Chapter: The Ashes of Purification – The End of Vennette (Part 3)
Vennette's body of light had disintegrated, but her essence—her heart—still remained, encased in a dome of light at the center of the heavens. As Kael approached step by step, the stars fell silent. Even the sky seemed to be holding its breath.
Inside the dome stood a being still shaped like a human—half light, half silhouette. Her eyes were closed, her head bowed. This was Vennette's heart. The deepest, most vulnerable form of her soul. And Kael carried his sword on his back—but he hadn't drawn it.
"This is it?" he whispered.
"Was this all purification ever was?"
The dome cracked. Vennette's eyes slowly opened.
"You… don't want to be purified, Kael," she said.
"You want to burn."
Kael stopped. Silence fell. Vennette continued:
"You lost your daughter, your wife, your people. But more than anything, you buried yourself. I have no purification left to offer you. But… I can give you a truth."
Kael's eyes narrowed. Light surrounded them once more—and suddenly, Kael found himself in a memory: a day spent with his family. Elira was laughing. Mara was holding him. The breeze of spring danced around them.
But Kael couldn't move. This wasn't an illusion. It was Vennette's final power: The Eternity of Memory.
A last glimpse for the dead.
"This is your final memory," Vennette said softly.
"Beyond this, there is only darkness."
Kael's eyes welled up, but no tears fell. Because he had forgotten even how to cry.
And in that moment, he drew his sword.
He walked toward the dome of light, his steps echoing. With every step, a star went out. He stepped inside and stood before Vennette's heart.
"I chose to burn," he said quietly.
"Because even in my ashes, there is enough hatred to demand reckoning."
And he brought down his sword, glowing with stardust.
Vennette's heart shattered.
The sky wept. Heaven lost its light for a moment. And Kael absorbed the last of Vennette's power completely. He now possessed the ability to fight with light itself, to shatter time. But this power did not heal him—it only made him more dangerous.
Now, only one Apocalyptic Twin remained.
But Kael still had no idea who it was.