Dancing on the golden ashes-Chapter 187: The fall of the Empress
The city of Luminara was in chaos, the streets once filled with lively chatter and bustling activity, now empty, with only a few scattered citizens running in panic. The ground trembled beneath them, and a heavy, oppressive silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant sounds of rumbling thunder. The atmosphere was thick with fear, a fear none had ever felt before, for it wasn’t the usual threat of danger that plagued them. This was something far worse.
Lee Gaon, their empress, their guiding light, was falling from the heavens, her body limp and lifeless. The city watched in horror as she descended, like a fallen star, her power extinguished. Even those who had known her strength, those who had seen her fight, felt helpless in the face of the tragedy unfolding before them. How could it be? The one who had led them, protected them, was now falling, and they could do nothing to save her.
In the streets, people were gripped by disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Some ran, unable to stand the crushing weight of the fear that gripped their hearts. They fled, seeking safety from something they couldn’t even see, but deep down they knew there was no escape. The giant that approached the city, its presence making the very earth quiver, was coming, and with it, they would have to face the unimaginable. But in that moment, their empress, their symbol of hope, was lost. And the thought was too much for many to bear.
A small group of eight, standing firm in the face of certain disaster, watched as Gaon plummeted toward them. Her fall was slow, but it felt like an eternity to them. Each of them stood frozen, hearts beating wildly, unwilling to let her fall, unwilling to accept that she might never rise again. The ones who knew her best, those who had fought by her side, shared a silent understanding. They knew she would revive. But the others—those who had only just come to rely on her, those who had never seen her fall—looked at her, eyes wide in terror, unable to grasp what was happening.
"Empress... she..." Park Ji-hoon’s voice broke the silence. His words were shaky, filled with confusion and disbelief. The mask he wore couldn’t hide the anguish in his voice. "I don’t... I don’t understand. We were celebrating her power, and now... this. How could she...?"
His question echoed in the air, but no one had an answer. Even the ones who understood her better, who had witnessed her power firsthand, were left speechless. Her fall was a painful sight to witness, but they couldn’t let it stop them. No, they couldn’t let her death be the end of everything she had built. They had to believe she would rise again, just as she always had. But for now, all they could do was brace themselves for what was to come, hold their ground, and prepare to protect the city—no matter the cost.
The rumbling in the distance grew louder, and with it came the thunderous footsteps of the monster.
"She’s okay, that’s part of her skill," Malrang’s voice was soft but firm, her purple fur glistening under the sun’s rays that broke through the storm clouds. She stood tall and determined, eyes sharp, reflecting a resolve forged through countless battles. She could feel the weight of the moment pressing on her, but she refused to waver. Her loyalty to Gaon was unshakable. "However, we have a problem," she continued, her voice low, almost a whisper, as the ground beneath them trembled. "She will be gone for nine days, and I’m not sure if we can hold off the monster for that long."
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"What do you mean gone for nine days?!" Lee Seo-yeon’s voice was a desperate scream, filled with confusion and raw panic. Her whole body trembled as the temperature around them plummeted drastically. The air turned cold enough to bite at their skin, and with a wave of her fingers, she summoned a perfect slide of ice. It spiraled out, intricately formed and perfectly designed to catch Gaon’s body, to bring her back to safety.
Her breath hitched in her throat as the empress’s body fell toward the slide, the lifeless form sliding with a grace that belied the weight of the moment. Tears blurred Seo-yeon’s vision as she watched Gaon’s body descend. She had never felt so helpless. She was more afraid for Gaon than for her own life. In this moment, the one who had been her beacon, her leader, the one who fought so fiercely and bravely for them, was now vulnerable, and it tore her apart inside.
Seo-yeon had always admired Gaon, not just for her strength, but for the way she commanded respect, for the way she inspired loyalty in others. She had seen Gaon as a role model, someone to look up to and strive to be like. But now, the woman she had longed to emulate was lying before her, powerless, in need of protection.
With shaking hands, Seo-yeon guided the slide, watching as Gaon’s body came to a slow, steady halt. She had to fight back the tears, but they spilled out despite her best efforts. This was not how things were supposed to go. She had wanted to protect Gaon, not the other way around.
The ice slide came to a stop, and Gaon’s body rested gently on the ground. Seo-yeon’s hands trembled as she knelt beside her empress, brushing strands of hair from Gaon’s face, hoping against hope that she would wake up, that this wasn’t real. But deep down, she knew. Gaon’s body was cold, lifeless for now, and the battle ahead was one they had to face without her.
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"I will protect you, Empress," Seo-yeon whispered under her breath, her voice thick with emotion. "I swear I will."
As she gazed at Gaon’s still form, a fierce resolve grew within her. She had come to admire Gaon’s strength, but now, it was her turn to protect. She would not let the city fall, and she would not let the monster win. Not while Gaon was still with them, even if it was only in spirit for now. They would stand strong for her, for the empress who had given them everything.
