"But you do look fully bad, Cassius."
A soft, soothing voice called out from behind me, slicing through the haze of exhaustion clouding my mind.
I turned my head stiffly, my body screaming in protest, to see who it was.
Standing there, amidst the scorched red earth and broken terrain, was a familiar figure:
A young woman with golden blonde hair cascading like sunlight, and striking violet eyes that shimmered gently under the fading light.
She wore the same white uniform adorned with intricate golden linings, immaculate despite the chaos surrounding us.
Freya Winterbane.
A smile tugged at the corner of my bloodied lips. I forced myself to pivot fully toward her, trying my best to hide the limp in my steps.
Chuckling, I said, "Hey, I'm not that bad... maybe."
I was lying through my teeth.
My body was on the verge of collapse, every muscle aching, brain half-fried from mana overuse.
But no way in hell was I letting her know that.
