The white horse ran quickly across the road toward the village.
Xiver sat behind Sonic, gripping the saddle awkwardly.
After a moment, Sonic spoke.
"Hey kid."
Xiver looked up.
"If things get really messy… can you defend yourself with magic?"
Xiver lowered his eyes.
"…No."
Sonic glanced back slightly.
"I have trouble using magic," Xiver admitted quietly.
For the first time since they met, Sonic's expression turned completely serious.
The horse stopped.
Silence filled the road.
Sonic slowly pulled a coin from his pocket.
"Then let's gamble."
Xiver blinked.
"…What?"
Sonic flipped the coin between his fingers.
"Say no," he said calmly, "and I'll kill you right here."
Xiver felt his stomach drop.
Sonic continued.
"If it lands on heads, I'll save you and your family."
He smiled faintly.
"But we will never see each other again."
The coin spun in his fingers.
"And if it lands on tails…"
His smile widened.
"I'll kill you."
Before Xiver could react—
Clink.
The coin flipped into the air.
It spun once.
Twice.
Then landed in Sonic's palm.
Sonic slowly looked down.
"…Tails."
He closed his hand over the coin.
"Looks like you're unlucky, kid."
Xiver stared at him.
But something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Sonic was smiling.
A wide… excited smile.
Then the truth hit Xiver like lightning.
Why was he so excited about the nickname "coat man"?
Why did he want my address?
Why did he stay in the poker room so long?
Xiver had thought Sonic was using the Signal call to contact allies.
But now he understood.
There was no coat man.
The coat man…
was Sonic.
Xiver jumped off the horse and ran.
"RUNNING AWAY ALREADY?" Sonic laughed.
A flick of his fingers—
THUNK!
Needles flew through the air.
They pierced Xiver's back.
"AAAAAAAGH!"
Pain exploded through his body.
Xiver stumbled but kept running.
Blood began spreading across his clothes.
"GHAAAH—!"
He forced himself forward.
His legs moved desperately.
But when he looked back—
No one was there.
Xiver slowed slightly.
Confused.
Then he turned forward again.
Sonic stood right in front of him.
Smoking from a long pipe.
"Hmmm," Sonic murmured casually.
"I hope you didn't tell Luna anything."
He exhaled smoke.
"So I guess I'll have to end this."
He tilted his head.
"You caused me quite a bit of trouble yesterday, kid."
Xiver clenched his teeth.
"LISTEN TO YOURSELF!"
"ISN'T LUNA YOUR DAUGHTER?!"
Sonic blinked.
Then he burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
He wiped a tear from his eye.
"Her?"
He pointed to his own face.
"Do we look alike at all?"
Xiver froze.
"There's nothing similar between us," Sonic continued.
"But that necklace she's wearing…"
His eyes glimmered.
"…that's important to me."
Xiver stared at him in disbelief.
"You're going to kill her for a necklace?!"
Sonic slowly crouched down.
"Do you know why people have magic specialties?"
Xiver said nothing.
"My magic," Sonic said quietly, "is related to gambling."
He tapped the ground with the pipe.
"And that necklace will improve it greatly."
He smiled.
"Let's just say it's made from the teeth of a Fate Dragon."
Xiver frowned.
"It looked like a locket."
Sonic shrugged.
"It still contains Fate Dragon material."
"That's enough."
Xiver's breathing grew heavier.
"If she was with you the whole time…"
"Why didn't you just kill her then?"
Sonic chuckled.
"That would make a scene."
"And you might run away."
He spread his hands.
"I prefer to eliminate problems carefully."
Xiver's fear grew.
The wounds on his back were getting worse.
Blood soaked through his clothes.
His body trembled.
Desperate, Xiver kicked the ground, throwing dirt into Sonic's face.
Then he ran again.
But suddenly—
Something felt wrong.
He looked down.
His left hand—
was gone.
Blood sprayed from the severed wrist.
Xiver screamed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Tears streamed down his face.
He ran blindly.
His steps grew slower.
His vision blurred.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
"HELP!"
