I walked aimlessly, allowing the tears to flow freely. Pitiful sobs escaped me, despite my attempts to hold them back. In that moment, I yearned to escape not only Creston but this entire world. Earth hadn't been extraordinary for me either—I had lived a solitary life, without a home, constantly hustling to survive.

Back then, there was no one to lose, no one to grieve. I had believed myself to be hardened, capable of handling any challenge thrown my way. However, it became apparent that I had never truly faced extreme circumstances until now.

Losing my eye had been horrifying, and surviving a near-fatal encounter with a landslide had been terrifying. But those were external threats, things done to me. I could endure physical pain and trauma, but losing Malik was an entirely different kind of agony.

Finding a bench, I collapsed onto it, examining my scraped, bloodied, and calloused hands. They were a tangible representation of who I had become—or rather, who I had made myself.

Now, I needed time to process, to find a way to move forward from this darkness. What was my purpose? What did I truly desire? Did I want to keep rushing from one battle to the next, confronting both monsters and humans? Fueled by the fiery anger in my heart, perhaps that was the case. At the very least, I yearned for justice to be served upon those responsible for Malik's suffering.

The guildmaster was dead, a fitting end. But the administrator...

A nearby crunch snapped me back to the present, triggering my instinct to summon my mask. In an instant, shadows enveloped me, and my illusions stood by my side. However, upon recognizing Lyra's concerned expression, I let out a sigh.

"Sorry, Lyra... I guess I'm a bit on edge right now," I admitted.

Approaching me, Lyra took hold of my hand and guided me back to the bench. I dismissed my illusions but kept the mask in place. Lyra simply looked at me and gestured toward the mask, her voice filled with earnest concern. "Please, David, take it off."

I hesitated, but her genuine care finally persuaded me. I dismissed the mask and met her gaze. Offering a sad smile, she said, "It's okay to feel, David. Let it all out."

For a few moments, I stared at her, a tear trickling down my cheek, then another. Eventually, I found myself weeping into Lyra's shoulder, and she embraced me without a single complaint. I couldn't determine how long we remained like that, but Lyra never let go, tears streaming down her own face.

After a long while, I finally relaxed and met Lyra's red-rimmed eyes. "Thank you, Lyra," I whispered. "I... I don't know what I would do without you, and Isabel, of course."

Lyra smiled warmly. "You better not break on me, David. I'm quite possessive, you know, and I don't like broken toys!"

I gave her an incredulous look, and she couldn't help but grin. "I'm only joking! Well... about the toy thing, anyways. But seriously, I need you to stay strong, David. We'll get through this together."

A sad smile tugged at my lips as I nodded. "I think I'll be okay, Lyra. It just became overwhelming all of a sudden, you know? This world is far from kind..."

Lyra's expression softened, a hint of concern in her eyes. "David, Aethoria may be dangerous and harsh, but there are also countless beautiful things within it. I know it hasn't been the best first impression, but there's more to this world than meets the eye."

I sighed, contemplating her words. "I hope so, Lyra. I truly do. I think once we're done here, I need to leave Creston..."

Lyra's smile brightened. "We'll leave together. It might take some convincing with Isabel, but even if she chooses to stay, I'll go with you."

Leaning closer, I planted a gentle, lingering kiss on her lips. Lyra reciprocated, wrapping her arms around me. "You know, Lyra," I murmured, "I might be falling a little in love with you."

Playfully, Lyra slapped me on the shoulder. "Just now!?"

I grinned, "You're also a bit intimidating."

Lyra's smile widened. "That's good. A man needs to know that if he steps out of line, his woman can tear him to shreds without breaking a sweat."

I winced, teasingly exclaiming, "Bloody hell, Lyra, embracing your inner dragon, are you?"

She grinned mischievously. "You better believe it. I am Dragon Lyra now!"

Walking back to the others, a sense of comfort enveloped me. The sorrow hadn't completely vanished, but at least I wasn't alone anymore. There were people I could lean on, and for now, that would suffice. We had decisions to make—several, in fact—but one in particular demanded our immediate attention.

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As we emerged from the darkness, Isabel glanced up. She appeared somewhat improved, but her eyes betrayed traces of redness. It seemed even the stoic Isabel couldn't ignore her emotions.

I turned my gaze towards Malik, addressing the others as I spoke, "He is suffering. If Viktor can't help him, then I'm not sure anyone can. I think... I think I want to give him peace."

A heavy silence hung in the air for a prolonged moment until Isabel's voice trembled as she spoke, "I will do it. You shouldn't have to."

Shaking my head, I replied, "No. You and Lyra knew him for a long time. We can call it mercy, but it's still ending his life. I will do it."

Lyra stepped closer to me, her concern evident. "David, I don't think it should be you..."

