Third Person's POV

The entire palace was bustling with activity. Every servant and guard moved with purpose, preparing for the departure. The knights had assembled, their armor gleaming under the early morning light as they stood in formation, awaiting their orders. The Emperor was at the front, his figure imposing as he surveyed his knights. With each passing moment, the atmosphere grew heavier, tension building like an invisible weight pressing down on everyone present.

As dawn fully broke, the Emperor took the lead, with the Duke beside him, ready to march into battle. Behind them stood the Empress, a calm yet unwavering presence. She watched them with an unreadable expression, her gaze following every move with a mix of pride and anxiety. As the Emperor prepared to depart, he turned to his wife, approaching her with a softness that belied his usual stoic demeanor. He took her hand, brushing his lips over her fingers before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. He looked at her intently, studying her face as though he wanted to commit every feature to memory. "Be careful, wife," he said in a low, gentle voice that only she could hear.

The Empress gave him a small, reassuring smile and nodded. "You should be the one to take care… I'll be waiting for you," she replied softly. Rising on her toes, she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, a brief yet intimate gesture that he returned, their connection unspoken yet deeply felt.

The Emperor then mounted his horse, raising his hand to signal his knights as they began their departure. The Empress stood back, watching them disappear through the towering palace gates, the sound of hooves echoing against the cobblestones. She remained there, a silent figure framed by the high palace walls, her heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and confidence. She knew her husband would fight with all his strength, and yet, a faint worry lingered in her chest.

Elsewhere, deep within the shadows of the dungeon, a sinister laugh echoed through the cold, damp walls. A woman, chained but very much alive with spite and madness, leaned forward, her eyes alight with dark amusement. "So, the Empress is now alone?" she confirmed, her voice dripping with anticipation and a twisted excitement.

"Yes, My Lady," replied a knight, his head bowed respectfully, unwilling to meet her eyes. The woman bit her lip, her expression shifting from amusement to a twisted joy as her mind raced with possibilities. "Fools!" she sneered, her laughter bubbling up, a crazed, unhinged sound that bounced off the stone walls.

Her impatience was almost tangible as she clutched the cold bars of her cell. She could already envision her revenge unfolding, her heart pounding with exhilaration. Memories of past grievances and humiliations filled her thoughts, each one fanning the flames of her rage. Her blood seemed to ignite as her anger intensified, consumed by a burning desire to see the Empress fall.

Flashback...

The room echoed with the loud cries and sobbing of a young boy, Joshua, who had just endured another brutal round of physical abuse from his father. His tiny, fragile body was marred with fresh bruises, layered upon old ones that had barely begun to fade. At only six years old, Joshua had already endured a lifetime of suffering. He was haunted not only by the trauma of losing his mother but by the violence that had plagued her too, as she had suffered under the same cruel hand. His mother’s memory was a painful reminder of everything he’d lost—and everything he was still enduring.

Every night was a repeat of the same nightmare. His father would stagger home, reeking of alcohol, and any small thing—an untidy room, a misplaced toy, or even Joshua’s mere presence—could spark his father’s fury. Joshua would try to shrink into the shadows, hoping to escape notice, but the violence was inevitable. Slaps, punches, kicks—each one a reminder that there was no refuge in his own home. He had learned quickly to be silent in his suffering, but on nights like this, the pain was too much to bear.

In the midst of his misery, there was still one person who stood by him, offering what little comfort she could—the only person who had ever truly shown him love: his grandmother, Lola Elena. Though life had worn her down, Lola Elena held a special place in her heart for Joshua, her only grandson. She was a former teacher, known for her kindness, yet she herself carried a history shaped by heartbreak and loss. Books became her refuge, especially the tragic novels written by her favorite author, KnightMadison. She would sit by the window, reading for hours, her fingers tracing each word as though they contained some hidden wisdom. For her, these stories were not merely tales of sorrow; they were a window to a world where emotions were felt deeply, even if they ended in despair.

In her youth, Lola Elena had faced her own battles. She had once been an admired teacher, but her career had ended abruptly after a scandal that still haunted her. Her husband, a man of questionable morals, had committed a crime, and in a desperate act of loyalty, she had covered it up. The consequences were severe; she lost her teaching license, was shunned by her community, and even spent several years in prison. When she was finally released, her life was in shambles, but her daughter had taken her in, offering her a place in their family. It was through her daughter that she came to know Joshua—a boy whose life was painfully similar to her own, filled with darkness and loneliness.

