Enel strolled casually through the cavernous path, finishing his cigar with a final drag just as he approached the others. Flicking the butt aside, he exhaled the smoke in a steady stream, as calm and collected as ever.
anwhile, Allison, Lana, and the n of the plane had been locked in a grueling battle with the zombified horde. Blood and sweat matted their bodies, and their breathing was heavy. Just as they had begun to fear the tide might overwhelm them, the creatures suddenly froze mid-attack, their bodies stiffening unnaturally before collapsing to the ground in lifeless heaps.
The group looked at one another, relief mixing with unease. None of them dared venture toward the molten core where Enel had disappeared. The heat radiating from that place was unbearable even from a distance. They knew entering it would be suicide.
A few tense minutes passed. Then, they saw him—Enel—erging from the depths. His stride was leisurely, his coat immaculate despite everything, and his expression was as cool as ever.
The sight of him sent a wave of wild cheers through the group. The n rushed toward him, their faces alight with awe and gratitude. Before he could say a word, they hoisted him onto their shoulders, parading him around as if he were a god. Enel allowed it, smiling faintly, though his gaze remained distant, as if his thoughts were elsewhere.
Lana and Allison stood back, watching the celebration unfold. Lana crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. Allison, though more relaxed, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of concern at the faraway look in Enel’s eyes.
The group made their way back to the surface via the creaking elevator. As they ascended, the villagers grew quiet, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and triumph. By the ti they returned to the village, the sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over the scene.
The won and children rushed out to et them, their faces lighting up with joy. Tears flowed freely as families reunited, embracing tightly. The air was filled with laughter, and the somber weight of the earlier battle began to lift.
That evening, a large campfire was lit in the center of the village. n and children sang and danced around it, their voices rising in jubilant tribal songs. They stomped and clapped rhythmically, their movents weaving together in a vibrant display of unity and relief.
So n at the sides told the children of the bravery that had ensured their victories, obviously exaggerating their feats here and there. But it did not matter as many were fascinated by them.
Food was distributed generously—roasted ats, foraged vegetables, and steaming broths filling the air with tantalizing aromas. The villagers ate heartily, the laughter of children mingling with the crackle of the fire.
A raised platform was constructed for Enel, where he sat flanked by Allison and Lana. The three of them were offered woven flowery ribbons by giggling children who would drape them over their shoulders before scurrying away in fits of laughter.
So of the young won cast flirtatious glances toward Enel, their eyes lingering on him. He returned their smiles, but it was clear to anyone paying attention—especially Allison—that his mind was elsewhere. His smile, though charming, didn’t quite reach his eyes. He seed deep in thought, his fingers occasionally tapping on his knee as though calculating sothing.
Lana noticed it too, though she said nothing. Her sharp gaze lingered on him for a mont before turning back to the fire. Whatever Enel was planning, it was clear that the battle they had just fought was only a small piece of the puzzle he was piecing together.
The firelight flickered warmly against the night sky, casting long shadows over the village. Enel sat silently on the raised platform, his gaze distant despite the festive energy surrounding him. Lana’s eyes lingered on him briefly, her expression soft but unreadable.
Allison, sitting beside her, caught the glance. She sighed heavily, the sound cutting through the background noise of laughter and music. Lana’s attention shifted to her, a slight frown creasing her brow.
Much of the celebration had died down, leaving only a few smoldering embers in the fire pit. Allison and Lana wandered along a quiet path on the village outskirts, the air cool and carrying the faint scent of charred wood. The distant hum of crickets filled the silence between them until Allison finally broke it.
"I get it, you know," Allison said, her voice low but steady.
Lana turned her head slightly, her steps slowing. "Get what?"
"The way you look at him. I understand."
Lana’s frown deepened, her tone sharp. "And what exactly do you think you understand?"
Allison stopped walking and leaned against a nearby tree, letting the rough bark press into her back. She crossed her arms loosely. "I an, be careful, Lana. That’s all I’m saying."
Lana turned to face her fully, irritation flashing in her erald eyes. "Be careful? Coming from you, that’s rich." She stepped closer, her tone defensive. "Don’t forget, I may be his half-sister, but that makes a relationship with him far less forbidden than what you’ve had with him. High elf royalty has always allowed siblings to marry. It’s part of our bloodline’s traditions, sothing you wouldn’t understand."
Allison didn’t react to the jab. Instead, she exhaled slowly, tilting her head back to look up at the sky. "Maybe you’re right," she said softly. "But you don’t know what it’s like being bound to him the way I am."
Lana’s expression softened slightly at the shift in Allison’s tone. She stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.
"In Imperilnt, where I grew up," Allison began, her voice distant, "we had an entire subject dedicated to Lenny. He was our king, the one who liberated humanity and the Eighth Earth from demons. Every young pup learned about him—his bravery, his cunning, his triumphs. But there was another side to the stories."
Allison closed her eyes for a mont, as if bracing herself. "Every woman who ever loved him? They all t tragic ends. Without exception. I thought it was just a story, you know? So myth to scare us or make him seem more untouchable. But now…"
Her gaze drifted back to Lana, her amber eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and resignation. "Now I know better. Because I’ve seen the way fate works around him. Around Enel." She chuckled bitterly. "Do you think I ever wanted this? That I’d ever willingly choose a mate who’s the reincarnation of Lenny? The one destiny chews up and spits out?"
Lana hesitated, her earlier irritation giving way to curiosity. "So… you regret it?"
Allison shook her head. "No. That’s the twisted part. I don’t regret it. I an my man is the crown of Legends, but I know how this ends." She placed a hand over her chest, her fingers trembling slightly. "For as long as I can rember, there’s been this dark presence in . A shadow, whispering things I can’t quite understand. It’s stronger now, louder. Like it’s now awake. And I’m certain that whatever it is… it’s going to destroy . One way or another."
The confession left a heavy silence between them. Lana looked at her, trying to find words, but Allison spoke first.
"You’re different, Lana," she said, her voice softening. "You’re not constrained by a werewolf’s bloodline, by so fate written long before you were born. You can make your own choices, forge your own path. That’s what I envy about you."
Lana glanced away, her eyes scanning the horizon where faint streaks of color still painted the dark sky, as though the rainbows had lingered long after the day. The tension in her posture eased slightly, though she still didn’t speak.
Allison sighed again, tilting her head back against the tree. "Just think carefully, okay? Before you get too close. Because loving him... it changes you. And not always for the better."
The two won stood in the quiet, the soft symphony of the night filling the spaces their words left behind. The distant sound of laughter from the village seed like it belonged to another world entirely....
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