They entered a cozy office filled with a familiar atmosphere — calm and orderly. Without saying a word, Elizabeth gestured toward a soft couch by a small table in the left corner of the room. Alex sat down while she walked over to a cabinet, took out a bottle of red wine and two glasses. Sitting beside him, she poured the wine, handed him a glass, and carefully raised her own.
"This seems to be our first real conversation since the whole Reiner incident," she said after taking the first sip.
Alex smiled and replied,
"I would've come by earlier myself, but it looks like you disappeared for a few days. I was left with nothing but boredom to remind me how dull free time can be."
"Guilty," Elizabeth admitted with a light smile. "A lot of administrative work. Preparing for today's meeting, planning the evening event with the other Directors… And I also finally held two postponed training sessions with Demian. I'd neglected him for too long because of the situation with Reiner."
She took another small sip, then calmly added,
"Sorry I didn't reach out to you these last few days."
"It's fine," Alex replied. "You're the Director of the Academy. You've got a mountain of responsibilities. It'd be weird if you were focused only on me."
"Thank you for understanding," she said gently, then leaned in slightly with interest. "So, how do you like your new team? Have you had a chance to get to know them?"
Alex chuckled and looked up at her.
"I thought you brought me here to ask about how things ended with Reiner. Aren't you curious how it all wrapped up?"
"Oh, I'm very curious," Elizabeth smiled. "But Astarion is curious too. He'll be joining us soon, and then you can tell both of us at once."
"Alright," Alex nodded briefly, then returned to her previous question. "As for the team — good impression so far. I'd already met some of them before."
"Like who?"
"Rogan. We've crossed paths a few times. Solid fighter. Brave, composed — the kind you're not afraid to trust your back to. And Eliria..." — his voice softened — "We fought together for nearly three months. Her healing skills saved my life more than once. Outside of battle, she's calm and kind. Hard not to become friends with her."
"That's good," Elizabeth said with a small smile. "And the rest?"
"Lianel and Celia are interesting people. Celia's gentle but has a spine. Lianel... energetic, a little overconfident, though he's definitely strong."
He took a sip and paused for a moment, weighing his words.
"Kaelis..." he finally said. "He's trickier. I still don't fully understand him, so I'll be keeping a particularly close eye on him."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Dionis says he's a good guy. Very stubborn, closed off, reluctant to open up. But when things get serious — he drops all that and becomes part of the team. I'm confident he won't be a problem during a raid."
"I hope so," Alex nodded. "Either way, I'm glad to finally know who I'll be working with."
He took another sip and then looked over at Elizabeth.
"By the way, I've got a question about our matches with you. I mean — you're all legends, and we're your students… But don't you think throwing us one-on-one against you at A-rank boss level was a bit much?"
Elizabeth laughed — a soft, melodic laugh.
"Didn't expect you to bring that up. To be honest, we debated that a lot. In the end, we decided to tell you it would be A-rank level… but in reality, we fought slightly above B-rank bosses. Just enough for you to feel the pressure and treat the duels as seriously as possible."
"Sneaky," Alex smirked, though there was amusement in his eyes. "But effective."
"As you can see," she replied. "And you, by the way, handled yourself very well."
"Thank you," Alex said briefly, then took another sip. "Although… If I'm being honest, the fight with Fenrix was thrilling, but I'd really like to test myself against the other candidates too. You know, for a full picture."
Elizabeth gave him a sly smile, her gaze brushing over him.
"I'll keep that in mind. Maybe you'll get the chance."
She took another sip and, looking over the rim of her glass, added,
"By the way, do you have any experience with leadership?"
Alex smiled a little and shrugged.
"Some. Not a lot. Why are you asking?"
He leaned forward slightly, looking her straight in the eye.
"The way you asked... sounds like a decision's already been made."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow calmly.
"The Directors don't have the final say, of course. But your duel with Fenrix showed a lot. We all saw it. In terms of strength, you surpass the others. If you make the right impression during the next trial — the position is yours."
Alex looked down into his wine glass, then back at her.
"I won't mind if someone else takes that role. But if it's me — I'll do everything I can to be worthy of the trust."
"I don't doubt that," Elizabeth replied softly. "And I believe the others will feel it too, with time."
They both took another sip, just as a light knock sounded on the door. Elizabeth turned and said,
"Come in."
