(Paul POV)
Suddenly, I find myself standing.
The pain is gone. The weight crushing my body has vanished. But something is wrong.
Everything around me is gray. The sky, the horizon—if I can even call it that—is nothing but an empty expanse of mist and dullness. The only thing that seems real is the foggy ground beneath my feet. I don't know where I am. I don't remember how I got here.
I take a step forward. Then another. My feet make no sound, as if the ground isn't solid at all. I don't know if I'm walking in circles or making any progress, but standing still doesn't feel like an option. There has to be a way out of here.
A sound reaches my ears as I wander through this monotone abyss.
Laughter.
Not just one person, but a group—mocking, youthful laughter, echoing around me as if from all directions at once.
I stop in my tracks. My pulse quickens.
"Who's there?"
I look around frantically, but the gray void offers me no answers. The laughter continues, distant yet eerily close.
Then, suddenly, light—blinding, rapid flashes of light erupt in bursts, each one coming with another round of laughter. The brightness sears my vision, forcing me to squint. But for fleeting moments, between the blinding flashes, I see faces.
Grinning. Laughing. Mocking.
They vanish before I can register their details, only to reappear with the next flash. A parade of shifting expressions, all looking at me, all laughing at me.
I raise my arm to shield my eyes, turning away, but the light continues to pierce through my vision. I stumble back, trying to escape, but the laughter follows, growing louder, sharper, and surrounding me from every angle.
Then, beneath it, another sound emerges.
"Sobbing?"
A soft, broken whimper hidden beneath the chorus of laughter. A cry of pain, of desperation. I hesitate, my breath hitching, and slowly, I lower my arm.
Through the flickering light, I squint toward the sound. There—just ahead of me—a small figure. A child, curled up on the foggy ground, clutching their head, trembling.
"Stop…" the child whispers, their voice shaking. "Please… make it stop…"
My chest tightens. My feet move before I can think. I step toward them, reaching out, but as I do, the laughter roars again, and the lights flash brighter than ever.
The child lets out a scream—a piercing, raw wail of agony.
"MAKE IT STOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!"
The very ground trembles beneath me, sending violent shockwaves through the air. The force slams into me like a physical blow, knocking me off balance.
Then, I feel it.
The sensation of falling.
The gray world tilts and collapses into nothingness, pulling me into a void of pure darkness. The laughter fades, replaced by a deafening silence, an abyss that consumes not just my surroundings but my very sense of self. My consciousness unravels, slipping away into the black.
***
I jolted awake, my eyes snapping open.
My body was drenched in sweat, my breath ragged, as if I had just surfaced from drowning. My heart pounded against my ribs, muscles tensed, ready for a fight that wasn't there.
Blinking rapidly, I stared up at the ceiling—unfamiliar, dimly lit by the flickering glow of lanterns.
Where… am I?
Instinct took over. My hand shot toward my sword—nothing. Fingers clenching empty air, I forced myself to breathe, to focus.
I sat up too fast. The world spun, nausea rolling through me. Gritting my teeth, I reached for my temple, fingertips brushing against rough, scarred skin.
I frowned. The last thing I remembered was getting Zenith and Norn to safety—then collapsing from the fatal wound the Water God gave me.
But… was it actually fatal? It felt like an eternity before it took effect.
And why... does my chest feel so tight?
A deep, gnawing dread clawed at me, like I had just woken from a nightmare too terrible to recall. I tried to grasp at the memories, to piece together whatever horror had shaken me so badly—but they slipped through my mind like sand through my fingers.
All that remained was the frantic beating of my heart... and the faintest echoes of laughter, lingering at the edge of my mind before fading into nothing.
I inhaled sharply, forcing my heartbeat to slow. With effort, I pushed myself upright. The dizziness clung to me, but I fought through it.
That's when I noticed—my armor was gone.
Instead of the usual weight of my gear, a light blanket covered me. Beneath it, I wore simple clothes, soft and loose against my skin. Not mine. Someone had changed me.
My gaze swept the dimly lit room. Wooden walls. A small table with a basin of water. A chair tucked into the corner. Everything was simple, yet familiar in a distant, almost nostalgic way.
Not an inn. Not a camp.
A hut.
Before I could make sense of anything, the door creaked open.
Zenith stepped inside.
The moment she saw me, her breath hitched. Then, in an instant, she rushed to my side, her movements quick yet careful—like she was afraid I might shatter.
"Paul…!" Her voice trembled, caught between relief and lingering fear. She knelt beside me, placing a hand against my forehead, her touch cool against my sweat-dampened skin.
"Are you alright?" she asked, brows knit with worry.
I blinked, trying to ground myself in the present. The unease gnawed at me, but I forced it down.
"I'm fine," I said, my voice hoarse but steady.
Zenith exhaled, releasing a breath she must have been holding, but the worry in her eyes remained.
I glanced around, still unsure where we were. Zenith placed her hand on mine, squeezing gently.
"Paul... do you remember what happened?"
I pressed my fingers to my forehead, trying to recall. "You, Norn, and I were in an alley… and then—" I frowned. "What happened after that? Who healed my injury?"
