Fitran and Sheena successfully rebuilt Elysvarre, reviving the charm and harmony that had been lost due to the devastating events that once struck the kingdom. The kingdom now stands tall as a symbol of free will, unbound by the Pactum of the world, and demonstrates powerfully that the ability to determine one's destiny rests firmly in the hands of its people.
However...
Sheena changed.
Each night, Sheena sits alone on the garden bench where she and Fitran first shared their words, laughter, and hopes. Surrounded by towering trees, the rustling leaves in the wind seem to remind her of the beautiful memories etched there, mingling with the sweet fragrance of blooming roses. Yet, as the wind gently whispers, those pleasant memories starkly contrast with the shadows that remind her of the vulnerability now gnawing at her heart.
She gazes at the sky, but her thoughts always drift back to a haunting truth:
"I have fought so hard to preserve our will."
"I have refused to be a symbol."
"I chose to be human... for him."
But deep in the recesses of her mind, another voice begins to disturb her peace. This voice, soft yet chilling, spreads an air of doubt that continually haunts her thoughts.
"If I lose him... then all that I have chosen will be in vain."
She began sleeping with a small knife handle clutched tightly in her hand, hidden beneath her dress, as a constant sense of vigilance engulfed her when night fell. Each evening, her gaze reflected a blend of determination mixed with anxiety, as if she was resolute in her mission to protect everything she loved. It was never her intention to harm Fitran; that thought never crossed her mind. She merely wanted to safeguard the invisible boundary between them, ensuring it remained intact—and eliminating anything that could potentially threaten the fragile bond they shared. In her softly spoken prayers to the heavens, she hoped no threats would breach the emptiness that felt menacing within her heart.
However, her desire to protect him from anyone—including herself, should any external force attempt to separate them—burned like an uncontrollable fire deep within her soul. Jealousy crept into her heart like poison, slowly yet inevitably tainting her thoughts, making her acutely aware that true love harbors a dark side that could cruelly destroy everything she cherished.
The servants began to take notice.
Sheena issued a firm order to obtain a report on everyone who had spoken to Fitran. In her darkening perspective, every interaction with that man was a serious threat capable of destroying everything. Every voice cutting through the air, every laughter shared between them, had the power to shatter her world; and that was something she would never allow. The environment around her was now filled with deep tension and concern, like a storm that couldn't be calmed. Sheena realized that her love, however sincere, carried the potential to transform into a disaster that could turn her entire world into rubble, even when everything appeared polished and fine on the surface. This realization cast a shadow over her heart, intensifying the tension in her surroundings.
She even banned noblewomen from attending diplomatic meetings, unless they were direct family members or married—reflecting her growing suspicion and lack of trust. The surveillance magic Glyph was neatly placed at every door and corridor that Fitran might traverse, weaving an atmosphere that grew ever more melancholic and stifling. Even Queen Iris and Hector, with their air of majesty, began to sense the creeping unease enveloping the palace.
One dark night, Iris called for Hector in a serious tone:
"I feel... we are witnessing the birth of a new will that is no longer love. Instead, it is an obsession that gnaws away."
Hector replied in a low voice filled with concern:
"And I fear... that nothing can stop it."
In the darkness of that night, Fitran returned late from the border patrol. As he stepped into the room, he found Sheena standing tall at the doorway. Her white dress fluttered softly, as if dancing to the rhythm of the surrounding night; her golden hair flowed beautifully, creating a stunning shimmer. However, her eyes—sharp as a knife—were filled with a tension that pierced the heart, revealing the storm brewing within her.
"Where have you been?" she asked in a calm yet piercing voice, as if harboring a storm of unspoken emotions.
"I was inspecting the construction of the new dam," Fitran replied, trying to maintain a steady tone.
Sheena responded with a gentle smile that felt almost too soft to be genuine. "Without a guard? Without informing me?" she said, her tone revealing an underlying discontent that seeped deep into her heart, amplifying the unease that tugged at her.
In an instant, her smile faded, and her lips curved in a form difficult to explain, as if expressing a blend of hope and doubt. "Fitran, why don't you trust me? I just want to protect you," she sighed, her voice flowing softly yet containing a haunting uncertainty, as if inviting his soul to enter a perilous world.
Fitran swallowed hard, struggling with the weight of the words spoken, a reminder of the profound responsibility now resting upon him, like an iron burden he could not shake off. "I don't want to be a burden to you," he said, his voice trembling as if battling a raging storm within his heart.
