"Even if what you say is true," she said softly, "this feels… wrong."
Eleonora folded her arms. "I'll pass. This isn't my decision to make."
The ice dragon felt like she didn't have the authority to do that as they didn't know each other much.
Alera looked down at Alice, tears welling in her eyes.
She trusted Alex, but the thought of harming her friend, even for her benefit, was almost unbearable to her.
It was quite a weird feeling to her as she didn't expect to get attached to these people so much.
Finally, with a shaky nod, she agreed.
"If this is what's best for her… I'll do it."
Summoning her ornate spear, Alera knelt beside Alice.
Her hands trembled as she positioned the weapon over her friend's heart.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek.
'So dramatic...' Alex thought.
With a swift motion, Alera plunged the spear into Alice's chest.
The girl's body jerked once, then fell still.
A soft blue glow enveloped her as her lifeless form began to dissolve into shimring particles.
Alera dropped her spear, her legs giving out as she began to sob.
"I… I killed her…"
Alex using his speed caught her before she could fall, holding her steady.
"It's okay," he whispered. "She'll be back soon."
Alera clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt.
"A-Are you really sure…?"
"Yes," Alex said firmly. "Look."
He pointed to the fading particles where Alice's body had been.
The glow intensified before disappearing entirely, leaving no trace of her behind.
"She's gone…" Alera murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"She'll respawn in the real world," Alex explained. "And when she does, she'll be fully recovered."
Alex didn't know what NPCs thought of the real world since they wouldn't be able to go inside of it until a little while, but it must be like so sort of familiar alternate dinsion to them.
They didn't seem that shocked when you spoke about it to them after all.
Alera sniffled, wiping her tears.
"I still… I still don't feel good about this."
Alex placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I wouldn't let anything happen to her, or to you. Trust ."
Alera nodded weakly, leaning into Alex for support.
Despite her lingering guilt, his reassurances brought her so comfort.
For a mont, they stood in silence, the quiet hum of the village around them.
Eleonora watched the scene with a thoughtful expression but remained silent.
And just like that, thirty minutes passed.
They used that ti to catch up on what was happening and what Alex was doing.
He also asked Eleonora many questions about what she knew of dragons and also about her master's curse.
"There are several dragon cities scattered across the realms," Eleonora began, her voice cool and asured. "So are more powerful and high-leveled than others. But, human, I wouldn't recomnd going to any of them—not even for soone like you."
Alex raised a brow, "Why not?"
"The dragons in those cities can sense if anyone doesn't belong to their kin," she explained, her tone laced with warning. "Outsiders are killed on sight. Sotis, they even kill each other—out of sport or spite."
"Just like angels, huh," Alex muttered with a faint smirk.
Eleonora nodded, her lips curving into a weak grin.
"The strongest races do seem to share that ruthless nature. Be it demons, dragons, angels, or others… perhaps that's what makes them so powerful in the first place."
"Hm…" Alex humd thoughtfully, filing the information away for later.
Changing the subject, he pressed, "And your master's curse? Do you have any idea how to lift it?"
The faint amusent in Eleonora's expression faded, replaced by a shadow of sadness.
"There seems to be no way to cure her without the appropriate item or the intervention of a [Grand Mage]."
Her voice wavered slightly as she added, "But even then… there's no guarantee. The curse is unlike anything I've ever seen. It feels… hopeless."
The term [Grand Mage] struck a chord in Alex's mind, and an image of Arceus, the Grand Mage surfaced.
He was enigmatic in what he was doing, and extrely arrogant, but he was a [Grand Mage] nonetheless.
'Could Arceus help?' Alex wondered, but the thought only lingered for a mont before he shook it off, 'Nah, I'm dreaming.'
Do you really think Arceus, the Grand Mage that acted like this until now, would leave his tower to help so random princess? Even if it was for a few minutes?
Pushing the thought aside, Alex chose not to ntion Arceus to Eleonora.
He doubted she'd be comforted by the idea of a potential solution locked behind soone so unreliable and dangerous.
Instead, he offered a curt nod, "We'll figure it out," he said, his tone resolute. "There's always a way. You just need to find the right one."
Eleonora's eyes softened slightly, though the sorrow lingered. "If you say so… I'll hold onto that hope."
But suddenly, right as they were about to return to Alera's house, a burst of blue light appeared where Alice's body had dissolved.
From the light, Alice reappeared, standing upright as if she had never been injured.
Her complexion was healthy, her eyes bright, and her posture steady.
"Alex!" Alice spoke like she hadn't just been killed, "I sent you at least a dozen ssages!"
"My bad," he grinned as he looked at Alera, "See, she's fine."
Alera gasped at the sight, "Alice! You're okay!"
Alice tilted her head. "Of course I'm okay. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Told you it would work."
They quickly explained to Alice what happened, and even the archer girl couldn't help but fear that [Soul] thing.
"You're fine now, though." Find exclusive stories on empire
Alice smiled, turning to Alera.
"Thanks for helping, Alera, I wouldn't want to lose any levels from this..."
The fox queen hugged her tightly, fresh tears streaming down her face.
"I'm so glad you're safe!"
Peering from her window, Lilith giggled softly, watching the reunion.
"Mom really likes them," she murmured, her fluffy tail wagging behind her.
But right as Alex, Alice and the group were about to head back inside of the Fox Queen's house to enjoy food and tea... a panel appeared in front of the two players.
The group lingered for a few monts, basking in the relief of Alice's return.
But just as they were about to head back into the Fox Queen's house to enjoy so food and tea, a familiar sound interrupted the mont.
Ding!
A glowing blue panel materialized in front of both Alex and Alice.
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly as he read the words, his posture straightening as he recognized that panel from his past life.
It was the first ti it appeared in this one though.
[Player "MartialMage" is attempting to establish a new city: "Overlord City" using a "City Building Scroll."]
"What's this?" Alice asked, frowning as she read the ssage.
"Sothing that's been a long ti coming," Alex muttered.
Before anyone could comnt further, another notification appeared, shimring just below the first.
[As it is the first city that will try to be established, it is now ti to further explain how cities work in Universal Descent!]
"Here we go," Alex sighed.
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