*"Chapter 14 – Shadows of the Past**

Aiden stared at Elena Ravenheart in disbelief.

She stood there, calm and graceful, her presence radiating the kind of strength that crushed mountains and silenced armies. Meanwhile, he was barely conscious—bloodied, battered, leaning on his sword just to stay upright.

"Elena… why… are you here?" he managed, blinking through the pain and exhaustion.

She didn't respond. Instead, she lifted her hand lazily.

Aiden's shadow twisted beneath him—rising like smoke—and then engulfed him completely.

In the blink of an eye, the fire-scorched hellscape of the Red Gate vanished.

They were outside.

Cool air hit his face. The dungeon was gone.

But more shockingly… he was healed.

Not a scratch remained on his body. The torn clothes still hung on him like tattered flags of war, but his injuries—every burn, every bruise—were gone.

"You… can heal too?" Aiden asked, breathless.

Elena raised an eyebrow, a subtle smile playing at her lips.

"That's what you're curious about? Not the fact that I casually erased a Level 3 boss?"

Aiden's heart jumped. He froze.

Right.

Normal people would be terrified. Confused. In awe. But he wasn't. Because he already knew who she was.

And he wasn't supposed to.

Panic surged through him. In this life, she was a ghost. A stranger who had supposedly abandoned Emilia. Most believed she had disappeared, maybe even died.

Aiden was supposed to hate her.

Gods knew he did in his previous life.

"I just… heard mom and dad talking about you once," he said quickly. "I assumed—"

"Oh?" Elena's voice was cool. Sharp. "You know who they are too?"

He fell silent.

She gave him a long look, eyes narrowing in amusement rather than suspicion.

"You still expect me to believe Den and Elisa would let you casually eavesdrop on a conversation about me?"

Aiden said nothing.

"I came back because I heard my daughter was doing something interesting," Elena continued, circling him slowly. "But now I find a boy her age reaching Level 2, defeating six Level 2 monsters… and knowing things he shouldn't."

She stopped in front of him.

"You might be far more interesting than I thought."

Aiden gulped.

Elena was beautiful. No, she was stunning—like a matured version of Emilia, all elegance and lethality. Emilia still had traces of innocence, the softness of youth. Elena had none of that. She was sharp edges wrapped in silk.

He had no idea how he was going to talk his way out of this.

But then she smiled.

"Since it's come to this…" she said, raising her hand.

"…Let's all talk together."

With a flap of her cloak—and a surge of shadow—they vanished.

Meanwhile…

Emilia stepped out of the academy's private training room, steam rising from her damp hair. The room behind her looked like a warzone—scorched dummies, shattered walls, and a half-melted mana field.

She wasn't in a great mood.

"I can't believe Aiden dared to go home without me," she muttered, wiping her face with a towel. "And left a letter. A freaking letter."

She clenched her fists, fire dancing at her fingertips.

"When I see him, I swear—"

Suddenly, her shadow ripped open beneath her.

"What the—"

Before she could react, it swallowed her whole.

When Emilia's feet touched the ground again, she staggered forward, dizzy.

"What the hell just—"

She stopped.

Standing in front of her, equally disoriented, was Aiden.

He was different.

There was a weight to his presence now. His mana crackled with pressure. He'd reached Level 2.

Instead of shock, Emilia just smiled.

"Looks like I'll be able to punch you harder now."

"Emi—I can explain!" Aiden blurted, already holding up his hands.

But then her expression shifted.

Gone was the smirk.

Her eyes narrowed—cold, distant—as she looked past Aiden.

Aiden turned.

Elena.

Emilia's face went still.

Then her aura surged.

Gone was the playful fire. What erupted now was rage. Darkness and flames coiled around her like a storm.

She remembered.

Six years ago, the woman standing in front of her had said she'd only be gone for a few days. That she'd stay at Aiden's house. That she'd be back.

She never came back.

Not a message. Not a visit. Just… gone.

Aiden barely had time to react before Emilia launched herself forward.

Flames roared. Shadows twisted.

Aiden did the dumbest thing he could think of.

He jumped between them.

CRACK!

The punch hit him square in the face.

She had reduced the power at the last second, but even still, he was sent flying, hitting the ground hard.

"Dammit…" Aiden groaned, holding his jaw.

Emilia stood frozen, shocked she'd hit him—but only for a moment.

Her anger returned as she turned toward Elena—only to find herself bound by her own shadow.

"What the—?!"

The dark tendrils held her in place, coiling around her limbs gently, like a parent scolding a child.

Elena stood with arms crossed, unbothered.

Footsteps echoed.

Den and Elisa Pandragon entered the courtyard, both looking half-ready for war.

Their eyes widened as they took in the scene: a wounded Aiden, a restrained Emilia, and Elena standing casually in the center.

"…What is going on here?" Elisa said sharply.

"Emilia?" Den asked, stunned. "Is that… Elena?"

"I think Aiden can explain," Elena said smoothly.

All eyes turned to him.

Aiden groaned, sitting up.

"…Why is it always me?"