"Is it really smart to rest here?"
Yelena asked, watching Azriel slump against one of the cold stone walls. They'd been walking for gods know how long.
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Trust me, we're not getting any safer the farther we go. It's better to gamble and rest now. We'll need our strength for what's ahead."
Sighing, Yelena slid down beside him, resting her bow by her side and hugging her knees. For a moment, they sat in silence, and when she glanced at him, she saw he was watching her with tired eyes.
Even someone like him, always so sure of himself, looks worn down.'
Rumors swirled around Azriel—too many to count. He was one of the most talked-about people she knew. And yet, he rarely acted the part, never seemed to live up or down to any of the stories.
"So... how do you know?" she asked again, softer this time.
A hint of a smile appeared on his lips as he met her gaze, but he didn't answer right away. After a beat, he leaned back, closing his eyes.
"I could tell you... but there's no real need for me to."
Yelena frowned slightly, but Azriel continued,
"Let's make a deal instead."
He opened his eyes, studying her intently.
"Get a result that'll satisfy me in the Tournament of the Greats four months from now. And I don't mean just in the first-year bracket; I'm talking about the main tournament. All years. Competing."
Her eyes widened. The Tournament of the Greats wasn't just some academy event; it was one of the biggest competitions in the world. Academies from every continent—America, Asia, Africa—all gathered for it. And he wanted her to impress him there?
But what could possibly impress the Crimson Prince, the strongest first-year on the continent, the one who led a mission that dismantled a terrorist organization and killed one of its saint leaders?
She opened her mouth to object, but then his next words stopped her cold.
"If you do, I'll tell you how I know about Lumine and his system."
Her blood turned to ice.
'He knows!? No... it can't be.'
The words seemed to jam in her throat as she stared at him, wide-eyed, struggling to find something to say. The small, almost casual smile on his face made it clear: this wasn't a threat. He was simply... stating a fact.
Eventually, she sighed, forcing herself to calm down.
"You won't tell me unless I impress you in the Tournament of the Greats, right?"
"How you do it is up to you."
Another sigh escaped her as she leaned back, hugging her knees tighter.
'I need to know how he knows...'
It wasn't a bad deal. Just... difficult. But if she could pull it off, she'd have everything to gain.
'So that's why he helped Lumine back then...'
"My head's starting to hurt," she muttered, pressing her forehead against her knees. She felt the weight of it all, and suddenly she was just a kid again, thrown into a world she barely understood.
'I wonder if Lumine is okay,'
she thought, feeling a pang of worry for her childhood friend.
He was strong, yes, but he could be reckless too, almost too confident—all because of that system of his.
She looked up, startled.
Azriel was watching her, his eyes apologetic and sad.
"W-why would you be sorry?" she asked, caught off guard. She doubted it was for putting her through this challenge, and something in his expression told her it wasn't about that.
"It's my fault that you and Lumine ended up here," he said quietly. "I should've known the Sunken Islands were too dangerous, but I was stubborn. I thought... I thought it would be fine."
Yelena stared at him, seeing for the first time the guilt shadowing his face as he clenched his fists.
"I got too confident after Neo Genesis," he murmured. "No, maybe after everything. I thought I could handle it all. But he was right. I've been playing with fire I'm too weak to control. And because of that... others have suffered. I've... always been ."
Yelena didn't know what to say. The guilt on his face was raw, unguarded.
Azriel didn't regret the choices he'd made, not even destroying the future. But he knew he could have done more, done better. He wasn't heartless, and he knew that people had died because of him. Maybe he couldn't have changed what happened with Neo Genesis, but here... here, this had been on him.
In truth, he was afraid too. Yelena could see it as he clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. And then, all of a sudden, she laughed.
"S-seriously?" She shook her head, chuckling softly. "You're starting to remind me of Lumine."
Azriel blinked, taken aback.
Yelena smiled, a small, gentle thing as she tried to hold back her laughter.
"You really don't see it, do you?"
"I don't... understand," he said, still confused.
"Why do you and Lumine act like you're responsible for everything? Like it's all on you to know what's going to happen, to control it, to prevent it. I guess maybe I'm like that too after spending so much time with him, but... we don't need to. We're just kids. Scared kids thrown into this hell."
He looked at her, her words sinking in.
"But... you and Lumine aren't a prince or princess," he murmured.
"I am. I have a responsibility to uphold, even if I don't want it. Even if I'm not the heir, my actions, my choices—they reflect on my family. Everyone saw it. They branded me as the unworthy prince for not even showing my face... like I was some kind of stain."
Yelena nodded, thoughtful.
"Maybe that's true... but maybe you're just moving too fast. And if the adults want to look at you and judge a sixteen-year-old prince without thinking twice, then let them. They might as well become food for these void creatures."
Azriel stared at her, and for a moment, she wondered if she'd overstepped. But then, he laughed.
It was a different laugh, lighter, more genuine.
Watching Azriel for herself, she knew now that at least the bad rumors were false—just nonsense spread by people who didn't know him.
She rolled her eyes at the rumors, realizing how ridiculous they sounded now. He was just a boy with his own problems, unfairly scrutinized for it.
'Lumine was right. He's a good person…'
"I guess you're right... I shouldn't be the one bearing all the responsibility."
Not for being the only one to save this world.
A quiet smile of satisfaction crossed Yelena's face as she saw him ease, if only slightly. She gave herself a quick nod in approval, but her guard remained vigilant, eyes scanning the dim surroundings for any lurking threats or void creatures. Still, with Azriel beside her, she felt a touch of reassurance, her wariness melting, if only a bit.
"You really do have a way with words..." he said with a faint smile.
Yelena returned his look with a gentle smile.
He leaned in slightly, a mischievous glint flickering in his eyes.
"So, why haven't you used those words to confess your love to Lumine yet?"
A silence blanketed them so thoroughly it felt like the very walls were holding their breath.
Only the faint sound of their breathing filled the air as their eyes locked, neither moving, until—
Gradually, a flush of red crept up Yelena's cheeks, spreading like wildfire. Her entire face turned crimson, the heat of embarrassment surpassing even the fear she'd felt in this accursed place.
'HE KNOWS ABOUT THAT TOO?!'
The embarrassment overwhelmed any fear as she looked at him, only to see his teasing smile.
'T-this hateful prince!'
Here she was, comforting him, and he pulls this!
"So?" he asked innocently. "Why haven't you told him? Or are you waiting for him to confess first? I heard sometimes people like that."
Yelena felt herself freeze, staring into his scarlet eyes, unable to look away though she desperately wanted to escape.
Azriel tilted his head, feigning deep thought, making her head feel like it was spinning as he looked at her, urging her to speak.
"T-that... because... I..."
"Hahaha! I'm just teasing you," he chuckled. "You don't need to tell me if you're not comfortable."
Her mind went blank. It was like he'd shut off her thoughts entirely.
She stayed red-faced, her heart thumping, this time not just from embarrassment.
'I hate this prince!'
She wanted to take her kindness back!