The training field was empty.
Too empty.
Zara stood in the center, arms crossed.
"…You called me here," she said.
Footsteps echoed.
Axel stepped forward, lightning flickering softly around him.
Zara's eyes narrowed.
"The King himself… what do you want?"
Axel looked at her calmly.
"Nothing complicated."
Zara raised an eyebrow.
"Then why am I here?"
Silence.
Then Axel spoke.
"I'm not going to fight you."
Zara blinked.
"…What?"
Axel turned slightly, looking away.
"I was asked to."
Zara's expression changed.
"By who?"
Axel smirked faintly.
"That doesn't matter."
Zara stepped forward.
"No. It does."
The air grew tense.
Axel looked back at her.
"You're smart," he said. "Too smart."
Zara's eyes sharpened.
"…Kai."
Axel didn't respond.
But his silence…
Was the answer.
Zara clenched her fist.
"So he wants me out of the way."
Axel shrugged.
"Something like that."
Zara's voice dropped.
"…And you came here to do it?"
Axel shook his head.
"No."
Lightning flickered slightly stronger around him.
"I came to tell you something."
Zara stayed silent.
Axel's eyes became serious.
"Kai is not who you think he is."
Zara didn't look surprised.
"I already know that."
Axel smirked.
"Not like this."
A pause.
Then—
"He's dangerous."
Zara's gaze didn't move.
"So are you."
Axel laughed softly.
"Fair enough."
He turned to leave.
Zara spoke again.
"Why didn't you do it?"
Axel stopped.
"For someone like you… refusing an order like that isn't normal."
Axel looked over his shoulder.
"Because I don't take orders."
A small smile appeared.
"Especially from someone hiding behind a mask."
Zara's eyes widened slightly.
"…Mask?"
Axel said nothing.
He just walked away.
Leaving Zara alone.
Confused.
Thinking.
Connecting pieces.
—
From a distance…
Kai watched everything.
Hidden.
Silent.
His eyes were cold.
"…So you chose your own path."
He turned away slowly.
"But that's fine."
Because now—
Things were no longer under control.
Zara knew too much.
Axel knew everything.
And Kai…
Was running out of time.