Their Paths and His Choice

ALEXIA

"If I keep trailing this thread like this, we won't have to worry about the return trip," I said, marching through the underground labyrinth. It was basically Heroism 101: try not to get lost in the basement.

"Sure, sure. That would be just grand," Beta replied from behind me, her voice dripping with enough boredom to put a toddler to sleep. She actually had the nerve to let out a massive yawn.

I whipped around. "Excuse me, did you just yawn? We’re in the middle of a search here."

"Who, me? Never," she lied, her face the literal definition of faux-innocence. "But honestly, it’s been over twelve hours. Can we just go home? She clearly isn't down here."

"I'm not so sure. My source was rock solid..."

"Then let's go back and double-check the intel," she suggested.

Our footsteps echoed through the monotonous underground passage, illuminated only by the flickering glow of my Magic Lamp. It was the kind of repetitive slog that makes you start questioning your life choices.

Suddenly, Beta stopped dead. A second later, I felt it too—a massive, suffocating surge of Magic Power. It was so heavy it practically made my teeth vibrate.

"Someone just dumped a hell of a lot of Magic Power," I muttered, looking back.

"Perhaps it might be Rose-sama?" Beta offered.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Wait a minute. How did you notice that before I did?"

"Total fluke," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm just a fragile civilian, remember? I can only do enough for self-defense."

Right. And I’m the Queen of Midgar. "Whatever. Let's hurry!"

We sprinted toward the source, bursting through a set of heavy, shattered doors. We ended up in an old, crumbling Cathedral.

ROSE

I stood there in the center of the Cathedral, eyes closed, letting the silence settle. At my feet lay the corpses of the Black-clad Men—the trash that had been hunting me. I didn't feel like a victim anymore.

"Rose-senpai...?"

I heard Alexia’s voice and slowly opened my eyes. She was staring at me, or rather, at the ridiculous amount of mana still radiating off my skin.

"That Magic Power... just what on earth happened to you?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I have obtained power," I said, my voice sounding steadier than it had in weeks. "I am going to walk the path that I believe in now."

I started to walk past her. I had things to do, and none of them involved being a fugitive princess anymore.

"W-wait! Stop right there!" Alexia shouted. "What do you mean? Why did you stab your fiancé? Give me an actual answer!"

I glanced back over my shoulder. She looks so small. So far away from the world I've just entered. "Alexia-san... I am sorry. I do not want to involve you."

I looked at her, and for a second, I felt a pang of envy. She was still so bright.

"Then talk to me! Explain it!" she screamed. "I won't understand anything like this!"

"If I speak, it will involve you."

Alexia glared back into my eyes, her pride burning bright. "In the Sanctuary... we were useless. We just stood there like idiots while the world moved around us, not knowing who was right or wrong. I’m sick of being a bystander, waiting for someone to steal the things I care about. We promised, didn't we? The three of us were going to protect what is precious."

I looked past her, staring at the shadows in the corner of the room. Protecting things isn't as easy as making a promise, Alexia.

"I wanted to believe the words from that day," she continued, her voice cracking. "So why are you looking at me like that? Do you think of me as nothing more than a bystander too?"

"I am sorry..."

"Answer me!"

I gave her a sad, twisted little smile. "I can no longer return. That is why... I am envious of you."

"I don't understand. Are you envious of a bystander who knows nothing? Are you mocking me?"

"I didn't mean it like that," I whispered. "But I have lost many things, and I will surely lose many things from now on as well. Everyone will deny me and curse me as evil."

"Rose... what do you intend to do?"

"I am sorry... I am going now."

I started to walk, but the sharp tsk of her tongue stopped me.

"Wait."

I heard the hiss of steel. Alexia had drawn her sword.

"Enough already. I'll make you tell me by force. I am not a bystander."

I sighed and drew my Rapier. If this was the only way she'd listen, then so be it. We faced off—her crimson eyes full of fury, my honey-colored eyes probably reflecting nothing but heartbreak.

My Rapier swayed slightly. Then, we both moved at once.

ALEXIA

We clashed. It was perfect sync—our reactions, our sword speed, our timing. We were mirrors of each other.

Rose looked genuinely shocked. I get it; she was the Academy's Strongest Spellsword, and when I started school, she could have wiped the floor with me. But I’d been practicing. I’d been watching him.

My swordplay wasn't flashy. It was the "ordinary" style. The style of a man who stripped away everything unnecessary until only the most efficient movements remained. It was Shadow's Sword.

Our blades collided, and a shockwave of Magic Power stained the Cathedral walls.

We were almost dead even in skill, but the universe doesn't care about fairness. The result was decided by a simple, brutal difference in Magic Power.

My sword went spinning into the air. Before I could even process the loss, Rose slammed the hilt of her Rapier into my jaw. My vision went white, and my knees hit the floor.

Dammit... if I just had an equal amount of mana...

"I am sorry," Rose whispered.

She turned to leave, but then she froze. She finally noticed Author Natsume standing there. It was weird; it was like the woman had been completely outside of Rose's consciousness until the very last second.

NATSUME (BETA)

God, these two are dramatic.

"Author Natsume... I am sorry. I am going," Rose said, looking at me with those tragic heroine eyes.

"I won't stop you," I said, keeping my face a perfect mask of unreadable professionalism. "I don't really have the right to."

She looked confused. I usually played the "sweet, supportive author" role around her, but frankly, I was over it.

"I have to admit, it was a bit unexpected," I continued. "Fools really do worry in their own foolish way, don't they? Our countries, our organizations, our beliefs—they couldn't be more different. But we were all aiming for the same thing. It wasn't the worst combination I've ever seen."

"Author Natsume...?"

"I pray for your success in battle. Our paths will likely cross again someday. Until then, I guess I'll get back to babysitting duty for a while."

I knelt down to tend to the unconscious princess.

"Author Natsume, you are...?"

I gave her a little mischievous smile. "Now, please go. She's just fainted; she'll wake up soon enough."

Rose had a million questions—I could see them burning in her eyes—but she knew neither of us had any intention of talking further. She turned on her heel and vanished.

I pulled Alexia’s head onto my lap for a pillow and let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Is this really Master Shadow's choice...?"

I looked up at the stained glass. The Three Heroes and the Wretched Demon were staring back at us. In this light, it felt less like art and more like a bad omen for the future.