Prius continued along the narrow path.

  What do I even say to him when I see him…

  The thought lingered, clouding his mind as he walked through the forest trail leading to Lake Mundon.

  The rain had begun to fall harder, soaking the ground beneath his feet.

  When he stepped out from the trees, the lake came into view.

  Axel was there.

  Crouched near the water’s edge, facing the lake, his hand dipping repeatedly into the water.

  Prius stopped for a moment.

  Then he approached.

  “I figured you’d be here,” Prius said. “Why didn’t you stay at the hospital and heal properly?”

  Axel didn’t reply. He kept working with the water.

  Prius stood behind him.

  “You’ve got your mother worried,” he continued. “You’ve been ending up in the hospital a little too often lately. You can’t keep this up.”

  Axel’s voice came quietly.

  “That doesn’t matter.”

  He paused briefly.

  “You weren’t there today.”

  Prius remained silent, letting him continue.

  “He was going to kill her,” Axel said. “If I hadn’t fought…”

  His voice stopped.

  Prius stepped closer, trying to see what Axel was holding.

  In Axel’s hands was Lea’s wolf plushie.

  Half torn apart.

  Covered in dried blood.

  Axel carefully dipped it into the lake, trying to wash it clean.

  Prius frowned slightly. “Why are you cleaning that?”

  Axel stopped for a moment before answering.

  “I walked into her room,” he said. “Saw her lying there like that.”

  He glanced down at the plushie.

  “And I noticed something was missing.”

  “The plushie I used to make fun of her for… wasn’t there anymore.”

  He gently squeezed water from the torn fabric.

  “She cared about it.”

  Axel stood up slowly.

  “So I went back to look for it,” he continued. “Took forever to find it.”

  He paused.

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  “And when I did…”

  Another brief silence.

  “I realized this might have been all I have left of Lea.”

  Prius heard the strain in his voice.

  For a moment, Axel stood still.

  Then something shifted.

  The fear that had filled his eyes vanished.

  Heat began to ripple faintly around him as energy leaked from his crystal.

  “I’ve decided something,” Axel said.

  His voice hardened.

  “I’m going to kill Giola.”

  He lifted his gaze toward the lake.

  “Then Dragora.”

  “Then every piece of scum from Ordine.”

  “And anyone else who tries to stand in my way.”

  “They should feel what I felt today.”

  He looked toward Prius.

  “That seems fair, doesn’t it?”

  Prius studied him quietly.

  This was not the Axel he knew.

  Such a calm, generous boy…

  And now he spoke like this.

  “Stop that nonsense,” Prius said. “You have no idea what killing someone does to you. It hollows you out until there’s nothing left.”

  Axel turned to face him fully.

  “Weren’t you the one who always talked about vengeance?” Axel said. “About how I could never truly have peace while Giola existed?”

  “And now I’m not supposed to kill him?”

  Prius didn’t look away.

  “Killing isn’t the only way to defeat someone,” he said. “If you believe it is, then you’re a fool.”

  Axel answered immediately.

  “And what restrains them if they’re alive?”

  “They can’t come back if they’re dead.”

  “One option sounds far more reliable.”

  Prius held his gaze.

  He realized reason wasn’t reaching him.

  “Fine,” Prius said.

  “Then show me.”

  “Go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

  Axel frowned slightly, confused by the response.

  He stepped forward to walk past him.

  Prius moved and blocked his path.

  “Before you kill Giola,” Prius said, “you’ll have to kill me.”

  Axel blinked.

  “Stop joking,” he said. “Move.”

  “I will not.”

  Axel’s expression hardened.

  Blinded by rage, he placed the plushie carefully on the ground.

  Energy surged through him as he pulled his fist back.

  He threw the punch without hesitation.

  Prius didn’t move.

  For a moment, he truly believed he would die there.

  Then—

  A voice echoed inside Axel’s mind.

  Stop this nonsense.

  This isn’t you.

  I can feel you don’t want to do this.

  At the last instant, Axel twisted his arm downward.

  His fist slammed into the ground instead.

  The earth shattered beneath them.

  Stone exploded outward, leaving a massive crater.

  Silence followed.

  Axel stood there, breathing heavily.

  Then the tension drained from him.

  “I’m sorry, Prius,” he said quietly. “I don’t know what came over me.”

  Prius released a slow breath.

  Axel picked the plushie back up from the ground.

  Water and blood dripped from the fabric.

  He looked at Prius.

  Rain ran down his face. Prius couldn’t tell if it was rain or tears.

  “Do you know if there’s someone who can fix him?” Axel asked.

  Prius nodded.

  “Sure,” he said. “Let me see what I can do.”