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The sky was still breaking.
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Massive fractures spread above the capital like shattered glass, glowing faintly violet through the darkness. Pieces of distorted light drifted downward slowly, dissolving before they touched the ground.
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Below—
The city panicked.
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People screamed.
Knights tried to evacuate civilians.
Priests prayed desperately.
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But none of it mattered.
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Because every person in the capital could feel the same thing:
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Something had awakened.
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And it was looking back.
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At the center of the ruined palace—
Rosy stood motionless.
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The massive shadow behind her had grown larger now, stretching across the fractured sky like an unfinished nightmare.
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It had no clear shape.
No clear face.
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Only presence.
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Ancient.
Hungry.
Endless.
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And somehow—
It felt connected to her breathing.
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Every time she inhaled—
The sky cracked further.
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Azrael stared at her silently.
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No teasing smile.
No playful remarks.
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Only tension.
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Because he knew exactly what would happen if she slipped further.
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And for the first time in a very long time—
He didn't know if he could stop it.
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"…Rosy."
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His voice was softer now.
Careful.
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She looked at him slowly.
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Her eyes still swirled black and violet—
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
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"…You keep saying my name like it's supposed to save me."
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The words were quiet.
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But they hit harder than any attack.
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Azrael stepped closer carefully.
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"…Maybe I'm trying to remind you who you are."
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A faint smile touched her lips.
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"…Do you know who I am?"
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Silence.
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The wind howled around them.
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Her hair floated in the distorted air like strands of darkness itself.
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"…Yes," he answered finally.
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A pause.
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"…That's exactly why I'm worried."
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Something flickered across her expression.
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Not anger.
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Something smaller.
More dangerous.
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Emotion.
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"…You're scared of me too."
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The statement wasn't bitter.
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Just tired.
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Azrael immediately shook his head.
"…No."
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Another step closer.
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"I'm scared for you."
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Silence.
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Rosy looked away first.
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Because something about that answer hurt more than fear ever could.
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Behind them—
Her father watched quietly.
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His expression unreadable.
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"…You're wasting time," he said calmly.
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Azrael's gaze darkened instantly.
"…Be quiet."
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A faint smile touched the older man's lips.
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"You think emotional attachment will stop what she's becoming?"
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A pause.
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"It didn't before."
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Rosy froze.
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"…Before?" she whispered.
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Azrael's jaw tightened.
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"…Don't."
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But her father continued.
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"You really haven't told her."
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The tension shifted instantly.
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Rosy's eyes moved slowly toward Azrael.
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"…Told me what?"
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Silence.
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Azrael didn't answer.
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Which was answer enough.
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Her expression changed slightly.
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"…Azrael."
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The way she said his name—
Quiet.
Dangerously calm.
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Made the fractured air tremble again.
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"…What didn't you tell me?"
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He exhaled slowly.
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"…Now isn't the time."
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Rosy laughed softly.
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The sound was beautiful.
Broken.
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"…That's always what people say before lying."
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Another crack split the sky.
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The shadow behind her shifted again.
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Larger.
Closer.
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Her father's gaze sharpened.
"…You're destabilizing again."
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Rosy ignored him completely.
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Her eyes never left Azrael.
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"…Answer me."
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Silence stretched.
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Long.
Heavy.
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Then finally—
Azrael spoke.
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"…You died once already."
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The world seemed to stop again.
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Rosy blinked slowly.
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"…What?"
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His gaze held hers steadily.
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"…Before the seal."
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A pause.
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"…Before the story you remember."
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Her breathing slowed.
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Not calm.
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Dangerously still.
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"…Explain."
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Azrael looked away briefly.
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As if choosing the words carefully.
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"…There was a war."
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A flash crossed Rosy's mind instantly—
Flames.
Black skies.
Screaming.
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She grabbed her head suddenly.
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"…Ah—"
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Azrael moved immediately.
"…Easy."
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But the memories were already forcing themselves through.
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Blood on white stone.
A sword through someone's chest.
Her own hands shaking.
