Part 22

As Shaya knelt beside Eiji’s lifeless body, lost in her own whirlwind of grief and guilt, Eucalyptus and Zephyr stood a few feet away, frozen in the aftermath of the battle. The chaos that had just unfolded left them both shaken to their core, and now, in the eerie quiet that followed, the weight of what had happened was crashing down on them like a wave.

Eucalyptus was still holding her weapon, but her hands trembled as she tried to process what she had witnessed. She had seen death before—countless times—but this was different. The raw, emotional pain in Shaya’s eyes as she cradled Eiji’s broken body was unbearable to watch. Eucalyptus’s throat tightened, even if she didn't understand everything, her heart heavy with sorrow, and for once, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Eiji, the boy who had been consumed by his own hatred, had died in confusion and anguish. Eucalyptus could only imagine the torment he had lived with all these years. The anger that had twisted him, the rage that had driven him to this moment, only to learn the truth when it was too late. It was a kind of cruelty that made her feel sick inside.

Her gaze shifted from Eiji’s blood-soaked body to Shaya, who was now kneeling in a pool of crimson, her face streaked with tears. Eucalyptus felt a deep, gnawing sadness for her friend, knowing how this moment would haunt her forever.

A small sound escaped from Zephyr, who had been standing silently throughout the entire fight. His face was unreadable, but the subtle twitch of his jaw betrayed the emotions bubbling beneath his usually calm exterior. He couldn’t see the blood or the devastation, but he could feel it. Every sound, every tremor in the air, painted a picture in his mind more vivid than any sight could provide.

"Shaya..." Zephyr’s voice cracked as he spoke, the pain in his tone impossible to hide. He took a cautious step forward, wanting to comfort her but not knowing how. He wasn’t good with emotions—never had been—but the way Shaya clung to Eiji’s body like she was holding on to a piece of her soul broke something inside him. He had never heard her sound like this, so utterly destroyed.

Eucalyptus swallowed hard and stepped toward Shaya, her heart breaking as she knelt beside her. She didn’t say anything at first. What could she say? There were no words that could erase what had happened or soothe the deep, aching pain that gripped her friend. So, instead, Eucalyptus reached out, placing a gentle hand on Shaya’s shoulder, offering a silent presence, knowing that sometimes that was all someone needed.

"I never wanted this," Shaya whispered, her voice so quiet it was almost lost in the wind. "I never wanted any of this. I loved Nakuji... and now..." Her voice broke, and she let out a sob that shook her entire body.

Eucalyptus closed her eyes, feeling the weight of those words like a stone in her chest. She had seen Shaya fight, seen her struggle, but she had never seen her friend so utterly devastated, so lost. The guilt and sorrow pouring out of Shaya were suffocating, and Eucalyptus didn’t know how to help her carry it.

Zephyr, standing nearby, could feel the despair seeping into his bones. He wasn’t sure what to do with the emotions that were clawing at him. He hated this—this helplessness, this loss. He had felt enough of it in his life, but standing here now, listening to Shaya’s broken sobs, he felt it all over again.

"I’m sorry, Shaya," Zephyr finally said, his voice low and filled with sorrow. He didn’t know what else to say. He had no answers, no solutions. Just pain. The kind of pain that made your chest feel hollow and your soul feel crushed under its weight.

Shaya didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. Her silence was enough to tell them how deeply she was hurting.

Eucalyptus glanced down at Eiji’s bloodied body, her heart aching for him too. She didn’t know the full story, but she had heard enough to understand the tragedy of it all. Eiji, driven by his love for his brother, had lost everything—including his life—for a misunderstanding, a twisted version of the truth. And now, he was gone, just like his brother before him.

She bit her lip, feeling her throat tighten with the sadness of it all. Another life lost in this endless cycle of pain and vengeance. And for what? Nothing. Just more heartache, more destruction.

Zephyr stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch Shaya’s arm, as if his presence alone could help ease her pain, even if only by a fraction. "We need to go," he said softly, though his voice trembled slightly. "Staying here... it won’t bring him back."

Shaya’s breath hitched, and she nodded, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t. She was still clutching onto the red crystal she had taken from Eiji’s neck, her fingers trembling as she held it. It was the last piece of him—of Nakuji—that remained, and she couldn’t bring herself to let it go.

Eucalyptus understood. She didn’t rush her. Instead, she placed her hand on Shaya’s, squeezing gently, offering whatever comfort she could.

"It’s over," Eucalyptus whispered, though the words felt hollow. "It’s over now, Shaya."

But even as she said it, Eucalyptus knew that it wasn’t really over. Not for Shaya. This moment—this tragic, devastating moment—would haunt her for the rest of her life.

The three of them stayed there for a moment longer, surrounded by the silence of death and the weight of the truth that had come too late.

Part 23