And then in a matter of minutes, they all spread out across Sanctum. Viktoria predicted that Eliza would go to the general pantry, probably to keep her word and cook the famous chocolate cakes that the boys wouldn't shut up about.

She swallowed hard, pondering how to proceed. Resting her hand on the dagger’s sheath. The same scabbard that held inside the dagger that she started to keep close by. A blade that she never valued much, but that she started to appreciate. It had already saved her life more than once. So she had to give credit where credit was due.

After all, that little blade resting on her hip had been the deciding factor. Doing much more for her in the last few days than most people in her life. So much that she named the dagger Shadowpiercer.

If it weren't for Shadowpiercer, Viktoria would have been slaughtered before the elemental gods along with the others.

With luck, all that was enough was the penetration of steel through the vampire's heart. And maybe it was that same cold weapon that made the gods notice her potential. Well, not that she cared. Elemental warrior or not, for her plans and ambitions it didn't matter if she was the chosen of the gods to bear a rare elementary power.

Looking one last time at the massive stone walls that surrounded Sanctum, she knew very well that she could not return to her family. After all, she knew her old folks.

And she theorized that the moment her parents found out that she now possessed the elemental power of the shadows, they would try to guide her into a career in which she had no interest.

An adventurer in Sanctum, earning a living from violent missions was not to her credit. Perhaps they wanted her to become a priestess, to serve the Melkor Theocracy by healing the wounded, treating the sick?

"That wouldn't be too bad."

She does feel some sort of satisfaction when treating those in despair. Those who truly wanted her around, who needed her. Although she didn't show it, she had even felt some relief at seeing Tristan safe and sound after the battle.

She wondered if she was the only one in that group who learned how to perform first-aid. Perhaps even with the awakening of her new elemental gift, she would gain something much more powerful than any technical expertise allowed her to.

Maybe with proper training, she would awaken not only incredible offensive superhuman abilities, but also new healing spells with Sanctum's guidance. However, this could only be possible if she remained in here learning what she was capable of with fellow mercenaries and following the teachings of the Council of Sages.

And that, well that she didn't know if she could do.

"I just hope you three don't need me as much as I think you should."

"Jin, Eliza, Tristan ... take care."

Thoughts that are not produced in words. The recipients would have never received the message and she was well aware of it.

Those words that your partners might have been able to nurture and caress if they had come out of your mouth. But she wouldn’t allow it, holding on to those walls as much as possible. Feelings that were forbidden to leave, locked under lock and key, but that still echoed in her mind.

Looking at a fortress that stood before her, Sanctum, glimpses of her brief stay reverberated.

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Not necessarily the walls, the structure, or the landscape.

But the people?

Those she would never forget.

And her only wish that was connected to these ancient walls of legend, was that these people she had known would be safe and sound in the face of the dangers of this world. The fools playing heroes in a doomed world.

Suddenly a male voice was present, originating directly from her back. Catching her off guard. Her eyes widened in surprise at the red-haired boy who had approached.

"T-Tristan? Is that you? "She asked in a shaky voice.

"You know ... When I first saw those walls with my own eyes, I really thought they would look ten times bigger, as the poems made them look." The red-haired Tristan gestured. "It is difficult to imagine that these same walls are so old and yet they are still immune to spells of destruction or even fire from the ancient dragons."

Using Tristan's long monologue to compose herself—to emotionally raise four walls around what she felt and what should not have been—that was Viktoria.

“Well, you shouldn't consider anything that is sung or written as the truth, Tristan. As a nobleman, you should know that the exaltation of wars and heroes should not be a cause for celebration. "

“Those same ascendants in the songs were once people like us. Isn't it fair that their names are remembered? The forty-seven consecutive victories of the twin gladiators Varnara and Obbos in their way to Jonturia? Or Blake Silverfang's final stand against The Apostles of Azazel? My point is, their memories will live as long as we sing and read about them. "

Viktoria shook her head. "Life is much more than praising the dead and risking your own skin for nothing." She said as she walked away from Sanctum and everyone else.

"Goodbye, Tristan," she said as she walked away from the bulky redhead close by. "Try not to get yourself killed out there."

With every step the girl took, she felt uncomfortable. She didn't quite know how or why she was feeling that way. But clearly, it wanted to make itself known, as if it was necessary for her inner self to present a concern for something. Every step forward made that uneasy feeling grow tenfold, somehow. As if she wanted him to do something about it.

Anything.

"Wait." The boy voiced his worries. “Are you leaving right before our first mission, and you weren’t going to say a word to any of us?”

She kept walking. But that was it, now she fully understood what she truly wanted.

"Is that why you were here?! You can't walk away from us like this!"

Ignoring Tristan, she moved on.

But the perverted boy didn't take mere steps in response.

Grabbing Viktoria by the arm, their eyes met.

“Stop for a second. Why are you leaving Sanctum without saying anything? ”

With such a deep sigh that she couldn't hold it anymore—the boy's insistence had finally broke through—and so her view of the world was finally shared to someone, for the first time.

“I-I don’t think I’m fit to be an adventurer. I want to have a long life. I want to have kids. Build a family. Own a house. Maybe have a couple of kids. A couple, you know? ” Confessed Viktoria, her true desires her finally being shared as a self-defense mechanism. "

A boy and a girl would surely be nice with your genes." Completed Tristan, shrugging his shoulders.

She wanted to be proven wrong, but she had a reason. It was rarely mentioned among the High Elders. She had had that in mind since she first came here and saw it herself. It looked so obvious and yet it took her so long to realize. Five days it took her. Five days carefully observing in detail every inch of the fortress, Sanctum.

And it finally hit her.

She had realized something.

The dozens, perhaps hundreds of elemental hero statues that were arranged around the fortress - mostly young men and women - were that way not because they were at their height of beauty or prime of power as the High Elders liked to tell on their tales.

But simply because, those faces would not have time to grow old.

And yet—

“Being an adventurer would not stop you from reaching those dreams of yours Viktoria. You can go on missions, meet people, and still do what you enjoy doing. I’m glad you were back there to have our back in the Trial. In a way, you saved us all. Don’t you forget that the gods have chosen you to carry the elemental powers, and there must be a reason for it. Sure it might be a dangerous path but as long as we have each other, we’ll be alright.”

“Not everything needs to have a reason for it to happen, but you may have a point, Tristan.” She said while fondling her pink hair. “I'm not really sure what I want to be doing. I like helping people… Healing people.”

“All I’m saying is that you don’t need to discard right away this path in life. Just give it a chance for once.” Tristan replied. He looked around as if worried that anyone else listened, then whispered into Viktoria’s ear.

"Besides, I wouldn't mind a couple either."

The girl looked at Tristan in silence, while the nobleman slowly backed away, fearing for his life.