Kaiser's Perspective:

The last thing I would've expected in life was Emma crying. She was the kind of person who carried sunshine in her pockets, always laughing, always teasing. But there she was—face twisted in grief, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Fate, it seemed, had a cruel way of making sure I experienced everything in life.

Before I could say a word, she pushed past me, her hands shoving against my arm as she stormed up the stairs. The sound of her door slamming shut echoed through the house.

I blinked. My mind ran through every scenario I could think of—Emma wasn’t the type to cry over small things. She was strong-willed, playful, even bratty at times. So what could’ve shaken her up this badly? I considered a few possibilities. Maybe she lost something important. Maybe someone hurt her. Or maybe—

My eyes landed on Levi.

He was standing near the couch, arms crossed, looking more annoyed than guilty. He caught my stare and sighed. “Don't look at me like that, I didn’t do anything.”

I didn’t reply. Just kept staring.

Levi shifted under my gaze, scratching the back of his head. “Tch… fine. Maybe I had something to do with it.”

Celia, standing beside me, spoke up. “What did you do?” Her tone was calm, almost gentle.

Levi groaned. “Nothing bad! I just… I had to break a promise.”

Celia’s eyes sharpened slightly. “What promise?”

Levi hesitated. His fingers twitched at his side, his lips pressing together in a thin line. He didn’t want to say it.

Celia stepped closer, her voice soft, persuasive. “Levi, if Emma’s crying over this, it’s serious to her. You need to be honest.”

He exhaled sharply. “It’s not that simple.”

Celia tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “You promised her something, didn’t you?”

Levi’s jaw clenched.

"Fine... I promised to spend a week with her. To take her outside the town by the forest and enjoy the view there with her," Levi said, watching Celia closely.

Levi rubbed his forehead. “Yeah… it's the reason why she is crying.”

“But now you can’t?”

“There’s an emergency guild quest,” he admitted. “I have to go.”

Celia nodded as if considering his words. “And you didn’t tell her until now?”

Levi winced. “I thought I could figure something out. But there’s no way around it.”

Celia folded her arms, her voice carrying a hint of quiet authority. “So you made her wait and then broke the promise last minute?”

Levi groaned. “Look, I didn’t mean to! It’s just—”

“You should tell her that yourself,” I interrupted. “But first, convince her to come down for dinner.”

Levi scoffed. “Like she’ll listen to me right now.”

“Then I expect her not to come at all,” I replied.

Levi sighed, looking like he wanted to argue, but then… his lips curled into a slow, cruel grin.

That wasn’t a good sign.

I narrowed my eyes. “What?”

Levi snapped his fingers. “I got an idea.”

I didn’t like that look. That was the kind of look that meant trouble for me.

“You should be the one to take her out tomorrow.”

I blinked. “No.”

Levi smirked. “Hear me out. The quest is immediate. A-Ranked boss. Found in the nearby forest cave. It’s nearly S-Rank in strength.”

I let out a quiet hum of understanding. That was serious.

“Zain asked me to come. It’s important,” Levi added.

“That’s unfortunate. Still not my problem.”

Levi groaned. “Come on, I can’t just leave her like this.”

“Exactly. You fix it.”

He cut me off with a smirk. “You owe me three times, Kaiser. Saved your life, patched you up, let you live here. So I expect you to do this for me~”

I shot him a glare before sighing. “…Fine.”

Levi grinned and clapped me on the back. “Good man. Good luck. Emma’s not easy to persuade—that’s why I’m leaving her to you.”

I rolled my shoulders. “Just don’t break promises to her again.”

Levi’s expression turned serious for a moment before he nodded. “Got it.” With a lazy wave, he left.

Silence settled. Celia and I exchanged glances before sighing in unison.

“…Are you going to be okay?” Celia asked hesitantly, her fingers curling slightly as she watched me.

I turned to her. “It’s just Emma.”

Celia frowned. “I’ve never seen her like this before. She looked… upset. More than usual.”

“She’ll be fine.”

Celia shifted on her feet, glancing toward the stairs before speaking again. “Should I come with you to convince her?”

