ashes

[Intro - Sound Effect Only] [SFX: Church bell tolls once, heavy and distant, echo fading through an empty hall] [SFX: Wind howling through ruins, a crow calling in the distance] [Part 1 - Monologue: Among the Ashes] (Flow: extremely slow, voice low and hoarse, like talking to oneself in an empty hall) They say I won. But I have nothing left. When I drove the sword into the last chest I didn’t hear cheers—only silence That cold that seeps into the marrow Deeper than any abyss, sharper than any betrayal When Marcus fell, his eyes still looked at me No hatred in them, just something I couldn’t read—until later I understood It was disappointment The trust I killed with my own hand, blinking its last Lena’s dagger slipped from her hand She didn’t dodge. She just said: “I know.” Know what? That I would come? Or that she deserved it? [SFX: Bell tolls once, slow] [Part 2 - Memory: The Hands That Were] (Flow: steady, weary, narrative) I once grabbed Marcus’s hand at the pyre The hand burned my flesh, but I didn’t let go He said: “Are you insane?” I said: “We made a promise.” Later, that same hand held a torch outside my door His head was bowed, he couldn’t look at me “They offered too much,” he said “You understand.” I understood. I understood everything. But I still had to cut that hand off myself. Not hatred. A vow. Darius knelt before the temple, not praying He said: “I don’t believe in gods anymore, but I believe in you.” He blocked the killing blow with his shield Blood splashed across my face, warm. Later, his shield pinned my chest They used his holy light to nail my wings He stood among the crowd, eyes closed Muttering the prayer he taught me long ago “Let justice be as light.” [SFX: Strings low, mournful] [Part 3 - The World: What They Call Me] (Flow: slightly faster, bitter, tired) What do they call me now? Butcher? Tyrant? Or that— “Monster worse than the demon king”? The children sing new songs now, in taverns About a bloodthirsty madman who killed all the heroes But I didn’t kill heroes. I killed traitors. But they don’t care. They only see the blood. They buried Marcus in the temple cemetery Raised a stone, carved: “The loyal mage, who gave his life for the kingdom” They forgot he was almost burned at the stake I saved him. All they remember is the trial where I executed him I stood outside the cemetery, beyond the iron gate No flowers in my hand, only a sword The words on the stone glowed white in moonlight Like the edge of Lena’s blade, back when she sharpened it [SFX: Brass low, like a dirge] [Part 4 - Loneliness: What’s Left] (Flow: slow, every word heavy) What’s left? A dull sword, a body covered in old scars A name no one dares to speak anymore And hands covered in blood—blood that won’t wash away I tried rainwater, river water cold as ice The scabs peeled off, new skin grew beneath But when I close my eyes, I still see that face Still hear: “I know.” Someone asked me if I regret it. I regret it. Not that I killed them I regret that—when I saved them I didn’t see the seeds of betrayal already planted in their eyes I regret giving my life to people Who couldn’t even recognize their own vows [SFX: Bell tolls twice, rapid, like a heartbeat] [Part 5 - Monologue: The Weight of Justice] (Flow: returns to extremely slow, voice calm, devoid of emotion) They say justice is light. But light is so cold. It gives no warmth, only shadows Shadows trailing behind, a black river In that river float the faces of everyone I ever knew I walk down empty streets Everyone watches from behind windows Through boards, through bolts, through fear I hear mothers telling children: “Don’t look.” They fear me. Like they once feared the demon king. But I defeated the demon king. What I got in return was the throne of another monster. [SFX: Strings swell, then stop abruptly] [Outro - Spoken: Embers] (Spoken, hoarse, slow) They asked me if it was worth it. I said yes. Because the traitors are dead. The vows are cleared. But is the world better? I don’t know. All I know is, justice cost me everything. And I have nothing left to pay. [SFX: Church bell tolls once, sustained, fading into silence] [SFX: Wind, footsteps fading, a single figure walking away, never looking back] [End]