"Hi, baby."
He froze.
Milly stood a few feet away, her expression soft, relieved. Venku lifted a hand to his head, rubbing his temple.
"I was calling you," she said gently. "You didn't answer, so I came to see you."
Venku exhaled slowly and turned toward her. "Milly..."
She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened, then gently pulled away.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I can't talk right now," he said quietly. "I can't think."
"You can talk to me," she said softly. "Venky—"
"Don't call me that."
She flinched. "But I always do."
"I need time," he said. "I need to be alone."
"Even from me?" she asked, her voice cracking.
Venku's eyes widened slightly.
"You asked me to marry you," she said, her voice trembling. "Does that mean nothing to you now?"
He swallowed hard. "Don't do this," he said. "Do you understand what I just came from? I just came back from war, Milly. Everyone I fought beside is dead. Dead." His voice broke. "And everyone keeps celebrating like it meant something. Like it was worth it."
He clenched his fists. "They cheer. They praise the king. They call me a hero. But you have no idea what it was really like. None of you do."
Milly's eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean—"
"I just... I can't right now," he said quietly.
He turned away.
"Venky..." she called after him.
He didn't stop.
She shouted "Is it because i can't give birth, is that why you treat me so bad?"
Venku casuallymotioned his hand, flicking her away "Go home, I'll call you later."
Venku walked toward a waiting hoverzine parked near the compound gates. The door slid open, and he stepped inside.
"Take me to the royal hospital," he said, sinking into the seat. "I need to be there when Sephiss wakes up. I thought I could wait... but I can't."
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The vehicle lifted smoothly into the air and disappeared into the sky.
Milly stood alone, wiping tears from her face.
As she turned back toward the entrance of the Elda Knights' headquarters, she saw someone standing there in the shadows.
Amiyona.
Arms crossed. Watching.
ROYAL HOSPITAL
The steady beeping of a heart monitor echoed through the sterile room.
Sephiss lay motionless on the medical bed, a respirator fitted over his face. Tubes and monitors surrounded him, their soft lights blinking steadily.
Standing beside the bed was Avastma.
"How is he?" she asked.
Doctor Rod adjusted the display beside him. "His condition is stable, but he's not out of danger. Whatever attacked him did significant damage. His body is still trying to stabilize — it's as if his own power turned against him."
Avastma frowned. "How long until he recovers?"
"It's hard to say," the doctor replied. "A few weeks at least. Possibly longer. His body needs time to recover from the strain."
Avastma nodded once. "Thank you."
She turned and left the medical wing.
Outside, waiting near the corridor, stood Fanok and Domain.
"How is he?" Fanok asked.
"He's stable," Avastma replied. "The doctors say he'll recover... eventually."
She took a step forward, then paused.
"But knowing him, he won't stay down long."
As she moved to leave, Domain spoke.
"Wait."
Avastma turned. "Yes?"
Domain's eyes narrowed. "I still don't understand how you didn't sense the child. You were close to him. Your perception is supposed to surpass ours."
Avastma's expression darkened.
"I told you," she said calmly. "I felt something powerful nearby, so I went after it. But I never sensed him."
Fanok frowned. "You mean the one who fought Sephiss?"
"Yes," Avastma replied. "That boy. I only felt his presence after it was already over."
She clenched her fist.
"When I finally confronted him, my power didn't work."
Domain's eyes widened. "Your power failed?"
Fanok stared. "That's impossible."
"It shouldn't be," Avastma said quietly. "But it did."
She exhaled slowly. "Children don't perceive power the way we do. They don't recognize hierarchy or authority. That's why my abilities had no effect on him."
Domain folded his arms. "Then how strong was he?"
Avastma's voice dropped. "Stronger than any of us."
Silence filled the hall.
Domain glanced away. "If word of this spreads—"
Avastma turned sharply. "It won't., I'm going back to head quarters, to mobilize a unit to find the boy and silence him for this atrocity to the Zeta's"
She walked toward the exit, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Her back was turnt to the other Zeta's and her expresison was telling.
Behind her, Domain spoke softly, "If even Sephiss was defeated... then this island may already be lost."
Avastma stopped at the doorway.
She didn't turn back.
"Sephiss," she said coldly, "was careless."
Then, almost to herself, she added with a faint, unsettling smile,
"A child defeating him... how embarrassing."
She continued down the hall, her laughter echoing faintly as she disappeared from sight.