Chapter 3: Blood and Snow

The storm winds howled violently along the edge of Black Hollow.

Snow swirled through the night like furious spirits. Hundreds of crimson torches surrounded Kaelen and Elara from every side, turning the frozen wasteland into a battlefield stained with death.

Kaelen stood protectively in front of Elara.

The silver blade in his hand reflected the flickering firelight through the raging blizzard.

Across from him, General Darius yanked hard on the reins of his warhorse. His massive silver armor clanged heavily with every movement, making the air itself feel suffocating.

“Prince Kaelen…” Darius said coldly. “Do you truly wish to die for a woman?”

Kaelen did not answer.

He merely tilted his head slightly.

His amber eyes slowly turned terrifyingly cold.

“All of you, stand back.”

Darius frowned.

“What did you say?”

Kaelen tightened his grip on his sword.

“I said…”

He stepped forward.

“Don’t stain the snow with your soldiers’ blood.”

At that moment…

The air itself seemed to freeze.

Several soldiers instinctively stepped backward after seeing the look in Kaelen’s eyes.

Darius let out a mocking laugh.

“Kill him.”

Instantly—

Dozens of soldiers charged forward at once.

The clash of armor echoed across the cliffside.

Elara gasped in horror.

“Kaelen!”

But Kaelen had already lunged forward.

Kenggg—!

His silver blade tore through the air.

The first spray of blood splattered across the white snow.

Kaelen moved so quickly he became little more than a black shadow within the storm. Every strike of his sword was precise and utterly merciless.

One soldier barely managed to raise his weapon—

Thrust!

Kaelen’s blade pierced straight through his throat.

Another attacked from behind—

Slash!

A crimson arc sprayed across the snow.

Screams of agony erupted everywhere.

Behind him, Elara trembled as she clutched her cloak tightly. She had never seen Kaelen like this before.

He was no longer the gentle prince beneath the old maple tree.

He looked like a beast cornered to the edge of madness.

Wave after wave of soldiers fell.

The white snow slowly turned red.

Even Darius’s expression began to change.

“Is he a monster…?”

But no matter how powerful Kaelen was…

He was still human.

After fighting relentlessly for what felt like an eternity, his breathing gradually became heavier. Blood streamed down his left arm where a sword had slashed him.

His boots sank into crimson-stained snow.

And still…

He remained standing before Elara.

Refusing to let anyone reach her.

Darius saw his opportunity.

Slowly, he raised his massive greatsword.

“Enough.”

His gaze hardened.

“End this.”

At once—

More than twenty soldiers charged Kaelen simultaneously.

Kaelen roared and swung his blade, cutting down the first two men. But another sword immediately slashed across his shoulder.

Stab!

Blood burst into the air.

Elara cried out in terror.

“Kaelen!!”

Kaelen dropped to one knee in the snow.

His breathing became ragged.

But when he saw the soldiers continuing toward Elara…

He stood again.

His eyes burned red like those of a wounded beast.

“Don’t… touch her…”

Kaelen charged once more.

His sword carved wildly through the sea of enemies.

Blood.

Clashing steel.

Screams.

Everything blended together within the madness of the white storm.

And then…

The moment fate turned against them.

One of the soldiers Kaelen had cut down suddenly used the last of his strength to lunge from behind.

The longsword in his hand aimed straight for Kaelen’s heart.

Too close.

Too fast.

Kaelen had barely begun to turn—

“Elara!!”

Thrust.

Time seemed to stop.

The sword pierced through Elara’s body.

Dark crimson blood spilled across the white snow.

Kaelen’s eyes widened.

The wind disappeared.

The battle disappeared.

All that remained was the sound of his heart shattering.

Elara had thrown herself in front of him.

“No…”

Kaelen’s sword slipped from his hand.

He caught her collapsing body before she could fall into the snow.

Blood soaked through her white cloak.

“No… Elara… no…”

Kaelen’s hands shook violently as he held her.

Elara’s breathing grew weaker.

She gently reached up and touched his face.

Her freezing fingers were stained with blood.

“Kaelen…”

Her voice was so faint it nearly vanished into the wind.

“At least…”

A fragile smile appeared on her lips.

“I was able to choose my own fate…”

At last, tears fell from Kaelen’s eyes.

“Don’t speak… please…”

He held her tighter, as though letting go would mean losing her forever.

Elara looked at him for a long moment.

As if trying to carve his face into her soul.

“Don’t forget me…”

Those were her final words.

Her hand slowly fell away.

The beautiful blue light faded from her eyes.

Her body gradually turned cold within Kaelen’s arms.

Amid the raging blizzard…

Kaelen did not scream.

He did not cry anymore.

He simply sat there silently, holding the woman he loved in the middle of blood and snow.

His eyes became horrifyingly empty.

As though…

Something inside him had died alongside Elara.

Even the surrounding soldiers began to feel fear.

Darius narrowed his eyes tightly.

He had never seen a gaze like that before.

A gaze that no longer belonged to a human being.

Slowly, Kaelen lifted his head.

Snow covered his black hair.

Elara’s blood stained his hands crimson.

And then…

He smiled.

A cold smile so terrifying that the soldiers ahead instinctively stepped backward.

“You…”

Kaelen’s voice was frighteningly soft.

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“…will pay for this.”