I hesitated for a second before shaking my head. “No need.”

Celia studied me, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re that confident?”

I smirked. “I’m good with women.”

Celia blinked. “What?”

I shrugged. “I’ve been adventuring alone for a while. I’ve met all kinds of people—merchants, nobles, commoners, adventurers. I’ve spoken to plenty of women. Comforted them, negotiated with them, handled all sorts of situations. I know how to get them to listen.”

A pause. Then—

Celia’s carefree expression faded, her face turning completely serious. Her lips parted slightly before she asked,

“What?”

Her voice was quiet. Too quiet.

I frowned. What was with that reaction? Did I say something wrong? It was just a normal statement. Was it weird for a guy to be good at conversations? Or was it—

Something in her eyes shifted. A slow, creeping tension in the air. The warmth that usually surrounded her was gone, replaced by something colder, heavier. Her fingers twitched, as if resisting the urge to reach out and grab me.

Her red eyes, usually filled with kindness, darkened—not with anger, but something far more unsettling. Possessive. Her breathing was steady, but there was a tightness in the way she held herself, as if something inside her was beginning to crack.

I suddenly felt like prey.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine convincing Emma,” I said quickly, turning toward the stairs.

I didn’t dare look back.

But I could feel it.

The weight of her stare pressing against my back. That piercing, unwavering eyes burning into me, as if she was trying to warn me not to test her.

Those red eyes of her darkened significantly. There was a certain mix of jealousy hidden in it.

I reached the top of the stairs, finally standing in front of Emma’s door.

Levi’s house wasn’t fancy, but it had personality. The wooden stairs creaked slightly under my weight, the warm scent of old books and faint hints of sword oil lingering in the air. The walls bore scratches and nicks—battle scars of sparring sessions gone wrong.

It felt lived in. Messy but comfortable.

I exhaled. Then, without hesitation, I knocked on Emma’s door.

Emma let out a sharp scream from behind the door. "I don't want to talk to anyone!"

Great. Just great. How did I end up here? One moment, I was watching Levi break a promise, and the next, I was the one left cleaning up the mess. My life really is a joke.

I exhaled, pressing my back against the wooden door. "Emma, if you really didn’t want to talk, you wouldn’t have responded."

Silence.

I continued. "And if you truly wanted to be alone, you wouldn't be crying loud enough for us to hear."

The sobs from inside quieted.

"Emma, I'm not Levi. I'm not here to promise you anything I can't keep. But I am here now, and I’m not leaving until you open this door."

Another pause. I could hear movement inside, but she still hadn’t responded.

"You know, for someone who claims they don’t want company, you sure are waiting for me to keep talking."

A soft sniffle. Then, after a few long seconds, the door creaked open just a bit. Enough for me to see her eyes—red, puffy, from crying but still filled with the same fiery spirit she always had.

I stepped inside, shutting the door behind me as she sat on her bed, looking away. Her usual carefree nature was buried beneath sadness, something rare to see from her.

I took a slow step forward before sitting beside her, close but not too close. "Emma."

She didn’t respond immediately, her hands clasped tightly together on her lap.

"I feel stupid," she finally muttered. "I shouldn’t be crying over this. It’s not a big deal."

"That’s what people say when something is a big deal."

She let out a dry chuckle. "Maybe. But it’s not just about today. I just… I feel lonely. Even when Celia and you are around, it’s still there. And sometimes… even when I’m with Levi, I feel it too."

My eyes softened. "That’s not stupidity, Emma. That’s human."

I lifted a hand, hovering just above her shoulder, watching for any sign of resistance. There was a slight flinch—barely noticeable—but she didn’t pull away when I finally rested my palm against her arm, rubbing slow, steady circles.

At first, she tensed beneath my touch, but I didn’t stop. My movements remained gentle, unrushed. Comfort wasn't about forcing someone to feel better—it was about giving them the space to do so at their own pace.

Her breathing slowed.

"Why does it always feel like I’m alone…?" she murmured, her voice so small it almost broke something inside me.

