"You..." Natasha was left speechless at the revelation.
Alex chuckled at the expression she held. "Surprised?"
"Was it you all along?"
"... But I checked you."
Alex nodded with a smile. "Indeed you did."
"You should have wondered why Lady Ana would want to see me."
"That..." Natasha trailed off before nodding. "... I guess I did consider the possibility that you were special but to this extent?... I never sensed anything."
"Why are you revealing your true identity now?"
"... Because I’ll be leaving here soon."
"Where are you headed?"
"Will you tell me about it?"
"I could..." Alex said before adding. "If you do something for me."
"... Become my subordinate."
"You are a skilled fighter Natasha... and with further growth, I reckon there will be a day you stand at the top with your strength and dedication."
"You... want to recruit me?"
"I just... I don’t know what to say."
Alex chuckled. "Say yes or no."
"Why me?" Natasha couldn’t help but ask.
For someone like Alex that could stand on the same stage as a menacing figure like Basar, Natasha considered him a great being.
For such a person to show interest in her, it forced her to question everything.
"I’m just an Apprentice. There are several other WeaponMasters out there you could recruit for whatever mission you want to carry out so why me?"
’Because it’s better to build up subordinates than recruit already made?’ Alex thought inwardly but of course, couldn’t say it out loud so he improvised.
"Would you believe me if I said that it’s because you are the only one I’ve met?"
"...Yes," Natasha answered after a brief hesitation.
Seeing her expression, Alex chuckled. "That is half true but...there’s something else."
"Your heart," Alex replied. "I need someone like you that understands the good in this world to balance the evil I see."
"You are also quite skilled... nearly took my head off the first time we met." Alex joked.
Chuckling lightly, Natasha revealed a soft smile. "... I apologize for that."
"It’s understandable. I would do the same if I were in your shoes."
Natasha pursed her lips. "Thank you for thinking of recruiting me but... I don’t think I’ll be accepting your offer."
"... When I first swore the oath of an Enforcer and was dispatched to BoneHaven, I decided in my heart that I would always protect this city. For the better part of 3 years, I have tried but now I realize that I haven’t done enough."
"Do you feel that way?"
"... It’s the truth. So I want to right the wrongs I made and do justice to my code. Which is why I will decline your offer. Allow me to serve this city one more time."
Alex pursed his lips before revealing a calm smile. "Alright."
Rising to his feet, Alex turned to Natasha. "Whatever it may be that plagues your heart, always remember that you are good enough. You don’t have to settle for less and can always aim higher but never feel like you haven’t done enough."
"You are welcome," Alex replied before turning to walk away.
"Alex!" Natasha called out, stopping him in his tracks.
"Will you harm people?"
"Would you believe what I say?"
Natasha remained silent for a moment before she softly replied. "...I want to."
"Alright... that’s good." Natasha nodded, seemingly relieved by his answer.
Chuckling softly, Alex raised his hand and with a snap, disappeared in a flash of black and white.
Letting out a sigh, Natasha looked at where he once stood and muttered. "... I am good enough."
"Nadia, you can’t keep on staying here," Arthur remarked in exasperation.
Staring at the night sky, Nadia replied. "I will leave... but not now."
"How long do you plan to do this?"
"... As long as I can."
"... You cannot punish yourself . Alex will return if he wants to. You doing this won’t make him come back faster."
"Uncle..." Nadia called out. "I would like to be left alone.
Sighing heavily, Arthur turned and left Nadia, returning to the makeshift tent that he had made for the both of them.
The tent, which was located at the hill where Alex had transported the civilians of BoneHaven just before the destruction of the city, was made by a certain Beast.
Both Arthur and Nadia had remained here even after the reconstruction began and permission was given to head to other cities for refuge.
It would have been an easy thing to do since Arthur had holdings in other cities but Nadia was unwilling to leave... at least not yet.
As far as she was concerned, she had unfinished business with a certain investigative journalist and until that was done, she was determined to wait.
Of course, a part of her feared that Alex would never return and so she was prepared for the eventuality that she would have to live with that unfinished business for the rest of her life.
Closing her eyes, she hummed a tune that reminded her of home while bathing in the light of the Nighteye.
Then without wanting to, she began to sing aloud, each note carrying the emotion she felt in her heart.
Pain, regret, anger... They were all mixed into the song.
As she slowly reached the end of the song, a soft clap interrupted her.
Nadia opened her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly turned in the direction the clap emerged from.
"You have a beautiful voice."
Nadia pursed her lips as a strange emotion flashed in her eyes. "...You came."
"Thank you." Nadia softly said.
Alex met her enchanting gaze that held in it a sense of longing as he replied. "I’m leaving, Nadia."
"I came here tonight... to tell you something important."
"...am not Alexander Regulus."
"...No." It felt like something snapped in Nadia’s heart as tears welled up in her eyes.