I alone am the Honoured One!

As Makena stood in the aftermath of the battle, she looked at the corpses around her... they were the bodies of every innocent life she had unwittingly taken.

Her father's voice echoed through her mind, reminding her of her "duty" to the clan, but each of his words felt like another rope tightening around her throat.

She felt suffocated, as her identity was swallowed by a role she had never chosen.

The evil sect, watching from the shadows, sent their acolytes to gather the crimson essences left from the scorched corpses.

They didn't see Makena as the prodigy she was raised to be but as a resource, a well of unending power they could drain.

The High Priest of the sect approached her, a grotesque figure dressed in dark robes.

His skeletal hand reached out, touching her shoulder with a mockery of kindness.

His touch was ice against her skin, chilling her to the bone, yet she couldn't move, bound by the potion that eroded her will.

"Your flames are extraordinary, child," he muttered.

"A gift so rare... but I see your sorrow, your longing for freedom. Perhaps... you have grown tired of the Hafsatu family."

"Come to us willingly, and we can grant you purpose beyond the cage they've trapped you in. Serve us, and your pain will be... transformed."

Makena's heart wavered, a flicker of desperation surfacing in her gaze, but she knew that any deal with the evil sect would lead to a fate far worse than the life she already endured.

Still, her soul was so tattered, and the hope of freedom... was tantalizing.

As she stood paralyzed, her father's figure appeared on a distant hill.

His silhouette was framed by the moon, a shadow watching her, ensuring she fulfilled her purpose.

His gaze was cold and empty of the love she had once dreamed a father should have.

The High Priest's voice whispered once more in her ear. "There is another way, if you so wish it. We have powers that can... ease your suffering. All it will cost you is one small favor."

Makena's heart scorched, her hatred flaring briefly within her hollow soul.

She knew they wanted to drain her power, but in that fleeting moment, the idea of escape... burned within her.

"What favor?" she asked, her voice barely more than a breath, her gaze dropping to the blood-soaked earth.

The High Priest's grin widened, his teeth flashing like daggers. "Your father. The man who shackled you to this life. His death would free you from this path... allow you to join us without his interference."

"You could be so much more, child. We would teach you the true secrets of your flame, beyond even what the Hafsatu clan dreams of."

...

*thirssh* The flames flickered under the moonlight, casting a dim glow over Makena Hafsatu's lifeless eyes as she stood amidst the chaos her sister had unleashed.

Her home, the Hafsatu estate, one of the four powerful duke clans within the kingdom of Tapiwa, was now little more than a ruin of burning corpses and shattered walls.

She had known something was off the moment her younger sister, Zara, had gone silent for days.

Zara Hafsatu, the beloved jewel of the family, had played her role well; gentle and obedient girl loyal to the Hafsatsu family.

No one had suspected that beneath her demure exterior lay a bitter resentment, a resentment strong enough to consort with the Thando clan and betray her own blood to escape the very fate Makena herself had been condemned to.

Zara also learned about the blood ritual within the clan and her sister's torment... so she decided to betray her family to escape that fate.

In the ruined wreckage, Makena's gaze flickered to Zara's body which was torn apart into shreds and her head is lying on the ground with lifeless eyes along with other corpses.

Even though she helped the Thando clan, in the end, she got struck between things and got killed.

Now in the ruined battlefield, both Thando clan and Hafsatu clan members' bodies are there... both clans destroyed in one night, fighting against each other.

*trek* *baam* Hearing some noises of crunching stones from behind, she turned her gaze and saw a figure emerging from the broken wreckages.

The man has lost his one eye as blood is seeping down his face and he also lost one of his hands... and yet, even in his state, he retained that familiar, cold arrogance.

The man's eyes turned to look at a man's dead body on the ground and a mocking grin twisted on his lips as he crushed his boot down on the man's face, grinding the heel into the flesh with a cruel satisfaction.

"Duke of Thando family.... is dead. Haa... even though our clan and the evil sect is almost destroyed. We killed the Duke."

Then the man's gaze flickered to Makena, who was also bleeding with scars and bruises all over her face.

"Makena... quickly give me a healing pill. I lost my spatial ring in the battle."

Hearing her father's command, Makena stood there still, her eyes devoid of any emotions.

He took a step closer, his one good eye narrowing as saw that she is silent. Stay tuned with mvl

The Duke's face contorted with irritation, as he took another step, his voice rising, "Are you deaf, girl? I told you to give me a pill. Now!"

"Curse you, Duke Hafsatu..."

From the shattered walls, some men came there and the High Preist was among them, limping his way towards them with a broken staff in his hand.

"Urrrghhh, We lost almost all of our men, Duke Hafsatu. Your family is ruined, and our sect lies in shambles. We sacrificed so much for this alliance... How are you going to compensate for all of this?"

Duke Hafsatu clutching the blood on his left hand, forced his breath to speak "M-Makena.. you can have her."

The High priest clicked his tongue; he thought that after killing the Duke with Makena, he can plunder the clan's resources.. but now they were all destroyed.

Well, whatever, as long as he gets Makena Hafsatu.

Makena's eyes glistened in disgust looking at the two men bargaining her as if she were some product.

But again, thinking about it...

"Haa..."

For the first time, Makena's lips parted, and a hollow, humorless smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"Hahaha..."

----------------------------------------------------

I hope you guys liked this chapter!