I offered her a sad smile. "I will survive, Lyra. It will hurt, but not as much as it would for you."

Lyra didn't seem entirely satisfied, but she understood the reasoning. I didn't want to do it, but I still held the orb, still felt Malik's suffering. Deep down, I knew it was the right thing to do. Even if we were to discover a solution months or years from now, he would still be reduced to a broken husk of his former self.

Struggling to her feet, Isabel leaned heavily on my shoulder and placed her hand on the orb. She let out a small grunt, and tears started streaming down her face. "Oh, Malik..."

Lyra joined in, placing her hand on the other side of the orb, tears flowing freely down her cheeks as well.

Glancing from one to the other, I whispered, "Together, then." They both nodded, and with our combined will, we gave the command. The core inside Malik's body cracked, the rune magic fading away, and with it, Malik's soul was set free. He dropped to his knees and then fell lifelessly onto the meticulously manicured grass.

I released the core, allowing it to fall to the ground, and crouched next to my fallen friend. I was screaming inside, but I managed a smile. "We will finish this, Malik. We will make them pay." Tenderly, I closed his eyes with gentle fingers, and my head slumped forward.

I stood up slowly and gazed at my friends, both on the verge of breaking with the slightest nudge, and I made my decision. "Grim is still tracking that administrator. I'm going to find her. Once I do..."

Lyra and Isabel both nodded, and Isabel added, "We'll all go." I wanted to argue, but who was I to make decisions for them? They were likely feeling worse than I was, and that said something.

So, instead, I simply nodded. "Let's go monster hunting then."

Isabel couldn't move quickly, so I left an illusion with her and Lyra, and I took off in a sprint. As I ran, I retrieved an ether potion, downed it, and felt it replenish my reserves. I had consumed numerous potions that day, and I knew I would pay for it later, but I needed to be at full strength for this.

I sprinted through the main gates, paying no mind to the chaotic scene in the plaza. The remnants of both people and monsters littered the area, but I pushed forward, ignoring the carnage.

The administrator wasn't moving at a fast pace, likely feeling secure in her escape. But I was determined to prove her wrong. She was undoubtedly powerful, but it didn't matter. She couldn't be allowed to get away.

Swiftly, I ascended a tall mansion and used the thief's highways once on the roof. I sprinted across rooftops, leaping from one building to the next, my legs filled with energy, my body pulsating with power.

As I pursued the woman, a rough idea of her destination formed in my mind, and about ten minutes later, my hunch was confirmed—she had stopped. The guild headquarters...

I had Grim inform the others, and I slowed my pace, stealthily approaching the large wooden structure. Crouched on a rooftop, concealed by shadows, I enhanced my stealth with a swirling cloud of darkness enveloping me.

Down below, I observed movement. Several teams were stationed outside the building, lights illuminating almost every window. Why in the world had she come here? Did she think she could hide among the adventurers?

I decided to test a theory and sent my final unoccupied image into the street below, and my vision blurred and I assumed the viewpoint at street level.

Grim approached a vigilant team, and upon spotting him, they tensed and immediately drew their weapons. "Stop right there, Harlequin!" a young man in shiny armor exclaimed, pointing his sword at my image. "Why?" I asked through Grim.

The man growled, "You damn traitor! We heard what you did! Not only did you kill Malik, but you also conspired to have the master murdered. You will pay for that!"

I tilted my head. "And who told you that a rookie could accomplish such a feat?"

The man snarled, "Lyra and Isabel are with you, you corrupted them somehow!"

I sighed. "So the administrator filled you with a bunch of lies, and you just accepted them without question, did you?"

Another group arrived, and my image found itself surrounded. The woman from my trial, the one who wielded lightning spells, stepped forward. I recalled her name—Mirum, the Stormweaver.

"You filthy snake! Where were you when all of this started? That's right, no one knows. Now here you are, on the heels of the esteemed administrator, her running for her life." Her voice dripped with fury, and I realized that talking my way out of this wouldn't be easy.

I had Grim shrug. "We were on a contract for the governor. Malik received a direct job from him. Landvin and Eric's group were working on the same thing, as well as the main branch."

Mirum sneered. "All traitors! So, will you give yourself up, or will you die here, scum?"

I sighed in frustration. "There should be a limit to gullibility, Mirum! Stop being a fool. You're being led to the wrong conclusions."

Mirum smiled viciously. "Death it is, then."

She extended her hand, and electricity crackled around it. A spear of lightning shot toward my image, and I dismissed it. My vision returned to my body as I watched the lightning pass through the space where I had just been.

Mirum screamed in frustration, and everyone began searching frantically. I was tempted to engage in a fight, but I couldn't take them all on my own.

I dreaded what that woman was doing inside, but I had to wait for the others to catch up.