EVA—
It hurts… everything hurts so much. My body… it feels like it’s breaking.
My breaths are slow, shallow, like I’m struggling to hold onto something I can’t even see. And it’s so quiet… too quiet. I can’t see, I can’t hear… it’s as if the world has vanished.
Did I… die?
No. I’m still breathing. My chest rises and falls. I’m alive. Somehow, I’m still alive.
Am I… now?
I remember someone came for me. I can’t see their face… it was dark. But they were there.
Who was it…?
For a moment, I thought it was Kyel. But no… it can’t be him. He isn’t here. Then… who?
Tears slip down my cheeks despite the numbness, hot against my cold skin. Whoever are… thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you… for saving me
I close my eyes, letting the darkness take me, letting myself drift away.
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Malric’s body lay still, drenched in blood, riddled with wounds. Every part of him seemed lifeless, the fight utterly over.
Eyan’s hands were stained crimson, the knife trembling in his grip. His chest heaved, mind racing—and then, with a sharp exhale, he threw the weapon to the ground.
He stood, legs unsteady, and walked toward Eva.
“You three… can go now,” he said quietly.
The wolves that had shrouded Eva’s body in shadows vanished, leaving her fragile form exposed.
Eyan pulled his cloak from his shoulders and knelt beside her, gently draping it over her still body.
With shaking hands he gathered her into his arms, pressing her close to his chest as if holding her could somehow shield her from all the pain.
“Princess… I’m sorry… I’m sorry for coming late,” he whispered, tears spilling down his face, wetting her hair.
He pulled back slightly, his hands trembling as they brushed against her bloodied face.
“Open your eyes… look at me,” he urged, his voice cracking.
“Don’t be afraid… I’m here,” he repeated, desperate, heart shattering at her stillness.
Lifting the cloak, his eyes swept over her torn skin, the cuts and wounds cruelly vivid. Each one made his chest ache, each one a dagger to his heart.
“Taking her to a physician won’t work… I need a healer,” he muttered, his mind racing for a solution.
He lifted her fully into his arms, her face resting against his chest, fragile and broken. He took a step forward… and stopped.
“To heal her… I have to take her to the palace,” he murmured, hesitation in his voice. His eyes met her still form. “No… I can’t. Too many people. Too many eyes. What do I do now?”
He paused, thought furiously, then a single name came to mind. Relief flickered in his chest.
“Yes… I’ll ask him. Only can do it,” Eyan said, determination replacing the panic.
With that, he began to walk, each step heavy with worry and urgency.
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(Eva’s House)
Eyan laid Eva gently on the bed, his movements careful—almost reverent—as if she might break beneath his hands. He pulled the sheet over her fragile body.
His breath trembled. His hands were still shaking.
His eyes scanned the floor desperately. Then he knelt, tore away a loose wooden panel, and reached inside. From the hidden space, he pulled out a small magical communicator.
His bloodstained fingers activated it with a sharp flick.
A bored voice answered instantly.
“What do you want?”
“Luca,” Eyan said, his voice tight, barely holding together, “where are you right now?”
Luca yawned loudly. “At the Magic Tower. Where else would I be?”
“Teleport to me,” Eyan said urgently. “Right now.”
Luca sighed. “Ahhh… what now? Don’t tell me you’re upset because I skipped your birthday celebra—”
“Please,” Eyan cut in. His voice cracked violently.
“Please come…” The word broke him.
“I’m begging you,” he whispered, his voice collapsing into a sob.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Silence.....
The playful tone vanished.
“I’m coming,” Luca said, deadly serious.
The call ended with a sharp beep.
A second later, a glowing magic circle flared open inside the room. Light twisted, space folded—and Luca stepped out.
His expression changed instantly.
Eyan stood there drenched in blood, shaking like a man barely holding himself upright.
Luca grabbed his shoulders hard. “Eyan—what happened?”
Eyan couldn’t speak. He only lifted his hand and pointed. At Eva.
“Her…” His voice trembled violently. “Please. Heal .”
Luca followed his gaze, eyes narrowing. “Alright.”
He moved swiftly to the bed, raised his hand, and activated his magic. Light poured from his palm, washing over Eva’s body. In seconds, the blood vanished. The wounds sealed. Her torn skin became smooth once more, as if nothing had ever happened.
“It’s done,” Luca said quietly. “She’s fine now.”
Eyan stared at Eva’s peaceful face, breath hitching.
“Thank you…”
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.
“Let’s go, Luca. She’ll be fine now. Her family can take care of her.”
Luca followed him into the hallway.
“Eyan,” he asked carefully, “who is she?”
Eyan stopped midway down the stairs. “Oh… her?” he said flatly. “I don’t really know.”
He turned slightly. “A man was chasing her. She ran to me for help. I helped her. She told me where she lived… so I brought her here. That’s all.”
Luca raised a brow. “Oh.”
Then, frowning, “But she was in bad shape.”
“What happened to the man who was chasing her?”
Eyan didn’t hesitate. “I killed him.”
Luca nodded calmly. “Good. Men like that deserve to die.”
His eyes drifted around the room—the overturned furniture, the broken things, the unmistakable signs of struggle.
“That man must have broken into her house,” Luca said, his gaze sweeping the ruined room. “Most likely when her husband wasn’t here.”
Eyan stiffened. His fingers curled slowly at his side.
“Husband…?” His voice came out strained. “How can you tell she has a husband?”
Luca looked at him, puzzled.
“She’s wearing a ring, Eyan,” he said simply. “That usually means she’s married.”