The door opened, and Astarion stepped into the room — elegant as always, confidence in every step. His eyes lit up warmly when he saw the familiar faces.
"Good evening," he said, walking closer. "It's good to see you."
"And you," Elizabeth smiled, gesturing to the chair across from them. "Join us."
Astarion sat down and immediately turned to Alex.
"How have your days at the Academy been?"
"All good," Alex replied. "Even better than I expected."
"Glad to hear it," Astarion nodded briefly.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, pulled out a third glass, quickly poured wine into it, and placed it before him.
"You're late," she teased.
"Got held up at the last moment," Astarion replied with a light smile. "But I rushed here as soon as I was free."
"I believe you," she replied with a playful smirk and took another sip. Then she looked at Alex.
"Well then, you can tell us now how it all ended. We're listening carefully."
Alex sighed, set his glass on the table, and leaned back slightly. His gaze clouded over for a moment, and then he began:
"It was a bit more complicated than I'd have liked..."
He took a deeper breath, his eyes briefly distant — as if that night replayed itself in front of him again. Then he started to speak, without embellishment but not too dryly either. Everything — from the moment he encountered Elian at the Academy, to their fight in the clearing, and that unexpected appearance of the Jester. What he said, how he acted... and how he vanished, leaving behind only a vial filled with an unknown potion.
Astarion and Elizabeth listened silently, intently. Neither interrupted. And when Alex fell silent, a brief hush settled over the room. Each of them digesting what they had heard.
Astarion was the first to break the silence.
"I definitely didn't expect that..." he said slowly. "It changes everything. And yet... nothing. If I'm being honest, I don't know what to do next. You're the only one who had direct contact with him, Alex. You know what he might do in the future. And if you say he called himself your friend... I'm willing to believe you. But your opinion matters to me."
Alex sighed, twirling the glass between his fingers.
"These thoughts haven't left me alone these past few days," he finally said. "In my mind, the Fool was always the main enemy. The symbol of all tragedies' beginning. But now…" — he paused for a moment. "His words were too sincere to completely ignore. If he only meant to play the role of a 'friend' in words — I wouldn't have fallen for it. But the fact that he saved Rayner and simply vanished… it makes me think."
"You're having doubts?" Elizabeth clarified.
"Exactly. But that doesn't mean we should change the plan. We have too little information. We don't know when or under what circumstances he'll show up again. So for now, everything stays the same. We keep looking for those connected to him. And only when he comes to me — and I'm sure he will — we'll make a final decision. But only after a face-to-face talk."
"Makes sense," Elizabeth nodded. "His words alone don't change anything. On a larger scale, the situation remains the same."
"Agreed," Astarion added. "Caution is our main rule right now. Now, onto another matter." He leaned forward. "The potion he left you… do you still have it?"
Alex nodded and pulled a small vial from his inventory.
"Siren already examined it. No information."
Astarion extended a hand.
"May I?"
Alex handed over the vial, and Astarion immediately addressed his Siren.
"Try to find something about this potion."
A few seconds later came the response:
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but no information was found."
Elizabeth took the vial from the Count, then also addressed her Siren. The result was the same. When the potion was returned to Alex's hands, Astarion looked at him again.
"And what do you plan to do with it?"
"I'll keep it for now." Alex carefully stowed the potion away. "Might come in handy in the dungeon. And if not… I have one idea where it could be used. But I'll speak of that when the time comes."
"Smart," Astarion nodded briefly. "By the way, how's Adam?"
Alex smiled.
"Doing great. He's joined the student council."
"Student council?" Astarion raised a brow in surprise, then laughed. "That sounds like him."
"If you'd like, I can call him. He has two hours of free time right now."
"If it's no trouble," Astarion nodded.
Alex rose from the couch and gave Elizabeth a brief glance.
"I'll be back soon."
"We'll be waiting," she replied with a soft smile.
Alex left the office, leaving the two most powerful allies alone with a host of new thoughts.
The hall buzzed with conversation, and in a cozy corner near the windows sat a round table where Adam, Damian, and Liam were gathered. In front of them lay half-empty plates, and in the center — a small metal tray with sliced bread and fruit. The three were engaged in animated discussion, and when Alex approached, their faces lit up instinctively.
"Hey, guys," Alex greeted with a nod as he neared the table.
"Alex!" Damian smiled. "As always, you show up at the most interesting moment."
"Maybe that's for the best," Liam chimed in, narrowing his eyes slightly. "How are your classes going?"
