Memory of Heaven:Romance Written By Fate Through Beyond Infinity Time-Chapter 371 The Defiant Rescue A Sister’s Last Choice

Veyric City

The Night Before Execution

The sky was overcast, heavy with dark clouds that shrouded the moon, obscuring the light that should have illuminated the night and creating an oppressive atmosphere, evoking a sense of foreboding that hung in the air. Jeanne stood outside the royal prison, wearing a worn gray farmer's cloak, a testament to the arduous paths she had traveled. Her face appeared calm, yet within her, waves of uncertainty crashed violently, almost overwhelming her resolve. Her eyes, though shadowed by the night, sparkled with an unsettling mix of determination and despair, embodying the finality of her decision.

"I will not let my brother die.

But I will not use my power to hurt anyone.

I will choose the path our mother taught me."

Echoing in her mind was the voice of Sheena:

"Jeanne... Joanna...

This world is filled with fear.

But your strength is not to make them submit.

Your strength is to protect.

And if one day that choice comes...

do not use your power to kill, even if the world hurts you."

"Choose love.

Choose forgiveness.

Choose hope, even if it means sacrificing yourself."

As midnight approached, with even the faintest glimmer of starlight hidden, the atmosphere grew increasingly foreboding.

Jeanne sneaked into the prison corridor with soft steps, inhaling the cold air that sent chills down her spine. The guards stationed there were familiar to her, but at that moment, they seemed like shadows shrouded in darkness, mere intimidating figures behind the curtain of night. She used a small fluctuation of magic—not to attack, but to create the illusion of a gentle breeze rustling through the other corridor, as if nature itself conspired in her bold plan.

As though the world held its breath, each heartbeat echoed the magnitude of her risk. The guards, lured by the illusion, rushed toward the deceiving sound.

Finally, Jeanne reached Joanna's cell.

Her sister lay weakly asleep in the darkness, cold and unforgiving magical chains still binding her.

Jeanne knelt beside Joanna, feeling the faint pulse of her powerless body.

In the silence of the dark cell, the tranquility enveloped her portrayed a profound sense of despair. Each heartbeat resonated as though it created an unbridgeable chasm between hope and reality, an inner turmoil where love and sacrifice waged a relentless war in the corridors of her wounded heart, reminiscent of the classic conflict between responsibility and love that permeates the human experience throughout literature.

"I'm sorry, Jo."

He gently touched his sister's forehead, whispering a sleep mantra:

"Somnus Vitae."

Joanna fell into a deep sleep, trapped in a world of dreams and would not awaken until the spell was broken.

"I don't want you to wake up and see what I am about to do," Jeanne whispered, her voice barely audible yet laden with the weight of sacrifice and the burden of choice.

With a calmness enveloping her heart, Jeanne unlocked Joanna's chains using an ancient spell rich with meaning.

She donned Joanna's prison cloak, merging with the role she had to play.

Then, she left Joanna in the corner of the cell, wrapping her sister in a blanket to make her appear as a sleeping prisoner, desperately trying to conceal her presence from the cruel outside world.

In an instant, guilt and uncertainty engulfed Jeanne's soul, like a dark shadow cloaking the light of her hopes. She understood that this action was not merely about protecting Joanna; it was a larger quest to shatter the shackles of fear in a world that threatened their peace and freedom, crafting a complex narrative of courage in the face of uncertainty amid a relentlessly challenging existence.

Outside, dawn began to break, painting the sky in crimson hues, akin to a new promise of hope. The sound of execution bells tolling echoed in every direction, as if announcing the arrival of an inevitable fate.

Jeanne stood in the center of the cell, her eyes tightly shut, allowing the words she yearned to speak to flow from the depths of her heart.

"This is the choice I have made for myself.

No one forced me.

I do not want the world to kill my sister out of fear.

I will give the world a reason to believe in hope...

even if it means I must turn to ash."

Amid the whispers of shadows, there lay a glimmer of hope, a conviction that love could alter their fate. In Jeanne's mind, each word spoken was a promise etched in stone, even as she faced the greatest sacrifice that would forever change her life.

In the execution square, the crowd gathered, their faces reflecting a mix of tension and uncertainty, mirroring the tumultuous emotions that pressed against the hearts of each individual among them.

The royal banner, a symbol of majestic power, fluttered in the wind, while Stones and Arkanum stood as embodiments of unwavering loyalty. The magic guards stood watch, their eyes keenly fixed on the stage.

Firewood and the glyph circle of the "Eternal Flame" had been arranged at the center of the stage, awaiting the moment when fate would be decided.

Lord Veyric Leontis stood in the throne of judgment, his figure towering magnificently, heightening the intensity of this tense moment.