Despite her love for Joshua, Lola Elena felt powerless. She was frail, with a body worn by age and hardship, unable to stand up to her son-in-law’s violence. All she could offer was a quiet solace, holding Joshua close as he cried, whispering to him stories of knights and heroes, of tragic but noble characters who, like him, had suffered but found strength in their pain. She hoped that in some small way, these stories would help him find his own strength, even if the world around him was unforgiving.

"Apo, bakit hindi ka maglaro sa labas?" Joshua's grandmother asked calmly, peeking under the table where the boy sat curled up, hugging his knees.

Since he was young, Joshua had often been alone, gripped by fear and doubt whenever he stepped outside the house. Every attempt to interact with other children ended in fights, as Joshua couldn't seem to connect with them without resorting to violence.

"Gusto mo bang magbasa sa mga binabasa ko, apo?" his grandmother offered with a warm smile, trying to lift his spirits, but Joshua just shook his head, refusing her offer.

"Nasaan ang batang iyan?!" The room filled with tension as they heard his father's angry voice booming from the other side of the house. "Ninakaw niya ang pera ko! Lintek na batang iyan!" His grandmother quickly stood up, panic seeping into her movements as she hurriedly pushed the chairs around the table, trying to hide Joshua beneath them.

"Lola," Joshua whispered, his whole body trembling. He had turned pale, paralyzed with fear.

"Shh, apo, huwag kang maingay. Ako ang bahala," his grandmother reassured him softly, before heading to confront the raging man.

"Bakit ka na naman sumisigaw, Edwardo?" Lola Elena asked in a calm tone. Edwardo whipped his head around to glare at her with wild eyes.

"Ikaw!" he spat, pointing at her angrily as he stormed closer. He grabbed her arm roughly. "Saan mo tinago ang batang iyun?" His voice was like that of a wild animal, filled with a menacing rage.

Lola Elena winced at the pain from his grip. "Ano ba Edwardo? Maawa ka sa bata, takot na takot na sayo," her voice was still gentle but now carried a hint of firmness.

Edwardo's eyes darkened with fury, and without warning, he shoved her away violently. "Dapat lang!" he growled, ignoring her completely as he stormed past her, not caring that she had stumbled from the force of his push.

She quickly followed him, and just as he approached the table where Joshua was hiding, she stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Tama na, Edwardo! Humhinahon ka!" her voice cracked as she lost control, desperation creeping in.

Edwardo's vision seemed to blur with rage, and the moment he heard her shout at him, something inside him snapped. In an instant, his hands were around her throat. "Sinisigawan mo ba ako?!" he screamed, his grip tightening.

Elena's eyes widened in shock and fear as she struggled to breathe. It felt like he was trying to kill her. She knew she was in danger, but her fear for Joshua overwhelmed her own survival instinct.

"B-bitawan mo ako, Edwardo!" she choked out, clawing at his hands in a futile attempt to free herself.

Joshua, seeing his grandmother being strangled, felt something snap inside him. Without thinking, he bolted from his hiding place and ran to the kitchen. Grabbing a knife, he rushed toward his father. Seeing his grandmother’s face turning pale and on the verge of collapse, a wave of uncontrollable anger surged through him. He plunged the knife into his father’s back without hesitation.

Years of pain and rage flooded Joshua’s small body, and he stabbed his father again and again, his voice trembling with fury. "Mamatay ka na!" he shouted, stabbing Edwardo repeatedly, until the man collapsed onto the floor, his eyes wide open in shock, blood pooling around him.

"A-apo!" Elena gasped, coming back to her senses. But it was too late. Blood now stained the floor. Joshua stood frozen, staring blankly at his father’s lifeless body.

Fear and guilt washed over Elena as she rushed to her grandson’s side, enveloping him in a tight embrace. "Apo ko," she whispered softly, tears streaming down her face. She held him tightly, wanting him to feel her love and assurance—that no matter what, she would always be by his side.

Pagkatapos ng insidente, ay nilibing nila si Edwardo sa likod ng bahay nila at doon binaon nila sa limot ang nangyari.

Years passed, and Joshua was now twenty-five years old. He worked as a janitor, having never finished his education. He only completed elementary school, but Joshua possessed a natural intelligence, capable of reading and with a vivid imagination. Unfortunately, he developed a mental disorder, and the only person who could calm him was his grandmother, who had always been by his side in his dark and cold world.

