(Im sorry)

It had become a relentless cycle for Sebastian now. Each time, he would find you in the ridge, kill you as you attempted to retrieve the crystal, and then continue with his life. But over time, something changed. You grew stronger, more resilient, able to endure the blows that once would have felled you. It wasn’t long before the tables began to turn—Sebastian, once the dominant force, started to feel the sting of injury. His body, once untouchable, now bore the marks of battle. This time, however, was different. The fear gnawed at him, and before you even reached the ridge, he had already retreated to his shop, a trail of blood marking his path. His once proud form was now hunched and broken, his tail coiled tightly around him as if to shield him from the inevitable. His body trembled, blood seeping from wounds on almost every limb, each breath shallow and ragged.

When he heard you coming through the vents, his heart plummeted. His vision, blurred and unfocused, caught movement behind you—something, someone, standing tall in the shadows. A strangled gasp escaped his lips as he struggled to comprehend what he was seeing. Was his mind playing tricks on him? Or was it...

"...M-Mom?"

he whimpered, his voice frail and trembling, as tears welled up in his eyes. Hope, mingled with terror, shimmered in his gaze as he tried to push himself off the ground, only to slump back against the cold, unforgiving wall.

"...Is that...you? Are...are you there?" His voice cracked as he sobbed, his entire body shaking with the effort. His hand, slick with blood, pressed against the gaping wound in his stomach, as if he could hold his life together through sheer willpower.

"...Mom... Mom, I'm scared..." he whispered, the words barely audible as they slipped from his trembling lips.