"Not bad, though sometimes I wish a day had at least thirty hours," Alex replied with a grin. "How about you?"
"All steady," Adam shrugged. "If you're not in a rush, grab something and sit with us," he added, pointing to an empty seat nearby.
"Thanks, but I'm actually here for you," Alex said. "Your father's arrived and wants to see you."
Adam froze. His gaze darted sharply to Damian and Liam, and a moment later he was already standing up.
"Sorry, guys, I have to go."
"No worries," Damian waved a hand. "We'll see each other later today."
"Of course," Adam nodded in farewell.
The boys exited the dining hall. The Academy's corridors greeted them with a soft hum and the echo of conversations.
"Why is he here?" Adam asked as they walked toward the Directors' wing.
"To hear how the situation with Rayner ended," Alex answered.
"Got it," Adam muttered, then added, "I think you could use a visit to your parents too."
"I'll soon take a few full days off and visit them," Alex shrugged. "I'm curious if they've gotten used to being aristocrats… and if the maids have gotten used to a calm, safe life."
"I think they have," Adam replied. "People get used to good things quickly."
"You're probably right," Alex smiled quietly.
They had walked a few more meters when a crowd of students appeared ahead. Some had stopped, others peeked from around the corner, whispering.
Alex and Adam exchanged glances and moved closer, pushing their way through the gathering.
What they saw made them pause: on the floor, surrounded by scattered books, sat Eliria. Her face was bowed, hands clutching the hem of her uniform. Standing above her were three girls — all human, older students. Two stood in the back with arms crossed and cold expressions. The third, standing slightly ahead, seemed to be shouting at Eliria, gesturing angrily and furrowing her brows — though the general noise made it impossible to make out her words.
"What the…" Adam began and made a step forward, but Alex gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Go to your father. I'll handle this," Alex said calmly, but firmly.
"Alex, I'm on the student council. This is my responsibility," Adam whispered with a hint of doubt.
"The Count doesn't have much free time. Best not keep him waiting," Alex reminded him. "Besides, I told you: I'm not in the council, but I'll help you. So trust me."
Adam sighed heavily, glanced briefly at the scene before him, and slowly nodded.
"Alright. I trust you. But tell me everything later."
"Of course."
Adam slipped along the wall and bypassed the crowd, disappearing down the hallway. Alex, meanwhile, stepped forward, making his way to the center — toward the three girls and Eliria. His expression shifted — calm, yet with a faint chill, like the silence before a storm.
Without stopping or paying any attention to the trio standing over her, he knelt beside Eliria.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, leaning closer.
The spirit slowly raised her gaze to him. Tears glistened in her eyes, barely held back. Her lips trembled faintly.
"I'm fine…" she whispered, though her trembling hands said otherwise.
Alex gently took her hands and helped her to her feet. The girl who had been shouting at her moments before stepped forward, curling her lip in a sneer.
"Hey, you! Stay out of things that don't concern you! Get out of here right now!"
Alex didn't reply. He calmly brushed the dust off Eliria's shoulder. The girl boiled with anger.
"You're not hearing me, are you?! How dare you ignore me, Lara Havil?!" her voice rose an octave.
A red magical circle flared in her palm, and the next moment it shot a small fireball straight into Alex's back. The explosion raised a cloud of dust into the air, enveloping both him and Eliria. The girl laughed, taking a step back.
"That's it. Serves him right."
"Yeah," one of her friends chimed in. "He should know his place."
But as the dust began to settle, the smiles slowly faded from their faces. Alex was standing before them — unharmed. Only his arm, slightly lowered, was covered in blood. He hadn't even looked away from Eliria when he took the hit. Lara's magic was so weak that he hadn't even felt the pain.
In front of him, Eliria stood frozen in fear, staring at his hand. Alex shifted his gaze to the trio.
"You have two options," he said coldly. "First — we all forget this ever happened, and you walk away quietly."
At that moment, the blood covering his hand gathered in his palm and began stretching forward, taking the shape of a blade. Within a second, a thin sword grew from his arm, aimed threateningly at the girls.
"Or the second…"
"Enough," came a male voice from behind, calm but laced with authority. "I'll take it from here."
Alex turned and saw Kaelan approaching. He stopped beside him and placed a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Still doing the student council's job?" he said with a smile.