"PLEASE HELP ME!"
"No one answered.
Behind him, Sonic walked calmly, still smoking.
Finally he sighed.
"…What a mess."
He flicked a knife forward.
THUD.
The blade pierced Xiver's back.
"GAAAAAAH!"
Xiver collapsed into the dirt.
The world spun around him.
Blood spread beneath his body.
He looked down at the ground.
Memories flashed through his mind.
His old life.
His old friends.
The people he had lost.
A shadow approached him.
For a moment, Xiver thought someone had come to save him.
But when he looked up—
He only saw himself.
Laughing at him.
A pathetic reflection of his weakness.
Sonic stood over him.
"Well," he sighed.
"That was messy."
He turned away.
"Time to finish Luna too."
He glanced back once.
"Nice meeting you, Xiver."
"But your luck…"
He grinned.
"…is absolute garbage."
The air vibrated with tension as Sonic readied his dagger, eyes locked on Xiver, unconscious and vulnerable. Luna appeared suddenly, riding beside Axe on a white horse, her presence freezing Sonic mid-strike.
Sonic: Luna…
Axe: XIVER! WAKE UP!
With a roar, Axe blocked Sonic's deadly blow, metal clashing against dagger, sparks flying across the dark cavern. Luna, tense and alert, used her water magic to catch Xiver as Axe tossed him toward her, the current of her spell cradling him safely.
Axe: LEAVE NOW!
Luna: But—
Sonic: Let's gamble.
He flipped a coin in the air, his eyes glinting.
Sonic: Heads, he dies. Tails, he lives.
The coin spun, glittering in the dim light—tails.
Sonic (muttering): Tails… fine.
Axe didn't wait. He slammed his foot into the stone, sending a shockwave that threw Sonic into a hidden chamber. Sparks flew as they collided again, Axe's sword meeting Sonic's daggers in a rapid barrage of clashing steel. Water sprayed from Axe's controlled waves, reflecting shimmering lights across the cave walls, each attack echoing like thunder.
Above the chaos, the two men who had crossed paths with Luna and Xiver appeared, their nails glowing faintly with mana. They worked quickly, weaving spells over Xiver's injuries, healing him while keeping Luna ready to defend.
Sonic's speed was terrifying—he darted like lightning, throwing dagger after dagger, his movements almost impossible to track. Axe responded with equal precision, using waves of water to propel himself and redirect Sonic's strikes. Sparks and ripples collided in a dazzling display of magic and skill, the cavern shaking with every clash.
Sonic threw a coin, whispering his fate spell.
Sonic: Heads, you die. Tails, I die.
Axe's eyes narrowed. He knew Sonic's magic relied on injuring his opponent to activate the coin's decree. He manipulated a surge of water, lifting the coin with the currents, neutralizing the gamble. Sonic lunged underwater, dagger in hand, but Axe anticipated it, sending a crushing wave that pinned Sonic against the cavern walls.
Sonic's eyes widened as the coin floated safely in the currents, tails facing up—Xiver would live. His heart pounded, his breathing chaotic, as Axe's calculated strikes forced him back.
Finally, the short man emerged from the water, hoisting Sonic onto his shoulders, while the tall man scooped up Xiver. They mounted the white horses, teleportation magic flashing as the short man vanished with Sonic. Axe, battered but standing, muttered through gritted teeth:
Axe: I… will not let you… hurt Sonic… or Xiver…
But a dagger, thrown with lethal precision, pierced Axe's head. He fell to the ground, blood soaking the stone. Luna screamed, guilt flooding her as tears streamed down her face.
Alexander and Emelia arrived just in time to see the aftermath. Emelia cradled Axe's body, sobbing, promising vengeance for their fallen ally. Alexander gently examined Xiver, who was alive but unconscious, relief washing over him.
Alexander (to Luna): We'll deal with you later.
Luna's knees buckled, the weight of failure pressing down, as Alexander leapt into the air carrying Xiver. Emelia followed, her grief for Axe mingling with determination. The white horses galloped, dust and water swirling in their wake.
