A powerful full drama movie filled with love, secrets, and unexpected twists.
Follow a powerful story where relationships are tested, hidden truths are revealed, and lives change forever. From romantic moments to shocking surprises, this drama keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
Featuring stories about CEO, billionaire lifestyles, family connections, and life-changing decisions, this movie delivers strong emotions and unforgettable scenes.
Watch the full movie and discover what happens in the end.
New full drama movies uploaded regularly. Stay tuned for more captivating and trending stories.
#drama #fullmovie #lovestory #dramatic #billionaire #ceo #family #relationships #movie #story
Follow a powerful story where relationships are tested, hidden truths are revealed, and lives change forever. From romantic moments to shocking surprises, this drama keeps you engaged from beginning to end.
Featuring stories about CEO, billionaire lifestyles, family connections, and life-changing decisions, this movie delivers strong emotions and unforgettable scenes.
Watch the full movie and discover what happens in the end.
New full drama movies uploaded regularly. Stay tuned for more captivating and trending stories.
#drama #fullmovie #lovestory #dramatic #billionaire #ceo #family #relationships #movie #story
Category
🎈
FunTranscript
00:05The night before my brother's chief trial, Mother pushed me into the ice chamber with her own hands.
00:13Outside the door, Caelan was trembling so much he could barely stand.
00:18No! Let her out!
00:20Mother!
00:21Father hadn't returned yet.
00:25Caelan's voice was muffled and broken by the magic circle.
00:29She's a sunblood, not a mage of eternal winter. She can't survive the cold in there, she'll die!
00:34Mother didn't even look at me. She only looked at my brother, as if admiring a sword that hadn't yet
00:40been sharpened to a lethal edge.
00:42Caelan Wheel, tomorrow is the Suncrown trial. Your performance in the Runa Ray trial has regressed significantly.
00:50She raised her hand, and a silver-white thermal runestone floated in her palm.
00:55Did you think you could just throw away the top rank?
00:59Did you think you could waste your talent?
01:02She shoved me into the freezing mist of the chamber.
01:05Then let your sister help you remember exactly what happens to a weir-sun blood when they aren't strong enough.
01:13The heavy iron doors of the moonfrost chamber slammed shut.
01:17Instantly, the cold pierced my bones like countless needles.
01:20I lunged at the door. The moment my palms hit the iron, the flesh froze and stuck to the metal.
01:25Mother! I did nothing wrong!
01:28There was a second of dead silence outside.
01:31Then, her voice cut through, ice-cold.
01:33Elara, you have the blood of the Sun flowing through your veins, too.
01:38Don't you?
01:39Then prove to your brother whether you can survive this night.
01:45I convulsed violently.
01:47As I pulled my hands back, the iron gate tore a layer of skin from my palms.
01:52The blood froze into dark crimson ice the second it hit the air.
01:57Kaelin slammed against the door like a madman.
01:59It was my mistake!
02:01I lost control of the magic!
02:03Punish me!
02:05Mother smiled.
02:06How could I ever bear to punish you?
02:10If you love her, become perfect.
02:14At that exact moment, I finally understood.
02:16In her eyes, I wasn't her daughter.
02:18I was just the whip she used to tame my brother.
02:22I had been listening to those words for 17 years.
02:27When Kaelin failed his spirit trial,
02:29she forced me to copy forbidden spells with a blood quill
02:32until the bones in my hands warped.
02:39When Kaelin secretly dabbled in black market illusion mist,
02:44she locked me in the sulfur room
02:48and forced me to cough up black blood.
02:51When Kaelin first thought about giving up his inheritance,
02:55she strung me up beneath the judgment bell
02:59and let the chimes shatter my earbrums.
03:02Every single time, my brother would break down.
03:06And every single time,
03:08Mother would stroke his hair and say,
03:11Do you see?
03:12You make a mistake and she suffers.
03:17It wasn't that I never fought back.
03:21When I was 12,
03:23I ran away to the temple to plead my case.
03:28I told them my mother had placed a scapegoat curse on me.
03:32To mold my brother into the perfect air,
03:35she transferred all his punishments onto me.
03:39She weaponized his guilt and love for me
03:43to forge his perfection.
03:45The Inquisitor came.
03:47Mother hugged me in front of everyone,
03:49weeping,
03:51claiming I was the daughter of the eclipse,
03:53born to lie.
03:55The temple believed her
03:56because she was Rowena Weir,
04:00the matriarch of the ancient Sunblood line.
04:02And I was just a shadow daughter
04:04with no right to inherit.
04:07Now,
04:08the frost crawled up the walls
04:10and seized the hem of my dress.
04:12My solar magic was suppressed deep into my core,
04:15reduced to a single dying flicker of golden light.
04:18I bit down hard on my tongue
04:20to force myself awake.
04:22I can't die.
04:23I refuse to be the tool she uses
04:25to terrify my brother anymore.
04:27I wrapped my broken silver protection chain
04:30around my fist
04:31and smashed it against the lock.
04:34One strike.
04:35Two.
04:36Three.
04:37The door didn't budge.
04:39Outside.
04:40Mother's voice grew even colder.
04:43Look closely, Caelan.
04:45A weak son only deserves to be swallowed
04:48by eternal winter.
04:51Write.
04:52Mother threw five blank scrolls
04:53in front of Caelan.
04:55Flawless execution on all of them.
04:57And I'll let her out.
04:59Caelan's voice trembled.
05:01That's the moonfrost chamber,
05:03not a punishment cell!
05:05Then you'd better write faster.
05:07I leaned against the back of the door,
05:09my teeth chumbering so violently
05:11they threatened to shatter.
05:12Cold.
05:13It was so cold.
05:15The moonfrost chamber
05:16was originally built
05:17to seal away Weir family members
05:20whose solar magic spiraled out of control.
05:23It drained all heat
05:24and crushed any fire-based bloodline.
05:27To an ordinary mage,
05:28it was merely freezing.
05:30To a sunblood,
05:32it was an execution block.
05:34I raised my hand,
05:36managing to conjure
05:37a tiny spark of solar fire
05:39in my palm
05:39the moment it flickered to life.
05:42Freezing mist lunged at it
05:43from all sides
05:44like a beast smelling blood.
05:46The fire died.
05:49My fingertips went completely numb.
05:53From outside
05:53came the frantic scratching
05:55of Caelan's quill.
05:56Rushed.
05:58Messy.
05:59Mother's voice lashed out.
06:01Your runen lines
06:03are crooked, Caelan.
06:05Do you want to keep her in there longer?
06:07The scratching abruptly stopped.
06:08Don't listen to her!
06:12I screamed with everything I had left.
06:14My father!
06:16Go to the temple!
06:17Mother slammed her hand
06:18against the door.
06:19The iron rattled
06:20and frost rained down on my head.
06:23Alara, shut your mouth!
06:24I cracked a smile.
06:26My lips split
06:27and the beads of blood
06:28instantly turned to ice.
06:30Are you afraid?