I let a moment pass, absorbing her words. Then, shifting slightly, I moved my hand from her shoulder to her back, tracing soothing patterns along her spine. "You’re not alone," I said, voice softer now. "Even when it feels like the world forgets you, I don’t. Celia doesn’t. Levi doesn’t."

She exhaled shakily, her body instinctively leaning into my touch.

I didn’t pull away. Instead, I let my warmth surround her, my fingers ghosting up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The smallest action, but it made her glance up at me through damp lashes, her lips parting slightly as if she hadn’t expected such tenderness.

"You’re lying," she whispered.

I tilted my head, my thumb brushing against the side of her face, wiping away a lingering tear. "Have I ever lied to you before?"

She bit her lip, hesitant.

"Exactly," I said, my voice edged with a knowing smirk. "You trust me, don’t you?"

A long pause. Then, finally, a reluctant nod.

That’s it.

I took my chance, shifting slightly so that we were closer now, the warmth between us growing. "Then trust me when I say this too," I murmured, my voice dipping into something softer, something meant just for her. "You're not meant to carry this weight alone."

Emma didn’t respond, but she didn’t pull away either. Instead, she hesitated for only a second before leaning into me fully, her forehead pressing against my shoulder, her body finally giving in to the comfort I was offering.

I didn’t say anything more. I just held her there, my hand resting lightly against the back of her head, my fingers running through her hair in slow, calming strokes.

Her breathing evened out.

Her grip on my sleeve tightened.

And just like that, her walls came down.

"You’re allowed to feel this way," I said. "Loneliness doesn’t mean you’re alone. It just means there’s something missing."

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She let out a shaky breath. "Then what am I supposed to do? Keep pretending it doesn’t exist?"

"No." I gave her hand a light squeeze. "You face it. And you don’t let it consume you."

For a moment, she didn’t say anything. But then, slowly, her grip on my hand tightened.

"You didn’t want to talk to anyone earlier," I said. "Yet, here you are with me now. You didn’t want anyone to comfort you, yet you’re leaning into me. You didn’t plan for this, but it happened. And nothing bad came from it, right?"

She shook her head softly. "No…"

"Emma, in life, nothing ever goes according to plan. Your happiness shouldn’t be limited by them."

I reached for her other hand, holding them both gently. "You care about Levi a lot, and I know you wanted to spend time with him today to forget your loneliness. But Emma… trust me when I say this—one day, someone will come into your life who will make all that loneliness disappear."

She blinked up at me, her cheeks turning a faint shade of red. "What… what do you mean?"

Her voice was soft, vulnerable.

I smiled, a warm and reassuring one. "Instead of asking the world for what you want, ask for what’s right for you. The right person, the right moment—someone or something that will bring you true happiness."

Her lips parted slightly, her eyes locked onto mine. Her heart was probably pounding. I could feel the warmth from her fingers increasing slightly in my grasp.

After a moment, she looked away, a shy expression I had never seen from her before appearing on her face. "Kaiser… would you… would you mind taking me out tomorrow instead?"

I chuckled softly. "It would be my pleasure."

Her small, hesitant smile turned into something more genuine. "Then… I’ll go with you."

I saw the loneliness fade from her face. She still had emotions to process, but at least for now, she wasn’t hurting as much.

Then, after a small pause, she shifted slightly. "Hey… would it be okay if I leaned on you a bit more? Just for a while."

I let out a chuckle, shifting to get comfortable. "Careful, Emma. You might start getting used to me being this nice."

She laughed softly, nudging me playfully before resting her head on my shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. Just don’t get any ideas."

But there was a slight tremble in her voice. One that told me this moment meant more to her than she let on.

And so, we sat there in silence. Her teasing nature returning, but softer. And for now, that was enough.

Emma sat close to me now, her weight pressing lightly against my side. Her breathing had evened out, but her fingers still clung to the fabric of my sleeve, hesitant, as if letting go would make all of this disappear.

She sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know… my parents were killed by a demon a few years ago. It wasn’t a war. It wasn’t some great battle. It was just… a normal night. And then, they were gone."

