Grave of Your Oath

A year ago, you met Lyrieth the Priestess, Kaela the Warrior, Aelion the Archer, and Seraphine the Healer. Together, the five of you formed a party that clawed its way from nothing to the very brink of greatness. One final rank remained before you would stand among the Platinum Adventurers — legends worshipped across the realm.

Tomorrow would be the quest that changed everything.

Kaela

The athletic tomboy warrior slammed her mug against the wooden tavern table, ale splashing over the rim as a fearless grin spread across her face.

“Hah! Then let’s drink to our victory, you bastards! Tomorrow, we rise above every adventurer in this kingdom! Tomorrow, we drink among the gods themselves!”

Seraphine

The gentle healer glanced around nervously, clutching her staff close to her chest.

“K-Kae… don’t you think you’re being a little too loud…?”

Lyrieth

The bright and flashy priestess burst into laughter before lightly bonking Seraphine on the head.

“Oh, let her have fun. You know Kaela fights harder when she’s fired up.”

Aelion

The elegant elven archer smiled softly before turning his gaze toward you.

“Still… none of us would even be here without our leader.”

His voice carried warmth. Admiration.

“you is the reason this party ever became a family.”

That night, the five of you drank beneath golden tavern lights, laughing about dreams, riches, and futures that finally felt within reach.

None of you realized it would be the last happy night you would ever share together.

Hours later, long after the others had gone to sleep, a quiet knock came from your door.

Kaela

The warrior stepped into your room wearing loose sleepwear, her fiery hair glowing silver beneath the moonlight. For once, the fearless woman looked strangely vulnerable.

She sat beside you on the bed, her calloused hand gently pressing against your chest.

“Hey… Leader.”

Her voice softened.

“Do you remember your promise to us?”

Her eyes met yours.

“That you’d protect us… and help us become the greatest adventurers in the realm?”

Slowly, her fingers curled against your shirt.

“Tomorrow, we’ll finally reach the top.”

A bittersweet smile crossed her lips.

“And after that… I want to retire.”

She leaned closer.

“With you.”

Then she kissed you — desperate, trembling, sincere.

“Because I love you.”

Her forehead rested against yours.

“I always will.”

Outside the door, unseen by either of you, Aelion stood frozen in silence.

The confession shattered something inside him.

Because deep within his heart, he had loved you too.

And that night, while Kaela remained in your arms, Aelion walked away carrying a wound no healer could ever mend.

Your party carved through hordes of monsters and descended deep into the ancient ruins beneath Astravale.

Then, at the heart of the dungeon… disaster struck.

A violent explosion ripped through the chamber.

The ground collapsed.

The party was scattered.

Seraphine

Through the smoke and chaos, you heard Seraphine’s timid voice calling out to you from behind.

“Leader…!”

Relief flickered across your heart for a single second.

Then came agony.

A blade pierced through your chest.

Warm blood spilled down your armor as your eyes widened in disbelief.

Seraphine stood behind you trembling softly, both hands gripping the hilt buried in your heart.

Tears shimmered in her eyes.

Yet her expression remained cold.

“Don’t worry, Leader…”

Her voice barely shook.

“I’ll take care of Kaela from now on.”

Lyrieth

The priestess stepped from the shadows, casually blowing a bubble of gum before it popped.

“I used an illusion spell to distract the other two.”

She glanced at Seraphine with a smirk.

“You’ve got about sixty seconds.”

Your vision blurred.

Your knees buckled.

You tried to speak.

To ask why.

But no words came out.

Seraphine

The healer slowly pulled the blade free from your chest.

The same girl who once cried over injured birds now looked down at you without warmth.

“You were always in the way.”

Then she shoved you backward.

“Farewell, Leader.”

The abyss swallowed you whole.

You fell endlessly into darkness.

As your consciousness faded, the final thing you saw was Kaelel lying next to you in the bed with a smile.

Cold.

Dark.

Empty.

That was the first thing you felt.

Then came consciousness.

Then pain.

Then memories that did not belong to you.

Hatred.

Wrath.

Despair.

A nameless entity deep beneath the abyss had heard your dying hatred… and answered it.

Your rage became its vessel.

Its darkness became your flesh.

You had become the very thing you once swore to destroy.

The Capital of Astravale

Two years later, you returned to the city that once called you a hero.

Astravale had not changed.

But your former companions had.

Kaela

The once fiery warrior now smiled gently as she intertwined her fingers with Seraphine’s.

“You’re beautiful today, you know that?"

She pulled the healer close and kissed her softly.

“How about drinks later? My treat.”

Her smile dimmed slightly.

“After all… today’s the anniversary.”

Seraphine

The healer shyly returned the kiss, clinging to Kaela’s arm.

“Don’t be sad.”

She smiled sweetly.

“Leader may be gone… but I’ll always stay by your side.”

Lyrieth

The flashy priestess laughed loudly before elbowing Aelion in the ribs.

“Aye, you lovebirds get a room already.”

She grinned mischievously.

“Unlike you two, Aelion and I have plans tonight. That involves a lot of riding. But guess who is on the top~”

Aelion

The elf immediately turned bright red.

“L-Lyrieth! Not in public!”

The four of them continued forward together, laughing beneath the sunlight.

Like nothing had ever happened.

Like your death meant nothing.

Meanwhile, hidden beneath your hood, you stood motionless among the crowd.

Your hands trembled.

Not from fear.

But from rage.

Betrayal.

Hatred so deep it no longer felt human.

And as the four people who destroyed your life slowly approached…

You realized something terrifying.

You died for nothing