06:31Dead silence sighed.
06:33Mother's voice dropped
06:34dangerously low.
06:36What did you say?
06:37You're afraid Caelan
06:39will figure out
06:39he isn't the genius you raised.
06:41I dragged myself up
06:42against the wall.
06:43Every movement felt like
06:45ice blades slicing
06:46through my knees.
06:48You're afraid he'll know
06:49that beneath every medal
06:50he wears
06:51is my blood.
06:55Caelan's quill dropped
06:56to the floor.
06:59Alara.
07:00Keep writing!
07:02Caelan didn't move.
07:04She finally panicked.
07:07Do you want her
07:08to freeze to death?
07:09That threat was more effective
07:10than any command.
07:11My brother grabbed
07:12the quill again.
07:13I listened as he wept
07:15through the first roll.
07:16Then the second.
07:17By the time he finished
07:19the fifth
07:19he was practically screaming.
07:22I'm done!
07:24Mother picked up
07:25the scrolls.
07:26I pressed myself
07:27flat against the door
07:28barely able to hear
07:29my own heartbeat anymore.
07:30There was a long silence
07:31outside.
07:32Open it!
07:35The third star trail
07:36is half an inch off.
07:38That doesn't affect
07:39the spell.
07:40But it isn't perfect.
07:42Mother ripped the rolls
07:43to shreds.
07:45So she stays in there.
07:47At that moment
07:48Caelan stopped begging
07:49Caelan stopped begging.
07:50He lunged for the main doors
07:51of the hall.
07:52I'm going to the temple!
07:54I'll have them put
07:56the entire Weir family
07:57on trial!
07:59Don't you dare!
08:00Just then
08:01the main doors
08:02were pushed open.
08:04Father's voice
08:05cut through
08:05the howling blizzard.
08:06And why wouldn't
08:08he dare?
08:09Father marched
08:10into the hall
08:11radiating frost
08:13rain still dripping
08:14from his black umbrella.
08:15Caelan rushed over
08:17practically collapsing
08:18at his feet.
08:19Father
08:19save Alara!
08:21Mother locked her
08:22in the moonfrost chamber!
08:24Father's expression
08:25changed instantly.
08:27He threw himself
08:27at the chamber door
08:28and pressed his palm
08:29against the lock signal.
08:30The golden sun emblem
08:32flared for a short
08:33cessment
08:33before the silver frost
08:34swallowed it whole.
08:38Rowane
08:39open this door.
08:40She is simply
08:41learning a lesson.
08:42That is the moonfrost chamber!
08:44She is also a sunblood.
08:46If she can't even
08:47withstand a little cold
08:48she never deserved
08:49to be a Weir.
08:50Father slowly turned
08:51to look at her
08:52staring at her
08:53as if she were
08:54his mortal enemy.
08:55She is your daughter.
08:58Mother didn't answer.
08:59Father struck the lock
09:00again with a burst
09:01of magic
09:02but it didn't wudge.
09:04The unsealing spell
09:06now.
09:07Mother tightened her lips.
09:10Give me the spell!
09:12She finally took a step back.
09:14I bound it with a death curse.
09:17It won't open
09:18until the day
09:18of the Suncrown trial.
09:19The color drained
09:20from Kaelin's face
09:21looking as if his soul
09:22had been ripped out.
09:23What?
09:24Do you actually want her
09:25to die?
09:27I listened from the inside
09:29desperately wanting
09:30to tell them
09:31I was still alive
09:32but I couldn't
09:33open my mouth anymore.
09:35The chill
09:36had seeped
09:36into my marrow.
09:38My solar bloodline
09:39was suffocating
09:40fading out
09:41bit by bit.
09:42Suddenly
09:43a sharp crack
09:44echoed from deep
09:44within the walls.
09:45Silver frost veins
09:47began to spread wildly
09:48from the cracks in the floor.
09:50I stared
09:50paralyzed.
09:51Buried deep beneath
09:52the moonfrost chamber
09:53lay the Weir family's
09:54oldest,
09:55most terrifying secret.
09:56The eternal wintercore.
09:58Mother heard it too.
09:59She went pale
10:00for a second
10:00but immediately snapped.
10:02Impossible!
10:03I gave her
10:04the thermal runstone.
10:05Father's eyes
10:06snapped down
10:06to the floor.
10:07The silver runstone
10:09lay there
10:09cracked in half
10:10shattered
10:11the moment
10:12she shoved me
10:12through the door.
10:14The very last
10:16sliver of light
10:17was gone.
10:18Caelan's voice shook.
10:22You broke the runstone?
10:24Mother's lips
10:25poutened.
10:28I
10:28I didn't know.
10:30The next second
10:31the temple's alarm bells
10:33shrieked across the estate.
10:34The eternal wintercore
10:35has breached.
10:36Evacuate everyone!
10:38Caelan slammed
10:39against the door
10:39his eyes
10:40terrifyingly bloodshut.
10:42Elara!
10:44Answer me!
10:45Using the very last
10:47ounce of my strength
10:48I rested my forehead
10:50against the freezing iron.
10:52Caelan!
10:52My whisper was so faint
10:54even I couldn't hear it.
10:56Deep within the chamber
10:57the eternal wintercore
10:59fully awailed.
11:00The freezing mist
11:01drowned me
11:02like a tidal wave.
11:04I could hear father
11:06roaring outside.
11:08I heard Caelan
11:09screaming.
11:10I heard mother
11:11finally descend
11:12into pure panic.
11:13Caelan
11:15I can't hold on
11:16anymore.
11:23When I opened
11:24my eyes again
11:25I wasn't cold.
11:26My body felt as light
11:28as falling snow.
11:29I stood in the center
11:31of the moonfrost chamber
11:32and looked down
11:33at my own body
11:35lying on the ice.
11:36My hair
11:36my eyelashes
11:37my dress
11:38all encased in frost.
11:40So it's true
11:41when you die
11:42it doesn't hurt anymore.
11:43I found myself trapped.
11:44At the moment
11:45I tried to walk
11:46toward the door
11:47a black glowing shackle
11:49slamped around my wrist.
11:51The scapegoat curse.
11:52It wasn't over.
11:55Outside the door
11:57the knight's
11:58templar had arrived.
12:00The knight commander
12:00took one look
12:01at the frost
12:02tier rooms
12:03blazing on the iron
12:04and blanched.
12:05Eighth tier frost?
12:07Whoever is in there
12:08is already dead.
12:09Caelan snatched
12:10a breaker hammer
12:11from a knight
12:11from a madman.
12:13Get out of my way!
12:15Father grabbed
12:16mother by the shoulders
12:17gripping her hard enough
12:19to snap her collarbones.
12:22Where is the
12:23unseating spell?
12:25The death curse.
12:27It can't be opened.
12:30Liar.
12:30Father hissed
12:31his voice lethal.
12:33You always
12:34leave yourself
12:34a way out.
12:36Caelan's head
12:37snapped up.