I didn’t say anything immediately. Silence was powerful when used right. Rushing in with words would only make her retreat back into herself. Instead, I let her speak, let the weight of her confession settle between us.

She let out a bitter chuckle. "We lived near the town’s outskirts. Not far enough to be in the wilds, but just enough that if something came for us… there’d be no one to help. That night, I woke up to screams. When I ran downstairs, the house was already torn apart. My father—" Her voice broke for a moment, and she gripped my sleeve tighter. "—he tried to fight. He wasn’t an adventurer, but he tried. My mother… she was protecting me. She pushed me into the basement and told me not to come out."

Her breathing shuddered. "I listened. I didn’t move. Not until the house went silent."

Still, I didn’t speak. I let my hand move instead, fingers tracing slow, comforting circles against her back. No pressure. Just presence.

"When I finally climbed out," she continued, "they were both gone. Not even their bodies were left. Just… blood. And I stood there, staring, thinking that maybe if I stood long enough, they’d come back."

She let out a shaky breath, her eyes unfocused. "Levi was gone, off training, like always. And when he finally came back… I don’t even remember what I said to him. I just remember the way he held me, so tight I thought I would break. He kept telling me everything would be okay..."

Her voice wavered. "I never cried more than that night, Kaiser…"

My hand moved up slightly, fingertips brushing the side of her head, a slow, steady stroke against her hair. She stiffened for just a second, then melted into it, leaning her head against my shoulder more.

"No one really talks about what happens after you lose everything," she murmured. "People feel bad for you at first. They offer you their condolences. Then, after a while… it’s like they expect you to be okay again."

I finally spoke, my voice quiet but firm. "Because it’s easier for them that way. People don’t want to deal with what they don’t understand."

She let out another humorless chuckle. "Yeah. Exactly."

I shifted slightly, allowing her more space to lean if she wanted. "You never have to be ‘okay’ for me, Emma. I’ll listen. No matter how long it takes."

For a long moment, she didn’t respond. Then, she exhaled, something shifting in her posture—less rigid, more trusting. "With you, I feel… a little less lonely."

I turned my head slightly, just enough to see her face. "Then I guess I’ll have to stay around more. Can’t have you feeling lonely, can we?"

She smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Levi’s my only family now," she admitted. "And I care about him. A lot. But… sometimes I feel like I’m the only one looking out for him. Like he’s always rushing forward without thinking, and I have to be the one to pull him back. What if one day I can’t? What if something happens to him?"

I let her words settle before responding, keeping my voice steady, warm. "Levi’s reckless, but he’s not alone. You’re not the only one watching over him. And more importantly, you don’t have to carry that weight alone."

She looked up at me then, eyes searching mine for something—confirmation, maybe. Reassurance. My fingers brushed against the back of her hand, a slow, careful motion. "You’ve been holding too much on your own for too long, Emma. It’s okay to let someone else carry a little of it."

She didn’t answer right away, but her fingers tightened around mine. As she placed one hand around me to hold me. The vulnerability in her gaze was something I hadn’t seen before—not from her.

Emma was always carefree, always teasing. But now? Now she looked at me like I was something she wasn’t ready to let go of.

I exhaled softly, giving her a small, knowing smile. "It’s getting late."

Her grip tightened instinctively before she caught herself, hesitating. Then, reluctantly, she let go, the warmth of her hand leaving mine. "Right…" Her voice was quiet, almost reluctant.

I reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "We’ll have a fun day tomorrow," I promised. "So get some rest."

She blinked up at me, her expression shifting, softening. "Yeah… okay."

But even as I stood up, I could feel her hesitation, the way her fingers twitched slightly, as if fighting the urge to reach for me again.

And for the first time, Emma—carefree, teasing Emma—looked almost shy.

"Goodnight, Kaiser," she murmured.

I chuckled, tilting my head slightly. "Goodnight, Emma."

And as I walked away, I could still feel the weight of her gaze lingering on my back.

Good that she was back to her normal mood. Seeing her so sad had been surprising, and her vulnerability… that was way more surprising. She wasn’t one to let anyone see her so raw. I never thought I'd be the one to see that side of her. But, I suppose there’s a first time for everything.