“Oh.” Eyan swallowed hard, forcing his tone to stay casual. “Maybe she is… I don’t know.”
He turned away abruptly.
“Luca, let’s go. Now,” he said, reaching for the door handle. “Don’t worry about a stranger.”
“Stranger?” Luca echoed.
“No, Eyan,” Luca said slowly. “I’m worried about sister-in-law.”
Eyan’s body froze.
The air seemed to tighten around him as he turned back. “What… did you just her?” he asked, barely breathing.
“I called her sister-in-law,” Luca replied calmly.
Then he smiled—“How else should I address wife, Eyan?”
Eyan forced a laugh, masking the unease creeping up his spine.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he said dismissively. “I already told you—she’s a stranger.”
Luca stepped closer, his expression hardening. “Eyan, I’ve known you since we were five,” he said quietly. “We grew up together. I you.”
His eyes flicked to Eyan’s trembling hands.
“You wouldn’t be shaking like this,” Luca continued, voice firm, “or begging me to come here… for a stranger.”
“You’re mistaken, Luca,” Eyan snapped. “Stop making stories in your head—”
“That ring,” Luca cut in sharply, “That ring she's wearing, comes in a pair.”
He moved closer, invading Eyan’s space. “Married couples wear them together. She has hers… which means the other one is with her husband.”
Before Eyan could react, Luca raised his hand. Magic shimmered in the air.
The chain around Eyan’s neck snapped with a sharp crack. The ring flew free, landing neatly in Luca’s palm.
“If you’re not her husband,” Luca asked quietly, his voice edged with disbelief, “then why do you her husband’s ring?”
He lifted his gaze, eyes darkening.
“You thought you could hide it from me,” Luca continued. “I’m the one who placed the disguise spell on this ring. Did you really think I wouldn’t sense my own magic on you?”
His voice faltered—not with anger, but with hurt.
“I’m hurt, Eyan,” he admitted. “How could you hide something this important from me?”
He searched Eyan’s face.
“Am I not your friend?”
Eyan let out a slow, defeated sigh. His hand dropped to his side, shoulders slumping under the weight of the truth he could no longer deny.
“I’m sorry…” he said quietly, guilt thick in his voice.
“I don’t want your apologies,” Luca said firmly. “What I want is the truth.”
He met Eyan’s eyes, unwavering.
“Tell me the truth, Eyan.”
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After listening to everything, Luca took a long, steady breath, as if grounding himself.
“You’re keeping her in the dark, Eyan,” he said quietly. “You think that by hiding your real identity from her, you can protect her.”
“I can,” Eyan replied, his voice low, stubborn.
Luca’s eyes flashed with anger.
“You he snapped. “Then why is she lying on that bed like this?”
He stepped closer, voice rising.
“Answer me, Eyan.”
Eyan said nothing. His silence was answer enough.
“She wouldn’t be lying there,” Luca continued harshly, “if her so-called husband hadn’t disappeared from the house, leaving her completely alone.”
Eyan’s breath hitched.
“While I was healing her,” Luca said, his tone darkening, “I looked into her last memories.”
Eyan looked up sharply. “You did?”
“Yes.” Luca nodded once. “Do you want to know what I saw?”
He didn’t wait for an answer.
“I saw fear, Eyan. Pure terror. She was terrified.”
“She fought with everything she had. She struggled against that bastard’s grip. She screamed. She cried. She begged for help.”
Eyan’s fists clenched.
“She even ran after your carriage,” Luca went on, his voice cutting deeper with every word. “Desperate. Calling out for your help.”
Luca’s eyes hardened.
“And where you were at that moment?.....Riding comfortably to your palace… to sleep in your large, luxurious bed.”
“Do you have any idea,” Luca pressed, “what would’ve happened if you’d been a minute late?”
“She could have died.”
The words shattered what little strength Eyan had left.
He collapsed to the floor, knees pulled to his chest as tears spilled freely.
“You’re right…” he choked. “I’m useless. I couldn’t protect her.”
“If only I’d stayed a little longer… Malric wouldn’t have broken into the house.”
“This is my fault. All of it.”
Luca’s chest tightened. The anger drained from his face as he knelt beside him, placing a steady hand on Eyan’s shaking shoulder.
“Listen to me,” Luca said softly. “I’m not telling you this to hurt you.”
He paused. “But it’s not as simple as you think.”
“You think it was just a coincidence,” Luca said slowly, eyes fixed on Eyan, “that he broke into your house and attacked her?”
Eyan frowned, confusion flickering across his face.
“That wasn’t a coincidence, Eyan,” Luca continued, his voice dark and certain. “That bastard was waiting for her to come home. He knew her husband wouldn’t be there.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. “It was planned. From the very beginning.”
Eyan’s breath hitched. “…It was all planned?”
“Yes.” Luca nodded once. “And it wasn’t their first meeting.”
Eyan’s chest tightened.
“They knew each other in the past,” Luca went on. “And something happened between them back then. Something .”
Eyan stepped closer, anxiety sharp in his eyes. “Something bad?” he demanded. “What do you mean by that? What happened in the past?”
Luca shook his head slowly. “I don’t know either,” he admitted. “That’s why I need your permission.”
He met Eyan’s gaze directly. “Give me permission to look into her past memories—specifically the ones involving that man. I need to confirm something.”
Eyan didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” he said firmly. “You can. Do it. I want to know too.”
Luca nodded. “Alright,” he said quietly. “Then let’s go.”
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