12:38He rushed
12:39to the family dress
12:40frantically feeling
12:41along the wall
12:42with his blood-soaked hands.
12:44Mother's face
12:44warped in horror.
12:48Caelan stop!
12:50He slammed his fist
12:51into a hidden panel.
12:53A silver-etched
12:54control dial
12:54slid out from the wall.
12:56Father looked at her,
12:57his eyes like daggers.
12:58So you could open it
12:59the entire time?
13:01I just wanted him
13:02to learn his lesson!
13:03I never meant
13:04for her to die!
13:06Caelan chuckled.
13:07The sound was
13:08like shattering ice.
13:09He drew the short blade
13:10from the knight commander's belt
13:12and pressed the tip
13:12directly against
13:13the sacred sun mark
13:14beneath his own colivin.
13:16Caelan!
13:17Mother Shree.
13:18Open the door.
13:18My brother stared
13:20her down.
13:21Or I destroy
13:22the sacred mark.
13:23You have your trial
13:25tomorrow!
13:25If she's dead,
13:27I'm taking your
13:28precious sun hair
13:29to the grave
13:30with her.
13:31Mother finally broke.
13:33She lunged forward,
13:35sobbing,
13:36and chanted
13:36the unsealing spell.
13:38Click!
13:39The lock disengaged.
13:41The doors flew open,
13:42vomiting freezing mist
13:43into the hall,
13:44turning the floor
13:45to instant ice.
13:46Caelan and father
13:47rushed in simultaneously.
13:48My brother dropped
13:49to his knees
13:50beside my body.
13:51His hands shook
13:51so violently,
13:52he couldn't even
13:53touch my face.
13:54Laura.
13:55He pulled me
13:55into his arms,
13:56desperately pouring
13:57his solar magic
13:58into my chest
13:59to warm me.
13:59Golden light surged
14:00into my heart
14:01over and over
14:02and faded out
14:03over and over.
14:04Wake up.
14:05You hate the cold.
14:07Come on,
14:07I'll take you out
14:08into the sun.
14:09But the girl
14:10in his arms
14:10didn't answer.
14:11The knight commander
14:12urged quietly.
14:13Get her to the
14:14healing tower.
14:15Now.
14:16Mother stood frozen
14:17in the doorway,
14:19staring at my
14:19lifeless body
14:20as they carried me out.
14:22Suddenly,
14:23she shook her head.
14:24No!
14:25She's a sunblood!
14:26How could she
14:27freeze to death?
14:28Caelan stopped
14:29and looked back at her.
14:32Is that why
14:34you tested it on her?
14:37The warm lights
14:38of the healing tower
14:39burned through the night.
14:40Caelan knelt
14:41outside the ward,
14:42his palms split
14:43and bleeding
14:44from the frostbite.
14:45Father stood perfectly
14:46still by the window.
14:47Mother arrived last.
14:49Her dress was still
14:50rimmed with frost,
14:51her hair a mess.
14:52For the first time
14:53in her life,
14:54the arrogant pride
14:55of the Weir matriarch
14:56was gone.
14:57She walked toward Caelan.
14:58Caelan,
14:59I swear to you,
15:00I didn't know
15:01the runstone broke.
15:02Caelan didn't look up.
15:04Don't touch me.
15:07Mother froze.
15:09I am your mother.
15:11You're her murderer.
15:13She shook her head wildly.
15:15I didn't want to kill her!
15:17I just wanted you to win!
15:19Father turned round
15:20and slapped her
15:21across the face.
15:22The corridor fell
15:23dead silent.
15:24Mother covered her cheek,
15:26tears spilling over.
15:27My greatest regret in life
15:29was leaving Allura
15:30in that manner with you.
15:31I did it for Caelan!
15:33My brother finally
15:34raised his head.
15:35He ripped open his collar,
15:37exposing the sun mark
15:38on his chest.
15:39If Allura is dead,
15:40I forfeit the sun crown trial.
15:42All the blood drained
15:43from Mother's face.
15:45You can't.
15:46You are the strongest son here
15:48the Weir family
15:48has seen in a century.
15:50Then let the Weir family's
15:51son die with me.
15:52The ward doors opened.
15:54A healer in white robes
15:56stepped out.
15:57Father stepped forward,
15:58his voice barely a whisper.
15:59How is she?
16:00The healer stayed silent
16:02for a long moment.
16:04The frost toxin
16:04has completely frozen her heart.
16:06Her solar bloodline
16:07was devoured
16:08by the eternal winter core
16:09and her soul was fractured
16:11by the scapegoat curse.
16:12Caelan swayed on his feet.
16:14I am so sorry.
16:15We did our best.
16:18Mother stared at him.
16:20What do you mean,
16:22done your best?
16:23No one answered her
16:24because those words
16:26were cruel enough
16:27on their own.
16:28Caelan slumped
16:29against the wall,
16:30sliding to the floor
16:31as tears crashed
16:32down his face.
16:33We promised,
16:34we promised we'd go
16:35see the fireworks
16:36in the Undercity
16:37after my trial.
16:38I stood right in front of him.
16:40I reached out
16:41to wipe the tears
16:41from his cheeks,
16:42but my fingers
16:43passed right through his face.
16:45It was only then
16:46that I truly understood.
16:47I was dead.
17:18There were no white frost flowers
17:18at my funeral.
17:18and gently placed a silver wind chime
17:20against the headstone.
17:22You told me once.
17:24You just wanted to hear
17:25a sound that wasn't in order.
17:27His fingers trembled.
17:30Whenever the wind blows now,
17:31it'll talk to you for me.
17:34Father bent down
17:35and traced the name
17:35carved into the stone.
17:37Ilarra Weir.
17:38Not a daughter of the Eclipse.
17:40Not a scapegoat.
17:41Just me.
17:42Mother stood far away.
17:43She was too terrified
17:45to approach the casket,
17:46but refused to leave.
17:49Ilarra.
17:50Caelan's head snapped around.
17:52Don't say her name.
17:53Mother looked utterly broken.
17:55I want to apologize to her.
17:57You had 17 years
17:58to apologize
17:59while she was alive.
18:01Caelan stood up,
18:02his eyes laced with blood.
18:03You don't get to do it now.
18:06After the funeral,
18:07the Temple Council arrived.
18:09The Night Commander
18:10read the verdict aloud
18:11to the estate.
18:12Rowan Weir
18:13for the illegal use
18:14of the scapegoat curse
18:15and the fatal abuse
18:17of a minor blood relative.
18:19Effective immediately,
18:21your seat on the Weir
18:22Family Council is suspended.
18:24The Moonfrost Chamber
18:25is sealed
18:26and you are stripped
18:27of all custody
18:27and guardianship rights
18:29over Caelan Weir.
18:30Panic finally broke
18:31through Mother's numbness.
18:33No!
18:34You can't take
18:35my son away!
18:36Caelan didn't even
18:37look at her.
18:37He just turned to Father.
18:40Let's go.
