Caspian opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't think.
The world felt… distant.
Like he had sunk beneath the surface of something deep and heavy, and only now was returning to it.
Then—
Pain.
A dull, persistent ache spread through his body, crawling across his limbs, settling deep into his bones. His muscles protested even the smallest movement, his hands felt stiff, and his back burned from the strain of carrying Alice while running for his life.
"…Alive" he muttered hoarsely.
That alone was something.
He blinked a few times, vision sharpening.
Daylight.
Clear, pale, calm.
The storm was gone, he believes it ended even before his battle did, but he can't remember those details.
The sky above the cliffs stretched wide and open, as if the nightmare itself had taken a breath after trying to drown him.
For a brief second—
It felt peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Caspian shifted slightly, pushing himself up onto one elbow, moving the shell that covered him, Alice must have gave it to him.
That's when he noticed her.
She was crouched beside him, partially hidden behind the rock formation they use as shelter. Her posture was tense, her shoulders slightly raised, her head tilted forward as she peeked toward the other side of the cliff.
Watching something.
Carefully.
Silently.
Caspian frowned.
"Alice, what is—"
A hand shot out instantly.
She covered his mouth.
Firm.
Urgent.
Her other hand rose, a single finger pressed against her lips.
Quiet.
Caspian's eyes sharpened immediately.
No hesitation.
No questions.
He nodded slightly.
Alice slowly removed her hand, her gaze never leaving the other side of the cliff.
Carefully—
Both of them leaned just enough to look.
And then—
Caspian understood.
Something massive stood where he had fought the Carapace Centurion.
And it fed.
The creature was enormous.
Easily twice the size of the centurion he had barely managed to kill.
Its body was pale—white like a corpse left too long in the cold—but beneath that unnatural color, its muscles coiled with terrifying strength, like those of a great predator. Its form resembled something between a lion and something far more monstrous.
Two powerful hind legs supported it.
But its front—
Six limbs.
Six massive, unevenly placed arms protruded from its broad chest, each ending in long, curved talons that glinted faintly under the daylight.
Its neck was wrapped in long, dark feathers.
Black.
Thick.
Almost like a mane.
And then—
Its head.
A raven.
Or something that wore the idea of one.
Large, round eyes.
Unblinking.
And a massive, curved black beak that cracked open as it fed.
Caspian felt something cold run down his spine.
It tore into the centurion's corpse effortlessly.
The thick carapace that had nearly cost him his life—
Shattered like brittle wood beneath its talons.
It didn't struggle.
Didn't strain.
It simply… ate.
Chunks of shell and flesh broke apart under its beak with sickening ease.
Caspian didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Beside him, Alice was just as still.
The creature continued feeding.
Slowly.
Methodically.
Until finally—
It stopped.
Satisfied.
Its head lifted slightly.
Those large, round eyes scanned the area.
Caspian's heart skipped a beat.
But—
It didn't find them.
Instead, the creature bent down again, grabbing several scavenger carcasses with its many limbs.
Then—
It spread its wings.
Massive.
Black.
The moment they moved, the air itself reacted.
Wind exploded outward.
A violent gust slammed against the cliff, forcing Caspian to brace himself against the stone.
The creature rose.
Each flap of its wings creating a miniature storm of its own.
It ascended into the sky—
And there—
Another one.
Waiting.
Carrying more carcasses.
The two circled briefly.
Then—
They flew.
West.
Caspian followed their path with his eyes until they became nothing more than distant shadows.
Then nothing at all.
Silence returned.
A long moment passed.
Then—
Alice spoke first.
"It almost caught me…" she whispered.
Her voice was low.
Careful.
"I was getting meat from the carcasses when its shadow appeared on the cliff… I hid just in time…"
Caspian exhaled slowly.
"…It was gigantic."
"Agreed…"
They stayed silent for a few seconds longer, both still processing what they had just seen.
Then—
Alice moved.
She summoned a few of her soldiers—a couple of the cat spearmen—and began directing them.
"Fire" she said simply.
The soldiers moved immediately.
Soon—
A flame flickered to life.
Small.
But steady.
Alice began preparing the meat she had gathered earlier.
The smell of cooking flesh soon filled the air.
Strangely comforting.
After everything—
It felt… normal.
Caspian sat down nearby, watching the fire for a moment.
Then—
"…So… thanks" Alice said suddenly, not looking at him.
"For saving me after our battle against those centurions… it seems you had to take care of another one when I wasn't available…for not...abandon me"
Caspian scratched his cheek lightly.
"It's nothing… really…"
He paused.
"…It needed to be done."
His gaze drifted briefly to her.
"I simply couldn't let you die there after all of that…"
Alice didn't answer immediately.
But the faintest smile appeared on her lips.
They ate.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Until both of them were full.
