Villain Ch 1713. If I Bleed, I Bleed (Magic Castle Bonus)
She charged.
Fast. Reckless.
Her steps bounced across the uneven stone. She dropped her body low, kicked up a shard of tile into the air, used it to fake a jump, and slid behind it like a phantom.
Allen moved.
His sword met her in the air—again.
-Clang!
Her dagger snapped back as his blade skimmed her cheek.
Blood. Just a drop.
She froze.
He hadn't killed her.
He marked her.
A single, perfect strike. Enough to say ' I could've ended it. But I didn't'.
Her knees shook.
She staggered one step, then two.
Allen finally spoke, quiet and low.
"Azura."
She looked up.
The edges of her vision swam. She tried to glare. Tried to keep the fight in her limbs.
But something cracked instead.
Not pain.
Not pride.
It was the realization.
She hadn't closed the gap at all.
He was always this far ahead.
Even when she thought they were close.
And still—
She smiled.
A little bloody.
A little broken.
But still smiling.