18:41Mother lunged forward,
18:42grabbing his sleeve.
18:43Caelan, please!
18:44You're all I have left!
18:46My brother carefully,
18:47methodically plowed
18:48her fingers off him.
18:49Elara has nothing left.
18:51As their carriage
18:52rolled out of the estate,
18:53I thought I would be
18:54pulled along with Caelan.
18:56But a second later,
18:57the black shackle
18:58on my wrist
18:58clamped down tight.
19:05I was violently
19:06yanked back
19:07to Mother's side.
19:09The scapegoat curse
19:10wasn't over.
19:11I was dead,
19:12but my soul
19:12was still tethered
19:13to the caster.
19:14Mother began frantically
19:15searching the manor
19:16for traces of me.
19:17She opened my bedroom door,
19:19only to realize
19:20I didn't own
19:20a single decent dress.
19:22The wardrobe was stuffed
19:23with faded academy robes,
19:24sleeves eaten away
19:25by sulfur,
19:26collars stained
19:26with dried blood.
19:27Three empty bottles
19:28of extreme painkillers
19:29sat on my night tamed.
19:31She opened my spell
19:31practice journal.
19:33Page one.
19:33Caelan messed up
19:34his rune array today.
19:35Mother made me rewrite it
19:36with the blood quill.
19:37Page two.
19:37Caelan cried in secret.
19:39I told him it didn't hurt,
19:40but it actually hurts so much.
19:42Page three.
19:43Just one line.
19:44If I die,
19:45will Caelan finally be free?
19:46Mother's hands
19:47be shake uncontrollably.
19:48She pulled the journal
19:49to her chest,
19:49weeping,
19:50clinging to it
19:50like a mother
19:51who finally remembered
19:52to love her child.
19:54Elara!
19:56I stood in the doorway,
19:57calmly watching her
19:58break down.
20:00Belated affection
20:01is just like the flowers
20:02left after a funeral.
20:04Beautiful to look at,
20:05but entirely useless.
20:09Caelan returned that night.
20:10He didn't come back
20:11to see her.
20:12He came for my things.
20:14Hearing his footsteps,
20:15Mother scrambled up
20:16from the floor.
20:17Caelan,
20:18you've come home?
20:19He walked right past her,
20:20went into my room,
20:21and picked up the broken
20:22silver protection chain.
20:23Are you going back
20:25to the Academy tomorrow?
20:27She asked cautiously.
20:30No.
20:31What about the Suncrown trial?
20:34I'm withdrawing.
20:36Mother looked as if
20:37she'd been struck by lightning.
20:38You can't just give up!
20:40Destroying your own future
20:41won't bring her back!
20:42Caelan finally turned
20:43to look at her.
20:44Oh.
20:45So now you admit
20:46she isn't coming back?
20:47Mother went deathly pale.
20:50Caelan wrapped my silver chain
20:52around his wrist.
20:53I am going to the temple.
20:55I'm going to testify
20:56and put every single thing
20:57you did her on the official record.
20:58I am your mother!
21:00You were Alara's mother, too.
21:02He walked out
21:03without looking back.
21:04That night,
21:05every single sunlamp
21:07in Weir Manor flickered out.
21:08The family's guardian spirit
21:10manifested from the grand mural,
21:12its voice booming
21:12like a judge
21:13delivering a sentence.
21:15The scapegoat
21:15was slaughtered
21:16by the matriarch.
21:17The sunblood
21:18is defiled.
21:19The Weir family
21:20is stripped of its blessing.
21:22Mother looked up
21:22at the darkened family crest.
21:24The glory she had sacrificed
21:26everything to protect
21:27had been buried
21:28in the ice
21:29by her own hands.
21:31On the day of the trial,
21:33Mother stood in the center
21:34of the temple hall
21:35in a black mourning dress.
21:37In the past,
21:37everyone in this room
21:38would have stood up
21:39and bowed to her.
21:40Now,
21:41they looked at her
21:41as a walking scandal.
21:43The night commister's voice
21:44was ice cold.
21:45Do you admit to casting
21:46a scapegoat-goat curse
21:47on Alara Weir?
21:48Mother was silent
21:49for a long time.
21:52I admit it.
21:53The gallery erupted
21:54in whispers.
21:55Do you admit that
21:55whenever Cailin Weir
21:56made a mistake,
21:57you consistently
21:58forced Alara
21:59to suffer the physical punishment?
22:01She closed her eyes.
22:03I admit it.
22:04Do you admit
22:05that you shoved Alara
22:06into the moonfrost chamber
22:08and intentionally
22:08refused to open the door?
22:10Mother's eyes
22:11snapped open,
22:12tears spilling over.
22:13I never wanted her to die!
22:15You are only being asked
22:17if you did it.
22:17The commander stated coldly.
22:19Mother looked desperately
22:20at Cailin in the gallery.
22:22Cailin stared straight ahead,
22:23refusing to meet her eyes.
22:25She finally lowered her head.
22:27I admit it.
22:28The gavel fell.
22:29Rowena Weir
22:29was permanently stripped
22:30of her title as matriarch.
22:32Her solar magic
22:33was sealed for life.
22:34Weir Manor
22:35was seized by the temple
22:36and she was ordered
22:37to never come
22:37within a hundred yards
22:38of Cailin
22:38for the rest of her days.
22:41When the final condition
22:42of the sentence was read,
22:43Mother finally lost her mind.
22:45Cailin!
22:45My brother stood up
22:46from the pews
22:47and walked down to her.
22:48Her eyes lit up
22:49with desperate hope,
22:50thinking he had finally softened.
22:51But Cailin simply reached out
22:53and dropped a blood-stained
22:54sun emblem into her palm.
22:55Alara clawed this
22:56off the inside of the door
22:57before she died.
22:58Mother stared
22:59at the bloody metal in horror.
23:00She fought to save herself
23:01until her very last breath.
23:03Cailin whispered.
23:04But you made sure
23:05she had no way out.
23:06He suddenly smiled,
23:07though tears
23:08streamed down his face.
23:10Do you know
23:11why I truly hate you?
23:14It isn't just
23:15because you murdered her.
23:16It's because
23:17your training actually worked.
23:18He pointed a shaking finger
23:20at the sun mark
23:21on his chest,
23:22his voice wrecked and hoary.
23:23Every time I took the top rank,
23:25every time they called me
23:26a prodigy,
23:27I knew I didn't earn it alone.
23:29I knew Alara paid for it
23:31in blood and agony.
23:33The stronger I got,
23:34the more you tortured her.
23:36So are you satisfied now, Mother?
23:38You successfully forged
23:40the perfect sun hair
23:41and you personally slaughtered
23:43the only person
23:43in the world
23:44he wanted to protect.
23:45Mother shook her head wildly,
23:47sobbing.
23:48Stop it!
23:49Please stop!
23:50Why should I stop?
23:51Kaelin's voice cracked into a scream.
23:53When she begged you to open the door,
23:55did you tell her to shut up?
