Chapter 331

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“ The Solemnity Guild only takes in those who come willingly , but I was brought here against my will , ” Sara said , her voice trembling . Thave a brother
he loves me so much . ”
Sara pleaded , her voice trembling , “ Madelyn , why does the Solemnity Guild want me ? I don’t want to kill , I don’t want to train – I just want to be with re brother . ”
“ Madelyn … do you think I can ever go home ? ” Sara whispered , her voice trembling with fragile hope .
Whoever joined the Solemnity Guild could never leave .
Sara understood that , too . She slumped on the steps with a sigh and murmured , her voice barely above a whisper , “ I can never go back , can 12 Madelyn asked gently , “ I heard you were covered in old wounds when you first arrived at the Solemnity Guild . What about your brother ? ”
Sara fell silent , her face flashing with fear as if remembering someone . She said nervously , “ It has nothing to do with my brother … ”
Sara clutched at her clothes , curling into a tight ball with her face buried against her chest .
She was like a fragile fledgling , meant to be sheltered under wings , yet here she stood in this merciless place that devours souls whole .
Madelyn’s heart softened . She reached out and gently stroked Sara’s head . “ If you want to tell me , I’ll listen , ” she said softly .
“ Thank you , Madelyn ,” Sara murmured .
A few days later , Sara sought out Madelyn again , tightly clutching a well – worn notebook in her trembling hands . Its edges were frayed from years of use , and the pages had yellowed and turned brittle with age .
“ Madelyn …” the girl asked hesitantly , “ if I … if you ever meet my brother someday , could you please give him this notebook for me ? ”
Madelyn didn’t say a word , but she sensed something amiss . Looking at Sara with concern , she gently asked , “ Why ? You can give it to your brother yourself when we find him – there’s no hurry . ”
Tears welled up in Sara’s eyes as she forced a small smile . “ Then I’ll leave it with you for now . It’ll be safer that way .”
Madelyn took the notebook and nodded gently . “ Okay , ” she said . “ I’ll keep it safe for you . ”
Madelyn fixed Marcus with a gaze colder than ever . “ Marcus , where’s Sara’s notebook ? ”
Marcus looked at her with a mocking sneer , his voice dripping with arrogance . “ That worthless notebook ? I burned it ages ago . It’s been two years – did you really think I’d still be holding on to it ? ”
Madelyn clenched her jaw , her voice trembling with rage . “ If you want to come after me , then do it directly ! Why drag Sara into this ? She was never a threat to you ! ”
Seated on the stone bench , Marcus looked down at her with a superior air . He sneered , “ Madelyn , that’s a question you should be asking Sara , not me
“ That good – for – nothing had no place in the Solemnity Guild , ” Marcus sneered , his voice dripping with contempt . “ But she had to be kept here – so death was her only fate .
“ I gave her a choice ; kill you or die .
“ She chose to die so you could live .
“ You two could’ve been traveling companions to the underworld . Who would’ve thought … you’re so damn tough – even that explosion couldn’t k
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He threw his head back in raucous laughter , his grating cackles reverberating through the cavernous space .
Meeting Madelyn’s bloodthirsty glare – so intense it seemed to drip blood – Marcus didn’t flinch . Instead , he laughed with even greater arrogance and taunted , “ You want to kill me ? ”
He defiantly lifted his chin and said , “ Don’t forget the rules of the Solemnity Guild – kill and you die . Do you dare make a move ? ”
He got up and sauntered off , his steps lazy and full of swagger .
In an instant , the wind swept through .
Marcus froze mid – step . “ W – What did you do ? ” he stammered .
A needle shot into Marcus’s neck . He tried to move , but his whole body locked up – rigid as stone , unable to budge an inch .
“ Madelyn ! Let me go ! ” he screamed in panic .
Madelyn stepped closer , a frosty smirk curling at her lips . “ Do you know why I came back ? Because I’m going to kill you – and make sure you die in agony . ”
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