The wind felt colder near Vargan's house.
Ace stood still, his eyes locked onto the figure ahead.
Darian.
There was no mistake.
The same stance. The same presence.
Alive.
For a moment, Ace couldn't move.
Memories flooded his mind—training together, fighting side by side, trusting each other without question.
Then—
Another memory.
Vargan's body.
On his knees. Supported only by his sword.
Dead.
Ace's fists clenched.
What if…
What if Darian…
"No…" Ace whispered, trying to steady his breathing. "There's no way…"
But the thought didn't leave.
It grew louder.
He took a step forward.
"Darian."
Darian turned slowly, his expression calm—but tired.
"Ace…" he said. "You're here."
That calmness—
It snapped something inside Ace.
In an instant, he rushed forward.
His fist flew straight toward Darian's face.
Darian's eyes widened slightly as he stepped back, barely avoiding the hit.
"Ace—what are you doing?!"
"WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?!" Ace shouted, his voice shaking with anger.
Darian froze for a split second.
That hesitation—
Ace didn't miss it.
He attacked again.
This time faster.
A flame-coated punch shot forward, forcing Darian to block. The impact pushed him back across the ground.
"I trusted you!" Ace continued, his attacks growing more aggressive. "You were there! You were the last one with him!"
Darian dodged another strike, his expression turning serious.
"I didn't kill Vargan!"
"LIAR!"
Ace launched a Flame Ball at close range, forcing Darian to jump back as the explosion hit the ground between them.
The heat rose.
The tension exploded.
Darian landed and steadied himself, now fully on guard.
"You're not thinking straight," he said firmly.
Ace didn't listen.
He rushed again—faster than before.
His movements were unstable.
Emotional.
Dangerous.
Darian narrowed his eyes.
"…Fine."
He stepped forward this time.
---
The clash began.
Ace struck first—rapid punches infused with low-percentage flame for speed.
Darian countered.
Clean.
Precise.
His movements were controlled, deflecting Ace's attacks with minimal effort.
"Calm down!" Darian said, blocking another hit.
"Tell me the truth then!" Ace fired back, spinning into a kick.
Darian caught it—
And pushed Ace away.
"I WASN'T THERE WHEN HE DIED!"
The words hit harder than any attack.
Ace stopped for just a second.
But his anger didn't fade.
"Then where were you?" he demanded.
Darian exhaled sharply.
"…Tracking someone."
Ace's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
Darian hesitated.
That was enough.
Ace moved again.
But this time—
Darian didn't hold back.
He stepped in, dodged Ace's punch, and struck him in the side—hard enough to stop his momentum but not injure him seriously.
Ace staggered.
Darian grabbed his collar.
"Listen to me," he said, his voice low but firm. "If I wanted him dead… you think I'd be standing here?"
Ace's breathing was heavy.
His mind was still racing.
But doubt…
Doubt began to creep in.
---
"…I found him like that," Darian continued. "Already gone."
Silence fell between them.
Ace's fists trembled.
"…You expect me to believe that?" he said quietly.
Darian let go of him.
"No," he replied. "But it's the truth."
---
The fire around Ace slowly faded.
Not because he was calm—
But because he didn't know what to feel anymore.
Anger.
Confusion.
Guilt.
All at once.
---
Darian turned slightly, looking toward Vargan's house.
"…We're both chasing the same thing," he said.
Ace didn't respond.
"…Whoever did this," Darian continued, "they're still out there."
---
Ace lowered his head.
His voice was quieter now.
"…If you're lying…"
Darian glanced back.
"I'm not."
---
The distance between them remained.
Not as enemies.
But no longer as allies either.
Not yet.
---
And somewhere in the shadows—
The truth about Vargan's death
Was still waiting to be uncovered.