Akira stared at the elf woman who stood confidently before him, her presence sharp and commanding.
"Wait—are you… Selene Kaelis?"
She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in appraisal. "That depends. Who's asking?"
"I'm Akira. Gregory—High Priest Gregory from Umbria—he told me to find you."
At the mention of Gregory's name, her eyes widened subtly, but her stance remained defensive.
Her gaze flicked over his shoulder. "That hoverbike you rode in on… Where did you get it?"
"It's Gregory's. He let me borrow it to find you."
Selene's expression darkened—not with anger, but suspicion. "That model's unique. Custom. Gregory really fond of that hoverbike. If he gave it to you, then something must have happened."
Akira nodded. "Some mercenaries came to Umbria. Gregory stayed behind to face them while I escaped."
A moment of silence passed between them.
Selene looked around at the crowd, then gestured for him to follow. "We shouldn't talk out here. Come with me."
---
They slipped through the alleys of Virelyn, passing under sagging bridges and arcane lanterns. After a short walk, they reached a quiet, abandoned rooftop garden hidden above a forgotten blacksmith's guild. From here, the city looked like a glowing sea of chaos.
Selene sat down on a cracked stone bench, arms crossed. "Talk."
Akira hesitated. He had been avoiding thinking about everything too deeply, but now… he had no choice.
He explained everything—from waking up in the ruined temple, to the voice of Eva in his mind, the first monster, his transformation into a woman, and Gregory recognizing the mark on his chest. He even described the book and what little he'd learned of the Witch of Eva.
Selene didn't interrupt once. She sat still, only her eyes shifting—sharp, analyzing, calculating.
When he finished, she exhaled slowly.
"Well... you weren't lying. That mark on your chest—it's the Witch's Crest."
Akira blinked. "You know it?"
Selene stood. "Yes. Come on, we'll stay the night at an inn. You're too green to be sleeping in the streets."
---
The inn was modest but clean. Stone walls, enchanted lamps, and an old woman at the counter who smiled fondly at Selene.
"I'll cover both rooms," Selene said, dropping a few silver tokens on the counter. "And dinner."
Akira felt a wave of guilt. "You didn't have to—"
"I didn't. But Gregory trusted you. That's enough—for now."
They ate quietly, mostly bread, stew, and roasted roots. Akira didn't say much, too drained from everything.
Selene finished first and motioned to the stairs. "Get some sleep. I'll decide what to do with you in the morning."
---
Later that night, in her room across the hall, Selene sat by the window. Her sword leaned against the wall beside her, her gloves resting on the sill.
Moonlight touched her face as she stared out at the ruined skyline of Virelyn.
She thought about Gregory.
About the wars of old.
And about her family—long gone, scattered or dead. Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched them.
"Nova.... Genesis..... " Selene's voice whisper, trembling.
Her gaze drifted to the horizon, where the Forbidden Forest could still be seen as a jagged line of black.
---