Joshua had just finished preparing their dinner when he walked to his grandmother’s room. There, he found her reading a book while wiping her glasses. His brows furrowed. "Nagbabasa ka na naman lola, bakit ba tila masyado kang apektado diyan?" he asked, curious about her apparent attachment to the book. His grandmother chuckled and closed the book. "Naku apo, masyado lang akong nadala sa kwento. Maganda ang mga akda ni KnightMadison dahil sa likod ng mga pighati at paghihirap ay may natatanging kwento na nagsalaysay ng pag-ibig, sakripisyo, at katotohanan," she explained, smiling softly before adding, "Minsan kailangan natin maramdaman ang sakit upang tunay na maunawaan ang halaga ng ligaya."

Joshua stared at his grandmother, noting how frail and old she had become. She struggled to walk but was still always busy reading, using her worn-out glasses. He sighed and shook his head in disbelief. "Nakahanda na ang pagkain, lola, tayo na at kumain," he said, opting to invite her to dinner rather than scold her for her obsession with those stories.

As the days went by, the same scene repeated itself. Joshua would come home from work to find his grandmother crying as she read her books. Unable to bear it any longer, he decided to find out what it was that his grandmother was so engrossed in.

"Pahiram ako lola," he requested one night as they were about to sleep. His grandmother laughed lightly and nodded without hesitation. "Ito, maganda itong THE TEARS," she said, handing over the book with excitement, eager to see her grandson's reaction to the story.

Joshua accepted the book with a nod, mumbled his thanks, and excused himself, slipping away to the solitude of his room. He collapsed onto his bed, clutching the book tightly. Taking a deep breath, he opened to the first page, letting his eyes skim over the words. With every line, he felt his anger boil. The story was filled with relentless suffering, as the main character endured cruelty after cruelty. Each page seemed to mirror his own life, drawing out emotions he thought he had buried. The anger he felt was all-consuming, and several times he found himself gripping the book so tightly his fingers ached.

Every fiber of his being wanted to hurl the book across the room, to rip the pages apart, to erase the pain it stirred up. Yet he couldn’t stop. As the hours passed, he read with clenched teeth and teary eyes, feeling each word sink into him like a poison. He stayed up all night, refusing to sleep until he reached the end, desperate to see if there would be any relief, any glimpse of happiness for the character. But by dawn, as he turned the final page, his heart sank. The ending offered no solace. Only despair.

The first light of morning crept through his window, but Joshua didn’t move. His body felt heavy, his mind clouded with fury. Work would begin soon, but he didn’t care. Instead, he grabbed his phone, immediately opening Google and searching for any information he could find about KnightMadison. He quickly found an app where the author posted their works, and without a second thought, he downloaded it. The profile loaded on his screen, and he stared at the author’s page, his vision blurred by anger.

With trembling fingers, he bombarded the page with furious comments, each word sharp and venomous. He poured out every bit of hatred he felt, his words raw and cutting. His hands shook as he typed, every sentence dripping with the resentment he’d held in his heart. When he found the author's latest story, his fingers moved on their own, leaving even harsher comments beneath it, accusing the writer of creating nothing but misery.

In the back of his mind, a faint thought of his grandmother surfaced. He closed the app and rushed to her room, hoping for the comfort her presence always brought. But as he entered, his heart dropped. He froze, his feet rooted to the spot as he took in the horrifying sight before him. His grandmother was slumped over the edge of her chair, her upper body hanging lifelessly, while the book she had been reading lay open on the floor beside her.

"Lola!" Joshua screamed, his voice breaking as he ran to her. His hands shook uncontrollably as he lifted her, carefully placing her back into the chair. His gaze fixated on her face—her eyes were open, but void of life, and her lips were slightly parted, as if she had been in mid-sentence. "Lola?" he whispered desperately, tapping her face with gentle urgency. His chest tightened, and a strangled sob escaped his lips. "Lola, huwag mo akong iwan… kailangan kita," he choked out, each word filled with the raw pain of loss. His tears blurred his vision, and he felt as if his heart was being torn to pieces.

Grief-stricken and trembling, he managed to lift her once more, carrying her fragile body over to the bed. He laid her down gently, arranging the blanket around her as if she were merely sleeping. For a long moment, he stood there, staring down at her, his face soaked with tears. The silence in the room pressed down on him like a weight, the emptiness swallowing him whole.

