Chapter 151: Empire of Light before the War (3)

In the dense forest behind the royal castle of the Empire of Light, chaos reigned as smoke curled through the charred air and flames flickered menacingly. Once vibrant trees now lay blackened, reduced to brittle skeletons of ash, while the acrid stench of burning wood permeated the air like a suffocating blanket.

Amidst the devastation, a lone figure stood—her silhouette both haunting and striking against the backdrop of smoldering embers. Courtney, once just a beautiful girl, had grown into something more, something otherworldly. Her long chestnut hair, tied neatly behind her, framed her face, though the fire's glow caught the strands, making them shimmer like molten gold.

Her deep brown eyes, once warm and inviting, now held a distant, hardened look. The passage of time and the weight of grief had carved a new persona into her delicate features—one of coldness.

She had always been beautiful, but over the past months, her physical transformation had made her even more breathtaking, an ethereal embodiment of power and grace. Her once-gentle curves had sharpened into something close to perfection, the kind that left those around her in awe and intimidation alike.

The nobles of the castle whispered of her beauty, her classmates noticed the change too, but no one more so than Jason. He couldn't help but regret every moment he hadn't pursued her back on Earth. She had once been within his reach, a girl he might have won over. But now, she seemed unattainable—her heart locked away behind an icy barrier no one could penetrate.

Jason had tried to rekindle the connection they once shared, tried to regain her affection, but it was futile. The Courtney he had known was gone, replaced by someone he no longer recognized. Her laughter had vanished, her smile a distant memory. Instead, her face remained stoic, her eyes reflecting a pain that none of her classmates dared to ask about.

She spent most of her days secluded, training relentlessly in the wilderness, pushing her body to its limits. The only people she ever spoke to were Sienna, Siara, and, occasionally, Aisha. Even then, her words were few, her conversations fleeting.

Her classmates had their suspicions about what had caused the drastic change in her. It didn't take long for them to connect the dots—her descent into silence had begun after the news of Nathan's death. When she learned of his passing, her reaction had been one of raw, unguarded grief.

Tears had streamed down her face, shocking those who saw her, for Courtney had never shown such vulnerability before. In that moment, the depth of her feelings for Nathan became evident, a love far beyond what anyone had suspected. She hadn't just cared for him as a classmate; she had loved him deeply, perhaps more than was healthy.

That love had scarred her, left her hollow, and now, it was as if a piece of her had died with him. The world had lost its light, and so had she.

Courtney lifted her gaze to the smoke-filled sky, her eyes glazed with fatigue, as though the weight of her existence was pressing down on her shoulders. The flames that had once roared now crackled softly, the fire reflecting the turmoil inside her. Nine months had passed, but they had brought no relief, no solace. She had continued to exist, but nothing had given her a reason to truly live.

Her thoughts drifted briefly to her parents back on Earth. Would she ever see them again? She doubted it. The idea seemed more like a distant dream, something from a past life she barely remembered.

Courtney turned her head slightly, acknowledging Siara's concern with a small nod. "Yes. Sorry," she murmured.

Siara took a step closer, her gaze steady but filled with empathy. "Courtney, you're already strong enough. You know that, right?"

In the past months, Courtney had grown stronger—so much stronger that she had risen to the ranks of the elites, despite possessing only an A-Ranked skill. Her abilities had accelerated beyond expectation, to the point where she could easily hold her own against those with S-Ranked or higher skills.

Since that night with Nathan, it was as if her very body had undergone a transformation, propelling her strength and speed to unnatural heights. She was now clearly stronger than Siara, despite them both sharing the same rank of abilities.

But Siara wasn't envious—far from it. She was worried.

Courtney's voice was low, almost resigned. "I know... but it's not enough."

Not enough to ease the rage burning inside her. Not enough to satisfy the unrelenting thirst for vengeance that consumed her every thought. She didn't know who had taken Nathan from her, but it didn't matter. When she found them, she would be ready. She would stake everything on that one final act of revenge.

Siara's face softened into a sad expression. She could see the storm brewing within Courtney, the same storm she saw in her older sister and in Aisha. The same obsession with revenge that was slowly eating them all alive.

"And after you've taken your revenge," Siara asked, her voice barely above a whisper, "what will you do then?"

Courtney didn't answer. She stared at the ground, her lips pressed into a thin line. Because the truth was, she didn't know. She hadn't thought that far ahead. She didn't want to think that far ahead. The only thing keeping her moving, keeping her alive, was the thought of avenging Nathan.

Beyond that... there was nothing.

Siara sighed, shaking her head. "Please, rest," she urged softly.

Without waiting for a reply, Siara turned and walked away, leaving Courtney standing amidst the dying embers of the forest. She still had to check on Aisha, who was struggling even more than Courtney, and her older sister, whose obsession had become the most dangerous of all.