"I just happen to be in the right place a few minutes early," Alex replied, and the blood blade dissolved, dripping away. "I'll leave it to you," he added.
Kaelan simply nodded, his gaze now shifting to the girls — though the warmth that had been in his eyes for Alex was gone.
Meanwhile, Alex turned to Eliria, who still stood silently behind him. The blood from his palm came to life again, this time forming into thin tendrils that gently gathered all her scattered books from the floor. A magic circle formed beneath them, and in the next instant, Alex and Eliria vanished from the corridor.
The reading room was quiet and deserted. Only the walls filled with bookshelves and the long tables in the center, covered in tomes and manuscripts, reminded one of the room's purpose.
As soon as the magic circle faded and the space around them stilled, Eliria looked around in confusion.
"How... how did you know I wanted to come here?" she asked cautiously, still not quite understanding what had just happened.
Alex paused in thought. A memory flashed — her telling him in the future how she could spend hours in the reading room, hiding between the shelves, lost in books.
"Where else would a girl with that many books be heading?" he smiled.
Eliria blushed slightly, looking away as she awkwardly twisted a lock of hair around her finger.
"That's true..."
"Where should I put the books?" Alex asked, glancing at them.
"Um… there," she pointed to one of the tables. "If it's not too much trouble."
Alex stepped forward and gently placed the books on the table. Eliria slowly approached him.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For standing up for me... and for the books."
"I'm always at your service, miss," Alex replied with a smile and gave a slight bow.
"Oh, stop it!" she exclaimed bashfully, waving her hands. "Stand up already…"
Alex laughed.
"Just joking. I wanted to make sure you're okay."
"I'm fine, really. Thank you."
A brief silence fell between them. Then Eliria spoke again, a bit calmer now.
"I was carrying the books, watching my step so they wouldn't fall… and I accidentally bumped into Lara. She started yelling, and then the others showed up. And, well… you saw the rest."
Alex simply listened silently.
"She was always like this — shy, unnoticed. No one at the Academy ever took her seriously. And no one knew she was Irida's apprentice. She never complained to her. But I know the real her — the one who saved lives on the battlefield without thinking of her own. And if I have to, I'll help her reveal that true self again. After all, what wouldn't I do for my best friend from the past?"
"Did I say something funny?" Eliria suddenly asked, noticing the faint smile on his lips.
"No, not at all," Alex replied. "Just thinking... So, what are those books you were carrying?"
She glanced at the table.
"Healing magic. I never had time to really dive into them before, but now I want to catch up."
"Find anything interesting?"
As soon as she started speaking, all her shyness melted away. Her voice gained confidence, a spark appeared in her eyes. She spoke with enthusiasm, gesturing animatedly and even smiling at times. Alex simply listened and asked questions now and then — he had deliberately shifted the topic to distract her. He knew that books were her element.
They talked for about an hour, until Eliria finally said:
"Soon I plan to move on to books about teleportation magic. I've wanted to learn it for a while but could never find the time."
"I could teach you," Alex offered unexpectedly.
"Really?"
"With pleasure. In our raid group, a healer who can teleport to any team member and instantly heal them — that's a treasure."
"Thank you…" she smiled sincerely. "When could we start?"
"Can't say for sure yet. After the evening event the Directors are holding, I'll let you know."
"All right… and thank you. I've probably kept you too long with my boring stories…"
"They weren't boring," Alex assured her. "And thank you for the time. If you don't mind, I'd like to come here more often. We could talk about books."
Eliria blushed again, but there was warmth in her gaze.
"I'd like that."
"Then pick something for me."
"Like what?"
Alex paused for a moment.
"Something light. Fun fantasy."
"Light fantasy…" she repeated quietly, as if memorizing it. "Got it. I'll find something."
Alex nodded and said goodbye, slowly leaving the reading room.
Eliria was left alone. For a few seconds, she stared at the door through which Alex had just exited. Then she lowered her gaze, smiled, and placed her hand on her chest, where her heart seemed to be beating louder than usual.
The night was quiet. Too quiet for the eve of an important battle.
Only the crackle of logs in the fire and the distant, occasional cries of night birds broke the silence. Alex sat on the ground, resting on one knee, gazing up at the starry sky. His eyes wandered among the constellations, searching for a peace that didn't exist around him.
He took a few sips of water from the flask attached to his belt when he heard light footsteps behind him. Feminine. Familiar.
