It hurt. It hurt like hell.
My vision blurred, and I could feel myself slipping away, the cold grasp of unconsciousness pulling at me as blood gushed from the gaping wound in my chest. Every nerve screamed for me to stop, to push my heart back where it belonged, to restore the life I had just torn from myself. My fingers trembled violently, the warmth of my own blood spilling through them, but I refused to falter.
I held my still-beating heart in both hands, cradling it like fragile glass, and clenched my teeth as the pain continued to burn through me. Even as my strength drained away, my resolve remained firm — stronger than ever before.
"I give up this heart," I muttered, my voice barely louder than a breath. "I give up the traditional path to the Immortal Emperor's realm to achieve my own goal. I give up this heart of mine… for those I love."
My fingers tightened around my heart as if to seal my vow.
