Upon rising, an unfamiliar roof surrounded Jin on all sides. The first thing he instantly went about checking were his injuries. In need of proof of reality. This time, a scar made itself evident in his forearm. A mark of a battle fought in the world of the waking. With a sigh of relief and finally able to move his arm without much pain. It seemed to him that by the looks of it, the bleeding had clearly been treated in some way while he had been unconscious.

But what happened? That vision…

It was like the last time. I remember the way our fingers intertwined. I remember how surprised I was to know that I was not alone. The confusion that was spreading inside me, not knowing what to do. The desperation of finally having to decide without being able to consult Vendrick's wisdom. Usually, each time I tried to remember what had happened during the morning, something would happen. It was as if my own body refused to accept that those memories were more real than reality itself.

However, Jin was past the point where his problems could be just be brushed aside. Gone were the days when he could judge such experiences as meager product of nightmare and hallucinations.

Sliding his fingers over his rediscovered wound, almost instinctively Jin's investigating personality went in search for any signs. Any other clue he could use to prove he wasn't going crazy was more than welcome to arise.

The hope that the red-eyed girl's lipstick remnants were still present on his lips. That thought was what motivated him now. Many memories of what had happened between the two were blurred. Although some points stood out in his mind.

That seductive look with a color he had never seen or heard of before.

The sudden interest in his deepest desires.

And especially, how to accomplish them.

And then, their lips had finally touched.

That conversation seemed to have taken only a few minutes. Time didn't seem to make sense when he was with that girl. It was difficult to know if it was because her appearance was so distracting and attractive to Jin or because he was truly dreaming. Both possibilities were sufficient to justify the mental confusion in which he remained. And the way his lips were dry, he definitely hadn't hydrated himself recently.

How many hours… How many days…

With brown eyes fixed on his fingertips, he searched for traces of the girl's lipstick. That would be his first kiss. He had never kissed a girl, he was no good with these things. Flirting was very difficult and filled him with anxiety, he always ended up stuttering and ruining everything in some way.

"Oh man, how am I going to be able to prove that this really happened If I can’t even convince myself?" he thought, outraged by his current situation.

Jin took a deep breath, for the first time since entering Sanctum, he felt like he didn't need to prove anything to anyone. Just to himself, that would be enough. Things would be better this way, no one needed to know. After all, as long as no one expected anything from him, he couldn't disappoint the people who cared about him.

Next to the bed, a seated figure with a serene and light face was there. Beside it, a plate with a very attractive smelling chocolate cake stood by his side. As if they were waiting for Jin to wake up. The room was so quiet that you could hear her breathing from here. And although her ocean blue eyes were closed, the impression Jin had was that most of the time they were guarding over him.

Suddenly, a voice came from the door.

“Finally awake huh? Well Jin...”

"We need to talk."

If his stomach could have screamed for food, that quiet moment would quickly have been ruined. Slowly getting up from the bed. Still worried about disturbing the sleep of a tired Eliza beside him, doing his best not to disturb her.

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Very cautiously, Jin grabbed a piece of the chocolate cake before leaving the room.

"I knew I shouldn't be doing this but man... this is good stuff." He quietly said to himself as he licked all the chocolate around his lips.

Suddenly Vendrick silently asked from the door, "You hungry much?"

"How many days was I unconscious for?"

“Four days bro. You haven't eaten anything in four days, well now you have.”

Jin suddenly stopped walking when he heard that answer.

With his mouth dry, it was difficult to find saliva to hydrate his throat. Jin couldn't put off his doubt about his group any longer. Seeing Eliza's beautiful face in deep sleep was already a big relief for him.

It meant that his improvised strategy had worked, however stupid it had been. That was one safe, out of the three companions.

As much as his voice wanted to ask the question calmly, Jin found it difficult to hide his vulnerability in words from his brother Vendrick.

"Viktoria and Tris ... Tristan ... Are they ..."

With a smile that exuded confidence and tranquility, Vendrick nodded with a confident thumbs up.