Their bodies felt… stable.
Not strong.
But no longer on the edge of collapse.
After a while, Caspian spoke again.
"That last centurion…"
Alice looked up, still chewing.
"…it dropped me a memory."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Whab ith ish?"
Caspian blinked.
Then—
Smiled faintly.
"…Finish chewing first."
She did.
Quickly.
Too quickly.
Then leaned forward.
"Well?"
Caspian chuckled softly.
"An armor."
He paused.
"…But I already have one."
Alice froze.
"…So…"
He looked at her.
"Would you like to have it?"
For a second—
She didn't react.
Then—
Her entire face lit up.
Bright.
Excited.
Alive.
She nodded enthusiastically, almost bouncing in place.
Caspian extended his hand.
She grabbed it instantly.
He focused.
Deep within his soul sea, one of the faint spheres of light orbiting his moon core trembled.
Then—
Disappeared.
A strange sensation passed through him.
Like a spark of electricity traveling through his body—
And into hers.
Alice gasped slightly, stepping back.
Then—
She raised her arm dramatically.
"Behold!" she declared.
"The new Alice!"
Light burst around her.
Spinning.
Shifting.
Wrapping around her body.
Then—
It settled.
The armor appeared.
Dark.
Sleek.
Light.
It clung to her form like a second skin, made of layered cloth that seemed both soft and durable. The main garment resembled the attire of a thief—flexible, silent, designed for movement rather than protection.
Across her chest—
Seven small stars were embroidered.
A long cape rested on her shoulders, draping behind her.
From one side, the front, it looked normal.
But from another, if you looked at it from behind—
It worked like some some sort of invisibility cape, it wasn't perfect of course, but enough to get quick glances pass without noticing it.
Like looking through a glass of water.
Her outline blurred.
Shifted.
Almost disappearing entirely.
Caspian nodded.
"It looks good on you."
Alice spun once, clearly pleased.
"Thanks… I can't believe I have my own armor memory now…"
Caspian leaned back slightly.
"I remember its runes…"
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then recited:
"Memory: [Starlight Legion Assassin Robes].
Memory Rank: Awakened.
Memory Type: Armor.
Memory Description: [Even though time has erased the faces and names of the seven heroes, the memory of their oath remained, and those who fought for them in the shadows still cling to it, as the dark side of their starlight.]"
Alice blinked.
Then laughed.
"Professor Julius would lose his mind over that description alone."
Caspian smirked.
"Yeah… he would."
Silence followed.
A comfortable one.
They didn't move.
Didn't rush.
For now—
They had food.
They had shelter.
They had time to recover their strength.
Caspian sat near the edge of the cliff, facing west.
His body still hurt.
Every movement reminded him of the fight.
The armor had protected him—
Yes.
But not completely.
The centurion had been strong.
Too strong.
Its shell had been like a fortress, the river blade wasn't enough to cut through it.
Its movements relentless.
It had turned into a battle of endurance.
Of will.
And in the end—
Caspian had won.
Barely.
He remembered it clearly.
The moment he managed to wedge his blade into the creature's shoulder joint.
The way it had tried to close—
To trap the weapon.
And how he had made a decision.
A desperate one.
He had let go of the water sword.
Driven both armored hands into the opening—
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the resistance.
And then—
Pulled.
Ripped.
Tore the limb free.
Along with everything attached to it.
Azure blood had exploded across his body.
Hot.
Thick.
Violent.
He still felt it.
Still saw it.
"…Yeah…" he muttered softly.
"…That was a fight…"
"Indeed it was."
Caspian didn't turn.
Velpam stood beside him.
Calm.
Relaxed.
As if the world itself had no weight.
"That was quite a fight, murderer" he continued with a faint smile.
"It looks like the kid finally decided to start walking."
Caspian sighed.
"It's you…"
Velpam chuckled.
"Of course it's me."
He stepped closer.
"It will always be me."
He tilted his head slightly.
"What did you call me before?"
"Deceiver?"
A grin spread across his face.
"Oh boy…"
He laughed lightly.
"Who do you think you are imitating that attitude from?"
He didn't wait for an answer.
"Of course, it came from you."
He tapped his own chest.
"You might think you copied me…the way i act...the way i talked...you tried to make me try my own medicine"
Then pointed at Caspian.
"But didn't you said…"
His voice softened.
"That i'm. A mere. Shadow. Of. You?"
Silence.
"You are the source of me."
Velpam's smile widened slightly.
"I'm just doing what you would do… hehe."
Caspian's jaw tightened slightly.
He wanted to respond.
To deny it.
To argue.
But—
No words came out.
Because somewhere—
Deep down—
He wasn't sure he was wrong.
Velpam simply watched him.
Amused.
Patient.
Knowing.
And that silence—
Said more than anything else.