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Enjoy high-quality drama entertainment with English subtitles and discover new trending stories uploaded on a regular basis.
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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.
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