Chapter 12 – A Flicker of Hope
The world returned to Liora in fragments.
Pain came first—dull, distant, like an echo through water. Then sound. Soft voices. The creak of wood. The faint smell of antiseptic herbs mixed with old stone.
Her eyelids fluttered.
Light seeped in.
She gasped softly, instinctively drawing breath as though she feared the world might steal it away again. Her chest burned. Her throat throbbed painfully.
But she was alive.
"…Alex."
The name slipped from her lips before thought could catch it.
Instantly, a chair scraped back.
"She's awake."
That voice—hoarse, familiar—made her heart lurch.
Liora forced her eyes open fully.
Alex sat beside her bed, shoulders slumped, clothes still stained with dried blood and soot. Dark circles ringed his eyes, as though he hadn't slept since the ruins swallowed them. His hands trembled slightly where they rested on his knees.
When their eyes met, something tightened painfully in her chest.
"Alex," she whispered again.
Relief crashed over his face so suddenly it almost broke him. He leaned forward, gripping the edge of the bed as if afraid she might vanish if he moved too fast.
"You're alive," he said, voice cracking. "You're really alive."
She tried to smile, but it came out weak.
"I thought…" Her memory blurred—fangs, blood, darkness. "…I thought I was gone."
"You almost were," Alex admitted quietly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Something unseen passed between them—something fragile, intimate. Liora felt it clearly now, stronger than before. A strange pull. As if fate itself had nudged her closer to him in the ruins and refused to let go.
She didn't understand it.
But she felt… safe.
As long as Alex was here.
"How long?" she asked softly.
"Two days," he replied. "The guild healers said you had a spark left. Just barely."
Liora's fingers tightened weakly against the blanket. "You stayed?"
He nodded. "I wasn't going anywhere."
Her heart skipped.
For reasons she couldn't explain, the words warmed her more than any healing spell.
Silence settled again—heavy, thoughtful.
Finally, Alex exhaled slowly. "Liora… I've been thinking."
She turned her head slightly to look at him.
"The military academy," he continued. "I think… I think I want to try."
Her brows knit together. "Alex, you don't have a blessing."
"I know," he said quickly. "I know. But… something changed."
He hesitated, fingers curling unconsciously.
"There's something in me now," he said quietly. "I don't know what it is. I don't even know if it's real. But when I was dying… I felt it. Like I finally had a chance."
Liora studied his face.
He wasn't boasting.
He wasn't excited.
He was afraid—but hopeful.
"…It felt like a blessing?" she asked gently.
Alex shook his head. "No. Not like yours. Or Kael's. Or Tavik's." His voice dimmed. "It felt different. Darker. But strong."
She didn't recoil.
Instead, she surprised herself by reaching out—her fingers brushing his wrist.
"I'm sixteen too," she said softly. "This was supposed to be my last delivery before the academy."
He looked up, startled. "You… want to go?"
"With you," she said without hesitation.
The words felt right the moment she spoke them.
Alex stared at her, stunned.
"Liora—"
"I don't care if you don't have a blessing," she continued, eyes steady. "I don't care what's inside you. You saved me. And for some reason…" Her grip tightened. "…I feel like I'm meant to stay by your side."
Something twisted in Alex's chest.
Before he could respond—
A sudden warmth bloomed deep within him.
His vision blurred.
Then—
Light.
Words appeared before his eyes.
[INITIAL SYSTEM ACTIVATION COMPLETE]
[HOST STATUS: STABLE]
[POTENTIAL—UNLOCKED]
Alex's breath hitched.
The air seemed to hum.
Then the screen expanded.
[Host: Alex Rim]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 1]
[EXP: 0 / 200]
[Strength: 10]
[Agility: 10]
[Endurance: 10]
[Perception: 10]
[Charm: LOCKED]
[Abyssal Energy: 13 / 30]
[System Sync: 17 / 1000]
[Rank: F]
[Shop: LOCKED] [Quest:1] [Skill]
Alex froze.
His heart pounded violently.
"…What?" he whispered.
Fear crept in beneath the lingering warmth.
Numbers. Bars. Systems.
This wasn't normal.
"Liora," he said suddenly, voice tight. "Do you see this?"
She frowned. "See what?"
"The words," he said, gesturing shakily in front of his face. "They're right here."
Her eyes widened—but not in recognition.
"There's nothing there, Alex."
Cold washed through him.
"You're sure?" he asked. "You really don't—"
The screen vanished.
Instantly.
Like it had never existed.
The warmth dimmed, leaving behind a hollow pressure in his chest.
Alex staggered back a step, breath uneven.
"It's gone," he muttered.
Liora watched him carefully. "What is?"
"I… don't know," he admitted. "But it felt real."
They sat in silence.
Alex didn't know that something unseen had retreated—not gone, merely waiting.
Watching.
Satisfied.
And deep within his body, something ancient stirred—
quietly anchoring itself to a fragile human soul.
Unnoticed.
Unquestioned.
Unstoppable.