Blood in the Water (631 words) by LadyTeldra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 플레이어가 과거를 숨김 - 베데스 | The Player Hides His Past - Bethes (Webnovel)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo & Lee Hoyeol
Characters: Lee Hoyeol, Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo
Additional Tags: Implied Character Death, Sort Of, Angst, Blood, Prophet AU, Whumptober 2025, Day One, Novel Spoilers
Series: Part 1 of Whumptober 2025
Summary:
Whumptober 2025 Day One
“Please don’t cry.”
Lamb to Slaughter | Ceremony | Beg for Forgiveness
"You're not supposed to cry..."
Hoyeol sits, slumped against the crumbling wall. Blood stains his once silver robes as he keeps his arm pressed against the hole in his chest. A lost cause when there's no way to stem the blood from the other side, the remnants of the blessing no longer enough to heal his wounds.
He looks up, at the rain, at the silver eye that shines despite the clouds.
"We knew how this was going to end, Grandfell." Hoyeol smiles, content in his own way. "This time... It just wasn't enough."
He gave and he gave and he gave. And it wasn’t enough. More was always asked for. More that he tried to meet the expectations of. Expectations he fell short of.
Or perhaps it was too much.
The devastation around them certainly points to that as the more likely. Buildings, collapsed and collapsing, roads torn asunder, ice, water, fire, plants... Blood.
Blood slowly spreading across the wet ground. Blood slowly washed away only to be replaced with his own.
“I don't know if I can do this again..."
He can hear voices in the distance. Angry shouts as they search and search for him.
Hoyeol knows he's used up all his luck to make it this far. He's burnt every bridge and scorched the earth behind him. He will be found, and soon.
He doesn't have much time left. Not enough time and too much to say. Too much they refuse to say even now.
It's hard, to be hated. For those you know, those you knew, and those you loved to turn their backs on you.
To follow that path to the end, even knowing the result. Even praying for the result.
‘Even in death, even in rebirth, I will never forget this grudge.’
‘I will curse you for all eternity.’
Only to lose it again and again and again.
Lightning flashes. Illuminating his hiding spot.
Hoyeol listens to the thundering sound of footsteps drawing near. The crowd gathered by the shout.
He doesn’t bother to look. His time in this world is ending.
Even as he is, he doubts anyone left will come close before they’re sure he’s dead. Too fearful of the magic he wields. Of the words he speaks.
He had tried. Tried to play the role of Guide. Of Protector.
He has only ever told them the truth.
It is not his fault that they didn’t like what he had to say.
When it didn’t work he had tried to make himself the target. A goal to surpass to become strong enough to face what was to come.
“Maybe this will be enough.”
Hoyeol hopes it is. Hopes this will be the end. Hopes that they’ve done enough.
That this final sacrifice will be worth it.
He can hear the crowd now, closer. Angry. Yells for his death. Of their hatred and blame. Accusations of his sins.
A shadow falls over him, the light from the flames causing it to flicker and weave, the rain not nearly enough to drown it out.
【In the Land of Anomaly, Seoul, “Grandfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo” has appeared.】
【※ Warning: The appearance of an immeasurable being causes all stats to plummet drastically.】
【※ Warning: The appearance of an immeasurable being causes all senses to become distorted.】
‘Ah.’ Hoyeol thinks, thoughts turning to static. ‘I guess the sacrifice was great enough… this time…’
Brilliant silver fills his view, fuzzy, but always so recognizable. His own hair having long been left to fade to black.
“Rest, my light.” His voice feels so close, yet so far. Hoyeol can’t help but smile.
Grandfell. Always so positive. Doesn’t he know that to rest would be the end?
He can’t leave it as is. Not when what he’s been fighting for, suffering for, is once more in front of him.
“One more time…” Hoyeol sees Grandfell reach for him, but he lets his senses fade. Lets them expand. Lets what remains of his magic, his life, his soul bleed into the very fabric of the world around them.
He can feel Grandfell like a beacon, a grounding point in all the chaos. An infinite pool of darkness for all that he shines to Hoyeol’s senses. He can feel himself unconsciously twine around him, through him even as Grandfell tries to draw him back.
I’m sorry. Forgive me. Sorry. Never enough—sorry sorry sorry —
I don’t want to remember…
Hoyeol reaches and reverses everything.
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