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- LEIAZEL - The Angel of Consolation and Comfort.

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As he takes flight, my feet move without me making the slightest decision. I feel my heart vibrate as I realize I just want to be near him when he goes to face danger.

— Where are you going? Come back here, unconscious one! I hear Hadrien shout behind me.

I run with all my might, thinking of nothing else but reaching Hayden. I know I'm acting impulsively, but I don't care.

Now lost among the trees and in this darkness, I have no landmarks to retrace my steps. I stop for a moment, gasping for breath, trying to calm down so I can better hear the growls of the monsters.

It works. No turning back, but I have a path ahead of me to follow the route my body instinctively took. I resume my way to the right, where the noises grow closer, rushing straight into them.

But in a split second, I collapse to the ground.

— Ouch! I cry out as I fall.

Breathless, I struggle to stand, pain in my scraped knees and bruised hands reminding me of the fall.

— It stings, I complain.

Looking down, I notice what tripped me.

— What's a sword doing here?

Picking up the sword, a strange sensation runs through me, as if my soul recognizes this weapon. The blade is long, with a rounded tip and a serrated edge near the hilt, reflecting the light from the sky.

— Who does this weapon belong to?

An enemy? I think at first.

I keep the sword in hand and scan the surroundings, but there's no one there. I remember I'm on my way to join Hayden and Liam, so I start running again, holding onto the weapon.

I approach the sounds of demons, my pace quickening, and spot someone fighting in the distance.

The closer I get, the more I realize the movements and body shape don't match Hayden's.

It's definitely not Liam—he wouldn't fight hand-to-hand; his specialty is ranged attacks with his bow.

So... who is it?

I stay on guard and join the battle, which is almost over. I keep a safe distance, because the man in front of me is finishing off his last monster—and he's doing well.

He fights bare-handed, striking blow after blow until the demon's neck snaps under the force of his punches. He's so fast I can barely track the path of his strikes.

I can't imagine what it would be like to face him.

His hands are bloodied, but he pays no mind.

While watching, he suddenly turns, locking eyes with me. He sensed my presence, and I feel my heart tremble as if his aura crushes me with just one look.

I have to calm down, not show my fear, I tell myself.

The first thing that strikes me as I look at him is his face. It seems familiar, but I can't remember where I first saw him.

His hair is sleek and black as night, so dark even the shadows seem lighter beside it. I can't clearly make out his features or eye color, but under the moonlight, I see he's bare-chested, with drops of demon blood trickling down, mixing with his sweat. I can't look away from this scene, which doesn't disturb me as much as I expected.

He steps toward me.

— Oh no, I panic.

My legs won't move, nor my eyes, still fixed on him. I manage to take a defensive stance, pointing the sword I found at him to keep him from coming closer. The inside of my hand burns from my recent injury, but I show no weakness and remain stoic.

The closer he gets, the more his presence oppresses me, and when he reaches the tip of my sword, he stops.

He's tall...

He raises his hands, then smirks—a smile both amused and intrigued.

— Who are you? I start boldly.

He lowers his gaze to the weapon threatening him.

— I see you've found my sword, he says calmly.

So the sword belongs to him?

— You didn't answer my question.

He studies me for a moment, then replies:

— My name is Hareth, and this is my weapon, dear.

My instincts don't reject his presence, nor the bite on my wrist, which I trust most to confirm my doubts about those around me. I glance over his shoulder, looking for Hayden and Liam, but we're alone.

— Have you seen two others around here?

He pretends to think, keeping silent to build suspense.

— No, I haven't seen anyone else but you, sweetheart, he smiles, lowering his arms as if, in his reflection, he decided I'm no threat.

The sword's weight drags on me, and my arm starts to tremble slightly.

— I don't authorize you to call me that!

In a second, in the blink of an eye, he vanishes.

My eyes can't follow his movements, as if he melted into the surrounding darkness. It takes only one breath before I suddenly feel a presence behind me.

I want to move, but I can't—I'm frozen, feeling a shock against my skin. In that moment, I realize my arms are pinned by his, my back pressed against his hard, warm chest.

— I don't need your permission, sweetheart, he whispers in my ear.

How did he do that? He was in front of me, and now... he's behind.

He pulls my body closer against his, his arm pressing firmly on mine, pushing it down slowly to retrieve his sword.

He snatches it from me with ease and breathes deeply near my neck before shoving me forward. The heat of his breath against my neck, mixed with the cold night air, sends an involuntary shiver down my spine.

I spin around quickly as soon as I'm freed from his hold.

The first thing my eyes find is his weapon, now shimmering a dark gray under the moonlight.

— A pleasure to meet you, sweetheart. But I must be on my way, he says, bowing slightly before me.

I want to talk to him, to ask more questions, but just as I'm about to open my mouth, distant voices interrupt me.

— Marie...

Shouts call my name—no doubt the group I'm with, searching for me. I strain my neck to catch sight of my companions, but when my gaze returns to Hareth, he has vanished into the dark, shadowy forest.

My eyes search for him around me, but he's gone. Hearing my name echo through the forest, I decide to follow the voices to find them. The adrenaline fades, and the pain in my knees returns, making me limp. The first person I see is a girl with copper hair.

— She's here! Ambre shouts.

It's the first time I've seen that expression on her face. She claims not to like me—did she actually worry?

I see Hayden and Liam descend from the sky quickly, landing in front of me, leaving tracks in the dirt from their harsh landing. Hadrien and Élise rush over too.

