----
Eva and Prince Velco rode the carriage in silence.
Then the carriage came to a halt, it felt less like arrival and more like a calculated pause.
"Why did we stop here?" Eva asked.
Prince Velco's smile was patient and dangerous. "You wanted to see Leo. He is here."
"Let's get out of the carriage," he said, as if offering a courtesy.
Eva hesitated, then stepped down. The air tasted metallic, a black wind pressing at her skirts. They were on a mountain hill; the land dropped away in a stomach-turning depth. She leaned forward to look and felt the vertigo of it. Instinct made her step back.
"You shouldn't go on the edge," Prince Velco said, voice smooth. "One wrong move and you'll die."
Eva clutched her belly as if the small life inside could anchor her. "You said Leo will be here, but I don't see him. Where is he?"
Velco's smile sharpened. "He's not here. I lied."
"You are lying — you showed me the piece of cloth he was wearing. Now tell me where is my son," Eva demanded, voice cracking halfway between command and plea.
Velco's expression never changed. "I said he is not here. I never said I don't have him."
"Give me back my Leo. I'll give you anything in return," Eva pleaded, every word trembling.
"You will give me anything I ask for," he said, voice low, almost gentle.
"Yes. Just tell me." She swallowed hard, lips dry with fear.
"Then give me your life."
"What?" Her hands flew to her mouth.
"Yes. Give me your life and I'll let him go." He pointed, sharp as a blade, first at her belly, then at her. "You can only have one Leo."
His finger stabbed the air between them. "This one — or that one. Now the choice is yours."
"No… I can't." The word was barely a sound.
"Then I'll make the choice for you." Velco's smile thinned until it was a line of ice. "I'll kill you."
Eva stumbled backward, terror making her steps clumsy. "Please don't… please don't hurt my child. I beg you."
"That I can't do," he said, and there was an odd hardness in his voice. "Your grace, you need to die in order for me to take my revenge."
Eva's knees buckled as the words landed. Tears streaked her cheeks. "Please don't."
---
(Unknown location —)
Chains bit into Leo's wrists and ankles. He lay on the cold floor, every breath a small battle. He kept his eyes shut and willed the pain down. "Work, damn it," he muttered to himself. "I have to hurry. Mother is in danger."
(Flashback — before Velco left for Eva.)
Velco had come into the dark cell where Leo had been kept. The boy lay there, hollow-eyed and tense.
"Leo, I came to tell you a good news," Velco said, smug.
"I found out where your mother is hiding" velco said smiling.
Leo glared. "If you do anything to my mother I'll kill you."
Velco chuckled without warmth. "I already told you—you can't kill me. Not like that. Your body is breaking. If you use your power too much it will tear you apart."
"You said that to Luca," Leo snapped, fury coiling in his chest.
Velco stepped nearer. He produced a small blade and slashed a scrap from Leo's shirt. Blood bloomed on the cloth.
"What are you doing?" Leo hissed.
"In order to make your mother come out of the magic tower I had to show her proof that I have her son," Velco said, as if reading lines from a play. "I bet she will do as I said once she sees your piece of cloth."
----
(Back to Present—)
Leo had used his power, just enough. The chains splintered with a sound like a bone being freed. Pain lanced through him, a white-hot ring in his chest. He staggered, hand clutching at the wound in his ribs.
One of the guards shouted, "Hey! How did you break the chains?"
The man rushed and open the door— but before he could step in, Leo's eyes flared faintly blue. In the next second, a wave of energy burst from his hand. Both men collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Leo fell to his knees, gasping, clutching his chest. The pain was unbearable.
"I… can't move… it hurts…" he groaned, his breath trembling.
Then— a voice. Soft, mocking, and full of disbelief.
"I can't believe I'd see you in this state one day."
Leo's eyes snapped open. He turned sharply toward the sound.
"You— what are you doing here? You know you can't come here!"
The woman stepped closer, her tone dry. "What else? I came to look for you."
She grabbed him by the collar. "You told me you'd be back soon, but it's been a whole month!"
"I didn't have a choice but to come myself," she said, glaring at him. Her eyes softened slightly. "You look like a total mess."
Leo scowled. "At least you noticed. Now let go of my collar— I'm already in pain."
The woman sighed and released him. Leo fell back onto the cold floor, exhausted.
She raised her hand, magic gathering at her fingertips.
Leo panicked. "Wait— what are you doing? You can't use your magic here more than once!"
"Shut up," she snapped. "Don't tell me what to do."
Light surged from her palm. In an instant, Leo's body healed— the pain vanished as if it had never existed.
Leo stood slowly, stunned. Then he caught her hand— her fingers were cracked and bleeding slightly from the backlash.
"Your fingers…" he muttered.
The woman flicked his forehead.
Leo rubbed his forehead, wincing. "Ouch… why did you hit me?"
"Because you're an idiot," she said flatly.
"Stop wasting time here and go. You have more important things to take care of."
He chuckled weakly. "Right."
Pushing himself up, Leo began running toward the hall. But after a few steps, he stopped and turned around.
"Elena."
She looked up. "What?"
"Go back to our world," Leo said quietly. "And don't come here again."
Her brows furrowed. "What about you?"
"Don't wait for me," he said, voice low but steady. "I might not make it back this time. I'm telling you now so you won't resent me later."
Elena swallowed hard and managed a small, brave nod. "Okay."
Leo nodded once, then turned and left.
Elena stood there, her expression softening as she whispered to the empty air,
"Don't die… "
"My stupid Brother."
----