She hesitated, looking away. Worry flickered across her face.
"Kagami appeared out of nowhere," she said softly. "He subdued the knights who found us. Once we treated your wound, he took us to a remote area where he had a Teleportation Circle ready to get us out of Millishion."
"Ah… I see," I murmured, my mind clearing a little. "That makes sense. He must've used one of those healing bracelets. He always leaves me those after every fight against those spirits."
Silence.
"... He did, right?"
Zenith didn't answer.
Instead, she turned slightly, lifting her golden hair—revealing strands of stark white at the back of her head.
My chest tightened. My stomach dropped.
No...
She met my gaze, sorrow and anger flickering in her eyes. "I did it, Paul. I healed you."
My throat went dry. "But… your Healing Magic wasn't working before. How…?"
She swallowed, her fingers trembling slightly as she lowered her hand. "I had to push myself past my limits. I… had to make a choice."
She then turned around and lifted her hair. A few strands, a little hidden behind her head, were stark white.
I knew what this meant. It happened to my hair as well.
Kagami must've given her the boost to save me, the same connection to Rudy's powers like I do.
A pit formed in my stomach.
He had already shown that he had some control over me—even if he gave me the means to defeat the Water God. And now, Zenith had done the same to enhance her own abilities.
But she did it... for me.
A part of me wanted to be furious—not at her, but at myself. I had put her in this position. I had let things reach a point where she felt she had no other choice.
But another part of me felt something far deeper.
Guilt. Love. Grief.
All tangled together, squeezing the air from my lungs.
I reached out, brushing my fingers over the white strands in her hair, my touch hesitant, reverent. She didn't flinch, didn't pull away. If anything, she leaned into my palm, closing her eyes.
"You shouldn't have had to do that," I murmured.
Zenith let out a soft, bitter chuckle. "Shouldn't I? Paul, do you really think I could have just let you die?" She opened her eyes, meeting my gaze. Fierce. Unwavering. "I had to. I wanted to."
I swallowed hard, unable to look away.
"You always throw yourself into danger," she whispered. "You act like it's your responsibility to carry everything. To fight until there's nothing left of you. But Paul..." Her hands grasped mine, fingers tightening.
"You're my husband. I won't lose you. Not like that."
I couldn't speak.
For all the wounds and scars I carried, I never thought about what it did to her, what it did to the people waiting for me to come home.
Zenith had always been strong—stronger than I ever gave her credit for. But that strength didn't mean she hadn't been hurting.
I pulled her into my arms.
She tensed for a moment, then melted into me, clutching my shirt as she buried her face against my chest.
"I'm sorry," I murmured.
She shook her head. "Just… don't make me go through that again."
I held her tighter, pressing my lips to the top of her head.
I wanted to promise her that nothing would happen again.
But things hadn't cooled down.
They had only just begun.
It wouldn't be long before the Millis Church branded me a fugitive, issuing wanted flyers with my face.
But for now, just for this moment—I would let myself rest.
I held Zenith close, grounding myself in the warmth of her embrace, but our quiet moment was soon interrupted by hurried footsteps. The door burst open, and before I could react, Norn and Aisha rushed in, their faces streaked with tears.
"Papa! You're awake!" Norn sobbed, clinging to me as if afraid I might vanish again.
Aisha wiped her eyes, her usual composure cracking. "We thought we lost you!"
I barely had time to brace myself before they threw themselves at me. My arms instinctively wrapped around them, guilt and love swelling in my chest. I had put them through so much.
"I'm here now," I murmured, holding them tightly. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?" Norn's voice wavered as she peered up at me, her eyes wide and searching.
I met her gaze and nodded. "Promise."
Zenith gently urged them to step back, giving me space to breathe. As they reluctantly obeyed, the door creaked open once more. Lilia entered, her usually composed expression softening with relief.
"Husband… it is relieving to see you awake." Her voice carried its familiar calm, yet there was warmth in it that I hadn't heard in a long time.
I exhaled, managing a small, weary smile. "Lilia... I take it you've been watching over us, as always?"
Behind her, Ghislaine and Shierra entered, followed closely by Vierra, who exhaled in relief.
"We were all worried. You were in critical condition," Vierra said, her voice gentle but firm.
I ran a hand through my hair, still feeling the dull ache of my healed wounds. I couldn't shake the lingering disorientation.
The hut we were in had only one window and four beds. Bright sunlight shone through the doorway and window frames, so it must have been daytime.
"Where are we, anyway?"
Lilia and Zenith exchanged glances, hesitation clear in their eyes.
"We're in the north of the Demon Continent," a voice answered.
I froze. That voice… Could it be?
Stepping through the doorway was an elf woman, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders. Even after all these years, I recognized her instantly.
"Elinalise? Is... that you?"
She was still as beautiful as I remembered, but something was different. When I had imagined seeing her again, I had expected hatred, disgust—perhaps even resentment. Instead, her gaze was gentle. There was no trace of the usual mischievous glint, no erotic teasing, no sultry smirk. Even her attire was different—practical, efficient. It almost made me wonder if I was still dreaming.
