Chapter 8 · When Faith Faltered For Her

Chapter 8

Gabriel stood there, frozen, as if the world had stopped around him.He stared in disbelief at the pile of ashes before him, the fire having just died out.Then, stiffly, he looked up at the elder, who stood there with a calm, unreadable expression."W-What did you just say? Pearl... was burned alive?" Gabriel's voice shook with disbelief.His eyes went blood-red in a flash. Gabriel charged toward the scorched ground like a wounded animal, desperate and wild. The fire had burned everything to ashes—there was nothing left.His hands shook as he clutched at the ashes, but his fingers closed on nothing but dust."The Guardian.. this sacrifice is essential for the union ceremony. These flames—they are a blessing from the Divine. That witch, Pearl Whitman—she should count herself honored to offer her life for Frostvale."Alice, who'd been standing nearby, stepped forward and tried to steady him."Gabriel... we still need to return to the temple to complete the final union."But Gabriel acted like he couldn't hear Alice at all. He just kept digging through the ashes, silent and frantic, clawing at the charred remains as if he could somehow bring Pearl back.He ripped off his hat and flung it aside, his once-luxurious ceremonial robes now stained and filthy with soot and ash."Guardian! Guardian Gabriel! You can't fall apart like this!"A cold, commanding voice cut through the chaos, trying to rein in Gabriel as he teetered on the edge of collapse."Where are the teeth and bones? Where are the teeth and bones? When an adult is burned, there should always be something left behind..." Gabriel demanded.He tore through the ashes in a frenzy, searching for any trace—any proof—but there wasn't a single bone to be found."Where are the bones... Where are the bones? Where's Pearl? My... Pearl?"Gabriel's voice was barely above a whisper. His heart was in chaos, no longer at peace, and the relentless ringing in his ears gnawed at his sanity, drowning out all other thoughts.He couldn't accept it—couldn't wrap his mind around it. The girl who had been so vibrant, so alive just hours ago was now reduced to nothing but cold, lifeless ashes."Gabriel!" The elder, his anger boiling over, tried to snap Gabriel back to his senses with a harsh, commanding rebuke.But in the very next moment, his world seemed to spin—followers all around cried out in shock and disbelief.Gabriel had struck, his fist smashing into the elder's face, his other hand gripping the old man's throat."Why... Why do you never care what I want? Why do you keep dumping all this responsibility and pain on me?"Why... Why did you have to doom my Pearl? What gives you the right to cast her into death like this?" Gabriel's voice broke, every word laced with anguish and rage.The elder kept deflecting, repeating that "the sacred fire has purified her completely," but then a faint, shaky sob drifted to Gabriel's ears.He whipped around, his gaze piercing and wild, instantly locking onto a child in the crowd—no older than eight or nine, tears streaking down her face.This was the youngest at the sanctuary, one of the children Pearl had taught as a volunteer.Gabriel rushed over, crouched down in front of the child, forcing himself to speak as gently as he could despite the storm raging inside him."Amy... you're such a good kid."Tell me, do you know anything? Do you know where Pearl went?" he asked, trying to keep his voice gentle.But his hands trembled, giving away just how anxious he really was.Amy Watson finally couldn't take the pressure anymore and broke down sobbing. "The fire... it was golden, and then... I saw this huge bird, like an eagle from the snowy mountains. It swooped down and carried Pearl away! It took Pearl away!"Her parents, panicked, rushed over and covered her mouth, not letting her say another word.The old elder gripped his throat, but still managed to shout with all the strength he could muster, "Gabriel! You can't keep being so stubborn!"She's just an outsider! She came here just to seduce you and make you break your vows."She deserved to die! No one will miss her!"But Gabriel didn't care what the elder said anymore. With a resolve that left no way back, he pulled out the keepsake Alice had just given him and sliced it open with his knife.The strands of their hair, once entwined together, were severed and dropped to the floor.Alice stared at Gabriel, stunned by how resolute he was."Gabriel... how could you do this to me."You promised! You said you'd look after me forever, like vines wrapping around a tree! You just swore you'd always be there for me!"How could you... how could you do this?" Alice stammered, her voice cracking, disbelief and heartbreak written all over her face.Alice could barely string her words together, her mind reeling. She'd always known Gabriel loved Pearl—but she never realized he'd love her so much.So much that he'd throw away every vow he'd ever made, just for Pearl.But Gabriel didn't even look at Alice. He pressed the blade into his palm, slicing it open without hesitation—blood spilling out, but he didn't flinch.He turned, facing the towering temple at the mountain's peak.He shouted his vow, voice raw and broken, but every word rang out clear."By blood and soul, I swear! Hallowed warden of the peaks, keeper of the sacred lake, or lost deity of old—whoever shows me the truth, I swear it by my demon-slaying blade!"I'll owe you a debt! I'll grant you one wish, as long as it doesn't break my code!"His words rolled out, echoing across the mountains and sky.

Chapter 8