"Why aren't you asleep?" came a calm, warm voice.
"Just can't sleep," he replied briefly without turning his head.
"As always, before an important day," she said with a soft smile and sat down beside him.
He looked at her. A white shirt. Long, wavy green hair reflecting in the firelight. Eliria. His best friend. His… hope, back then, in the midst of war.
She extended her hand without taking her eyes off the sky. Alex silently handed her the flask, and she took a few sips before giving it back. They sat in silence, as if afraid to ruin the moment with anything extra.
"And why are you awake?" Alex asked.
"Picked up bad habits from you," she muttered. "Now I can't sleep either."
Alex smiled, but she quickly continued:
"I don't see what's so funny."
"If you're so quick to pick up my bad habits, maybe you should keep your distance," he joked.
"If I kept my distance, you'd have been dead long ago," she said, and there was truth in her voice. "So be grateful."
"Don't exaggerate," he replied, a smile still lingering on his lips.
"If anything, I'm downplaying it," she said with a grin.
Their eyes met. The green in hers glowed in the dark. He felt alive while she was near.
"Tomorrow will be the most important battle in months," Eliria said more seriously. "Promise me you won't try to play the hero. I don't want to patch you up again afterward."
"I'm not playing the hero. I'm just responding to the situation," he answered, not taking his eyes off her.
She lowered her gaze and whispered barely audibly:
"I just… I have a bad feeling."
Alex gently took her chin and turned her face toward him.
"It'll all be over tomorrow. The worst days will be behind us. You'll go home. But for now—push those foolish thoughts away, alright?"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away. Then she wiped her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Promise me… that you'll come out of the fight without a single scratch," she whispered.
"Do you even realize how—"
"Promise!" she repeated more insistently.
"Alright… I promise," he exhaled.
"You gave your word," she whispered with a smile.
Alex smiled too. "Well, keeping that promise in a battle like this will be interesting. Though if I fail, she'll send me to my grave herself, so I'd better try hard."
Silence. The crackle of the fire. A starry sky overhead.
"Alex…" came a soft voice beside him.
He didn't take his eyes off the sky.
"What?" he replied absently.
"Alex…"
He finally turned his head.
Eliria sat beside him, just like a moment ago — facing him. But… something was wrong. Her skin was deathly pale, like ash. Her eyes — devoid of pupils, of color — just empty, black voids.
Her hair — no longer soft and shiny, but tangled and matted with blood.
Alex sprang up, leapt back, and cursed.
"What the…!?"
He tried to breathe — but no air entered his lungs. As if something had gripped his throat from the inside. He began choking, eyes darting around for help — but instead of the familiar camp, a blood-soaked battlefield now lay before him. Dead bodies. Shattered remains. The fire was gone. The stars — vanished. The sky — drenched in blood.
"Siren…" Alex croaked.
Silence.
His gaze snapped back to Eliria. She was crawling toward him. Slowly. Unnaturally. Her body twisted under its own weight like a broken marionette.
Alex raised his hand toward her, trying to immobilize her with blood magic.
But — nothing. No impulse. Not a drop of power.
"No…" he whispered.
His eyes returned to her. She was already right in front of him. Too close. A gaping wound in her chest — deep, still bleeding. Her ribs were visible through the opening.
"You… promised…" her voice echoed across the field.
Hoarse. Dead. And yet hers.
"Not to play the hero… remember?.."
Alex trembled.
"I… I just wanted to protect you…"
Laughter. Loud, hollow, merciless. It echoed across the world. She tilted her head, as if sizing him up.
"Protect?.." she whispered. "That's how you protect? Happy with the result?"
"It's my fault…" he said. "It's all my fault…" he repeated. "I'm to blame…"
"Yes," she whispered. "You are to blame. You failed. The one time I truly needed you — and you failed."
Alex collapsed to his knees, pounding his fists into the blood.
"I'm sorry… please… I was weak. Too slow. Useless… Forgive me…"
Eliria raised her hand. A green magical circle glowed in her palm. From the blood-soaked earth, red vines burst forth. They wrapped around Alex, lifting him into the air. He hung before her, eye to eye — empty, black.
"Too late…" she whispered. "You gave me your word. And you broke it. It's your fault, Alex…"
"Eliria…"
"Your… fault… Alex…"
"Forgive me… Please… It's my fault…"
"Still weak… Guilty of my death… Alex… Alex…"
"Alex!"
