Chapter 416: You’re a fool. But a noble one

Thalia continued preparing.

She drew additional symbols around the altar. Placed crystals at specific points. Arranged components in patterns that made Nicholas’s skin crawl just looking at them.

"This is death magic," Thalia explained. "The kind that should not be used lightly. The kind that corrupts everyone who touches it. But it’s also the only magic powerful enough to reach into the Veil and pull souls back. So we use it. And we accept the consequences."

She glanced at Victoria. "You’re already corrupted from the blood magic you used. This will make it worse. You understand that?"

"I understand," Victoria said.

"And you, Nicholas," Thalia said, looking at him. "Once your soul separates from your body, there’s no going back. Even if you change your mind. Even if you find Lilith and decide you want to live after all. The ritual will be in motion. The only ending is her resurrection or both of you consumed. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Nicholas said.

Thalia studied him for a long moment. Then nodded.

"You’re braver than I expected," Thalia said. "Most people would be begging for another option. Trying to find loopholes. Hoping for miracles. But you.....you just accepted it. Accepted death. Accepted permanent ending. Why?"

"Because I love her," Nicholas said simply. "And love means choosing her life over mine. Every time. Without hesitation."

Thalia’s expression was unreadable. "You’re a fool. But a noble one."

She turned back to the ritual circle.

"We’re almost ready," Thalia said. "I just need to attune the soul anchor to your specific energy signature. It needs to recognize you as the anchor. Otherwise it won’t guide you correctly in the Veil."

She held up the red crystal.

"Give me your hand," Thalia said.

Nicholas extended his hand.

Thalia took it and pressed the crystal against his palm.

The moment it touched his skin, Nicholas felt power surge through him. Dark. Ancient. Absolutely foreign.

The crystal began to glow brighter. Pulsing in rhythm with Nicholas’s heartbeat.

"It’s attuning," Thalia said. "Bonding to your life force. When you’re in the Veil, it will pull you toward Lilith using the connection you share. The residual bond ties. The love you feel. All of it becomes a beacon guiding you to her."

The crystal pulsed one more time. Then the light stabilized.

"Done," Thalia said. She released Nicholas’s hand. "The soul anchor is ready."

Nicholas looked at the crystal in his palm. It was warm. Alive in a way that should not be possible for a stone.

This was what would guide him to Lilith.

This was what would help him find her in the grey nothing of the Veil.

This was his lifeline to the girl he loved.

Nicholas closed his fingers around it carefully.

"What happens next?" Nicholas asked.

"We wait," Thalia said. "We need to time this perfectly. The resurrection must happen at midnight. When the Veil is thinnest. When the barrier between life and death is already weak. That’s when your soul can cross most easily. That’s when Victoria can pull Lilith back most effectively."

She glanced at a clock made of shadow on the wall. "We have three hours. I suggest you use them to prepare yourself mentally. Because Nicholas, once this starts, it does not stop. There is no pause button. No time-outs. Just the ritual proceeding to its conclusion. Success or failure. Life or death."

Nicholas nodded.

Three hours.

Three hours until he walked into death.

Three hours until his soul separated from his body.

Three hours until permanent ending.

He looked at Victoria.

She was crying silently. Tears streaming down her face as she watched him.

"I should contact Elena," Victoria said, her voice shaking. "Let her know we’re almost ready. Make sure Lilith’s body is prepared."

"Go," Thalia said. "Use the communication mirror. But be quick. We don’t have time to waste."

Victoria pulled out her spelled mirror and activated it.

Elena’s face appeared almost immediately.

"Victoria?" Elena said. "Are you....did you...."

"We’re in the Underworld," Victoria said. "With Thalia. The ritual is almost ready. We’re starting at midnight. Is Lilith’s body...."

"Preserved and ready," Elena confirmed. "I’ve been maintaining stasis spells constantly. She’s...." Elena’s voice caught. "She’s waiting."

"And the Alphas?" Victoria asked.

"Grieving," Elena said quietly. "Sebastian and Lucian are....they’re barely functional. Nicholas leaving destroyed them."

Victoria looked at Nicholas with fresh tears.

"Tell them...." Nicholas started.

"Tell them what?" Elena asked.

"Tell them I’m doing this gladly," Nicholas said.

"I will," Elena promised.

Victoria closed the mirror.

And they waited.

***

*Two hours later*

Nicholas sat on the stone altar while Thalia made final adjustments to the ritual circle.

His mind was surprisingly calm.

He had expected to be terrified. To be panicking. To be desperately searching for any way out.

But instead he felt.....peaceful.

He was going to die tonight. Was going to cease to exist. Was going to trade his life for Lilith’s.

And it felt right.

Like this was what he was meant to do. What he had been moving toward since the moment he met her.

"You’re quiet," Thalia observed.

"Just thinking," Nicholas said.

"About?" Thalia asked.

"About Lilith," Nicholas said. "About whether she’ll understand why I did this. Whether she’ll forgive me for leaving her."

"She’ll blame herself," Thalia said bluntly. "She’ll wake up and learn you died to bring her back and she’ll think it’s her fault. That she should have stayed dead. That your sacrifice was wasted on someone not worth saving."

"She’s worth saving," Nicholas said firmly.

"I know," Thalia said. "But she won’t believe it. Not at first. Victoria and Elena will have to convince her. Your brothers will have to convince her. Everyone will have to work very hard to make her understand that this was your choice. Your gift. Not her burden."

Nicholas thought about that.

About Lilith waking up to a world where he did not exist.

About her carrying guilt she did not deserve.

"Tell her...." Nicholas started.

"I won’t be there when she wakes," Thalia interrupted. "I’ll be here. In the Underworld. Performing my part of the ritual. Victoria will tell her whatever needs to be said."