[Intro: Sudden toms, low brass, shortened horn motif]

[Verse 1]
The elder held his blade above the throne.
The ruler knelt, disarmed and overthrown.
Blue light cut hard across the elder's face;
"He owns the courts. No trial will set us free."
I heard her breath within me.
I saw one choice: the ruler left alive,
Or all the power I needed dead with him.

[Pre-Chorus]
The elder raised his arm to end the lie.
I struck his wrist before I answered why.
His severed weapon wheeled across the air.
The ruler rose. The room became a snare.

[Chorus]
Mercy turned to fire in the space of one breath.
I reached to prevent it and delivered death.
Mercy turned to fire; the blue became red.
A vow to protect her crowned the floor with dead.
I called it rescue, courage and desire.
The truth was simpler: mercy turned to fire.

[Verse 2]
I stared at what my hand had done.
The ruler said, "Your greater life's begun."
A weapon waited by the chair;
Its light made every surface glare.
I took the title from his hand.

[Pre-Chorus]
I thought of one warm face, one guarded room,
Then gave my former name up to the tomb.
The oath lay broken somewhere at my feet.
Red light made the fracture look complete.

[Verse 3]
We crossed the temple stairs beneath the rain.
The soldiers followed, shield and chain.
The silver gate remembered me as small;
It opened now and did not judge at all.
A keeper spoke the childhood name I missed.
The first alarm rang as I raised my fist.

[Choir]
Who guards the hall when guardians divide?
Who names the law when law has stepped aside?
The emblem cracks; the final oath expires.
The hand of mercy carries ordered fires.

[Bridge]
I told myself each door concealed a threat.
I told myself the price was not paid yet.
At every turn, red light crossed my glove.
I killed in fear and named the fear my love.

[Breakdown]
Seal every gate.
Clear every way.
Silence the bells.
Let red obey.

[Final Chorus]
Mercy turned to fire, and the fire learned my name.
The floor reflected back the flame.
Mercy turned to fire; the bells became the dead.
The halls that raised me filled with smoke and red.
I called it rescue while the towers burned higher.
There was no mercy, only chosen fire.

[Outro: One broken bell, red blade, radio static]