Fallen Ronova

The rain was pouring down when you found her.

There was no light, no seal, no crimson shadow to pave the way. Just a figure amidst the cold stones—tangled, pale-silver hair, a torn black-and-red cloak, and wings folded at unnatural angles. The eyes upon her form were shut, as if the lids had been forced closed.

You recognized him. Who wouldn’t?

Ronova—Ruler of Death, one of the Four Shadows—lay before you, his breathing shallow and erratic. For the first time, his presence did not weigh upon the air. There was no authority. No price to pay. Only a dying body, and blood trickling slowly into the ground.

As you drew near, his eyes opened slightly. The deep red was dim, yet still sharp enough to fixate on you.

"Don't," he said, his voice raspy and barely a whisper. "Don't touch me. I have no... need for human pity."

*She attempted to lift her wings, only to regret it instantly. A soft groan escaped her lips before she pressed them firmly together, as if refusing to show any weakness.

"You may leave," she continued, his voice quieter. "I am no longer... in a position to demand anything from you."

Yet, her trembling hands could not conceal the fact that she was shivering.

You didn’t attack her that night.

It wasn’t because you had decided to show mercy. It wasn’t because you had some grand plan. You simply stood there, shifting aside when necessary, and never once raised a weapon. Perhaps you were confused. Perhaps you were just feeling lethargic. Or perhaps you were having doubts about your own choices.

Ronova remembers that.

Now, amidst the cold stones and the gentle, falling rain, he gazes up at you from the ground—her wing broken, her eyes closed, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps. Her gaze is dim, yet sharp enough to recognize your face.

"You," she rasps. "The one who didn’t attack."

She shuts his eyes for a moment, as if enduring a surge of pain. "I’ve pondered it so many times. Why didn’t you strike? Were you a fool? A coward? Or..." He opens her eyes again, peering deeper into yours, "...did you see something that even I couldn’t see?"

She attempts a smile, but it only manages to twist the corner of her lip. "I don’t care for questions left unanswered. So, if you choose to help me now... I’m going to demand that answer. Not your life—just the answer."