Missing Piece

In the aftermath of the duel, Oro accuses Grim of binding Isla to him. Isla remembers Grim’s past explanation: a life-bond shares not only power but life, so one’s death kills the other. This reveals why Isla survived the Centennial arrow—Grim kept her alive—and why killing Grim now would kill Isla.

Grim argues the other world offers a permanent solution, exposing his true motive for opening the portal: to save Isla’s life. Oro wavers, sword raised. Isla urges Oro to kill Grim anyway, prioritizing everyone else’s safety, even at the cost of her own life.

As Isla insists Grim will slaughter innocents, flashes of her “vision” cascade—skin melting, shadows devouring a village. The familiarity snaps into focus: it is not a prophecy but a memory. Isla had unleashed catastrophic shadows in the past while offering her power to save Grim, killing hundreds, including children.

Oro steadies Isla, insisting she is not a monster, but Isla condemns her own recklessness, recalling repeated emotional outbursts despite warnings. Fearing she will one day lose control and kill Oro, Isla demands he let her go, convinced her proximity endangers him.

Oro refuses to release her hand, torn between duty and love. Then Grim’s voice cuts through: “Let go of my wife.” The declaration confirms both the life-bond and a marriage, reframing their histories and the war’s purpose while freezing Oro’s decision.