The tension in the yard lingered after the scout delivered the news.
A stranger.
Looking for Elena.
No one spoke for a moment.
Ray leaned slightly on his staff, his brows furrowed.
"Bring him here," he said at last.
The scout nodded and hurried off toward the entrance of the village.
Elena felt a small knot form in her chest.
Looking for her?
Who would even know she was here?
Beside her, Dante folded his arms.
"You expecting someone?" he asked.
Elena shook her head slowly.
"No…"
Lena stood quietly a few steps away, watching the situation unfold with calm curiosity.
The breeze moved softly through the trees while they waited.
Then footsteps approached.
Two figures walked down the dirt path.
One was the scout.
The other—
Elena's eyes widened.
"Leo?"
The young man stopped a few feet away from her.
His clothes were dusty from travel, his hair slightly messy, and he looked like he hadn't rested properly in days.
But the moment he saw her, relief flashed across his face.
"Elena."
Before she could react, he strode forward and grabbed her shoulders.
"What were you thinking?!" he snapped.
Elena blinked.
"I—"
"You actually left just like that?" Leo continued. "Do you have any idea how worried everyone was?"
His voice lowered.
"How worried I was?"
Elena rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"…Sorry."
She wasn't sure why Leo was acting this way but his previous words still echoed at the back of her mind.
She might not know what his true intentions are but since he came all the way here...
They need all the help there can get to defeat Yami.
Leo sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair.
"I was a fool for letting you leave on your own."
Only then did he notice the others standing nearby.
Ray.
Dante.
And..
His gaze suddenly froze.
Leo frowned.
His eyes moved slowly from Elena…
…to Lena.
Then back to Elena again.
"…Wait."
Elena tilted her head.
"What?"
Leo stepped a little closer, staring carefully.
"Why does she look exactly like you?"
The yard fell silent.
Elena sighed softly.
"Oh… right."
She had forgotten how strange it looked to people who hadn't seen them before.
Lena stood calmly beside Ray, completely unbothered by the attention.
Dante raised an eyebrow with amusement.
"Yeah, I was wondering when someone new would finally ask that."
Leo continued staring at the two girls.
The resemblance was uncanny.
The same face.
The same eyes.
Even their height was nearly identical.
When did Elena have a twin sister?
Elena scratched the back of her neck.
"It's… complicated."
Leo slowly folded his arms.
"I'm listening."
Before Elena could explain, Lena stepped forward politely.
"My name is Lena," she said with a gentle smile.
Leo didn't smile back.
"…Leo."
There was a brief pause between them.
Then Dante stepped forward casually.
"So," he said, glancing between them, "are introductions done or should we bring tea as well?"
Leo looked at him.
"And you are?"
Dante placed a hand against his chest dramatically.
"Dante."
Leo waited.
Dante grinned.
"Elena's friend."
Leo studied him for a moment. His eyes roamed on his clothing.. That cloak, looked suspiciously like the one Elena kept tucked up in her room.
Is this the guy that is trying to steal Elena from him?
Then his eyes shifted back to Elena.
"You didn't mention him."
Elena shrugged.
"There wasn't time."
Dante suddenly tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Hold on."
He looked at Elena.
"Who is he?"
"He is my cousin."
"You mean Aunt Kate's son?"
Elena nodded.
"Yes."
Dante hummed.
"That's interesting."
Elena frowned.
"What is?"
Dante gestured lazily toward Leo.
"The way he talks about you feels a little too… intense for a normal cousin."
The air instantly changed.
Leo's jaw tightened.
Elena groaned loudly.
"Oh my god, Dante—"
Dante smirked.
"I'm just saying."
Leo crossed his arms slowly, his irritation becoming very obvious.
"And what exactly are you implying?"
Dante shrugged.
"Nothing."
His smirk said otherwise.
Leo looked Dante up and down.
His annoyance only grew.
The guy was tall.
Confident.
And annoyingly good-looking.
Leo clicked his tongue quietly.
Elena stepped between them before the tension could grow worse.
"Both of you stop."
Neither of them spoke.
Elena looked back at Leo.
"How did you even find me?"
Leo exhaled slowly.
"I tracked you."
Elena blinked.
"You what?"
"You didn't hide your trail very well," he said. "And people talk. It wasn't that hard to follow the rumors."
Elena stared at him.
"So you came all the way here just for that?"
Leo looked directly at her.
"I didn't want you doing this alone."
Elena hesitated.
"…Thank you."
Then she explained everything.
Amber.
The curse
The transformation potions.
Yami.
The forest.
Leo listened carefully, his expression darkening with every detail.
When she finished, he nodded.
"Then I'm staying."
Elena blinked.
"What?"
"I'm helping," he said simply.
"You don't have to—"
"I know," he interrupted. "But I will."
Elena sighed but eventually nodded.
"…Alright."
Then she remembered something.
"How's Aunt Kate?"
Leo looked away briefly.
"She's fine."
Elena narrowed her eyes.
"That's not a real answer."
Leo shrugged.
"She's the same as always."
Something about his tone made Elena suspicious, but she didn't push further.
Ray cleared his throat.
"If everyone is finished catching up…"
They turned toward him.
Ray tapped his staff against the ground.
"There is still the matter of training."
His eyes moved to Elena.
"Your magic."
Elena immediately stepped forward.
"Yes! Please keep teaching me."
Ray nodded slowly.
Before he could respond, Dante suddenly spoke.
"I'll handle her sword training."
Elena looked at him.
"You will?"
Dante picked up a wooden practice sword and tossed another to her.
"Of course."
She barely caught it.
"Let's see what you can do."
Ray stepped aside to observe.
Lena and Leo stood nearby.
Dante walked a few steps away and picked up another wooden sword.
"Watch carefully," he said.
Then he moved.
The playful laziness vanished instantly.
His stance lowered.
His grip tightened.
The sword sliced through the air.
Step.
Turn.
Strike.
Each movement flowed smoothly into the next.
Precise.
Controlled.
Elegant.
Elena stared.
She had never seen Dante move like this before.
The joking troublemaker she had been traveling with suddenly looked like a trained warrior.
Someone dangerous.
Dante finished with a final swing before lowering the sword casually.
"Well?"
Elena didn't answer.
Her mind was racing.
Those movements…
They looked familiar.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Where had she seen them before?
Then suddenly—
It clicked.
The masked man.
The one who saved her from Gerald.
Her heart skipped.
The way he fought.
The way he moved.
It was the same.
Elena slowly lifted her gaze to Dante.
Could it really be him?
No…
He would have told her.
Right?
But the more she thought about it, the more the pieces started to fit.
The timing.
His strength.
The way he avoided talking about his past.
Dante noticed her staring.
"What?"
Elena quickly shook her head.
"Nothing."
But the thought wouldn't leave her mind.
Who was Dante really?
And more importantly, why was he hiding the fact that he saved her?