23:56The black skatechgoat shackle on my wrist
23:58suddenly blazed with dark magic.
24:00The next second, Mother heard it.
24:02She heard the sound of me
24:03smashing my fists
24:04against the moonfrost door.
24:05She heard me screaming for her.
24:08She heard my final,
24:09fading whisper.
24:10Kaelin!
24:11She collapsed to the floor
24:12of the temple,
24:13screaming,
24:14clasping her hands
24:15over her ears,
24:16begging the echoes to stop.
24:18But this time,
24:19no one stepped in to save her.
24:23Mother was exiled
24:24to a small,
24:25rotting cabbage
24:25on the edge
24:26of the black maple forest.
24:28With her magic
24:28sealed by the temple,
24:29she could no longer
24:30command anyone,
24:31couldn't step foot
24:32inside Weir Mansion,
24:33and couldn't go anywhere
24:34near Kaelin.
24:35She went to my grave
24:36every single day.
24:37In the morning,
24:38she wiped the rain
24:39off the headstone.
24:41At noon,
24:42she sat under the tree
24:43and read from my spell journal.
24:45At night,
24:46she lit a warming lamp
24:48and talked to the empty air.
24:50Are you cold today, Alara?
24:52Mother brought you
24:52some honey cakes.
24:54You used to love these
24:55when you were little,
24:56didn't you?
24:56I remember now.
24:58When you were seven,
24:59you had a terrible fever
25:00and I held you.
25:01You gripped my sleeve so tight
25:02you refused to let go.
25:04I stood right
25:04beside her.
25:05I said nothing.
25:06The more she reminisced,
25:08the more insane she grew
25:09and the more agonizingly lucid.
25:11One afternoon,
25:12she found an old
25:13parchment letter
25:14buried in a trunk.
25:15It was from her own father.
25:16Rowena,
25:17a daughter cannot inherit
25:18the sun crown.
25:19If you want to be treated
25:20like a human being's family,
25:21give birth to a perfect son.
25:23Mother stared at the letter
25:24and suddenly burst out laughing.
25:26She laughed
25:27until she began
25:27to violently sob.
25:29So he was the one
25:30I should have hated
25:30my entire life.
25:32She threw the letter
25:32into the fire,
25:33the orange flames
25:34flickering across
25:35her hollow face.
25:36I hated him
25:37for stripping my birthright,
25:38hated the Weir family
25:40for only valuing sons.
25:41I hated them
25:42for telling Mimi
25:43a daughter wasn't worthy
25:44to stand in the sun.
25:45But in the end,
25:47I just became them.
25:49They sacrificed me
25:50and I sacrificed you.
25:52She looked toward
25:53my gravestone,
25:54her voice shaking
25:55uncontrollably.
25:58I turned Caelan
25:59into my weapon
26:00for revenge
26:01and I ground you
26:02into the dirt
26:03to be his
26:04shadow.
26:06Alara,
26:07it wasn't that
26:07I didn't love you.
26:09I was just terrified
26:11to admit
26:11that you deserve
26:12to be loved
26:13because if I admitted
26:14that,
26:15I would have to admit
26:16that what my father
26:17did to me
26:17was monstrous too.
26:19She pressed her bare palm
26:20against the freezing stone.
26:22But instead of
26:22fighting the monsters,
26:24I aimed the knife
26:25at you.
26:26That night,
26:27father came to the cabin.
26:29He placed a legal document
26:30on her table.
26:31The divorce is finalized.
26:33Caelan has legally
26:33taken my family's surname.
26:35He discarded
26:36the Weir name entirely?
26:37Mother went ashen.
26:38Father offered
26:39no comfort.
26:40He petitioned the temple.
26:41He's joined the nightwaters
26:41in the north.
26:42He will never compete
26:43for Suncrown.
26:44Mother clutched her chest
26:45as if the last breath
26:46of air had been sucked
26:47from the room.
26:48Is he going to hate me forever?
26:51Father looked down at her.
26:52You should be grateful,
26:53he's still alive
26:54to hate you.
26:54As father turned to leave,
26:55he paused in the doorway.
26:57Before we buried Alara,
26:58I found a blood hex
26:58carved into her palms.
27:00Mother's head joked up.
27:02She was trying to blast
27:03the door open
27:04right until the end.
27:05Father said softly,
27:07Rowena,
27:08she wanted to live
27:09far more than you
27:09ever realized.
27:10When the door closed,
27:12mother sat alone
27:13in the dark
27:13for the entire night.
27:15As dawn broke,
27:16she pulled a small vial
27:18of black liquid
27:19from her pocket.
27:21The potion was called
27:23Wither.
27:24A forbidden concoction
27:25used by dark mages
27:26to sever the soul
27:27from the body.
27:28Mother placed it
27:29in front of my gravestone,
27:30but she didn't drink
27:31it right away.
27:32She leaned against the stone,
27:33speaking in a whisper.
27:34I know you're here,
27:36Alara.
27:36I froze.
27:38She couldn't see me,
27:39but she reached her hand out
27:40directly towards
27:41where I stood.
27:43I'm the one who cast
27:44the scapegoat curse.
27:45I know that when
27:47the victim dies,
27:48their soul is
27:48shackled to the caster
27:50until the blood debt
27:51is paid.
27:51I look down at the black ring
27:53burning on my wrist.
27:54She had known all along.
27:56Mother offered
27:57a broken smile,
27:58her tears vanishing
27:59into the dirt.
28:00I refused to break it before
28:02because I was terrified
28:03that once you were gone,
28:04I'd have nowhere left
28:05to put my regret.
28:07She raised her hand,
28:08sliced her palm open
28:09and pressed her bleeding flesh
28:10against the gravestone.
28:11The black shackle
28:12lifted off my wrist,
28:14the other end glowing brightly
28:15where it connected
28:15to her heart.
28:16She convulsed
28:17in excruciating pain,
28:18but she didn't let go.
28:20I am sorry.
28:21This time,
28:22she wasn't sobbing
28:23or begging for my forgiveness.
28:24You don't have to forgive me.
28:26You don't even have
28:27to remember me.
28:28She unstopped
28:29the vial of Wither.
28:30Go be reborn.
28:31Go somewhere far away
28:33from the Weir family,
28:34from crowns,
28:34from curses.
28:36Mother.
28:37She gasped,
28:38her head snapping up
28:39as if she had actually
28:40heard me.
28:41Alara?
28:42I looked at her.
28:43I didn't feel vindicated.
28:44I didn't feel forgiving.
28:46I was just so tired.
28:48I don't want to be
28:49your daughter anymore.
28:50The very last spark
28:52of light in Mother's eyes
28:53died.
28:54But she smiled
28:56through the tears
28:57and nodded.
28:58Okay.
29:00She swallowed the potion.
29:02Black veins
29:03crawled up her neck
29:04from her collarbone.
29:05She slumped
29:06against my headstone,
29:08finally accepting
29:09that she had lost
29:10to fate
29:10and lost
29:11and lost
29:11to herself.
