CHAPTER 182: MAKE THINGS RIGHT (2)

Chapter 182

In an enormous, dimly lit hall, cloaked in silence and mourning, dozens of figures dressed in black stood solemnly. The air was heavy as the High Priest recited solemn rites—words of honor, grief, and reverence for the fallen heroes. His voice echoed through the chamber, highlighting one undeniable truth: it was because of these brave souls that Serenaya still stood.

At the front of the hall were rows upon rows of transparent glass caskets, each containing the lifeless body of a warrior who had given everything. Before them stood several individuals—leaders draped in black, their auras calm yet commanding, a silent testament to their strength.

Aiden leaned closer to Ronan and whispered, "Do you think Han will come today?"

Ronan remained quiet for a few seconds, then let out a soft sigh and shook his head. "I have no idea."

The truth was, if Han was still the same man they had always known, then yes—Ronan was certain he would show up. Han had never been the type to run away from his responsibilities. But the man Ronan saw just a day ago was not the same. His hollow, lifeless eyes... they haunted him. That broken gaze made Ronan’s heart ache.

He understood the weight Han was carrying—he had been in similar situations himself. But Han’s pain was different. It wasn’t just the loss of his guild members or even the death of a close friend—it was the guilt. The crushing, suffocating guilt of knowing he had nearly killed the rest of his friends. That he had almost brought destruction upon the very city he swore to protect.

Right now, Han was likely drowning in pressure none of them could truly comprehend.

Aiden’s gaze drifted toward a woman standing near the front. She, too, was dressed in black, her face unreadable. But Aiden had no doubt—she was probably suffering more than any of them. After all, she was Ron’s wife.

"If Han doesn’t come," Aiden thought grimly, "he might earn the hatred of many more in the city. But if he does come... he might break when he sees all this sorrow with his own eyes."

He rubbed his temples. His head throbbed. Why is everything so complicated?

Just then, the massive double doors at the far end of the hall creaked open.

A single figure stepped through.

All heads turned.

The silence shifted.

Some people gasped. Some stared in disbelief. A few looked away in anger. Others softened in sorrow. Some were simply relieved. But Han... Han didn’t even glance at their faces. His mind was a storm.

He walked slowly toward the rows of glass caskets, each containing a fallen comrade. He paused at each one, bowed slightly, and murmured a phrase—his voice barely audible:

"Thank you... I’m truly grateful."

And just before he stepped away, he would add in a low voice:

"I’m sorry."

Then he would move to the next.

Although Han spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, every word echoed clearly across the silent hall. The stillness was absolute, and his sorrowful tone pierced through it like a blade. Those who had once burned with rage toward him found their anger slowly fading. No one in that room could deny it—Han’s grief ran deeper than any of theirs.

One by one, he moved through the rows of caskets, each step heavy with guilt and reverence. The number of guild members lost in the battle was staggering. Hundreds lay before him, encased in glass, silent reminders of the price paid. And these weren’t even all of them—some had been so brutally crushed during the cursed invasion that there was no body left to bury. So many lives... all gone because of those cursed monsters.

When Han finally finished paying his respects to each fallen comrade, he turned and made his way to the high altar—where the final row of caskets awaited.

His steps were slower now.

Each footfall felt as if it carried the weight of an entire world.

As he ascended the altar, a heavy pressure settled on his shoulders, almost as if the souls of the dead were watching. Clara and the others instinctively stepped aside, making space for him. He stopped at the final casket, standing beside Kate—Ron’s wife—who stood expressionless, her pain locked behind silent eyes.

Han clenched his fists.

Then he looked down... and his breath caught.

Inside the casket lay Ron—peaceful, unmoving. As if he was simply asleep. But Han knew better. The truth was unbearable.

A wave of emotion surged through him.

He tried to fight it... but it clawed its way through.

Memories flashed in his mind—memories of laughter, fights, trouble, and loyalty. Ron had been more than a friend. He had been a brother.

Han forced a trembling smile as he spoke quietly.

"You were always in such a rush, weren’t you?" he said, his voice cracked but sincere. "You never listened when I told you to slow down. Always dragging us into trouble..."

He chuckled softly, the sound bitter and aching.

"I remember when we stole the old elder’s cookies and you left me behind to take the blame," he said. "When I asked you why, you just said acting smart was more important than acting loyal... and that I should never trust you."

Han’s smile widened, pained and fond.

"But you lied, didn’t you? You always shielded my back. Always took the hit for me when it mattered most. You envied me, you said... but never once did you act on it. You were stubborn, annoying, reckless... and the most trustworthy person I’ve ever known."

His voice trembled now.

"You weren’t just a friend, Ron. You weren’t just a brother. You were a hero."

Han swallowed hard and looked down, his voice a whisper.

"You really did it. You became Serenaya’s shield... Serenaya’s hero. Right until the very end."

He lowered his head, shoulders trembling.

"I’m sorry, Ron. I shouldn’t have been so late..."

A long silence.

Then he looked up with a broken smile.

"I’ll miss you. I really will. I promise I won’t forget you. And... thank you. Truly."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steadying his emotions. The battle inside him raged on, but for now... he stood still, composed, and silent—mourning not just a friend, but a part of himself that was gone forever.

The rest of the day passed in somber silence. Prayers were offered. Graves were filled. The dead—brave guild members who had given their lives—were laid to rest one by one. As hours slipped by, the crowd slowly thinned, leaving behind only two figures at Ron’s grave:

Han.

Kate.

Kate stood still, her expression unreadable—like a statue carved from sorrow. Beside her, Han’s face was etched with pain, his eyes locked on the grave of the man he had called brother.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Then Kate finally spoke, her voice soft but sharp—cutting through the stillness like a blade.

"You know he really was a liar... right?"

Han nodded, eyes never leaving the grave.

Kate let out a bitter smile as her hand gently rubbed her belly. "He promised he’d come back... for me... and for our child," she whispered.

Han’s heart sank.

The sorrow in her voice was like a weight pressing against his chest, suffocating, relentless. He wanted to speak—but the words wouldn’t come.

Kate continued, her voice growing more fragile with each word. "He said we’d raise this child together. That he’d always be there. That everything would be okay..."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"And now he’s gone. Just like that. It’s not fair, Han... It’s not fair."

Her voice cracked as the dam finally broke. She collapsed to her knees, sobbing at the foot of Ron’s grave. The rawness of her grief was unbearable—fury and sorrow tangled into one devastating cry.

Han stood frozen, unable to look away.

Kate turned toward him, her eyes red and swollen with tears.

"You’ll make it right... won’t you?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You won’t let his death be in vain, right?"

Han didn’t respond immediately. He stared at her, at the pain in her eyes, at the grave of the man who had been like a brother to him.

Then, finally, he asked—his voice low and hollow:

"Tell me how."

Kate looked him dead in the eye.

"If you want to make things right," she said with chilling resolve, "then destroy the ones who caused this. Hunt them. Erase them. Wipe every last cursed creature from existence. Make them regret ever touching our world."

Han closed his eyes.

And nodded.

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TO BE CONTINUED...