— his laugh, their voices. The betrayal cut deeper than any monster’s claw.
I was never the Chosen One. I was the shadow that followed the light—Riol, the healer, the support mage, the friend who held the hero’s bag. The world called him Leon, the Brave. And Leon took everything. I sat outside the camp, the rain soaking my robes
I didn’t save them. I didn’t heal them. I fought alone. I could hear them laughing inside— his laugh, their voices
“I’m not fighting for you anymore,” I said. “I’m fighting because in the end, I will be the one standing over the Demon Lord’s corpse. And you will all watch.” I was the shadow that followed the light—Riol,
I turned my back.
Finally, even Mia, the childhood friend who swore she’d always be my home. She didn’t say a word. She just walked past me into Leon’s tent, her hand in his.
I walked out of the castle alone. The sun rose. My victory tasted like ash and justice.