crown of self-interest

As Raelan traveled deeper into the lands once inhabited by the Abyssalwalkers, the memories of his past crimes surged, relentless and unforgiving. The barren landscape stretched before him, marked by charred remnants and crumbled stone, each ruin a silent accusation. This place had once thrived with life, a civilization of powerful, mysterious beings. Now it lay hollow, its emptiness echoing with the silent screams of lives he had extinguished in pursuit of power. Even in the air, he could feel the heavy residue of his actions, like smoke that clung to his skin, refusing to let him forget.

Though Raelan’s form had changed, his soul knew these lands with a terrible intimacy. He forced himself forward, pushing through the growing tension in his chest. He was here as a new person, one committed to peace and protection. Yet, with each step, he remembered being Zaros, felt the ruthless focus that had once driven him to eliminate the Abyssalwalkers without remorse.

After hours of walking, he found himself at the edge of a grand, decaying city—what had once been the heart of Abyssalwalker culture. It was eerily silent, the crumbled towers and ghostly remnants standing as twisted monuments to his old self’s cruelty. Here, he could almost hear the memories, distant whispers reminding him of the fear he had instilled.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to confront his past without flinching. “I am not that man anymore,” he murmured to himself, though his words felt hollow against the oppressive silence.

Yet, as he stepped through the ruins, something strange caught his attention—a faint, nearly imperceptible presence. Raelan’s heart skipped. Could there truly be a survivor?

He approached cautiously, finally seeing her—a small figure, a young girl, barely clinging to life, huddled against a wall. She was thin and covered in dirt, her face streaked with dried tears, her clothes little more than rags. Her eyes, wide and filled with terror, met his own, and in that moment, Raelan saw her horror twist into pure, paralyzing fear.

“No…” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she clutched her knees. “No… you’re one of them.”

Raelan knelt, keeping his voice as soft as possible, trying to erase the terror that had rooted itself in her mind. “No,” he said, “I’m here to help. You don’t need to be afraid. I’ve come to take you somewhere safe.”

But the girl only trembled harder, pressing herself against the wall as if it could swallow her whole. Her voice quivered, her face twisted in agony as she whispered, “You destroyed… everything… they said no one would come back… they said no one was left to help.” Her voice broke as her eyes filled with tears. “And now you’ve come to finish what you started.”

Raelan’s heart twisted, every word cutting deeper than any wound could. He understood. She saw in him the one who had taken everything from her people. Even if his form was different, she could sense something, the lingering trace of Zaros that would forever bind him to his past.

“I swear to you, I’m not here to hurt you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I was part of what happened to your people… but I’m not that person anymore. I want to protect you.”

The girl’s sobs filled the air, raw and unrestrained, as though they’d been held back for too long. Her tiny frame shook with the weight of her grief, of all the loved ones she’d lost, the horrors she’d endured. And Raelan found himself at a loss, unsure if there was anything he could say to ease her pain.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I know it doesn’t change what happened. But I swear to you, no one will hurt you again.”

She looked up at him, eyes wide and glistening, still filled with a deep distrust but also a glimmer of desperate hope. Raelan reached out, his hand hovering in the air as he cast a soft light spell around them, bathing her in a warm, gentle glow. “This is light magic,” he said. “It’s meant to heal, to comfort. Please… let me help you.”

For a moment, she was still, watching him with guarded eyes. But slowly, she reached out, her small fingers brushing against the light, and in that simple touch, a fragile trust began to form. She looked up, voice barely above a whisper. “My name is Alyssa.”

Raelan felt an unexpected warmth in his chest. “Alyssa,” he repeated softly, committing her name to memory. “I’m Raelan.”

---

As they walked together through the ruins, Alyssa clung to him, still trembling but no longer recoiling. The dark history of this place weighed heavily upon him, memories of countless souls he had extinguished in his past life as Zaros, flashing before his eyes. Every corner held a shadow of those moments, the whispered pleas, the expressions of horror frozen in time. Each face was a reminder of his sins, their voices an unending chorus of sorrow and loss.

They reached a large, open area, a place where Raelan’s memories of destruction were strongest. Here, he had once stood, surveying the devastation he had wrought with cold satisfaction. Now, he could barely stand to look at it, and the weight of his actions pressed down on him like an unbreakable chain.

As they crossed the barren ground, Raelan noticed the faint, spectral figures that began to gather around them—the spirits of the Abyssalwalkers who had perished here, their forms flickering like ghostly embers in the fading light. They were watching him, their faces twisted in expressions of anger, sorrow, and pain. Raelan’s chest tightened. He could feel their lingering resentment, their unresolved grief, and he knew he was the cause.

With a heavy heart, he addressed the spirits, his voice filled with remorse. “I know I took everything from you. I don’t deserve forgiveness, and I’m not asking for it. But I swear to you now, I will protect your last heir. I will make sure your legacy isn’t lost.”

The spirits seemed to waver, their expressions softening as they listened. Raelan raised his hand, casting a gentle light that enveloped the spirits, its warmth washing over them like a comforting embrace. “I release you from this place,” he said, his voice steady and filled with conviction. “Your suffering ends here. Go in peace, knowing your legacy lives on in Alyssa.”

Alyssa watched in awe as the spirits began to fade, their expressions softening as they drifted into the light. Among them, she saw the ghostly form of a woman—a figure with gentle eyes and a soft smile. Alyssa’s eyes filled with tears as she recognized her mother.

“Mama…” she whispered, reaching out a trembling hand.

Her mother’s spirit smiled, touching Alyssa’s cheek in a final, loving gesture. “Goodbye, my sweet girl,” she murmured, her voice filled with love and sadness. “Be strong. You carry the strength of our people within you.”

Alyssa choked back a sob, her hand lingering in the empty air as her mother’s spirit faded into the light. Raelan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his heart aching for the young girl who had lost everything.

As the last of the spirits disappeared, Raelan looked out over the empty ruins, a sense of peace settling over him. He knew he could never fully atone for his past, but here, in this moment, he had taken a small step toward redemption.

Turning to Alyssa, he spoke softly. “You’re not alone anymore. I’ll protect you, and I’ll make sure the world remembers your people.”

Alyssa looked up at him, her eyes filled with both sorrow and a fragile hope. For the first time, she offered him a small, tentative smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.

Raelan gave her a gentle nod, his resolve strengthened. Together, they left the ruins, the weight of the past lifted, if only slightly, by the promise of a new beginning.