As he turned away, his eyes caught sight of the book on the floor. The rage he’d felt earlier surged back, sharper than ever. He picked up the book, the final words burning into his mind. It felt like those words themselves had taken her life, as if they had sucked the last bit of joy from her heart. His breathing became ragged, and his vision blurred with a mix of tears and fury. There was only one person to blame for this—KnightMadison.

"Siya ang dahilan ng lahat ng ito." He muttered coldly, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His jaw was set, and his body shook with a mix of grief and rage. In that moment, his sorrow twisted into something darker, something filled with a need for revenge.

His gaze shifted to the ceiling, his eyes wide and unfocused, a twisted smile spreading across his tear-streaked face. "Papatayin kita," he whispered, the chilling words sending shivers down his own spine. "Mahahanap kita," he added, his voice low and dangerous, as if speaking directly to the author who had caused so much pain.

The hatred he felt was searing, carving itself deep into his heart and mind. He wouldn’t rest until he’d confronted KnightMadison.

From that day forward, Joshua's world grew even darker, engulfed in shadows he could no longer escape. His days and nights bled together, a relentless cycle of rage and anguish that refused to let him rest. He lost his job after nearly killing a coworker who had made an innocent remark, his rage exploding in a fit of violence that shocked everyone. The light in his heart had been snuffed out completely, replaced by an all-consuming desire for vengeance and sorrow that seemed to throb in his very bones.

Wala na siyang ibang iniisip kundi ang paghahanap kay KnightMadison, ang taong naging sanhi ng lahat ng kanyang pighati. Sa bawat oras na gising siya, nagbubuklat siya ng mga pahina ng internet, sinusuri ang bawat pahiwatig at bakas. He became consumed by this pursuit, driven by a dark, single-minded focus that eclipsed every other part of his life. He spent endless hours researching, piecing together scraps of information until he finally uncovered something—a sliver of truth about the elusive author. His heart raced with anticipation as his mind crafted horrific fantasies, each one darker than the last, of how he would make her suffer.

His plan began with fear. Gusto niyang maramdaman ni KnightMadison ang kaba at pangamba, ang malamig na takot na bumabalot sa kanya tuwing naaalala niya ang kanyang Lola. He started stalking her apartment, lurking in the shadows, always just out of sight. For days, he would linger outside her building, watching as lights flickered on and off, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His heart pounded each time he got close, a mixture of rage and twisted satisfaction surging through him.

One night, the temptation became too strong to resist. In the dead silence, with only the pale moonlight as witness, he slipped into her apartment. The stillness of the room was almost mocking, as though daring him to take his revenge. Ang kanyang puso ay puno ng pagnanasa para sa hustisya, isang baliw na kagustuhang magdulot ng sakit na katulad ng naramdaman niya. As he gazed down at KnightMadison, nang nakita nito ang inosente nitong mukha, a storm of emotions surged within him—anger, pain, and the grim satisfaction of finally having his prey within his grasp.

In one swift motion, he stabbed her behind using his knife, multiple times, and brought it down with lethal precision. Blood splattered, painting his hands in crimson, and a wicked smile spread across his face as he stared at her lifeless body. The silence of the room was filled with his laughter, a haunting sound that echoed off the walls as he relished the sight of his vengeance fulfilled. He dipped his fingers into the blood, smearing it across his face, the metallic taste mingling with his breath as he laughed harder.

"Sa bawat buhay mo, susundan kita. Papatayin kita... paulit-ulit!" he cackled madly, the sound echoing eerily in the empty room. His voice rose, unhinged and feral, as he raised the bloodied knife high into the air, twirling around in a feverish dance of madness. His mind was unraveling, spiraling down into a darkness from which he would never return.

Then, he paused, his gaze turning inward as a strange calm settled over him. He knew this wouldn’t end here, that this darkness inside him could never truly be quenched. With one swift motion, he plunged the knife into his own chest, his lips forming a twisted smile as he muttered, "Isinusumpa ko." He drove the blade deeper, his grip unyielding as he stabbed himself three more times, each thrust a final punctuation to the shattered fragments of his sanity.

With a thud, he collapsed onto the cold, bloodstained floor, his body slowly surrendering to the numbness that crept over him. There was no pain, only a fading sense of emptiness as his vision blurred, and room grew dim.

A/N: Hala sino kaya siya?