“They’re both doing just fine bro! Don’t worry about it!”

A profound relief was starting to kick in. It seemed that everyone was fine, and so they were all successful to complete The Trial with their lives.

"Tristan for one is about to appear right ... Now." Said Vendrick as he pointed to the corner.

Seconds later, Tristan appeared on the horizon, coming down another corridor. Jin was amazed at the accuracy of Vendrick's prediction.

“That was amazing brother! How? How did you know he was coming?”

"Hehe, just intuition!" Waved Vendrick as he minimized his instinct before his younger brother.

However, Tristan's face did not have a sympathetic face. Taking long strides in the direction of Vendrick and Jin, he seemed to ignore Vendrick's nod and was headed straight to Jin. When the gap was closed, Jin was embraced tightly in a hug. A hug from someone that was hoping for his fast recovery.

“Good to see you up! Eliza couldn’t even leave your side out of concern for you.”

Jin scratched his head, awkwardly.

“Really? Was she here all along?”

It is true that Jin had cut his arm to attract that powerful vampire before them. But some things were not yet explained, that feeling that arose inside him in that moment of despair was still indescribable. Those blue eyes that cried out for help were all that Jin needed to act.

Even though he did not recognize himself as a hero on a daily basis, he was grateful that at least once in his life he had made a decision that did not generate regrets.

“She’s totally into you! Listen to me, this is the time. You have to capitalize on it, how often do Elemental Warriors fall for common guys like us? I gotta say… Eliza? SHE IS A KEEPER!”

Said Tristan, still poking Jin with his elbow and leaving him with pink cheeks in shame. Vendrick broke the tension in the air with his laugh. He thought that now his brother was in good company, the boy with red hair was definitely an interesting person to accompany his brother on missions.

Suddenly, Vendrick's yellow eyes looked in the opposite direction from Jin and Tristan. With a dagger in hand, the girl with her amber eyes quickly dashed towards Vendrick. Like an enraged animal possessed by fury, Viktoria struck a surprise blow with her dagger.

Following the movements of the blade with his yellow eyes, Vendrick easily dodged the piercing lunge. Vendrick's body movements had been incredibly fast, but even then he didn't seem to be taking the girl in front of him seriously. Her agression was not over, however. Not showing any resistance, Vendrick had his body pinned against the wall by Viktoria, who used her forearm to pin Vendrick against the wall.

Tristan and Jin were confused by what was happening before them, but could only stare in shock.

"Viktoria, what the hell are you doing?" asked Tristan.

“That’s my older brother! He observed our ritual, together with Orion. Relax.” said Jin.

However, Viktoria with her amber eyes still shooting anger did not release Vendrick.

“He might be your mother, father, brother… I seriously couldn't care enough Jin.”

She continued.

“You boys can't be that dumb. Come on… Why would we suddenly be attacked by a vampire in the most secure place in all Kingdom of Elba?

We’re surrounded by dozens of Elemental Warriors and High Elders and yet not even one came to help us?”

With her index finger accusing Vendrick, she finally voiced the thought that was in the back of her mind for several days.

“This guy is responsible for putting us all in danger! He was the one who released that hungry vampire against us. Why did you do that?!”

A smile broke across Vendrick's face.

Jin couldn't believe what he was hearing.

No, it couldn't be.

Deep down he didn't want to believe it.

For the past four days, Jin was in bed because of his injuries and the danger his comrades encountered after the Trial in Sanctum. He also remembered that when they tried to escape through the door they entered, it was locked shut. And no sign of his brother or High Elder Orion could be seen. It was as if everything had been —

At that moment, what Jin most wanted was for his brother to do what he always used to do. Not any singular act particularly, because at that moment. Any could do.

Breaking the tension in the air with a smart joke, a laugh, or giving a motivational speech worth of praise.

But this time?

That did not happen.

"Vendrick ... Please tell me this is not true." Begged Jin trying to make sense of the situation before them. His brother could never—