The apartnt was silent. Ves had already gone to bed after tending to his injuries, making sure he ate, and scolding him (as usual) for pushing himself too hard.
He had assured her that he was fine, that he was used to this by now. She hadn't looked convinced.
He tilted his head back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. There was still so much left to do.
The first requirent was complete, but the others… raising Fiona to the Evolved Rank and, worst of all, defeating an off-worlder.
He sighed.
A faint gust of wind stirred the air.
Leo's eyes snapped open.
Before he could fully process what was happening, a familiar presence filled the room.
The air turned thick, charged with an almost imperceptible power, and a faint floral scent reached his nose.
He knew that scent.
Leo didn't even need to turn his head.
"You're getting better at sensing ," Tatiana's voice ca from the shadows, smooth and amused.
Leo exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Or maybe you're just getting lazy."
A chuckle. Then, with her usual fluid grace, Tatiana stepped forward from where she had been standing near the window, her crimson eyes gleaming faintly in the dim room.
She wore sothing far more casual than usual—a loose dark blouse with fitted black pants—but even dressed down, she still exuded that regal air of untouchable confidence.
She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she studied him. "You look terrible."
Leo snorted. "Thanks. I haven't exactly been playing around these past three days."
She leaned against the edge of the table, one boot tapping lightly against the wooden floor.
"I an it. You look like you got chewed up and spat out."
Leo shrugged. "I know."
She regarded him for a long mont before letting out a sigh. "So? How is your progress?"
Leo gestured toward the system screen still floating before him. "First requirent, done."
Tatiana raised an eyebrow. "Already?"
"Yeah," he said, stretching his sore limbs. "Three straight days of fighting. No weapons, no skills. Just and my fists."
Tatiana let out a low whistle. "Color impressed. I half expected you to be crawling back here begging for a shortcut."
Leo shot her a glare. "Yeah, no thanks. Besides, we both know there aren't any shortcuts in this."
"True," she admitted, nodding. "But I have to say, I'm surprised. But really, that's a brutal requirent. Even for soone like you."
Leo huffed. "Tell about it. I didn't realize just how much I relied on Nightshade until I had to fight without it. Every battle felt like I was walking a tightrope over a pit of knives."
Tatiana smirked. "And yet, here you are. Alive and stronger than before."
Leo exhaled. "Yeah. But there's still more to do."
Tatiana's expression shifted, sothing thoughtful flickering in her gaze. "Fiona."
Leo stiffened slightly before nodding. "She needs to evolve. I have to push her to the next level."
Tatiana crossed her arms again, her tone asured. "Easier said than done. Raising a beast companion to the next rank isn't the sa as leveling up on your own. I don't know how it's done but I do know that it's not going to be easy."
"I know," Leo murmured. "But she's strong. She can do this."
Tatiana studied him carefully before speaking again. "And the last requirent?"
Leo clenched his fists. "Still working on that one."
"Defeating an off-worlder…" Tatiana's voice trailed off. "That one's the real problem, isn't it?"
Leo didn't answer imdiately. He didn't need to. The weight of that requirent was enough to make his chest tighten.
He had fought monsters, survived ambushes, pushed his body to its breaking point—but an off-worlder?
That was sothing else entirely.
Tatiana exhaled through her nose. "Just focus on the first three requirents first. I think I have an idea on how to go about the last."
Leo smirked, but there was no humor in his expression. "Yeah, well… I don't have much of a choice, do I? And thanks."
Tatiana was silent for a long ti before shaking her head.
"You're reckless."
"Cos with the territory."
She let out an exasperated sigh but didn't push further. Instead, she unfolded her arms and turned toward the window.
"You should rest. You've done enough for today."
Leo watched as she moved toward the shadows, her form blending almost seamlessly with the dim lighting.
"You leaving already?" he asked.
Tatiana glanced over her shoulder, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Don't miss too much."
With that, she vanished, leaving not even the faintest whisper of her presence behind.
Leo exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He didn't know what it was, but there was always sothing about Tatiana's visits that left him feeling both amused and on edge.
Shaking his head, he pushed himself off the couch and made his way to his room.
.....
The next morning, Leo woke to the sound of silence.
That wasn't unusual—mornings were usually quiet before everyone stirred. But sothing felt… off.
The air felt still. Too still.
Pushing off the covers, he sat up and rubbed his face, his body still sore from the previous days of fighting. His thoughts drifted to the requirents again, to what he still had to do—
Then, he noticed it.
A gnawing feeling in his chest.
It was faint, but there—sothing missing.
Sothing wrong.
Frowning, he got to his feet and moved toward the window. His eyes scanned the ruined cityscape, searching for sothing he couldn't quite place.
Then, his gaze shifted downward.
The wolves were still there, resting in the shade of the building.
But Fiona—
Fiona wasn't.
His chest tightened.
She wasn't in the building.
She wasn't in the surroundings.
She was gone.
Leo's stomach dropped. His mind imdiately raced through possibilities.
Had she wandered off? No—Fiona was smarter than that. She never left without him.
Had sothing taken her?
His pulse quickened.
Sothing wasn't right.
Without another thought, Leo grabbed his gear and bolted for the door.
This wasn't normal.
And he wasn't about to sit around and wait to find out why.
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