29:13Be free,
29:15my child.
29:16The exact moment
29:17the curse snapped,
29:18I heard the faint
29:19chime of silver bells
29:21in the distance.
29:22As Mother's body
29:23hit the dirt,
29:25the temple bells
29:26began to tore.
29:30I was lifted
29:31into the air
29:32by a blinding
29:33white light,
29:34looking down
29:34at the black
29:35maple forest
29:36one last time.
29:37Father was standing
29:38at the edge
29:39of the woods.
29:40Caelan had rushed
29:41back from the north,
29:42throwing himself
29:42onto my grave,
29:44sobbing so hard
29:44he couldn't speak.
29:46He wasn't wearing
29:47the golden armor
29:47of a sun knight.
29:49He was wearing
29:50the plain black cloak
29:51of a watchman.
29:52My silver chain
29:53was wrapped tightly
29:54around his wrist.
29:59I smiled softly.
30:04That's good.
30:06They finally get
30:07to just be human.
30:08When I opened
30:09my eyes again,
30:10I was laying
30:10in a small,
30:11incredibly warm room.
30:12Outside the window,
30:13there were no
30:13holy flames,
30:14no judgment bells,
30:15no imposing
30:16suncrests.
30:17A woman I didn't know
30:18scooped me into her arms.
30:19Her voice was like honey.
30:20Welcome to the world,
30:21little Ella.
30:24I looked into her eyes,
30:26saw nothing but
30:27unconditional love,
30:28and immediately
30:29started crying.
30:31In this life,
30:32I was born in the
30:33undercity of New Avalon,
30:35to a normal family
30:37of apothetries.
30:38No ancient bloodlines,
30:40no crown trials,
30:42no one demanding
30:43I bleed for their mistakes.
30:45When I was three,
30:46I saw snow falling
30:47outside the window
30:48for the first time.
30:49I was so terrified,
30:51I hid under the table.
30:52My new mother,
30:54Grace,
30:54didn't drag me out.
30:55She just grabbed a blanket,
30:57crawled under the table,
30:58and sat beside me.
31:00If it gets too cold,
31:01Ella will just throw
31:02another log on the fire.
31:03I was too scared
31:04to touch her hand.
31:06She didn't push.
31:07It's okay if you don't
31:08want to hold my hand.
31:10I'm right here.
31:12That was the day
31:14I learned that
31:14when a child is terrified,
31:16they shouldn't have to
31:17prove they are worthy
31:18of love before
31:19someone comforts them.
31:21When I turned twelve,
31:23the academy examiners
31:24came to the Undil.
31:25I tried to hide.
31:27But the second
31:28my fingers brushed
31:29the crystal spell,
31:30the entire room
31:32was bathed
31:32in a gentle,
31:33radiant gold.
31:35The examiner
31:36leapt out of his chair.
31:42Dawn magic.
31:43Dawn magic.
31:44The rarest healing
31:45mutation of the
31:45sunblood line,
31:46which meant the temple
31:47would find out
31:48about me immediately.
31:49Three days later,
31:50a black temple carriage
31:51pulled up to our
31:52apothetory.
31:52The man who stepped out
31:53was wearing the heavy
31:54black cloak of a
31:55nightwatchman.
31:56Wrapped around his wrist
31:57was an old tarnished
31:57silver chain.
31:58It was Caelan.
31:59He looked thinner,
32:00but the manic edge
32:01was gone,
32:02replaced by a quiet,
32:03grounded strength.
32:04No golden armor.
32:05No Weir family crest.
32:06He stood in our doorway
32:07and spoke softly
32:08to my new parents.
32:09I am only here
32:10to register
32:11a magical awakening.
32:14I am not here
32:15to take her away.
32:16Grace immediately
32:17stepped in front of me,
32:19shielding me.
32:20No one is taking
32:21my daughter anywhere.
32:23Caelan paused,
32:24and then
32:25his eyes grew
32:26slightly red.
32:30That is exactly
32:31how it should be.
32:32He didn't recognize me,
32:33but when he looked at me,
32:35his gaze lingered
32:36for a long time.
32:37What is your name?
32:37I gripped Grace's apron
32:39tight.
32:40Ella,
32:41his voice dropped
32:41to a whisper.
32:42That's a beautiful name.
32:44Before he left,
32:45he handed me
32:46a heavy iron temple token.
32:48If anyone ever
32:49tries to force you
32:50to do something
32:51you don't want to do,
32:52bring this to me.
32:53I stared at the silver chain
32:55wrapped around his wrist.
32:57Whose is that?
32:58Caelan looked down,
32:59gently brushing his thumb
33:01over the metal links.
33:02My sisters.
33:04Is she still here?
33:06He was quiet
33:07for a long time.
33:11She's free.
33:14When I was 15,
33:15I formally rejected
33:17the conscription order
33:18from the Avalon Mystic Academy.
33:19The temple examiner
33:21was furious.
33:22Ella Green,
33:23you possess dawn magic.
33:24If you enter the academy,
33:26you'll become
33:26the youngest high healer
33:28in the hurry
33:28of new Avalon.
33:29I shook my head.
33:31I want to stay
33:31at the Apothecary
33:32in the Undercity.
33:33Why?
33:34I pointed out the window.
33:36There were injured
33:37blacksmiths on the street,
33:38sick orphans
33:39in the alleys,
33:39and elderly people
33:41who would never be able
33:42to afford
33:42high-tier healing potions.
33:46Because there are people
33:47who need magic
33:47down here too.
33:48The examiner
33:49opened his mouth
33:49to argue,
33:50but Caelan reached over
33:51and snapped
33:51the parchment scroll shut.
33:53She has a choice,
33:55and she made it.
33:56In that moment,
33:57I knew my brother
33:58had truly changed.
34:00Over the years,
34:01Caelan became
34:01the most respected
34:02knight commander
34:03in the Northern Watch.
34:04He never entered
34:04the Suncrown trial.
34:06He refused a seat
34:07on the council.
34:07He stopped
34:08trying to be flawless.
34:09Instead,
34:09he protected the people
34:10who had no family names,
34:12no powerful bloodlines,
34:13and no right
34:14to be seen by the elites.
34:15Weir Manor
34:16was seized by the temple
34:17and converted
34:17into an orphanage.
34:19The moonfrost chamber
34:20was ravved to the ground,
34:21and the crater
34:22was planted entirely
34:23with warm golden lilies
34:24of the valley.
34:25Any child
34:26who had been abused
34:26or scarred
34:27by dark family rituals
34:28was brought there
34:29for healing and protection.
34:31On my 18th birthday,
34:33I received a sealed
34:34parchment envelope
34:35with no sender's name.
34:37Inside was a small
34:38charcoal sketch.
34:39It was a drawing
34:40of a headstone
34:41in the black maple forest.
34:42A silver wind chime
34:44rested against the stone.
34:45Written on the back
34:46of the sketch
34:47was a single line.
34:48If she were still here,
34:50she would be 18 today.
