Redrick was now thinking, but unlike before, he seemed unable to find the words Esther was desperately waiting for.The room remained strangely still around them.Esther now sat on the edge of the bed, watching him carefully. Her mind was filled with questions, but one question stood above all the others.How could they make the illusion become real?That was their only chance.The river was still draining their energy. Every moment they remained trapped inside the illusion brought them closer to death. If they failed to find a way out soon, there would be nothing left for them to save.Esther had asked Redrick repeatedly for the next course of action, but he had refused to answer.Instead, Redrick paced across the room. Back and forth... His expression remained serious, his eyes lowered as though he was fighting with himself over whether he should reveal what he had been thinking.Esther watched him for several moments before finally speaking again. She said, “Redrick, please. You hav

Redrick told Marcelos everything that had happened to Esther.He explained how Esther had become trapped by the river, how the river was slowly draining her powers and using them for itself, and how Esther's life was gradually being consumed in the process. He also explained what he wanted Marcelos to do and why Marcelos was the one person who could help them free Esther.For a moment, Marcelos simply stared at him.Then he smiled... It was not a smile of sympathy or concern. There was something almost amusing about the situation to him, as though Redrick had just presented him with an opportunity he could not believe had fallen into his hands.Marcelos could hardly comprehend what had made Redrick and Esther come to him of all people.Redrick noticed the smile immediately. He studied Marcelos carefully, wondering what could possibly be going through his mind.Marcelos eventually broke the silence. He said, “I don’t know what you and Esther were thinking before you decided to come to

The Nylins are creatures that have the body of a tiger, but they are much bigger than the size of an ordinary tiger. Their bodies are powerful and heavily built for combat, with long, built-up necks, wings, and five long tails extending behind them. Their claws are longer and more dangerous than those of ordinary beasts, while their fangs are so large that they can never be completely concealed inside their mouths. The Nylins are creatures that are faster on the ground than in the air, and despite having wings, their wings are not meant for flying.Instead, the Nylins use their wings as weapons and shields. They can spread their wings to protect their bodies from attacks, using them to block incoming blows and defend themselves during battle. At the same time, the edges of their wings are covered with pointy, sharp-edged scales, allowing them to use their wings offensively. A Nylin can swing its wing with enough force to slash an opponent, turning what would normally be considered

Marcelos remained alone for several minutes, consumed by sadness and sorrow. He did not move. He simply stayed there on his knees, his head lowered as the weight of Esther's death settled heavily over him. Everything around him seemed strangely quiet despite the presence of the river soldiers and the fake Redrick.For a moment, Marcelos looked completely defeated. Then, slowly, he pushed himself up onto his feet. His expression changed. The sadness remained, but beneath it was something darker... Anger.Marcelos tightened his grip around the swords in his hands and began walking toward the fake Redrick, who was still laughing happily.The fake Redrick looked completely satisfied with himself. He had won. Or at least, he believed he had.Marcelos continued approaching him without saying a word.The fake Redrick noticed him but did not stop laughing.Marcelos raised both swords. He was about to drive them into the fake Redrick's body when suddenly— Everything disappeared.Marcelos found

The fake Redrick remained levitating near the cracked wall where the river was present. His eyes lowered toward the ice sword buried deep inside his heart.He stared at it, fully aware of what its presence meant. He had been gravely injured. Perhaps fatally... It was the only sword capable of killing him, and it had been driven directly into his heart.Then he felt something else.... Cold. Not the cold of the air around him, but something far worse. The freezing sensation had begun deep inside his body, spreading outward from the place where the sword had pierced him. His very existence seemed to be freezing from within. He was dying.---The moment the ice sword had entered his heart, the river soldiers suddenly stopped fighting Marcelos.Their movements ceased. One after another, they staggered before dropping to their knees, their bodies trembling in pain. Whatever their master was feeling, they felt it too. The wound inflicted upon the fake Redrick had reached them through their