Page 75 of Eternal Thorns

Every memory of him makes us stronger.

“Then feed on it,” Thorne challenged through waves of corruption.

The entity seized his thoughts with cruel precision, forcing him to relive every precious moment. Silas's hand in his during lessons. Their first kiss tasting of moonlight and ancient magic. The way their bond had hummed with constant awareness.

“You think these hurt me?” Thorne's laugh held both shadow and light. “Every memory strengthens my choice. Every moment proves what I protected.”

You did this to save him,sacrificed everything to protect what you loved most. And now that very love feeds the darkness you fought.

“And I'd do it again.” The words carried absolute truth despite his corrupted form. “A thousand times over. That's what terrifies you, isn't it? That even corrupted, I don't regret choosing love.”

Physical corruption was nothing compared to this emotional battle. Thorne felt his very essence being transformed, yet something at his core remained untouchable. His magic might spread poison now, but his heart stayed true to its choice.

Your love burns so bright it makes the darkness deeper.

“You still don't understand.” Even through waves of corruption, Thorne's voice held centuries of certainty. “My love isn't your weapon. It's your weakness. Because I chose this knowing the cost. And that kind of willing sacrifice? That's something you can never corrupt.”

Through corrupted veins, Thorne felt his magic being twisted to new purpose. Ancient knowledge accumulated over centuries now served to spread shadow faster, his intimate understanding of forest paths creating perfect routes for poison.

His form shifted constantly, no longer the fluid grace of before but violent transformation that hurt to witness. The entity wore his shape like an ill-fitting coat, using his appearance to cause maximum pain to any who witnessed what their guardian had become.

They flee from your approach now.Those you protected for centuries run from what love has made you.

“Let them run,” Thorne challenged, though each frightened face cut deep. “Better they fear me than fall to your corruption.”

Still pretending this sacrifice serves some greater good?

“Not pretending anything.” Even through waves of darkness, the truth burned in his heart: He would choose this again. Would take corruption into himself a thousand times to keep Silas safe.

“You can't twist what's freely given,” he snarled as the entity pressed harder against his certainty. “My choice. My sacrifice. My love.”

Love?You think this protects him? Your sacrifice only delays the inevitable.

Fear spiked through Thorne's fractured consciousness. “He won't-”

He won't what? Abandon you to darkness? Leave you to your noble sacrifice?You know him better than that. Know his heart better than that.

“Stay away from him,” Thorne growled, his corrupted form flickering with protective rage.

Yes,feel that terror. That desperate need to protect even now.

“You still don't understand,” Thorne managed through waves of darkness. “Even this fear - this need to protect him - comes from love. And real love? That's something you can never truly corrupt.”

Thorne's twisted form manifested the entity's satisfaction, sickly light pulsing through darkened veins. His once-ethereal beauty now served only to make the wrongness more profound, like a beloved painting seen through shattered glass.

But underneath it all, deeper than even shadow could reach, a spark remained. Not magic or memory but something far morefundamental. The simple truth that had driven him to sacrifice everything.

Some loves were worth any price they demanded. Some choices had to be made knowing exactly what they would cost.

The entity's laughter echoed through his corrupted form, using his voice to mock such dedication. But even as darkness consumed him further, Thorne held onto that one pure truth.

Some prices were worth paying. Some loves transcended even the shadows born from their sacrifice.

The shadow entity wore his voice like a stolen cloak, using it to twist through his memories. “Remember how it felt?” it asked, showing him Marcus's betrayal overlaid with images of Silas.

The visions crashed through Thorne's fractured consciousness. Marcus turning away, choosing power over partnership. But when the entity tried to corrupt his memories of Silas, something unexpected happened. Those moments burned too bright, too pure to be fully tainted.

Silas's wonder at first touching forest magic. His fierce determination to understand rather than control. The way he'd looked at Thorne like he was something precious rather than just powerful.

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