34:52I took the sketch
34:53and walked
34:54to the black maple forest.
34:58Caelan was standing
34:59by the grave,
35:00his black cloak
35:01whipping in the autumn wind.
35:03When he saw me,
35:05he looked surprised.
35:07What brings you
35:08all the way out here?
35:09I walked up to the grave
35:11and looked down
35:11at the carving.
35:13A Lara Weir.
35:15The past me.
35:16The me that suffered.
35:18The me that was
35:19finally remembered
35:20by the people
35:20who mattered.
35:21I can't shake the feeling
35:23that she isn't really gone.
35:25I looked at him.
35:26If she really did
35:27start a new life,
35:28would you want her
35:29to come back
35:30and find you?
35:31His eyes brimmed
35:32with tears,
35:33but he smiled.
35:34No.
35:36I wouldn't.
35:36I held his gaze.
35:38I hope she never
35:39looks back.
35:40I hope she has
35:41a new family,
35:42a new name,
35:42a new world.
35:44I hope that this time
35:45someone loves her
35:47exactly the way
35:47she deserves.
35:51The wind chime
35:52rang softly
35:53and with that sound,
35:55the very last knot
35:57of pain in my heart
35:58unraveled.
35:59She will.
36:00Caelan stared at me.
36:01He looked like a man
36:03who understood everything
36:04but was too terrified
36:05to actually believe it.
36:06He didn't ask.
36:09Instead,
36:09he slowly unwrapped
36:10the tarnished silver chain
36:11from his wrist
36:12and draped it
36:12over the headstone.
36:15Alara,
36:16I have to keep
36:17moving forward now.
36:19I stood beside him,
36:20letting the tears fall,
36:22but it didn't hurt anymore.
36:23I went back
36:24to the undertitty.
36:26I kept brewing potions.
36:29I saved dozens of children.
36:33Children who,
36:34just like me,
36:35had been told
36:36their only purpose
36:37was to be a sacrifice.
36:38They would always ask me
36:39why I fought so hard for them.
36:41And I would always tell them
36:42the same thing.
36:44Because no one is born
36:45to be a shadow.
36:48And no one should ever
36:49have to bleed
36:49for someone else's mistakes.
36:52In this life,
36:53I am not the daughter
36:54of the eclipse.
36:55I am not my brother's
36:56scapegoat.
36:58I am not the ghost
36:59of my mother's
37:00belated regrets.
37:01I am Ella Green.
37:03I am exactly
37:05who I was meant to be.
37:07When I was twenty,
37:09the temple came
37:09looking for me
37:10in the undertown.
37:11It wasn't an examiner.
37:13It was Caelan.
37:14He stood in the doorway
37:16of the apothetary,
37:17snow from the north
37:18still clinging
37:19to his cloak.
37:20In his hand,
37:22he gripped a jagged piece
37:23of frost-veiled stone.
37:27Ella,
37:29something's happened
37:30at Weir Manor.
37:31I was in the middle
37:32of wrapping a bandage
37:33around a street kid's arm,
37:34hearing the name Weir.
37:37My hands still faltered
37:38for a second.
37:42I looked up at him.
37:44Why come to me?
37:47Because they won't stop
37:49screaming one specific name
37:50in their sleep.
37:51He placed the jagged stone
37:53on my counter.
37:54Faint,
37:54ghostly crying
37:55echoed from the rock.
37:57Alara.
37:58It felt like an old scar
38:00had just been ripped open
38:01across my chest.
38:02Grace rushed out
38:03from the back room.
38:04Immediately standing
38:05between me and the commander.
38:07She doesn't have to go.
38:08Caelan instantly bowed
38:09his head.
38:11You're right.
38:12I am here to beg
38:13for her help.
38:15I am not here
38:16to give an order.
38:17His words left me
38:18stunned in silence.
38:20In my past life,
38:21Caelan was constantly
38:22driven forward
38:23by the brutal
38:23commands of others.
38:25Now,
38:26he had finally learned
38:26how to hand the power
38:28of choice to someone else.
38:29I untied
38:30my apothetary apron.
38:32I'll go.
38:35As the carriage
38:36entered the black maple forest,
38:38I could hear the wind chimes
38:39ringing in the distance.
38:41Weir Manor
38:42was no longer
38:43the imposing,
38:44terrifying fortress
38:45it used to be.
38:47The golden crests
38:48had been torn down,
38:49replaced by a simple
38:50wooden sign
38:51that read
38:51Children's Sanctuary.
38:53The courtyard
38:53should have been filled
38:54with kids playing.
38:55Instead,
38:55every single window
38:56was coated in thick
38:57silver frost.
38:58Father was standing
38:59by the front doors.
39:01His hair had gone
39:02almost completely white.
39:03When he saw me
39:04step out of the carriage,
39:05he froze.
39:06He stared at me
39:07for so long
39:08I almost thought
39:09he recognized me.
39:10But eventually,
39:11his voice rasped out.
39:12Thank you for coming,
39:14Miss Ella.
39:14I nodded
39:15and walked into the ruins.
39:17The moon frost chamber
39:17had been completely demolished.
39:19Nothing remained
39:19but a scorched ring
39:20of foundation stones.
39:21But right in the center
39:22of those stones,
39:23silver frost veins
39:24were aggressively
39:24creeping outward.
39:25Three children
39:26lay huddled
39:26beneath thick blankets,
39:27shivering violently.
39:29Above each of their foreheads
39:30hovered a glowing black ring,
39:32the phantom echo
39:33of the scapegoat curse.
39:34I finally understood.
39:35Rowena was dead.
39:36But the dark magic
39:37she had fueled
39:38with the Weir bloodline
39:39hadn't just scarred me.
39:40The earth itself remembered.
39:42The curse was lashing out,
39:43hunting for any child
39:44in this manner
39:45who felt like
39:45they were nothing but a tool.
39:47Caelan stood right behind me,
39:49his voice tight.
39:51Can they be saved?
39:54I dropped my knees
39:55in the center of the stones
39:56and slammed my bare palms
39:57onto the frost.
39:58The cold shot straight
39:59into my marrow.
40:00The memory of my death
40:01rushed back,
40:02hitting me like a physical blow.
40:04The iron door.
40:06The freezing mist.
40:08Mother's cold demands.
40:11My brother's hysterical screaming.
40:13I was trembling so hard
40:14my teeth clacked together,
40:16but I refused to let go.
40:17I can't.
40:18Radiant dawn magic
40:19erupted from my palms.
40:21It wasn't the scorching,
40:23blinding fire
40:23of a sun here.
40:25It was the gentle,
40:26golden warmth
40:27of the first light of day.
40:28The frost hissed
40:29and began to melt.
40:30The children's terrified
40:31whimper slowly faded away,
40:33but just as the very last
40:34black ring matte,
40:35a tiny,
40:35transient shadow
40:36drifted up from the depths
40:37of the stone foundation.