Sheena approached, the gentle aroma of her silk-like hair creating an aura of tranquility. Her hands softly cradled Fitran's face, her fingers seeming to carve out every hidden fear and unspoken weight that adorned his expression. "I don't mind if you carry the weight of the world. However, I would feel heavy if you had to bear it alone. You don't need to shoulder that burden by yourself," she stated firmly, her eyes shining with determination. "Because if there's one thing I want, it's to be with you. I will fight for everything, even if it means having to grasp the entire world with my own hands, to protect those I love."
Fitran felt the gentle yet intensely condensed energy of magic flowing from Sheena's hands, penetrating the silence that enveloped them.
Personal Glyph Willcraft.
Emotion-binding magic that guided them into an inseparable bond.
"She... is trying to forge a direct bond of will with me."
When Sheena gazed into his eyes, her expression was filled not only with love but also with dark, haunting shadows of madness. "You know, Fitran," she said softly, her voice as refreshing as morning dew, "this world is teeming with dangers lurking in the shadows. Many wish to take you away from me, to snatch you from my embrace. But I can protect you, forever, within this hold. We can become one. Love isn't always about sacrifice; sometimes, it's about control." At that moment, her face seemed to harbor unspoken dark secrets, and her smile could shake the soul, inviting an unexpected storm of emotions.
"Fitran..."
"I have fought against Veyrundis, confronting terrifying shadows."
"I have faced the Enforcers, warriors who know no fear."
"I have resisted the Council of Will that sought to control my choices and wanted to separate us from the reality we built together."
"I will not be defeated by anyone—even by your own free will."
Fitran was taken aback, his tone betraying a hint of concern. "Sheena—"
Sheena held him tightly, pressing her body into an embrace that felt like a shield against the harsh realities of the outside world. As her face drew closer, she revealed the depths of her turbulent soul, voicing the chaos within. "You don't understand," she whispered, her voice soft yet resonant like waves crashing against the shore, "without you, I... I will shatter. Everything I've built around you, all these sacrifices, will mean nothing if you go." Cold sweat trickled down her temples, adding an almost mad yet captivating allure to her stunned beauty, creating an aura of mystery that was hard to ignore.
Her eyes glimmered with a violet light, radiating an unwavering determination that could not be dismissed. "If you try to leave me... I will create a new will that will erase the concept of departure and bind us forever," she stated, her voice blending with her despair, as if each word was a cry from her soul transcending the limits of humanity.
Fitran stood still, trapped in unspoken anxiety.
He knew that with his own magic, he had the power to stop Sheena; he could shatter the glyph that had been etched between them forever.
But he didn't.
In her eyes, Sheena was not just an obsessed woman;
she was a woman who risked everything, her very essence of life, on the choice to love Fitran unconditionally. Behind her seemingly innocent smile lay the shadow of darkness, a world where love and possession collided brutally, revealing the complexity of her voice resonating with resolve, "I am everything to you; without me, what remains of you? Without me, this world would be dry, like a field that has never been watered by rain."
"This... is the price of free will."
"If I let her choose, I must also accept that choice, even if it is horrifying," she added, her voice rising.
Fitran then held Sheena tightly, trying to confine the uncertainty that engulfed his soul with genuine warmth. He felt safe in that embrace, yet the shadows of chaos that haunted him crept into his thoughts, creating doubt amidst the profound affection.
"I am here. I will not leave," Fitran said softly, as if his words were a safety net that could catch all sorrow.
Sheena cried silently, tears flowing soundlessly down her soft cheeks.
Not out of fear of loss, but because, at last...
Fitran understood and accepted her nature. Behind those tears lay a haunting beauty—a promise etched in her heart that she would never allow anyone to get close, protecting herself from wounds she didn't want to feel again.
From a distance, Hector watched from the upper balcony, his shadow blending with the dim light of dusk.
Iris stood beside him, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern.
"What will you do?" Iris asked, her voice trembling, reflecting the tension that enveloped them.
Hector answered without turning, his gaze fixed on the scene below, harboring a sense of nostalgia and despair.
Sheena grasped the old Pactum symbol hanging around her neck, her fingers visibly trembling as they reflected the deep longing and internal tension she felt. In her heart, she wondered, 'Can Fitran feel how dark my heart has become at this moment?' With a painful awareness, she concluded, 'The world... must learn to accept the imperfect nature of free will.' Her soft voice slipped through the cold air, but behind that gentle tone lay a faint yet unmistakable threat—as if she wanted to emphasize that their happiness relied heavily on a precarious balance of uncertainty and sacrifices that always loomed on the horizon. In her mind, Sheena envisioned all the efforts she had put forth to protect Fitran, recalling the sacrifices that had distanced her from those who once tried to sway her away from her love. "I will protect you from anyone, even if they are your friends," she whispered to herself, reaffirming her commitment and obsession for the one she loved, even as the shadows of her fear of loss always loomed nearby.