(miniflash story)

A king, once so grand, now stood alone, a solitary figure against the backdrop of a crimson sunset. His once-mighty army, sacrificed on the altar of his ambition, lay scattered like fallen leaves.

He had schemed and manipulated, bending others to his will, all in the name of his own grandeur. He had betrayed everything, including his own humanity, to achieve his goal. He had become a monster, a creature of darkness devoid of compassion.

The real ‘victory’ was his, but at what cost?

The woman, the object of his love, stood before him, her eyes filled with a mix of revulsion and misunderstanding. She was not his, as he had always desired and never ever believed. Perfectly aware that she wouldn’t forgive him, he found his wounds healed. He was so tired, weary of the endless struggle, the constant pursuit of power.

But death had denied him.

A cruel twist of fate had granted him immortality. He was trapped, condemned to live forever, a prisoner of his own ambition. And in the whole world, only one “creature” could help him find peace of mind. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ruined city, he turned to face the final sword of redemption.

…

But, without saying a single word, the woman turned around and left him alone. This man left everything behind because he realized every single sin that he had committed against the world. He was the villain of his own story, and the ending was some ironic kind of happily ever after. Maybe they will meet each other once again.

The endless remorse. The greatest redemption.