"Oh my," she teased, placing a hand over her mouth. "Zenith, I think he needs another round of your Healing Magic."
Zenith shot her an exasperated look. "This isn't funny, Elinalise. My reaction was the same as his. Much like the rest of us."
"I know, I know. But it's so much fun."
I snapped. "Enough games, Elinalise. I need to know where we are and why you're here!"
Elinalise sighed, folding her arms. "I already told you, Paul. We're on the Demon Continent."
I clenched my fists. "That's impossible. How could we have—?"
"Kagami," Lilia interjected, her voice calm yet firm. "He transported us here using a Teleportation Circle. Apparently, he had prepared it long ago for when he needed to send a rescue team after Rudeus."
Kagami… That damn masked bastard. Always moving in the shadows, always prepared for contingencies I could never anticipate. I exhaled sharply, trying to process everything.
"So Kagami finally told us where Rudeus is?" I asked, hope and impatience clawing at my throat.
Zenith stepped closer, her expression measured. "Not exactly. Roxy, Tallhand, and Vierra left for the next city a few days ago. They're looking for information on a place called White Fire Coffin."
White Fire Coffin. The name sent an uneasy chill through me. Whatever it was, it didn't sound like a place I wanted my son to be. My fingers twitched. I couldn't sit here and wait.
I threw off the blanket and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, preparing to stand. My body was still sluggish, but I forced it to move.
Zenith's hands immediately pressed against my shoulders, stopping me. "You need to rest, Paul. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet."
"I don't have time for that!" I shot back. "Rudeus is still out there, and now we might have a lead! I can't just lie here—"
"Paul!" Zenith's voice cracked like a whip, her grip tightening. "You are in no condition to fight! If you push yourself too soon, you'll just end up slowing us down—or worse."
I gritted my teeth. The logical part of me knew she was right, but logic wasn't what was driving me. My son was suffering somewhere, and every second I wasted felt like another nail in the coffin.
"Paul," Zenith's voice softened, though the steel in her gaze remained. "You need to trust us. Let yourself heal first. You can't save Rudeus if you're half-dead."
Before I could argue further, Elinalise let out a low chuckle. "Well, well… Zenith, you've really grown a backbone, haven't you? Putting your reckless husband in his place like this. I have to say, I'm impressed."
Zenith huffed, not sparing her a glance. "Somebody has to keep him from getting himself killed."
I exhaled heavily, my frustration simmering but not boiling over. I wanted to fight back, to push through the pain and weakness, but… maybe Zenith was right. Perhaps I needed to trust them, to believe that I wasn't the only one carrying this burden.
I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. "Fine. But as soon as I'm strong enough, we move."
Zenith nodded, a flicker of relief passing through her eyes. "That, I can agree with."
Elinalise smirked. "Now that's the Paul I know. Stubborn as ever, but at least he listens to his wife."
For the first time since waking up, I let out a small, exhausted chuckle. "I don't think I had a choice."
Elinalise's smirk widened, but there was something behind it—something unreadable. I knew she hadn't forgotten the past. I knew, sooner or later, I would have to apologize for the way things had been between us.
For now, though, I had bigger things to worry about.
***
I lay back down, forcing myself to rest, but my mind refused to quiet. The knowledge that I was closer than ever to saving Rudeus gnawed at me, refusing to let me sink into the sleep my body so desperately needed. My muscles ached, my head throbbed, but none of it compared to the uneasiness clawing at my chest.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw flashes—scenarios of what Rudeus might be going through. Was he hurt? Trapped? Fighting to survive? The thought of him alone in some forsaken place, waiting for help that might never come, made my stomach churn.
I exhaled sharply, staring up at the wooden ceiling, listening to the faint creaks of the hut settling. The dim lantern light cast shadows along the walls, flickering with each small gust of wind that seeped through the cracks. The silence was deafening.
Zenith sat beside me, her presence a grounding force against the storm in my mind. She hadn't spoken since our earlier argument, but she hadn't left my side either. I turned my head slightly, catching a glimpse of her from the corner of my eye. Her fingers idly traced patterns on her lap, her expression unreadable.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then, softly, she broke the silence. "You're still thinking about him."
I swallowed, my throat dry. "I can't help it. We're so close, Zenith. After everything... we're finally close."
She nodded slowly, her gaze lowering. "I know. I feel it too."
I turned fully toward her, watching as her brows knit together in quiet worry. "Do you think he's okay?"
She hesitated, then sighed. "I don't know. But I do know that we'll find him. No matter what it takes."
I reached out, taking her hand in mine. She squeezed back, firm and reassuring.
Even as my mind refused to settle, as the weight of the unknown threatened to crush me, her touch was enough to anchor me—if only for a little while.
Until—
"What the hell?" I said as I sat upright.
"What is it?" Zenith asked.
I didn't reply since I didn't know what it was myself.
My detection must have evolved unexpectedly because I could swear I was picking up something or someone heading here from very far away. And they were coming fast.
///