"EYAN!" Eva's scream split the heaven, jagged and broken, the sound of a soul being torn apart.
She thrashed against Luca's grip, her nails clawing at his hand. "Let me go! LET ME GO!"
The moment Luca's strength faltered, her body wrenched free. She stumbled forward, almost collapsing as her feet dragged through the dirt, before falling onto her knees beside Eyan's still body.
Her hands trembled violently as she gathered him into her arms, his warmth already slipping away, his blood staining her gown and soaking her trembling fingers.
"No…" She pressed her ear to his chest, her hair sticking to his blood. The silence on the other side crushed her, more brutal than any sword. "No, no, no—Eyan, say something. Please… say something!"
Her sobs convulsed through her body as she shook him, desperate. "Say my name. Please, just once more. Please…"
Her tears poured down onto his face, tracing the stillness of his closed eyes. Her voice cracked into a thousand shards.
"Don't leave me… don't leave me alone. You promised! You promised you'd come back!"
Her cry tore out, raw and guttural, as she clutched him tighter, rocking him in her lap as if she could wake him. "Why do you always lie to me?!"
The weight of despair crushed her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her sobs broke into trembling whispers. "Please… please come back. I can't live without you. I can't…"
Her shaking hand grabbed his lifeless one and pulled it against her stomach, holding it there with desperation, as if forcing him to feel what he was leaving behind.
"If not for me, then for our child!" Her voice shattered. "You said you love our child… our baby needs you. Our child needs their father's love!"
She broke down completely, her cries no longer words but raw agony. Her fingers tightened in his shirt, her body trembling so violently it looked as though she might rip herself apart.
"Please don't go… please…" Her voice withered into silence, her throat raw, before a final piercing scream tore out, shaking the air.
Her world blackened as her body gave way. She collapsed across his chest, unconscious, her tears soaking into his blood.
Luca stumbled forward, his knees hitting the ground hard. His voice cracked as tears poured freely, his hands trembling as he reached for her.
"Eyan…" His chest heaved, his guilt suffocating him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything… I'm sorry!" His sobs wracked his frame, his voice breaking apart. "Forgive me…"
He gathered Eva's limp form in his arms, shaking her lightly. "Sister-in-law, open your eyes."
Luca cried, shaking Eva gently. "Sister-in-law, open your eyes… please!"
But she remained unconscious, her body limp in his arms.
Suddenly, a voice, desperate yet familiar, echoed in her mind:
"Eva… Eva… Eva, wake up!"
Her eyelids fluttered open, and there he was—Leo, standing beside her, tears streaking his face as he shook her gently.
"Eva… wake up!"
Eva blinked, her vision clearing. "Leo?" Her voice trembled.
She threw herself into his arms, crying uncontrollably. "Leo…"
Leo hugged her tightly, his own tears wetting her hair. "Eva, don't cry. Don't cry."
Eva's sobs only grew louder, her hands gripping his shoulders. "Leo… what do I do now? He left me alone… he left me…"
Her voice cracked as she remembered the warning. "You told me… not to leave, and to look at him. I did… I looked at him!"
Her tears fell harder. "But I… I couldn't do anything. I couldn't save him… he left me!"
Leo's face was streaked with tears, but his voice was steady, firm, and commanding: "Eva… it's not the end. There is still a way. You can save him."
Her hands trembled against his chest. "What did you say?"
"Yes, Eva. You can still save your husband."
Her voice broke. "Leo… tell me what I have to do. I'll do anything… anything to save him… just tell me."
"You have to make a wish," Leo said softly, his voice steady but desperate.
Eva blinked. "A wish?"
"Yes. A wish," Leo said, his voice calm, yet heavy with urgency.
"Eva… do you know what the Dragon King, Zeradros, can do?"
Eva shook her head, tears falling freely. "No…"
"He can make any wish come true."
Her voice cracked with disbelief. "He… he can?"
"Yes," Leo whispered, his hands trembling as he held her shoulders. "But in return… you must offer a sacrifice."
Eva's eyes widened, panic flaring. "A sacrifice?"
Leo's gaze was unwavering. "Yes. To save him… to save your husband, you have to sacrifice yourself."
Her hand went instinctively to her belly, trembling. "But… if I sacrifice myself… my child… my child will die too. I… I can't… Eyan will never forgive me… he told me to take care of our child… no… no!"
Leo's voice hardened, yet it shook with emotion. "Eva… you have to do it. There is no other way."
"No… I can't… I won't…"
"You have to," he said firmly.
Eva's hands shook as she pressed them to her belly. "How… how can you tell me to kill my own child?"
Leo's eyes blazed with anger, his voice cracking like thunder.
"Mother!"
Eva froze, heart skipping a beat. "Mother?"
"Mother… please, listen to me!" Leo shouted, tears streaking his face. "Do you want to repeat the same mistake again?"
Eva's brows furrowed in confusion. "What… what do you mean, Leo?"
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he fell to his knees in front of her. "Mother… please, I beg you… don't make the same mistake again!"
"You can't live without Father," he said, his voice breaking, desperate. "So please, Mother… don't choose me. Choose Father this time."
Her eyes widened, shock rooting her in place. "Father?"
"Leo… you are—" she began, her lips trembling.
"Yes, Mother," he said firmly. "I am your child… and your husband is my father."
Eva's hands flew to his face, trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Leo… you are… our child?"
"Yes," he whispered, his voice steady despite the tears.
"But… how is that even possible?" Eva stammered. "You're not even born yet… so how?"
Leo gave a small, sad smile. "Mother… I know you have so many questions. I will answer every single one of them… but not now. Right now… you have to save Father first."
Eva shook her head, panic rising. "But—"
"Mother," Leo said softly, yet with a firmness that silenced her doubts, "I know you are afraid… but trust my words. Do as I say."
He stepped closer, eyes locking with hers. "After this dream ends, you will have to make two wishes."
"I'll… I'll get two wishes?" Eva whispered, trembling.
"Yes," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "Two wishes… one for sacrificing your life… and one for sacrificing your child's."
Eva's hands went to her belly again, voice breaking. "But… Leo… it's too cruel. How can I sacrifice you?"
"I know, Mother," he said, tears spilling freely. "I know it's cruel… but it's the only way. I've tried countless times… this is the last chance we have."
"You will do it, right, Mother?"
Eva's mind raced, heart pounding. She swallowed hard, clutching her belly. "If I… if I do as you say…" Her voice trembled, choking on her own tears. "Will you… will you come back to me again?"
"Yes," Leo cried, his hands covering hers. "I will come back."
"You're… you're not lying… like your father, are you?" Her voice quivered, barely audible.
"No, Mother… I am not lying. I will come back to you."
Tears fell freely from Eva's eyes. "You… you promise?"
"yes mother," Leo said, voice breaking with emotion. "I promise."
Eva closed her eyes for a heartbeat, the weight of the revelation and the choice pressing down on her. Then, trembling, she whispered, "Okay… then I'll do as you say."
Leo nodded, a small smile breaking through his tears. "Okay… now I'll tell you exactly what the two wishes are. Listen carefully, Mother… this is our only chance."