Helibor's Farewell
Helibor, having made his decisive announcement to go to Vanya, turned to leave the hall. Yet, despite his powerful voice that moments earlier filled the space, he couldn't hide his inner turmoil. A few steps away, Hyacinth stood firm, her eyes armed with a rare boldness, but behind that courage lay a profound love that almost drowned her.
"Helibor," she called out in a calm yet piercing voice, as if she knew the mere mention of his name was enough to stop him.
He paused, then slowly turned to face her. There was a dignified stillness in her manner, as though she carried the weight of the entire world on her shoulders. She advanced towards him with confident steps, and when she stood directly before him, her eyes, ablaze with both love and fear, didn't waver.
"Tell me, is this the Helibor I know? The man who always planned, who thought before taking any step? Now, you leave suddenly without thinking of those you'll leave behind?"
He felt a pressure on his heart, something in her words that wasn't merely a reproach. Her love for him was clear, yet it was wrapped in strength, like fragile glass protecting a precious pearl.
She took another step closer, the distance between them no longer enough to hold even air. "You can't just leave like this and abandon me here. You can't expect me to be strong forever." Her words were sincere, her lips trembling slightly, but she didn't avert her gaze from his.
He slowly raised his hand, as if it were heavier than it should be, to touch her cheek. It was warm, but it trembled lightly, as if she were trying to hold herself together despite everything. "I'm not the man you knew, Hyacinth..." he said in a low voice, his eyes deepening into her features, as if searching for something lost.
"But I know you, Helibor. I know your heart." She whispered, placing her hand over his that touched her face, pressing gently as if afraid to lose him. "I've always loved you, and I always will... but don't let me see that love fade because you decided to be..."
He moved closer, until she felt his warm breath on her face. He said nothing, just looked deeply into her eyes, as if rediscovering everything he loved about her. Slowly, he gently lifted her face between his hands, his fingers stroking her cheeks softly as if she were an invaluable treasure.
He leaned in slowly, as if time had stopped around them, then planted a deep kiss on her lips, a kiss filled with love and longing, as if it were a silent promise that they would never be separated. Hyacinth felt the warmth of his body and his closeness, and she responded to the kiss, her other hand gripping his coat as if she wanted to hold him in place, to prevent him from leaving.
When they parted, their eyes remained connected. Helibor's eyes held a mix of regret and love, while Hyacinth's eyes reflected strength and a desire for him to stay by her side.
"Hyacinth..." he said in a deep, broken voice, but before he could finish, she interrupted him with a quiet whisper:
"Go. Do what you must do. But please... come back to me. Come back as you are, the man I loved."
He squeezed her hand for a moment, as if wanting to take her strength with him. "I will come back, and I promise I won't leave you again."
He walked towards the door, but even as he moved away, her image remained etched in his mind, her strength and love an unextinguishable flame, driving him forward, not just to save Adonis, but to save himself.
Adonis Confronts the Imperial Soldiers
At that moment, the group leader dismounted his horse. He wore heavy armor that reflected the torchlight, and his face bore the scars of previous battles. With confident strides, he approached Adonis, his voice echoing from the depths of hatred: "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Adonis fixed his gaze on him and replied firmly: "Is it truly an order from the Emperor?"
The leader laughed scornfully and said: "Yes, it is."
Adonis took a step forward, his hand clenched on his bow, but his eyes watched every movement around him. He said in a low voice, yet carrying an undeniable power: "The Emperor does not order the killing of his people. You lie."
Tension flared between the two sides, and soldiers began to surround Adonis from all directions. He realized the confrontation was not in his favor, but he did not retreat. He raised his head and said firmly to the crowd behind him: "We will fight for Vanya. This is a promise."
The Empress's Treachery
In the dark palace, the Empress sat alone in her luxurious chambers, her voice resonating in the silence as if she were speaking to shadows:
"Adonis has killed many of my soldiers, but do not worry... he will not escape. Even the Emperor himself will not believe him if he returns alive. All it takes is a small wound, and the situation will take care of itself."
She called one of her servants in a calm but firm voice:
"Send him a message saying the Emperor requests him to clean up the source of the plague in Vanya. It's only a matter of time."
"Your command, my lady."
The Empress smiled wickedly as she murmured:
"Poisoning the Vanya River took a lot of time, but it was worth all the gold and money. And I will eliminate Adonis with one blow. Even if he returns, no one will believe him... As for the Emperor, he has become a toy in my hands."
The Truth Unveiled
Elsewhere, Adonis stood in the middle of the burning village square, a crowd of villagers around him. Screams of fear and the clash of swords filled the air. Despite his wounds and the symptoms of shock that weighed down his body, he raised his head and gathered his strength.
His voice rang out amidst the chaos:
"Stop now! I will not allow any more destruction."
The attacking men surged towards him, but Adonis, despite his injuries, drew his sword and began to fight. The blows were swift and decisive, his movements filled with anger mixed with sorrow. He managed to control the situation and left their leader alive.
He approached him with heavy steps, removed the mask from his face, and said in a low voice, full of gravitas:
"You know who I am, don't you?"
The man replied in a trembling voice:
"Yes... you are the Imperial Army Commander."
Adonis took another step, his eyes burning with rage:
"Who ordered you to do this? Is it the Empress?"
The man stammered, as if afraid to answer:
"She ordered us... but please, don't tell her. If she finds out, she'll kill me."
Adonis sighed deeply, his facial features transforming into a mix of anger and sadness:
"So you know the cause of the plague... Tell me the truth."
The man became flustered, his body trembling under Adonis's gaze, before he replied hesitantly:
"I... I don't know the details, but... I heard something. A laboratory near the Vanya River. They say they were working on something dangerous there."
Adonis stared at him for a moment, as if the words were sinking into his mind. He took a step back, his breath heavy, as if this information had opened a new door of suspicion.
"A laboratory? And who runs it?"
The man shook his head helplessly:
"I don't know. We only receive orders... All I know is that this place might be connected to everything that happened."
Adonis's grip tightened on his sword, his blue eyes blazing with a fury that began to boil within him. He turned to look at the villagers gathered behind him, their faces filled with fear and hope. He decided within himself that he would not let this buried truth remain unknown.