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And Azrael—
Standing in front of her covered in blood.
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Not attacking.
Begging.
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"Please stop."
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Rosy's eyes widened violently.
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"…No…"
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More memories hit.
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Her father standing in a burning hall.
Chains forming around her.
People screaming her name in fear.
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"The Eternal Sun has fallen!"
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"She's destroying everything!"
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"Seal her now!"
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Rosy staggered backward.
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The shadow behind her pulsed violently.
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"…No…"
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Azrael caught her before she could fall.
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"Rosy."
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Her breathing became uneven.
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"…I killed them."
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The words came out shattered.
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Azrael's grip tightened slightly.
"…You weren't yourself."
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Her eyes snapped toward him.
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"…But I still did it."
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Silence.
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Because he couldn't deny that.
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And she knew it.
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A tear slid down her cheek silently.
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The sight of it—
Felt wrong.
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Someone this powerful shouldn't look so broken.
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"…How many?" she whispered.
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Azrael closed his eyes briefly.
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"…Too many."
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Her body trembled once.
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Then—
She laughed again.
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Softly.
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But this time—
It sounded empty.
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"…So he was right."
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Her father didn't answer.
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Didn't need to.
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Rosy slowly pulled away from Azrael's hold.
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"…You sealed me because I became a monster."
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"…No," Azrael said immediately.
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But she kept talking.
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"And you…"
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Her eyes met his again.
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"…You stayed beside me anyway."
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A long silence followed.
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Then quietly—
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"…Yes."
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The honesty in his voice almost broke her.
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Because he said it so simply.
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Like it was obvious.
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Like there had never been another option.
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Rosy stared at him for a long moment.
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"…Why?"
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Azrael smiled faintly.
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Tired.
Real.
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"…Because even after everything…"
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A step closer.
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"…you still cried when you thought no one could see you."
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Her breath caught.
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"…What?"
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He looked directly into her swirling eyes.
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"…You hated yourself more than anyone else ever could."
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Silence.
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The world around them felt distant now.
Muted.
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"…So no," he said softly.
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"I never stayed because I thought you were harmless."
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Another step closer.
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"I stayed because I knew you were hurting."
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Something inside Rosy cracked.
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Not violently.
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Quietly.
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And somehow—
That hurt more.
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The shadow behind her trembled violently again.
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But this time—
It reacted to her emotions.
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Not her rage.
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Her pain.
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Azrael noticed instantly.
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"…Rosy."
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She looked at him helplessly now.
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For the first time since awakening—
Actually helpless.
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"…I don't know how to stop it."
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The confession came out barely above a whisper.
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Azrael stepped fully in front of her now.
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Close enough that she could feel his warmth despite the collapsing reality around them.
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"…Then don't do it alone."
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Her eyes widened slightly.
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"…What?"
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A faint smile touched his lips.
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"…You always try carrying everything yourself."
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He reached up slowly—
Giving her enough time to stop him.
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She didn't.
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His fingers brushed gently against her cheek—
Wiping away the tear she hadn't noticed.
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"…So this time," he whispered,
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"Stay with me instead."
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Silence.
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Rosy stared at him.
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Too close.
Far too close.
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And for one dangerous second—
The distortion around them calmed.
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The fractured sky stopped spreading.
The floating debris slowed.
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Even the shadow behind her—
Paused.
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Her father's eyes narrowed slightly.
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"…Interesting."
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Because this—
This was new.
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Not power.
Not suppression.
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Connection.
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And somehow—
That was affecting her more than seals ever had.
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Rosy's lips parted slightly.
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"…Azrael…"
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His name came out softer this time.
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Almost fragile.
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And Azrael—
Who had stood against monsters, gods, and death itself—
Suddenly looked far more dangerous when he smiled at her like that.
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"…Yeah?"
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Her heart skipped once.
Hard.
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And that terrified her more than the power ever did.
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Because for the first time—
Rosy realized the one thing more dangerous than becoming a monster…
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Was letting someone see the girl still trapped inside one.
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End of Chapter 21