Edna looked at him, still frowning.
"You're worth knowing?" she repeated softly.
Harvie didn't answer. His heart was beating fast. The system warning had faded, but the fear stayed.
She turned away first.
"...You're weird," she said, walking off to help the wounded. "But thanks."
Harvie stood there, staring at her back.
She doesn't know how many times I've seen her die.
He looked up at the sky. The clouds were turning dark. The wind picked up—cold and dry.
Then it hit him.
This was the day.
The day she dies.
His breath caught. No matter how many times he went back, this part never changed. The wyvern. The child. Edna's sacrifice.
Unless… unless he did something different. Something bold.
Harvie moved quickly. He ran through the broken ruins, checking each corner. He found the child first—a little girl hiding in a collapsed house.
He carried her out, heart racing. "You'll be okay. Stay with the others," he said, handing her to a nearby soldier.
Then he looked around. Where was Edna?
There—on the hill, alone, looking toward the forest.
Too late.
A sharp cry came from above. The sky cracked open.
The corrupted wyvern.
Its black body dove down like lightning.
"EDNA!!" Harvie shouted.
She turned, her eyes wide.
But she wasn't near the child this time.
The monster changed direction. It aimed at the village gate. A group of healers stood there—too slow to react.
Harvie ran. Fast. Too fast. His copied skill [Volt Rend] made his legs burn with speed.
But Edna was faster.
Her flames shot out behind her as she leapt between the wyvern and the group.
A flash of light.
Then—
Boom.
Dust flew. Magic clashed. Harvie was thrown back by the impact.
He coughed and pushed himself up.
"No… not again…"
He ran through the smoke.
He found her.
Lying on the ground.
Eyes half-open.
Blood on her lips.
"Edna…"
She looked at him. "You moved… the child…"
"You didn't have to jump in…"
"You would've done it instead." She gave a weak smile. "But I didn't want you to die again."
His heart stopped. Again?
She doesn't know, he reminded himself.
"I can fix this," he whispered.
She shook her head. "Harvie… don't carry so much…"
Her hand touched his cheek. Her flame was warm.
Then it faded.
Her eyes closed.
Edna was gone.
Harvie stared at her. The world around him was quiet. Too quiet.
He stood slowly.
Then without a word…
He drew his dagger.
And stabbed it through his chest.
The pain was sharp.
But not as sharp as losing her.
> [UNLAMENTED – ACTIVATED.]
Darkness swallowed him.