Chapter 2

Rein's face twisted with conflict at the demand.

Lila sobbed and said, "Elaya, why did you lie and say my mentor was gravely wounded? I rushed here because of you. If it weren't for you, Mentor Rein and Mentor Calder wouldn't be suffering like this."

Rein stared at me in disbelief. "It was you? You lured Lila here? Do you despise her so much that you'd send her to her death?"

The words had hurt me over and over again, but their baseless accusations still cut deep.

"We've been at war for three days and nights, fighting for our lives. How could we possibly have time to trick her into coming?"

My feeble attempt at an explanation was met with Rein's skeptical eyes. It was clear he was not buying it.

I let out a weary chuckle, shaking my head. "Yeah, right. Like you'd ever believe me."

Calder gave a derisive snort and turned to my sister. "Everyone knows you two are always up to some drama. Serena, are you in on this, too? If you've messed with Lila, I swear I'll leave you."

"Do what you want." Serena's icy reply sent a shiver down Calder's spine.

"You..."

He was cut off mid-sentence by one of the Demons' top brass.

"I need that lotus tattoo now! Or else..."

Lila went ghostly pale. "Mentor Rein...."

With just a faint call from her, Rein was at my side in a flash, pulling at my clothes. "Hang in there. She's all I have left from a dear friend. I can't stand by and watch her die. Plus, this mess? It's on you."

He did not wait for my answer before he made his move.

"Rein! Are you out of your mind? She's your wife!"

"Stop! For the love of God, stop!"

Serena's screams were desperate, but she was powerless to stop him.

Pain wracked my body, and through clenched teeth, I said, "Is this really about your friend, or is it about something else?"

Rein could not meet my gaze, his hands moving faster.

The Demons' commander watched, his laughter booming with satisfaction.

"They say Serena's got a Life Core that can boost someone's power. God of Fire..."

Calder did not get a word in before my sister blurted out, "I'll give it to you. Anything you want! Just get Rein to back off!"

"That's not how it works. You Celestials are always preaching about fate. Well, today's her day of destiny."

Calder moved close to Serena and began to drain her Life Core. "You crossed a line. Take this as a warning," he told her, his voice icy.

Moments later, the Demons' commander was all smiles, a lotus that transformed from my tattoo in one hand and a glowing Life Core in the other, clearly pleased with himself.

"You five are quite the spectacle, unlike anything I've ever come across.

"How about a choice? Who gets to live and who dies?"

His words cast a shadow over everyone's faces, turning them a shade grimmer.

The elder could no longer hold back and pleaded with urgency.

"Please, no! If the Twin Flowers of Chaos perish, it'll unleash chaos itself! You must consider the fate of the entire world."

The World Tree in the Sacred Mountain, with its twin blossoms joined together, held the power to obliterate all life and plunge the world into chaos.

Yet without the World Tree, life itself would wither and die.

That was the paradox. They dreaded our power, yet they couldn't survive without it.

As Rein wrestled with the decision, I locked eyes with the Demons' commander and rasped, "They've made their choice. Don't you see it?

"A million tries would yield the same outcome.

"The Dark Lord and the Demon King want us sisters as their sacrificial vessels. We'll go with you."

Serena chimed in, "Yes, we're ready."

Rein panicked. "Elaya, how could you stoop so low and willingly offer yourselves as sacrificial vessels to the dark forces?

"Have you both lost your minds?"

Their concern was short-lived, silenced by Lila's sobs.

"Mentor Rein...it was my fault for getting caught. You're trapped because of me. I should bear the guilt."

She was ready to end her life right there.