Character: Elias Viturius

For the living, death is the only certainty on this earth. Death cannot be defeated.

Laia of Serra. A coal that can burn the Empire.

You are my temple. You are my shepherd. You are my prayer. You are my liberation.

I looked for doubt, fear, uncertainty in her eyes. But I saw only fire.

The fire that burned in her, her fervent determination, all resonated in my soul. Touched by something intimate, deeply hidden and chained, but desperate to escape.

"They always underestimate me." I underestimated her more than anyone else.

According to the legend of the Swordsmen, a soldier who dies easily dances among the stars, fighting enemies for ages. Is this waiting for me? Or will I sleep in endless darkness, unbreakable and silent?

It's not you killing me. I choose death myself. Because I'd rather die than be like you. I would rather die than live without pity, without honor, without soul.

I suddenly stopped feeling disgraced or defeated. This - this is what Cain was talking about: the freedom to go to death, knowing that it would be right. Freedom to call your soul. The freedom to retain a little bit of kindness, refusing to be like my mother and dying for something worth dying for.

More battles. More violence. All I want is to flee the Empire. And I'm still here. True freedom is freedom of body and soul. That's what I'm fighting for, I reminded myself. Not for the throne. Not for power. For freedom.

- You look... - Like the Goddess of War. Like the Genie who came to let us all kneel.

Half of them will die, their bodies will cool down, their laughter will stop. Years of torment and deprivation lie ahead. And when faced with this, they will either unquestioningly accept everything, or ask questions, or survive, or die. Whoever asks questions usually dies.