Caius's POV
The battlefield smelled of blood and smoke. Screams filled the air, the clash of steel ringing in my ears.
I had fought wars before. I had seen death.
But this—
This wasn't just a battle. This was a massacre.
The king had laid his trap well. His knights were relentless, pressing in from all sides. Arrows rained down, forcing my allies to take cover. The air was thick with magic, the enemy's mages reinforcing their soldiers with unnatural speed and strength.
And I—
I was losing.
A blade nearly caught my side, but I turned just in time, parrying and cutting the attacker down. My breath came in ragged gasps. My body was screaming for rest, but I couldn't stop.
Not when she was still up there.
I turned my gaze toward the tower, searching—
And then I saw her.
Eloise.
She stood at the edge of the balcony, the wind pulling at her hair. Even from here, I could see the determination in her eyes.
And then—
A shift.
It was subtle at first. The weight in my chest lifted. My movements became sharper, faster. The exhaustion that had been dragging me down suddenly vanished.
The king's forces hesitated.
Their attacks became clumsy.
Their magic weakened.
I felt the change deep in my bones. Something had rewritten fate itself.
I knew who had done it.
A slow smirk spread across my face as I tightened my grip on my sword.
"Looks like my luck just turned," I muttered.
And then—
I struck.
With renewed strength, I cut through the soldiers in front of me, my blade a blur of silver. My allies pushed forward, taking advantage of the sudden shift in battle.
The king's men faltered.
The balance had tipped.
I turned toward the castle, toward the tower where she was waiting for me.
Hold on, Eloise.
I'm coming for you.
——-
Eloise's POV
Pain.
That was all I knew.
The room was cold, the stone floor rough against my knees. My wrists ached from the shackles binding me, but I barely noticed. The sharp sting along my cheek burned hotter.
The king stood before me, his golden armor untarnished, his expression unreadable. His hand was still raised from the slap.
I tasted iron on my tongue. Blood.
"You think you can change fate, don't you?" His voice was smooth, almost amused. "You think your little tricks can defy me?"
I refused to answer.
He crouched before me, gripping my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look at him.
"You belong to me now, Eloise," he murmured. "Your power... your mind... your very existence is mine."
I clenched my jaw, fighting the tremble in my limbs.
I had used my power. I had rewritten fate.
And the cost was tearing through me.
I could feel it—memories slipping away like sand through my fingers. Names, faces, moments I should have remembered... gone.
How much had I lost this time?
"Caius is coming for me." My voice was hoarse, but steady.
The king smirked. "Let him come. He will fall, just like before."
I wanted to believe Caius would win. That he would reach me in time.
But if he didn't—
No.
I refused to let this be the end.
If my power could change fate, then I would use it again.
Even if it destroyed me.
I closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath. The pen in my mind began to write.