"That madman? You can't be serious."

"Yes," Shiera said, calm but resolute. "During these last few weeks, I've come face to face with my weakness. I used to think my Tier-8 strength made me unstoppable. But when I faced Alice… or Azareia, whatever she called herself… I was helpless. I was defeated by a vampire in daylight in the middle of the desert. I couldn't even do anything against a Tier-8 monster."

"So? You want to break through?" Athena asked.

Shiera shook her head, "I know that simply increasing my realm is not an answer, sister. I need to unseal the powers that Lady Searvale sealed away on Mother's orders."

"The Ice?" As Athena frowned, Shiera nodded.

"He's the only one who can help me awaken those powers," Shiera replied. "Not just awaken them. I need to train, too. When I was strong enough to manipulate both fire and ice at my will, that'll be when I'll become strong."

Athena frowned, her arms folded tightly. "But, you know how dangerous it is to train under him. You almost died when you were a child, Shiera, because of that mad bull's harsh training regimen."

Shiera looked her in the eye, unwavering. "I know, but I have to do this. To protect me, Kael ended up in this state, Sister. While I can be noble and say that I'm doing it for his sake, it is not. I just don't want to be the one to get protector. I want to be the protector. I want to protect Kael… I want to protect my sisters, and if I truly wish to wear the crown someday, I have to face my own problems. How could I take care of the people when I couldn't solve my own problem?

A long silence followed. Athena studied her face for many seconds in silence, searching for doubt. But there was none.

She finally sighed. "You've grown up more than I thought."

Without waiting for Shiera's reply, Athena suddenly turned away, making her way to the front door. "Fine. Do what you have to do. But if you die under that lunatic's training, I'm dragging your soul back just to slap some sense into you."

"Duly noted," Shiera said with a soft laugh.

Athena stopped at the doorway and gave her one last look. "Come back stronger, Shiera. And come back alive."

"I will," Shiera promised.

*

The noon sun cast warm light through the cracked wooden shutters of the small room.

Kael stirred. His eyelids fluttered open slowly, breath shallow, his body still aching from the backlash of his demonic transformation. The room was quiet save for the soft sound of his breathing

He turned his head groggily.

Shiera was seated by the window, legs crossed in a meditative posture. Her expression was calm and focused until she heard his voice.

"Shiera…" Kael murmured, his voice hoarse, dry.

Her eyes snapped open. "Kael!" she gasped, rushing to his side in an instant. She knelt beside him, her hands hovering uncertainly before settling on his shoulders.

"You're awake… Thank the heavens." She exhaled sharply, her voice trembling with relief.

"Are you alright now?" she asked, examining his pale face and unfocused eyes.

Kael gave a faint smile, nodding slightly. "Still alive. But will not be for a long time if I don't eat. I'm hungry."

Shiera laughed softly, the tension melting from her features.

"You had me worried sick, idiot." Her voice wavered, brushing the fringe from his eyes. "If anything had happened to you… What would I tell my sisters? How could I face them and say you died protecting me?"

Kael's smile turned rueful as he reached out and touched her hand. "I only stepped in because I saw Sith couldn't defeat Alice. I had no choice. You… you were going to die. How could I just stand there and do nothing?"

"You could have trusted me," Shiera replied, though her tone wasn't angry, more weary, soft, and almost self-critical. "I didn't mention it yesterday because the timing wasn't right, but... we imperial princesses are not as fragile as you think."

Kael blinked.

Shiera reached into her blouse and drew out a small, prism-shaped crystal locket that glimmered faintly with an inner golden light.

"This is an Earth-grade artifact," she said. "Soul-bound to me since childhood. Each of us, me, my sisters… we all have one."

Kael furrowed his brow, eyes tracing the object. "What does it do?"

"If we die unexpectedly… it triggers a resurrection spell at St. Lucia's Cathedral," she explained quietly. "It's not without consequences. We lose our mana core and become a plainfolk. But we don't die, not truly."

"A… second chance?" Kael murmured.

She nodded. "So next time, if things get that dangerous again, and you feel like you need to go all-out with your demonic power, don't. Don't risk yourself like that. Especially not for me. I would have made it out, eventually."

Kael was quiet for a long moment, staring into her eyes. "I can't promise that."

Shiera opened her mouth to protest, but Kael cut her off gently.

"Even if the same thing happens again," he said, voice firmer now, "I'll still do the same. I'll step in. I'll fight for you."

"Why?" she whispered, almost unable to ask it.

Kael smiled, eyes steady, voice soft but certain. "You still don't get it, do you? You're my wife, Shiera. As K, I lay down my life to give justice to the innocents every single day, even though they were strangers. Why would you think that I would abandon my wife?"

Shiera's heart gave a quiet skip at those words, but she quickly suppressed it. Her eyes hardened slightly, not with anger, but with resolve.

Clenching her fists at her sides, she took a deep breath and steadied her voice."If that's how you truly feel," she said slowly, "then… you won't get the chance to protect me again."

Kael blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Shiera stepped back, her face unreadable. "Because, from here on, our paths diverge."

The words hung between them, sudden and sharp like a blade. Kael frowned.

"Shiera…"

She looked down, then met his eyes with firm conviction.

"I let you travel with us because I thought you were weak. I thought you needed protection. But you've proven me wrong, again and again. You don't need us anymore, and frankly… we don't need someone who would throw his life away so easily either."

Kael's expression fell slightly, but he didn't argue with her. Instead, he gave her a small, understanding smile. "I see," he said. "If that's your decision… I understand."

That startled her a bit.

"You're really not going to try to stop me?" she asked, almost accusingly.

Kael met her gaze calmly. "If I did… would you let me stay?"

Shiera hesitated, just for a moment. But then, she shook her head. "No."

Kael chuckled quietly. "Then there's your answer."

Silence stretched again.

Shiera turned her face away, her voice barely audible now.

"You're infuriating, you know that?"

Kael smirked. "It's a common complaint."

She exhaled slowly. Her chest felt tight, but she didn't know whether it was from the decision… or from the way he accepted it so easily.