Alex jolted awake, feeling someone shaking his shoulders. Someone was trying to pull him back into reality by force. His heart pounded wildly.
"Oh, finally…" Adam exhaled and handed him a glass of water.
Alex snatched the glass and gulped down half in one go, then emptied the rest in a few more gulps.
"What the hell just happened to you?" Adam asked, watching him closely.
Alex put the glass down on the floor, still trying to steady his breathing.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, everything was fine. You were asleep, same as me..." Adam sat down on the edge of the bed. "And then you started tossing and turning, mumbling to yourself, and next thing I know..." He paused for a moment. "You were almost yelling that it was your fault."
Alex flinched slightly, but answered calmly.
"Just a nightmare. I'm fine."
"You sure?" Adam tilted his head.
"Yeah. It's all good now."
Adam studied him for a moment longer, as if trying to see through the words, then shrugged and went back to his bed. He picked up the book from his nightstand and opened it to the marked page.
"You get nightmares like that often?"
"This... was the first," Alex replied quietly, lying back down and pulling the blanket up to his chin.
Silence. It lasted for several seconds.
"If you ever want to talk..." Adam said, eyes still on the book. "My dad says it helps sometimes."
"Thanks..." Alex whispered. "Someday, I will. Just not now."
"Well, suit yourself," Adam replied, turning a page.
"My Lord..."
Siren's voice echoed in his mind gently, almost timidly.
"Siren, please... not now..." Alex murmured.
There was no anger in his voice—only the exhausted fatigue of someone who had fought all night and still lost.
"Understood."
Alex closed his eyes. Darkness came softly, like an apology. And this time—without dreams.
When Adam heard Alex's steady, even breathing, he closed his book, set it down on the nightstand, smiled faintly, and drifted off to sleep.
Aria's blades flashed through the air again, like silver lightning. Alex dodged, parried, blocked—his movements were precise, honed by hundreds of hours of training. But they lacked life. He moved on autopilot, like a machine still running a last command: "Defend."
His eyes followed every step Aria took, yet his gaze was unfocused. His mind wasn't assessing distance, planning counters, seeking openings.
He was here. And at the same time—somewhere else entirely.
Visions surged before his inner eye again. Angelic wings woven from gold and light scorched the skies. Bloodied fragments of armor. Fire erupting from beneath the earth. And then—the sound. That sound that had once made Alex's heart stop for a beat.
The ambush… Eliria's group…
And now he stood among the ruins, cradling the body that had, just yesterday, laughed, joked, and dreamed of returning home. Her eyes were closed. Her lips, silent. But that silence screamed louder than any battlefield. A deep wound marred her chest, and her green hair was matted with blood. And in that sea of pain, Alex heard a thousand voices crying in unison: this was his fault.
"Alex?" Aria's voice sounded distant, as if through water.
The boy still stood in a combat stance, eyes fixed on the girl. His arm was tense, ready for the next strike, though the very idea of attacking now felt foreign.
"Alex!" Aria raised her voice.
He finally flinched, blinked, as if waking from a dream.
"What?" he asked quietly, now looking at her with awareness.
"Are you alright? You've been zoning out this whole training session. I even stopped attacking, and you're still standing there like you're in a duel."
Alex scratched the back of his head and sighed guiltily.
"Sorry... I'm fine. Just got lost in thought." He tried to smile, but it came out weak. "Mind if we take a short break?"
"No problem at all," Aria said with a light nod and walked toward the small pond in the training chamber.
Alex remained where he was. The same scene played before his eyes again—Eliria's lifeless body in his arms, the blood-soaked ground, the suffocating despair that filled the air.
He inhaled sharply and slapped his cheeks.
"Pull yourself together, Alex. You didn't come back here to drown in the past. You're here to change everything. Eliria is alive, and that's what matters most. If you want to protect her, then focus on what's important."
He looked at his blood-forged sword, and finally, a genuine smile touched his lips.
"I'm alright now, Siren. And this time—I mean it."
"I'm glad to hear that," she replied softly. Her voice was warm, gentle, like sunlight on the skin after rain.
Alex turned to Aria.
"Ready to continue?"
The girl stood up, shaking the remaining water from her hands, and nodded with a light smile.
"I'm always ready. What about you?"
"Now I am," Alex said and stepped forward to meet her.
And this time—he gave himself fully to the fight.