I stared at my reflection in the mirror, the face of a 16-year-old girl staring back at me, her youthful features marred by the weight of unbearable misery. A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I reached out, my fingertips brushing the cold glass.
"You lived a horrible life, Selentia Amaris Nyxveil," I whispered to myself, my voice trembling.
That was all I could say. All my life, I had been nothing more than a supporting character in someone else's story.
I bore the weight of sins my father never committed, shackled by a legacy of lies and betrayal.
The armor I wore—both literal and metaphorical—felt impossibly heavy. I had served a man who manipulated me, used me, abused me, and made me believe in his twisted lies.
Kaelith. My best friend. My only friend—or so I thought.
I slid down the wall, my back pressing against the cold marble as I stared blankly at the lavish decor of my bathroom.
What hurts more? The fact that I had lived a life of misery for a sin that was never mine to bear? The fact that I had crowned a demon worshiper as king? Or the fact that the person I called my best friend had been betraying me all along?
The pain of betrayal cut deeper than the hatred of the man I once loved.
All those times Ezekian cursed my father, my family, accusing us of killing his father during the Darkest Night—had it all been for nothing? Was it all just a cruel joke?
My chest tightened, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I laughed—a hollow, broken sound that echoed in the empty room.
"What kind of joke is this?" I muttered, my voice rising with every word. "What kind of joke is this?!"
I looked up at the ceiling, my mind racing with ways to curse my fate.
"If you were going to break me further by revealing these truths," I spat, my voice shaking with rage, "then why didn't you just let me die? Don't I deserve some peace too? I never cursed you for making me live this life because I thought I deserved it. But this? This?"
My throat burned as I screamed at the heavens, the pain too much to bear. "What is this? Just what is this?!"
I curled into a ball on the floor, tears streaming down my face as bitter laughter spilled from my lips. For thirty years, I had lived a life of suffering, of loyalty to those who never deserved it.
I wasn't a saint—I had made mistakes, committed crimes—but I had always stayed true to my morals. Or so I thought.
I had been loyal to a demon worshiper! I had called a traitor my best friend! I had planned to kill my own father, believing him to be a monster. How could I ever face him again? How could I look into his eyes without feeling the crushing weight of guilt?
"What sin did I even commit?" I screamed, my voice breaking. "Can you answer me, God? Aren't you watching? Why must the innocent suffer while the evil thrive? Why? Why?!"
I was tired. So tired. For thirty years, I had fought, bled, and sacrificed everything—for what? For lies? For betrayal?
But even as I lay there, broken and defeated, a spark ignited within me. I wiped my tears, my hands trembling, and forced myself to stand. I looked at my reflection once more—cheeks flushed, eyes swollen, a complete mess.
But that was it. I was done crying. Done cursing my fate.
Yes, I had lived a miserable life. But every single person who had caused my suffering would pay. They would live a hell on earth, and I would be the one to deliver it.
"I might have been played and manipulated for 30 years; it would never happen again."
. No more. My initial goal had been to reform the Imperial Family and eradicate the Demon Cult. But now?
Now, my goal was their complete destruction.
The Imperial Family will realize why others are so scared of The Wrath of Nyxveil!
---
### Outside the Bathroom
Xavier paced outside the bathroom door, his anxiety growing with every passing second.
It had been two hours since Selentia had locked herself inside, and thanks to his hyper-sensitive hearing, he had heard every sob, every scream, and every broken word.
"You look like a man waiting for his wife in labor," Edwin remarked, his feline form lounging lazily on Xavier's arms.
Xavier shot him a glare. "Aren't you worried about your student?"
Edwin shrugged, his tail flicking dismissively. "She needs to get her mind right if she's going to move forward."
Xavier narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping into his voice. "It's unlike you to get so involved with people. What's so special about her?"
Edwin's ears twitched, and for a moment, he was silent. Then, without warning, he punched Xavier in the stomach with a surprisingly powerful paw.
"Ugh!" Xavier doubled over, clutching his abdomen. "How can you hit so hard with those tiny paws?"
Edwin smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "Magic Kitty Punch. Don't underestimate me."
Xavier groaned, setting Edwin down on the floor. "Ungrateful little furball."
Edwin sniffed indignantly. "Kids these days. No respect for their elders."
Xavier rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. He sat cross-legged on the floor, his expression growing serious. "I'm curious, though. How does she even know about me? I don't think even Duke Nyxveil is aware of my existence."
Edwin's whiskers twitched as he considered the question. "I have the same question. But what shocks me more is how she managed to break those shackles and destroy the magic circle."
The air grew heavy with tension as Xavier's mind replayed the events of the previous day. "You remember when you found me sixteen years ago?" he asked quietly.
Edwin nodded. "I was curious about the kid born with both mana and aura, only to have them sealed away. Curiosity is a mage's greatest strength—and their greatest weakness."
Xavier snorted. "Your curiosity nearly got us both killed."
"And yet," Edwin said, his tone turning serious, "even I couldn't break those red shackles around your wrists. Half my mana was drained just trying. And the magic circle you were hanging from? Forget about it."
Xavier's expression darkened. "The demonic power only grew stronger over the years."
The pain he went through still lingered in his mind.
Edwin placed a paw on Xavier's cheeks, his voice softening. "You've held up well, Noodle. Better than most would have."
Xavier's eyes widen at Edwin's sudden warm appreciation. He looked away, biting his lip to keep his emotions in check. Edwin's rare moment of warmth was almost too much to bear.
The sound of Selentia's sobbing finally ceased, and Edwin's ears perked up. He turned his gaze to the bathroom door, a thoughtful expression on his feline face.
*You're hiding a lot, Foxy,* he thought. *I have my guesses, but I don't know how right—or wrong—I am. I only wanted to find a way to break Noodle's shackles and not get involved with those demonic cultists. But now... you kids made me drop my plan.*
He nodded, Good thing I sent Pumpkin Pie to Glaciaris with those kids. A sly smile curled his lips. *It looks like I'm getting involved in something much bigger. Revenge, destruction, and chaos? Count me in.*