Elena sat on a large rock, staring into space.
Her mind kept circling back to what happened during her sparring session with Dante.
If she could fight perfectly in her head… why wasn't it translating into real life?
Especially when she actually needed it?
Was there something she had to unlock?
A dull ache formed at the side of her head. She sighed and kicked the sand at her feet in frustration.
They were almost done packing supplies, and she figured she needed a moment alone before they set out for the old ruins.
A shadow fell over her.
Her heart jumped.
She turned quickly then let out a quiet breath of relief.
"When did you get here? I didn't hear your footsteps."
Dante smirked. "Looks like my stealth training is finally paying off."
Elena rolled her eyes.
Silence settled between them. Comfortable, not awkward.
Dante lowered himself to the ground, leaning his back against the rock beside her.
The wind tousled his hair, and Elena caught herself staring.
Her fingers twitched slightly, resisting the urge to reach out and run them through his soft, raven-black hair.
"Elena…" Dante said.
"Hm?"
"You need to relax."
She scoffed. "What do you mean? I am relaxed."
"No, you're not." His tone was calm, certain. "You're thinking too much. About everything. That's why even the basics feel hard."
Elena hesitated.
"I mean… I do have a lot on my mind. Who wouldn't?" she muttered. "But I wouldn't say I'm anxious…"
The wind picked up briefly, brushing past them before settling again.
Elena's gaze dropped.
"I think about her every time the wind blows…" she said quietly. "I can't help but feel like it's my fault she spiraled this far."
She swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Dante."
He didn't reply immediately.
Instead, he reached out and tugged lightly at her sleeve.
"What are you doing?" she asked, startled.
"Come sit with me," he said, tapping the ground beside him.
Elena almost argued but didn't.
She moved down and sat beside him.
Close.
Close enough that their arms brushed every now and then.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" Dante asked, turning his head to look at her.
Elena lowered her gaze.
"If I had listened to you back at the tavern… maybe things would've turned out differently."
Dante exhaled softly. "Fate doesn't work like that. It never does."
He glanced ahead.
"What matters now is saving Amber."
Elena nodded. "Yeah… you're right."
A brief silence followed.
Then, she glanced at Dante, who was quietly staring at the distant horizon, as if the world itself had momentarily stopped demanding anything from him.
"Can I ask you something?" Elena said softly.
He turned at once. A faint smile touched his lips.
"You can ask me anything," Dante replied gently. "I would be happy to share whatever knowledge I have of this world with you."
Elena let out a quiet laugh under her breath.
"Enough with your clever replies, Dante," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not interested in the knowledge of this world…"
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than she intended.
"I'm interested in you."
For a split second, Dante's eyes widened.
Then, just as quickly his expression broke into a slow, knowing smile.
"Elena…" he called her name deliberately, almost teasingly.
And it clicked.
The meaning behind her words settled between them like a quiet trap.
Her eyes widened. "You....don't twist my words!"
Too late.
Dante let out a soft laugh, clearly enjoying her reaction.
"You idiot," she muttered, embarrassed, sending a light punch toward his arm.
"Ow…" He rubbed the spot, feigning pain. "That was surprisingly violent."
Elena cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.
"I meant… I want to know you," she said more seriously this time. "Who you are. Where you came from. How you learned to fight like that. I know nothing about you, Dante… nothing except your name."
The playful air between them faded.
Dante's smile slowly disappeared.
What replaced it was something Elena had never seen before. Quiet, heavy, and unreadable.
"I understand your curiosity," he said softly, "but I'm afraid I can't satisfy it… not yet."
"Why?" she asked immediately.
Silence lingered for a moment before he spoke again.
"It's complicated," Dante said. Then, more firmly, "But I swear this on my life that I'm not here to hurt you."
Before she could react, he reached for her hand.
His fingers closed gently around hers.
Warm. Certain. Unmoving.
Elena froze, her breath catching slightly.
"I care about you, Elena," he said, voice lower now. More serious. "More than I probably should."
His thumb moved slowly over the back of her hand, as though grounding himself in the moment.
"And I'll do everything I can to help you whenever you need it."
A faint pause.
"Maybe soon…" he added, gaze softening, "you'll figure out who I am."
His eyes met hers again.
"You're smart, Elena. Smarter than anyone I've ever met."
The air between them thickened, quiet and heavy, as if the world had stepped back to watch without breathing.
Dante reached up slowly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
His touch lingered for a second too long.
Neither of them moved away.
His eyes stayed on hers. Too focused, too close, as if something unspoken was pulling him in.
"What are you two doing back here? Everyone's ready."
Leo's voice shattered the moment.
Elena jerked back immediately, pulling her hand away and standing up too fast.
"Y-yeah… you're right," she stammered. "We should get going."
And just like that, She ran.
Dante cursed quietly under his breath and stood up.
Only to find Leo watching him.
That annoying smirk still on his face.
Dante folded his hand into a tight fist and for the first time in a long while, he felt like hitting someone... Hard.
"Stay away from Elena," Leo said flatly. "She's mine."
Dante let out a short laugh. "You're actually insane."
Leo's jaw tightened.
"I can't believe you have a crush on your own cousin."
"Shut up!" Leo snapped. "We're not related."
"Yeah?" Dante shrugged. "Keep telling yourself that."
He turned to leave.
Leo grabbed his arm.
"I'm serious," he said, voice low. "She was adopted. We're not blood-related."
Dante paused but didn't turn around.
"Do you even know who her real parents are?" he asked.
"I don't know. And I don't care," Leo added quickly. "But stay out of it. It's family business."
Dante pulled his arm free.
"Whatever," he said casually, walking off.
But as he moved away, something lingered in his mind.
He wasn't glad Leo interrupted.
Not at all.
But…
The timing?
Perfect.
Because deep down,
Dante knew something dangerous was starting.
And if he let himself fall any deeper…
It might be the beginning of his end.