I ran my hand through my hair, a smile tugging at my lips as I walked down the long hallways of Levi's house. This place... it was massive, the kind of home that made you feel small just walking through it. I noticed the hanging tapestries in the hall, each one telling its own tale from an era long past. The glow of lanterns flickered, casting soft shadows, giving the place a homey but mysterious vibe.

I pushed open the door to my room, expecting the quiet solitude of the night. But what greeted me instead was Celia, sitting on my bed, her gaze fixed on the floor like she was waiting for something... or someone.

I raised an eyebrow, confused. She should've been asleep by now. Why was she still here? Was she waiting for me? Or was there something else going on?

I closed the door behind me, taking a slow step forward. “Celia?” I called out softly, trying not to startle her. “What’s going on? Shouldn’t you be in your own room by now?”

Her head snapped up, her usual calm demeanor slipping for a moment. “Kaiser…” she began, her voice hesitant, like she wasn’t sure how to start. Then, with a worried expression, she asked, “Is Emma okay? You didn’t... you didn’t hurt her, did you?”

I blinked, surprised by her sudden shift in tone. It wasn’t like Celia to be this concerned. Sure, she was protective of those she cared about, but this was... different. She looked genuinely worried. I could see the small crease in her forehead, the way her eyes darted to the door like she was ready to rush to Emma’s side if she needed to.

I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, trying to ease the tension. “No, no. I didn’t hurt her, if that’s what you’re asking.” I walked closer to the bed and sat down, leaning back slightly. “I just talked to her, that’s all. She was... having a rough time, you know? I just comforted her, held her hand, let her lean on me for a bit. She’s fine now. Better, even.”

Celia’s face softened, and I could see the relief wash over her features. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “I’m glad,” she murmured, but then she paused, clearly deep in thought. “But, Kaiser...” she started, her voice almost quiet enough to be a whisper, “How does a girl like Emma... open up to you so easily? You’ve only known her for such a short time, yet she trusts you.”

I shifted in my seat, not sure how to answer. “I don’t know, Celia,” I said with a shrug. “Sometimes people just need someone to listen, you know? She was feeling lost, and I just... let her talk. Didn’t push her. She was looking for something, and I guess I could be that someone for her, just this once.”

Celia nodded, but I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She wasn’t fully at ease yet. Her voice trembled just a little as she asked, “What... what comforted her the most? What made her open up to you like that?”

I hesitated, trying to think back to the moment. “I think it was just... being there. Holding her hand, letting her lean on me. Sometimes people just need someone to hold on to. I didn’t say anything profound or wise. Just let her talk, and when she was ready, she opened up.”

Her eyes darted away for a moment, her fingers twitching slightly at her sides. But before I could say anything else, she scooted closer, a bit of uncertainty in her voice as she asked, “So... does that mean... you’re going to take her out tomorrow? Like... out of town? For Levi?”

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. The sudden change in her tone didn’t go unnoticed. Her eyes were dark now, the red growing deeper in her irises. It was clear she wasn’t just concerned about Emma anymore.

“Yeah,” I said carefully, trying to keep things casual. “Levi asked me to, to make up for the debt. Emma and I are going to head to the forest tomorrow. It’s part of what I owe him.”

Her face went pale for a split second before her eyes sharpened. “You’re actually going to take her out? You... you’re serious?” Her voice was strained now, more tense than before, as if she was barely holding herself together.

I sighed and leaned back against the bedpost, trying to make sense of this sudden shift in her behavior. “I don’t have much of a choice, Celia,” I explained, my voice calm but firm. “I owe Levi. I have to make up for it. Emma will be fine and to be honest I think she wants me to go with her.”

Celia’s grip on the edge of the bed tightened. “But... you’re going to spend time with her? Away from here? In the forest... where no one can interrupt? What if...” She trailed off, her voice faltering, before she snapped her gaze back to me. “Why? Why can’t you just stay here with me?”