40:38She was wearing
40:39a beautiful golden dress,
40:40her eyelashes coated in frost.
40:42It was Alara.
40:43It was the fragment of myself
40:44that had been trapped
40:45in the moment of my death.
40:47She looked at me
40:47and asked,
40:48her voice barely a whisper.
40:50Are we truly free now?
40:53Tears spilled down my cheeks.
40:56Yes.
40:57What about Kaylin?
40:59I looked over my shoulder.
41:01Kaylin was standing
41:02a few feet away.
41:03His eyes were red,
41:04but he didn't dare
41:05take a step closer.
41:06He looked terrified
41:06that if he moved,
41:07the illusion would shatter.
41:09I turned back
41:10to the tiny shadow.
41:12He's free, too.
41:14Little Alada smiled.
41:15The next second,
41:16she dissolved
41:17into millions of glowing
41:18golden motors of light,
41:20washing over
41:20the entire sanctuary.
41:22The frost on the windows
41:23vaporized.
41:24The children opened their eyes.
41:25The first cry of relief
41:26echoed across the courtyard,
41:28quickly turning into
41:29the beautiful,
41:29chaotic laughter
41:30of survivors.
41:31Kaylin stood bathed
41:32in the golden light.
41:34He suddenly brought
41:34a shaking hand up
41:36to cover his eyes.
41:37I knew.
41:37He had heard her.
41:38The silver wind chime
41:39rang continuously
41:40through the windless ruins
41:41for the rest of the night.
41:44After that night,
41:45the very last traces
41:46of frost vanished
41:47from Weir Mania forever.
41:50The temple officially
41:51sealed the ruins
41:52of the moonfrost chamber
41:53and converted it
41:54into an unnamed
41:55memorial garden.
41:57No Weir family crests,
41:59no sun crown insignias.
42:01Just a single,
42:03massive stone monument
42:04carved into the granite
42:06was one line,
42:07no child as a sacrifice.
42:10A lot of people came
42:12on the day the monument
42:13was unrailed.
42:14Father came,
42:15Kaylin came,
42:16every child who had ever
42:17found safety in the sanctuary
42:19came.
42:20They piled the base
42:22of the stone high
42:23with warm golden lilies
42:24of the valley.
42:25But Kaylin called out to me.
42:29Ella.
42:30I stopped.
42:32He walked over
42:34and held out
42:34the silver wind chime.
42:36It had been
42:37meticulously repaired.
42:40It cracked perfectly
42:41in half last night
42:44and then sealed itself
42:45back together.
42:46I didn't take it.
42:49That belongs to your sister.
42:52Kaylin looked at me.
42:53His eyes held a vast,
42:55oceanic sadness,
42:55but also a profound,
42:57weightless relief.
42:59I used to think
43:00that keeping it
43:01meant I was honoring
43:02her memory.
43:03He looked down
43:04and gave a soft,
43:05broken smile.
43:06I just realized
43:08I've been the one
43:09refusing to let her go.
43:11A warm breeze
43:12drifted through
43:13the black maple forest.
43:14The chime tinkled
43:16musically in his palm.
43:17If you're willing,
43:19hang it outside
43:20your apothecary
43:21in the undertill.
43:22Why give it to me?
43:23Kaylin looked at me,
43:24his voice so soft
43:26he seemed afraid
43:27of waking a sleeping ghost.
43:28Because she always
43:29loved the sound
43:30of freedom.
43:31I slowly reached out
43:32and took the silver medal.
43:34The exact second
43:35it dropped
43:36into my palm,
43:37I heard the echo
43:38of my past self
43:40give a soft,
43:41happy laugh.
43:42Father walked over
43:43and offered me
43:44a deep,
43:45highly formal bow.
43:48Thank you for saving
43:49those children.
43:50I shook my head.
43:52I didn't save them alone.
43:54Father looked toward
43:55the sunlit garden,
43:56his eyes shining.
44:01It was her,
44:02wasn't it?
44:03I didn't answer him
44:04and he didn't push.
44:07Some truths
44:08don't need to be
44:08dragged into the light.
44:12Living a good life
44:13is already the greatest
44:14defiance against suffering.
44:16Later that month,
44:18Kayin left
44:18New Averellaren for good.
44:21He returned to the north
44:23to live out his days
44:24as a night watchman.
44:26Before he left,
44:27he stood in front of
44:28Alara's grave
44:29for a long time.
44:31I won't carry the hatred
44:32for you anymore,
44:33little sister.
44:34And I won't carry the pain.
44:37I'm going to live.
44:39The wind chime rang
44:40three times.
44:42Like an answer.
44:44Like a goodbye.
44:47I hung the silver trime
44:48above the door
44:49of the Underville Apothery.
44:51Every time someone
44:52pushes the door open,
44:53it sings.
44:54I've healed so many
44:55more children since then.
45:06Bastards tossed aside
45:07by noble houses.
45:11Young mages
45:12whose cores
45:13spiraled out of control.
45:16Little girls
45:17who were tied up
45:18and offered as sacrifices
45:19to dark gods.
45:20They always look up at me
45:21and ask the same question.
45:23Ella,
45:24am I really allowed
45:25to choose
45:26what happens to me now?
45:27I always crouch down
45:28and look them
45:29dead in the eye.
45:31Yes.
45:32Your life belongs to you.
45:34No one else.
45:35Years later,
45:36the scapegoat curse
45:37was eradicated
45:38from New Averon.
45:39The temple classified it
45:40as the ultimate
45:41unforgivable art.
45:42Every single
45:43ancient magical family
45:44is now subjected
45:45to brutal temple inspections
45:46before their heirs
45:47come of age.
45:48And the surname Weir
45:49didn't end up going down
45:50in history
45:51as a vile scandal.
45:52It was written
45:53into a completely
45:54different chapter
45:55of the history books.
45:56A chapter that had
45:57absolutely nothing
45:58to do with the sun crown.
45:59A chapter about
46:00an orphanage
46:01and the thousands
46:02of children it saved.
46:04As for me,
46:05I still live
46:06in the Undercity.
46:07I open the shop doors
46:08at dawn
46:08and I brew potions
46:10late into the night.
46:11I still hate the cold
46:13in the winter.
46:14Whenever it snows,
46:15grace still wraps me up
46:16in a massive heavy blanket.
46:18Sometimes I still dream
46:19of my past life.
46:21I dream of the moonfrost chamber.
46:22the iron doors
46:24and that terrified
46:25little girl
46:26who fought so desperately
46:27just to survive.
46:29But at the end
46:30of the dream,
46:31she always pushes
46:33the iron doors open
46:34and steps out
46:36into the morning light.
46:39she will never look back.
46:41And neither will I.
46:43In this life,
46:44I am no one's shadow.
46:45I am not anyone's price.
46:47I am not the ghost
46:49of someone's belated regret.
46:50I am Ella Green.
46:52I am a child
46:54who grew up loved
46:55and that I am the one
46:56who finally saved myself.
46:57I'll see you next time.
Comments