I haven't had time to catch my breath when Hayden immediately scolds me.

— Do you want me to kill you myself, just to make sure no one else does it first?! he snaps sarcastically.

I want to smile with relief seeing him alive, but I hold back—this isn't the time.

Liam places a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

— Be relieved—she's still alive, he says.

I feel like a child being scolded by my parents under the watchful eyes of my brothers. I want to cry... Not because of everything that just happened, but because this feeling of belonging to a family makes me nostalgic, sad, yet happy all at once.

Are their feelings for me real? Or is this just another lie, like that fake family I grew up with all my life?

My heart warms.

— You made her cry. Bravo, brother, Hadrien remarks.

Hayden stiffens when he sees the tears rolling in my eyes. His face softens slightly, and he tries, awkwardly, to comfort me.

— I... I wasn't serious, I... he stammers.

— I'm in pain, I say softly.

Ambre shoves Hayden aside to come to me. Without me having to say a word, she guesses where my injuries are.

In reality, I'm not crying because of my physical pain—but I'd rather they believe that.

I dry my tears and look at them. None of them seems hurt, and there's neither blood nor dirt on their clothes.

— And the demons? I ask, thinking there were several groups of demons nearby.

— I caught up to Liam mid-flight and we immediately returned to the camp, explains Hayden. But I want to know... How did you get hurt, and why did you run off into the forest?

— I tripped, that's all. And...

They all watch me, and I feel my cheeks warming. So I continue more softly, so that only he can hear.

— I didn't think about my actions. My body... instinctively followed you.

He dives into my eyes, as if what I just confessed had some effect on him. His face relaxes, and he simply continues to drown in the blue of my eyes, without saying another word.

— It's slimy here! exclaims Hadrien, noticing the puddles of demon remains.

All eyes turn to Hadrien, who's coming back toward us, and then they settle on me, filled with curiosity... except for Hayden's, who seems lost in thought. Yet I can still see an emotion flicker on his face.

He seems... anxious.

— Who killed these demons? he finally asks.

A silence settles, everyone waiting for an answer. I have to tell them about Hareth.

— There was another angel in the forest. He's the one who killed all the demons. A fighter, from what I could see.

— A fighter? repeats Élise, speaking up for the first time.

She steps forward, and pain shoots through my arm.

— Yes, he said his name was...

— Impossible, she interrupts me sharply.

— If there was...

— You must have hit your head, she declares, her tone icy and confident.

Why is she refusing to let me speak? Could he be an ally of hers? No... My arm didn't hurt in his presence.

Ambre comes closer to check, but she feels nothing abnormal.

— No, she's fine. I would've felt it otherwise, she answers.

— There's nothing wrong with my head! I'm telling you there was an angel! He killed all those demons! I snap.

They look at me like I'm losing my mind.

— You don't believe me?

They exchange glances, waiting for one of them to speak.

— And who else would have killed the demons? I ask, crossing my arms.

— You, most likely, Élise replies.

A nervous laugh escapes my mouth as I realize she's trying to discredit me in front of everyone... again. Does she know I'm onto her? Or am I getting too close to the truth, and she's trying to mislead me?

— Blondie, shut up, says Hayden suddenly.

His voice is threatening, and a shiver slides over my skin at the same time as his words.

— But...

She tries to protest, but a single dark glare from Hayden is enough to silence her instantly.

— I believe you, says Ambre, giving Élise a reproachful look.

That's the second time the redheaded devil surprises me.

— Speak. Who is he? he asks me.

— He said his name was...

I stop, looking at Élise to see if she's finally going to let me speak. But she says nothing. I notice her clenching her fists, biting the corner of her lip, her gaze fixed on mine without blinking, as if she's anxiously waiting for my answer.

— ...Hareth.

His name finally spoken, she blinks and shifts her gaze to the trees, as if she knew exactly who I've been talking about all along.

She's definitely suspicious, but no one will believe me if I reveal who she really is...

— The sun's about to rise, we should get moving, says Liam.

I'm exhausted... Maybe I should have fallen asleep earlier.

Hayden notices and, without a word, moves in front of me, crouches down, and shows me his back.

— What are you doing? I ask, puzzled.

— Get on.

I'll admit I'm tired and the idea is tempting, but after everything I know about him... about our destiny...

Do I really feel the same as he does?

In the end, I climb onto his back. He stands up effortlessly, and suddenly I'm at his height. It's impressive how much the perspective changes—the view from up here is different.

— Thank you, I whisper in his ear.

I hold onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck while he grabs my legs on either side of his body. He says nothing and begins to walk.

Hadrien, who was carrying my bag in his hand, places it over one of his shoulders, while his own bag remains on his back. He positions himself at the rear with Ambre, who follows close behind, while Élise walks just ahead of us. Liam, meanwhile, takes his place back in the sky. Thanks to the rising dawn, we're able to make him out from where we are.

Élise isn't far, and my arm reminds me of it. I'd like to rest, but it's impossible.

— Can you slow down a bit, please? I don't want to stay too close to the front of the group.

Without hesitation, without even asking why, he slows his pace, putting more distance between me and the one who's causing my wrist pain.

A few more meters, and the pain becomes slightly more bearable.

— You should get some rest, he murmurs.

At those words, I close my eyes, resting my head comfortably on his shoulder. I hesitate to trust in this Aethernia bond, but the rest of my body trusts him.

I let myself drift off, exhausted, lulled by his scent... an enticingly sweet aroma.