The jealousy was there, creeping in behind the words she spoke. It wasn’t subtle. I could hear it in the way she questioned me, in the way her voice cracked slightly. “Celia...” I started, the realization dawning on me. “Are you... jealous?”

Her face flushed, and she quickly tried to hide it, but the way her eyes burned into me said everything. “I’m not jealous,” she muttered quickly, her voice more defensive now. “I just... I just don’t see why you have to go. Why can’t you just... stay here with me?”

I leaned back slightly, my smile softening as I studied her, noticing the tension in her shoulders. She was clearly overthinking it, and I couldn't help but find a bit of amusement in that.

“Celia,” I said gently, my voice low but teasing. “You’re making this into a bigger deal than it actually is, you know? It’s not like I’m running off with Emma or anything. I’m just... helping out Levi, that’s all.”

Her eyes flickered, but she didn’t respond immediately. I could see the uncertainty still lingering in her, the way she was trying to hold her ground, but I knew her better than that.

“You know what happens when you overthink things, don’t you?” I added with a playful smirk, leaning in just a bit closer, watching her reaction. “You start losing yourself. And I don’t think you want that, do you?”

Celia’s cheeks flushed, her eyes narrowing as she glared at me. “I’m not losing myself,” she muttered, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

I chuckled, sensing an opening. “Oh, but you are,” I teased, my grin widening. “You’re getting all worked up over something that’s really not that big a deal. It’s cute, but you’re making it complicated for no reason.”

Her blush deepened when I called her cute, and I could see the mix of embarrassment and annoyance flickering in her eyes. But I kept going, pushing her buttons lightly.

“I mean, you’re jealous, right? You just can’t stand the idea of me spending time with someone else. It’s okay, Celia. I get it. You want all my attention.”

She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, but the blush still didn’t leave her face. “I do not!” she snapped, her voice betraying her. “I just—just... don’t like the idea of you being out there with her, okay?”

I leaned in closer, my smile turning softer, as I softened my tone. “But you don’t have to worry about it. It’s not a big deal. You know I’m not going anywhere, right? Just because I’m taking Emma out for one day doesn’t change anything.”

Celia bit her lip, clearly still unsure, but the jealousy had begun to fade. “I guess,” she mumbled, her voice a little quieter now. “But still...”

I chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “It’s really not a big deal. You know that, right? You’ll see. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, and then she hesitated, almost as if she wasn’t quite sure what to say next. “You... you will?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled wider, nodding. “Of course. I’ll take you out too. The day after, alright?”

Her face lit up immediately, her expression softening as the weight of her worry seemed to vanish completely. “R-really?” She stuttered, clearly caught off guard by the offer, her eyes twinkling with the hint of excitement. “I… I’d love that…”

The joy in her eyes was so clear, so pure, that it made something in my chest tighten just slightly. Without even thinking, she moved forward and hugged me tightly, her arms wrapping around me with unexpected warmth. “Thank you, Kaiser,” she whispered softly against my chest, her voice filled with genuine happiness.

I was surprised by the sudden gesture but didn’t pull away. I let her stay there for a moment, my hand reaching up instinctively to stroke her hair. The moment felt oddly comforting, something I didn’t expect after everything that had just happened.

But then, as if realizing what she was doing, she quickly pulled away, her face turning a deep shade of red. “I— I didn’t mean to... I just—” She stammered, her hands rushing up to cover her face in embarrassment. “I—I don’t know what came over me.”

I smiled, unable to resist teasing her gently. “It’s alright. I didn’t mind. You’re welcome to hug me anytime… though, next time, maybe ask first?”

Celia’s face flushed even more, her eyes widening as she playfully punched my arm, all traces of her earlier embarrassment still lingering. “Stop it!” she squeaked, her voice a mix of flustered annoyance and shy laughter. “You’re making this worse!”

I grinned at her, enjoying the moment more than I probably should have. “What can I say? I’m irresistible for you.”

She rolled her eyes, though the hint of a smile still lingered on her lips. “You’re annoying,” she muttered.

I let out a small laugh, feeling the shift in the atmosphere from the tension earlier. “Alright, alright. It’s getting late. You should probably get some rest.”