"For the safety of the world and to end the legacy of Chronos' will,

the accused Joanna Fate will be executed by the Eternal Flame."

Jeanne, disguised as Joanna, was trembling as the guards lifted her and carried her to the center of the burning circle.

Her face was concealed beneath a black hood, as if all hope had been absorbed into that darkness. From the very first step, the atmosphere seemed to freeze; the world around her vibrated in emptiness, hope fading as she moved forward. Within the depths of her heart, Jeanne fought against the creeping voice of fear, but her resolve to protect her sister remained strong and unwavering.

Caelan stood among the crowd, his face pale as a melting candle, burdened by an unbearable weight of concern and despair for his beloved friend.

"Jeanne... where are you? You promised to save Joanna..."

He did not know that Jeanne had made an irrevocable choice, a step toward a fated destiny.

Every second flowed with uncertainty, feeling like grains of sand in an hourglass, reducing hope to nothingness. As the executioner, with deliberate and slow movements, ignited the glyph of the Eternal Flame, Jeanne raised her head, determination igniting a light in her eyes.

She boldly pulled back her hood.

Everyone gasped, their breaths seeming to freeze.

"That... that isn't Joanna!"

"That's Jeanne!"

"Jeanne Fate!"

Lord Veyric stood in shock, as if trapped in an unexpected web of time.

"Stop! This isn't just a decision." Jeanne interjected with a steady, courageous voice.

"No," Jeanne cut in again, her tone unwavering and resolute, reverberating with the strength of her convictions.

In that moment, a subtle smile began to bloom on her face, as if unshakeable confidence was guiding her steps. All her pain coalesced into one moment of bold truth, close to unimaginable bravery.

"I know this world is shackled by fear of the old order.

I know this world feels the tension from the signs of Chronos.

But innocent people should not be punished for the sins of the past."

"I stand here NOT because I am guilty, but as a symbol to fight against the injustice that has plagued many souls.

It is because I CHOOSE to take my brother's place, to defend his name amidst the doubts."

"If my death can put an end to the cycle of hatred,

then let me be the ashes carried by the wind."

He looked towards the crowd.

In his gaze, there radiated a warmth capable of obscuring the approaching darkness; as if the collective love that had ever existed now united, weaving gently into the souls of the crowd, encouraging them to bravely take a stance amidst the coming turmoil for a cause greater than themselves.

"Caelan... forgive me."

"I love you.

I love Joanna.

And I love this world, even though the world often cannot love me back."

The Eternal Flame began to blaze beneath his feet, dancing with vibrant life.

"Jo... you must live.

Continue this life.

Not as the heir of Chronos,

But as a free human being, with boundless hopes and dreams."

The fire began to creep up, gently yet firmly embracing his body.

Jeanne did not scream; she stood tall with remarkable courage.

Her eyes gazed at the vast sky, her smile radiating peace and profound understanding.

As the flames rose high, flashes of memories swirled in her mind, reminding her of every laugh and tear shared with Joanna. A deep longing touched her heart, yet in this moment, she realized that this choice was the greatest love she could offer; a sacrifice that transcended all.

A continuum enveloped her body, a protective embrace that reached out to Joanna far away, as if binding her soul to her sister's existence in an eternal bond of love and sacrifice.

"I choose to love.

I choose to forgive.

I choose to hope."

The fire devoured her body ravenously, its fiery tongues burning away every memory that had once existed.

Jeanne Fate turned to ashes, erased by the unavoidable blaze.

From a distance, Joanna awoke in an empty prison, confused and isolated.

She quickly understood what her sister had done, a bitter sting piercing her heart.

"NO!!! SISTER JEANNE!!!"

Joanna's scream erupted throughout the city, shaking the oppressive silence that had settled over the land, a raw expression of grief that echoed against the walls of despair.

As if the scream of her soul pierced through the silence, the sky listened to her unspoken cries of anguish, generating waves of restless injustice that seemed inescapable. Within her heart, Joanna experienced a profound emptiness, as if the world had taken a disorienting turn without guidance, leaving her lost in darkness, suspended between the aching pain of loss and the burning desire for vengeance.

And on the empty stage, only Jeanne's ashes remained,

carried by the gentle morning breeze,

glistening softly in the first light of the sun, like a whisper of hope lingering amidst the void, a resolute symbol that Jeanne's sacrifice would never be in vain, but would inspire a transformative awakening in the spirits of those who remained.

"Jeanne... you chose the world once again.

But this time, I will choose to carry on your life," Joanna whispered, her voice filled with promises and sorrow, letting her words drift into the sky.