Steve stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded.
At first, a quiet awe flooded his body as he looked down at her. But then his gaze shifted—still endless, still vacant, docile and emotionless. Like a mirror. He saw himself staring back at him through her. She was still. Cold. Watching.
And he was too.
His mind lagged, unsure of what to do next. His hands clenched. The air between them was heavy with sothing unspoken, humming with tension.
Then finally, he struck—not a blow, but a motion. His hand moved slightly forward before relaxing and lowering. In his mind, a singular question pulsed.
’How did she find out about the author’s notebook... Did I slip up sowhere? No. I never ntioned this to anyone. Then how the hell did she know about it?’
The weight of her gaze made him feel like he was under a microscope. He’d hit his limit. His shoulders loosened, but his eyes grew sharper, narrower. His voice deepened, low and steely.
"Who...the hell are you?" Steve muttered.
A strange glare washed over his eyes, threatening and calculating.
At that mont, the thought hit him as he steadied himself, ready to use Puppeteer’s Strings on her at that mont.
’I can’t let her leave without giving information. But first... I need to know exactly how she found out. I need to know how many others know that I—the author—am in this story.’
He stared, and she stared back. Unmoving.
His fist clenched tightly, knuckles whitening. Bracing. Preparing.
He waited.
Then, softly, she muttered.
"You’re not going to try and deny it?"
Steve blinked, tension coiling tighter in his chest.
"Would you believe if I did?" he replied flatly.
She paused, just for a mont, before she replied.
"No. Not really."
Steve exhaled through his nose.
"Then there’s no use in lying."
"I suppose not." she said with a shrug, her voice calm. Then, with a surprising ease, she added.
"Don’t worry. I’m just a regular student, just like you. I have no ill will toward you."
Steve’s brows knit tighter.
"A regular student wouldn’t dig into my life to find shit she shouldn’t know."
He quickly glanced behind him, eyes darting left and right to ensure they were still alone in the hallway.
Then, he stepped closer.
She smiled faintly.
"So what? Are you going to silence , then?"
Steve stared at her. His breath caught in his throat.
"You think I could do that?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Well... you moved Lady Jenny in a blink. So yes, I believe you have so strength in you. Even if I can’t sense any magical energy from you."
She paused.
"But still, you haven’t answered my question." Rapunzel added.
Steve inhaled deeply. His brows furrowed further.
"If it cos down to it... I can’t particularly let you leave here with that information."
His voice was low, dangerous. Calculated.
She t his gaze again, her voice as calm as ever.
"Like I said... I have no ill will toward you. All I did was take a peek. That’s how I got most of what I know about you."
His heart skipped.
"Took a peek?" Steve echoed.
She nodded slowly.
"Yes. Though I won’t disclose my ability to you. As far as I’m concerned, we’re enemies, since we share the sa goal."
Steve’s stomach dropped.
"Sa goal... you know everything about , don’t you?"
"More than I care to know..." she admitted.
"...But one thing stood out. We both want change. You want to beco the strongest sorcerer. I want a better life. It seems different, sure. But in the end, they lead to the sa place."
She snapped her fingers lightly.
"The sa inference."
Steve hissed.
"How the hell do you know so much about ?"
"Why the hell should I answer that?" she shot back, her voice still eerily composed.
"Obviously, I’m not going to tell you everything. If you’re that concerned, you can try to silence . But if you do, you’ll never know how many people know who you truly are."
Her words landed like a hamr. Steve’s breath left him in a shallow exhale.
People.
Not person.
There are others.
He froze.
"So there are more..." he said aloud, more to himself than her.
His eyes burned with the weight of revelation. He stared at her, hungry for answers. But she didn’t respond. She just watched him. Cold, silent.
"Answer !" he snapped. His voice echoed through the hallway.
She didn’t blink. She didn’t speak.
All she did was turn around as though she wished to exit.
"Beats ." she muttered, just loud enough for him to hear. Her feet began to carry her away.
Steve stiffened, every muscle in his body twitching. His leg wanted to move, to give chase. But he knew...
He couldn’t touch her.
Not because of lack of desire.
But because he knew—deep down—that she was far above him.
He needed answers. He needed to know how far this breach had gone. If his identity was out, if they knew he was the author, then there was a chance...
’A terrifying chance that they might also know that I’m the son of Hades.’
If that happened...
’Then a hit would be put out on .’
His thoughts spiraled.
’God damn it. God damn it!’
He stood there, lost. Her footsteps echoed further and further away.
’Who the fuck is she? What the fuck am I supposed to do? I can’t attack her. But I can’t let her leave as well. Fuck!’
Just then, as though her very presence answered his thoughts, she stopped.
Mid-step.
Her back still to him.
Steve noticed it imdiately. She didn’t speak at first.
Then, finally, she muttered, without turning around.
"I won’t tell you anything. But I will say this..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"...Friendly advice from . Listen to what Dina told you."
Steve blinked, stunned.
’She knows about that too?’
She wasn’t joking.
"And I’m not just bluffing. In the coming future... I’m not exactly sure on the mission. But you—"
She paused. Then, with finality, she added.
"Steve, you die on the battlefield."
The hallway fell remained silence as her gaze remained fixated on Steve
And Steve? He remained...Still.
Lost in the echo of her words.
"What...I...I...died?"
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