She hesitated for a moment, her cheeks still flushed as she nodded quietly, trying to collect herself. “Yeah, you’re right. I should…”

With a final glance in my direction, she stepped toward the door. But before leaving, she paused and looked back at me, her eyes lingering for a moment longer than usual.

“Goodnight, Kai,” she said, her voice softer now, but with a warmth that was unmistakable.

I smiled at her, leaning back slightly against the bed, feeling a strange sense of contentment settle over me. “Goodnight, Celia.”

She turned and walked out, but not before glancing back at me one last time, a small, shy smile playing at the corners of her lips. I watched her disappear into the hallway, her figure fading into the shadows.

As I finally let out a breath, I couldn’t help but smile again, the warmth from the encounter still lingering.

Levi owes me for this one. Big time.

I still don't know how he convinced me to take Emma out in his place. Actually, scratch that—I do know. He was persistent, annoyingly so, and somehow spun it like I was the only one who could make up for his broken promise. I should’ve just ignored him, but here I am.

Still, I won’t lie. Talking to Emma wasn’t all bad. She’s surprisingly easy to talk to when she lets her guard down. It wasn’t forced, not something I had to drag out of her. She just… talked. And for some reason, she found my presence comforting. That was new. A little unexpected. But not bad.

As for Celia… well, her jealousy over this whole thing was hilarious. I mean, all I did was agree to take Emma out for one day, and she acted like I was walking her to the altar. I like that she cares about Emma, that she’s a genuinely good person. But seeing her get flustered, struggling to hide her jealousy? That was something else entirely.

I guess it’s safe to say the past weeks have made her like me a lot more than she realizes. And I don’t plan on breaking that trust. If she wants me to take her out too, then fine. I will. If it makes her happy, that’s enough reason.

But then…

What she said before leaving...

"Goodnight, Kai."

The happiness I felt thinking back suddenly disappeared with pain...

I laid down on my bed, staring at the ceiling as the darkness of the night wrapped around me. My mind played that moment back, over and over again. The same word she used to call me...

Kai.

It hurt. More than I thought it would.

That name—it wasn’t meant for me anymore. It was hers.

Elfie.

She was the only one who ever called me that.

I could still hear her voice, still feel the way she’d hold my hand when were just kids, lost and abandoned. She was one of the first—maybe the only—person who ever truly cared for me, who made me feel like I wasn’t alone. And now, Celia… she’s just like her. That same gentle smile, that same stubborn need to protect me, even when she doesn’t have to. It’s comforting. And at the same time… it hurts.

And yet, Elfie isn’t here anymore.

Because of me...

A weak, useless, E-ranked adventurer who couldn’t even protect the one person who mattered most… I was pathetic back then. Because of that weakness, Elfie had to save me… and she lost herself in the process.

The weak always lose. That’s the truth of this world. No matter how much you care, how hard you try—if you’re not strong enough, you’re nothing. I always lost. My home. My only friend. And in the end, all I could do was survive, carrying the weight of my own uselessness.

But never again. I refuse to be that weak ever again.

I hated myself for it.

I still do.

I didn’t even realize the tears forming in my eyes until they fell, warm against my skin. The pain never left. It never would.

But Celia…

I clenched my fists.

No one would take her from me.

Not like how the world took Elfie away.

If anyone—anyone—dares to hunt Celia, if they even think of hurting her… then I’ll make sure the hunters won’t just be hunted…. If they lay a hand on her, pain will be the last thing on their mind. I’ll make sure they don’t live long enough to regret it even.

Their suffering will be slow.

Unforgiving.

I will make them disappear.

…

For now, though, there’s something else I need to focus on.

Levi’s guild—Celestial Apex. Levi dodges too many questions about it. But Emma? She’s his sister. If there’s anyone who knows the secrets that Sword Saints like him keep, it’s her.

Tomorrow, I’ll make sure Emma tells me what she knows. Not just about Levi’s guild… but about the other four Sword Saints.

God-Gifted abilities don’t just belong to Levi. There are others. Stronger. More dangerous.

And it’s time I start learning about them.