Suicide

Inside Lord Carnford Castle, the air was scorching hot, like a furnace, and thick smoke poured in from all directions, making it hard to breathe.

Inside the hall, the remaining defenders and civilians huddled together, their faces etched with a numb despair.

They knew that the Sauron had abandoned their offensive and instead resorted to the most brutal method of fire attack.

The crackling of burning wood and the rumbling of collapsing walls came from outside; flames were seeping in through the cracks in the doors and windows, and death had gripped everyone's throat.

Some soldiers held their wives and children tightly, whispering their final farewells; others slumped in corners, staring blankly at the rooftops glowing red from the flames; and many more simply sat in silence, gripping their broken weapons, awaiting the final moment.

They were either suffocated by the thick smoke or engulfed by the flames.

Karl leaned back in the high-backed chair in the Lord's Hall, his armor covered in knife marks and bloodstains, his face a mixture of ash and dried tear stains.

He glanced at Brendan beside him, who was equally exhausted but whose eyes remained resolute, and said in a hoarse voice, "Brendan, give me a loaded pistol."

Brendan's body trembled slightly, and he instantly understood Karl's intention.

He didn't try to stop him, but silently took a well-maintained flintlock pistol from his waist, checked the firing mechanism and powder bath, and then solemnly handed it over, his voice low and hoarse. "Sir... we'll be there to keep you company soon."

Karl took the cold pistol, forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, patted Brendan on the shoulder, and said nothing more.

He turned and staggered toward a small study deep within the castle, not yet completely consumed by the fire. It had been where he handled state affairs and read books; now, it would be the end of his life.

Inside the study, bookshelves were overturned, documents were scattered all over the floor, and outside the window, flames roared.

Karl slammed the door shut, leaned against it, and took a deep breath of the hot, smoky air.

He looked down at the exquisite murder weapon in his hand; the cold touch of the metal brought a brief moment of clarity to his chaotic thoughts.

He skillfully pried open the hammer, making a soft "click" sound.

Then, he slowly put the cold muzzle of the gun into his mouth.

The strong smell of gunpowder and the metallic tang of gunpowder instantly filled his mouth, triggering a wave of nausea and gagging, but he forced himself to endure it.

His hands trembled violently uncontrollably, and tears mixed with the dirt on his face silently streamed down his cheeks.

He was not afraid of death; he had many close calls with death on the battlefield.

But the courage required to end one's own life, especially in this way, is entirely different.

The instinct for survival surged through his mind like a tsunami, every cell screaming in resistance.

"No... I can't do this..." He struggled internally, trying to grip the trembling gun barrel tightly with his left hand, while his right index finger rested on the trigger, but the small metal plate felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and he couldn't press it down no matter what he did.

Finally, he abruptly pulled the gun out of his mouth, bent over, and gagged, tears and snot streaming down his face.

Fear, a deep fear of ending one's own life, overcame the resolve to die.

Just then!

With a deafening roar, a window in the study was blasted open by the raging flames outside! Scorching flames, mixed with burning wood chips, surged into the room like the tentacles of a demon, almost licking Karl's cheek!

The intense heat and the threat of death instantly jolted his nerves! He jerked backward, his heart pounding.

There's no time to hesitate! Rather than being burned alive and struggling in extreme agony, it's better to end it all quickly!

His survival instinct was overwhelmed by greater fear. He raised the pistol again, his eyes hardening, and once more put the muzzle in his mouth.

This time, he used all his strength, gripping the gun firmly with his left hand and pressing his right index finger firmly on the trigger.

The last thing that flashed through my mind was Charlotte's gentle smile and her reluctant gaze at our parting.

"I'm sorry, Charlotte... I have to break my promise... Forget about me..." he murmured to himself, filled with endless guilt and regret.

He took one last look at the inferno outside the window, then closed his eyes and prepared to pull the trigger.

However, just as his eyelids were about to close, the scene he had inadvertently glimpsed outside the window flashed back into his mind like lightning!

Wrong!

That wasn't a hopeless inferno! He seemed... he seemed to see... Sauron soldier running? Not attacking, but... retreating?

The thought was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, jolting him awake instantly! He opened his eyes abruptly and stared incredulously at the broken window again! Ignoring the scorching heat and thick smoke, he risked taking a few steps forward and desperately peered out through the churning flames and billowing smoke!

It's real! Not a hallucination!

Below the castle, the Sauron soldier who had been densely surrounding it and constantly throwing torches and fire arrows were now retreating like a tide towards the outer walls!

They abandoned their armor and weapons, panicked and disorganized, even pushing and trampling each other, completely losing their previous orderly attack formation! Moreover, after retreating over the wall, they didn't stop at all, but continued to flee desperately towards the camp further down the mountain! It was as if something extremely terrifying was chasing them!

Karl was completely stunned! His hand holding the gun froze in mid-air, his mouth opened unconsciously, and he didn't even realize that the gun barrel had slipped out of his mouth.

What... what on earth is going on? Why did the Sauron suddenly retreat in such a chaotic and disorganized manner?

The intense shock of being saved from a desperate situation was like a heavy hammer blow, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

Amidst this inferno of ruins, a spark of hope was suddenly rekindled in a completely incomprehensible way!

The immense shock and subsequent ecstasy left his mind blank, but the instinct for survival and the sense of responsibility of Lord instantly overwhelmed all the chaotic emotions!

He almost staggered as he turned around, flung open the scorching hot wooden door of the study, and rushed out!

Brendan stood guard outside the door, his face filled with anxiety, grief, and resolve, clearly prepared to follow his Lord to his death at any moment.

He was stunned to see Karl rush out again with a pistol, his face no longer ashen with despair, but filled with an unbelievable excitement and ecstasy.

"My lord! You..."

"Brendan! The Sauron! The Sauron seem to be retreating! They're running away!" Karl didn't have time to explain; his voice was extremely hoarse from extreme excitement and inhaling thick smoke.

"What? Retreat?" Brendan and the soldiers who had gathered around after hearing the commotion, as well as some of the slumped-over citizens who had been waiting to die, were all stunned, their faces filled with disbelief!