Rile.

"Ril...e?"

Alex could barely keep his eyes open. Blood clouded his vision, his body numb from the relentless beating.

BSHHH!!!

Rile landed beside him in an instant.

"Are you okay, broski?" Her voice was softer than usual, but there was an edge to it—cold and sharp.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small vial, uncorking it. A thick, golden liquid swirled inside.

"Here, drink this."

Alex barely had the strength to move, but Rile pressed the potion to his lips. The moment it slid down his throat—

"AAGH!!"

A searing pain erupted in his chest, his mind screaming in protest. His vision darkened, his body convulsed for a second—then everything faded into black.

The bleeding stopped instantly. His body slumped.

Rile exhaled. "That's better…"

"YOUUU!!! WHO… WHO ARE YOUUUU?!!!"

Azeus' voice was hoarse, thick with fury and pain. He staggered to his feet, his once-pristine noble attire now nothing but burned rags clinging to scorched flesh. His silver hair was charred at the edges, his face twisted in rage.

He glared up at Rile, his body trembling. "YOU… YOU DARE INTERFERE—AGHHH!!"

His knees buckled, his body unable to withstand the aftermath of the fire.

Rile turned to face him.

She didn't smile.

She didn't taunt.

She simply stared.

"You," she whispered, her voice carrying an eerie stillness, "made a huge mistake… mister."

Then—

She vanished.

Along with Alex.

--

The Next Day…

"Ugh…"

Alex's eyelids fluttered open. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar—smooth, polished stone instead of the rough dorm walls he remembered.

His body ached, but not as much as it should have.

Where…?

He turned his head, his surroundings becoming clearer.

A large, spacious room. Tall arched windows allowed beams of golden sunlight to filter through sheer white curtains. The air smelled of fresh herbs and antiseptic.

He was in… a hospital?

"Oho?"

A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

A blonde-haired woman stood beside him, adjusting the IV bag connected to his arm. She looked no older than her late twenties, herblue eyes filled with curiosity as she smirked down at him.

"You woke up faster than I expected, boy." she entailed.

"Hello…?" Alex's voice came out hoarse.

He blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision.

"Where… am I?"

A soft chuckle pulled his attention.

"You're in the infirmary, boy," the woman beside him said.

She had bright golden eyes, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun. Despite wearing a nurse's uniform, she carried herself with a casual confidence.

"I'm Nurse Patricia. Nice to meet you," she continued, adjusting the IV bag. "You're actually the first patient I've had in years to get this injured from training."

"Training…? Oh, right—Azeus!"

Alex shot up in panic—

"AAGH!!!"

The sharp pain in his back made him collapse, his body screaming in protest. He coughed violently, each breath sending fresh waves of agony through his ribs.

"Whoa, whoa, easy now," Patricia scolded, gently pushing him back down. "You're still recovering, don't go tearing yourself apart again."

She flicked a small lever on the IV bag, and within seconds, a warm, soothing sensation spread through Alex's body, dulling the pain.

"Where… is Azeus?" he muttered, still panting.

"Azeus?" Patricia tilted her head. "Never heard of him."

Alex's brow furrowed. What?

"Listen up, Alex," Patricia said with a smirk. "I'll give you a little tip."

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.

"That big, angry ogre Helgar is probably going to come storming in here any second now, yelling his lungs out."

She winked.

"If you're smart, you'll act really hurt. This could be your golden ticket out of the hellish training they put you through."

Alex blinked at her in surprise.

He wasn't sure what shocked him more—the fact that she was helping him… or the fact that her teasing smile made him blush.

Before Alex could even process Patricia's words—

BANG!!!

The infirmary doors slammed open so hard they nearly flew off their hinges.

"ALRIIIIIIIIIIIGHT, MAGGOT! GET YOUR ASS UP!!!"

The entire building shook from the sheer force of Helgar's voice.

Alex flinched.

A vein popped in Patricia's forehead as she sighed. "And there he is…"

Heavy footsteps thundered toward them, and a second later, Helgar loomed over Alex's bed like an angry bear. His muscular arms were crossed, his scowl deep enough to carve a canyon.

"You think getting your ass kicked means you get to rest?!" Helgar barked. "Get up, you pathetic excuse for a warrior!"

Alex, remembering Patricia's advice, let his body go limp and groaned weakly. "Ugh… my ribs…"

Patricia immediately stepped in, placing a hand on her hip. "Sir Helgar, I just finished treating him."

"And?" Helgar snorted. "He ain't dead! That means he can still train!"

"He's injured, you barbarian," Patricia snapped. "Unless you want him passing out in the middle of your drills, he needs rest."

Helgar glared at her.

She glared right back.

For a moment, Alex swore he saw sparks flying between them.

"Tch." Helgar clicked his tongue and turned back to Alex. "Fine. Since the nurse wants to coddle you like a baby, you get one more day to recover."

Alex exhaled in relief.

"BUT—" Helgar suddenly grabbed his entire mattress and flipped it.

"GAH—!" Alex crashed onto the cold floor.

"Don't get too comfy, maggot!" Helgar barked. "Tomorrow, you will train, or I'll personally break those bones myself!"

With that, he stormed out, shaking the walls once more.

Patricia sighed. "Gods, I hate that man."

Alex groaned, pushing himself up. "You knew he was going to do that, didn't you?"

Patricia smirked. "Maybe."

Alex sighed, but a small grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

However—deep inside, the rage was still burning. The humiliation. The helplessness.

Azeus.

Alex clenched his fists.

This isn't over.

Alex tucked himself back into bed, staring at the ceiling. Then, he remembered—

Who saved him?

"Lady Patricia," he said, turning to the nurse. "Could you call my roommate, Rile? Room 42—"

Before he could finish, both he and Patricia noticed something outside the infirmary window.

A figure was pressed against the glass.

Drooling.

Eyes locked onto the food tray next to Alex's bed.

Specifically—the meat.

Rile looked like a starving wild dog, practically vibrating in place.

Patricia sighed. "Well… looks like your 'friend' is already here." She walked over and opened the door.

"MEAAAAAATTT!!!"

Rile lunged into the room, bypassing Alex entirely and going straight for the tray.

Alex tried to say something—

"AHHHHH!! ALEXXX!!! MY FRIEND!!! I WAS SO WORRIED!!!"

The door slammed open again.

Leon burst inside like a human wrecking ball.

BANG!!!

Alex flinched, his eye twitching as he stared at the two absolute menaces in his room.

Just who the hell were these two wild people supposed to be?

End Of Chapter.