The day ended with loss etched deep into their hearts, but the fight had only set the stage for the challenges to come—the next battle, the next gambles, would be even deadlier.
Xiver woke in the garden, sunlight spilling over the vegetables. He paced in circles, hands on his chin, memories swirling.
Xiver: I didn't kill Axe… but if I'd stayed in the village, maybe things would've been different. Could I have fixed this life I never asked for?
He bent over the peppers, biting one before setting it back. Shirtless, bandanas wrapped around his injuries, he wandered the empty house, then stepped outside—streets deserted, silence pressing in.
Xiver: Would Axe have seen the garden grow if he were here? I didn't kill him… I'm not running from responsibility. It's them… they're the ones who caused his death! I'm innocent!
He entered the village center, the empty streets amplifying his thoughts. Inside a restaurant, he grabbed meat, letting his anger and grief mingle.
Xiver: In my past life, I always ran from responsibility… even when I dared to take it, someone else carried it for me. So if someone dies… it's just the way things go.
A soft voice interrupted.
Emelia: Then why are you crying?
Xiver froze, tears spilling over. He tried to wipe them away.
Emelia (laughing): Look at you! Thought you got all tough, didn't you?
Xiver (angrily): I'm not crying! Tears just… run off my eyes!
Emelia: That's literally crying.
Xiver: Shut up!
Emelia: Or what? You'll cry yourself away before I leave?
He woke again—garden walls gone, petals and grass underfoot. Emelia's voice echoed, calm and wise.
Emelia: This place reflects what you see. What do you see, Xiver?
Xiver: Why does it matter? Why do you care?
Emelia (smiling): Because deep down… I hate myself. I hate the parts of me everyone mistakes for "Emelia."
Xiver (shocked): What…?
Emelia: If you tell me what you think of me, it might ease my mind.
Xiver: Then you already know…
Emelia: Wrong. People think of "Emelia" as the blue-haired girl, the divine user, the genius… none of that is me. I hate them, Xiver. And that's why I hate myself.
Xiver: So… you hate yourself because you don't know who you are?
Emelia: No. I hate the selves that are me—the flaws, the mistakes, the ways I fail. But one thing we share—we both hate being looked down on.
He lay beneath the tree, staring at the sky, absorbing her words.
Xiver: I don't have to overthink your psychology lessons.
Emelia appeared again, watching him with quiet pride.
Emelia: Be the person you want to be. Stop overcomplicating life. If you want to be smart, study. If you want to be loved, love yourself first.
Xiver: Then you are what I see you as.
Emelia (smiling): Yes. I am your mentor, your sister… a great person.
Xiver woke fully beside Axe, who tended the garden.
Axe: I'm glad you're alive.
Xiver: I'm sorry…
Axe: Don't be. It was a dream…
Xiver: Different from Emelia.
Axe: Not really. You made it. The walls disappeared because you realized it was a dream.
Xiver looked at the garden.
Xiver: Ever thought about growing fruits instead of just vegetables?
Axe: I had a garden with my wife… all I ever wanted to grow.
Xiver: So if I hadn't gone to the city, you'd have seen her?
Axe: She's busy… I reserved my place as the fifth-best swordsman. She's number three.
Xiver: Who's number four?
Axe: I kept that spot for you.
Xiver: And I returned it with your death.
A faint voice floated across the garden.
Emelia: That's not wrong. You didn't do anything wrong. Don't carry such a burden… you've lost enough already.
Xiver placed his hand over his chest, tears falling.
Xiver: I will never forget you.
His parents appeared, standing quietly.
Xiver: I swear… I will see you again. I love you…
Axe gently placed a flower on Xiver's chest.
Axe: We won't see each other for a while. Can you stand on your own?
Xiver (biting his lip): Yes…
Slowly, Xiver woke from his coma for real. Elizabeth's tears soaked him as she embraced him.
Elizabeth: SON! I'm sorry… SON!
Xiver's eyes found Emelia, who adjusted her glasses and smiled through a single tear.
Emelia: Nice to see you again, Xiver.