Sophia screamed,
"THAT WAS A FINAL-BOSS FIGHT!!"
Caria threw her notebook so high it curved into the stratosphere.
Lyra clapped with quiet pride.
Puddle burst into tears on Rhys's shoulder.
"MASTER ALIVE!! MASTER DID NOT TURN INTO DUST!!! YAAAY!!!"
Rhys, exhausted beyond words, lowered his head.
His vision blurred.
But he stayed standing.
Vera pushed herself up on shaking elbows. Her hair was a mess, her armor cracked, her blade broken in half, but her expression…
was pure satisfaction.
She looked at Rhys with a tired, brilliant smile.
"…Rhys," she whispered.
"You are terrifying."
Rhys finally found enough breath to answer.
"You're… not bad either."
Vera laughed again—quiet, tired, thrilled.
Then she pointed the broken half of her sword at him.
"Next time,I'm not losing."
Rhys smirked.
"Next time…don't hold back from the start."
Vera dropped the broken blade and fell onto her back again, too tired to sit.
"Shut up… I'm trying to breathe…"
