Vantias glanced around.
It seemed he'd woken up before sunrise.
The others were still asleep: Daggerol remained unconscious, William—for the first time in what felt like ages—was finally sleeping peacefully, and so were Anna and Hannibal.
Vantias swallowed hard and stared at his hands.
He wanted to make sure he was awake… that this moment was real.
The line between dream and reality had grown so thin, it was nearly impossible to tell them apart.
He gently pinched himself.
The pain was slight—but real.
He closed his eyes, letting the silence of dawn wash over him.
His thoughts drifted to what had happened inside the "Castle of Dreams"…
And then, a spark lit in his mind:
"I know what I have to do now… but…"
He looked at Anna and Hannibal. Under his breath, he whispered:
"It doesn't matter... as long as I can save them, I'll do whatever it takes.
Even if I have to stand against myself.
But…
There's something I need to finish first."
His face turned serious.
He slowly got up and left the attic room.
In one last glance, he looked at his siblings—then softly closed the door behind him.
Thunk... creeeak... thunk...
The sound of wooden steps echoed through the quiet house.
Vantias stepped outside.
The sky still wore the remnants of sleep, the sun not yet fully awake.
He walked silently through the empty streets.
Crumbling, damp houses slowly gave way to newer, cleaner buildings…
Until finally, he stood in front of a wooden house—with a blue roof and pristine walls.
A house he once called "home"—but that now felt like a prison.
A prison he had locked himself in.
He knew Sylphie wouldn't open the door.
He took a pin from his pocket and quietly picked the lock.
Creeeeak...
The door opened.
Vantias stepped inside without a sound and closed the door behind him.
The house was dark and silent—
as if no one had lived there for a long time.
The air carried the scent of age... and forgotten memories.
He reached Sylphie's room.
Outside the door, a basket of food Anna had left for her was still untouched.
"I know elves can survive without food or water for a long time…
But it's been over a week.
If this keeps up, she'll only hurt herself more…"
Vantias's thoughts echoed in the stillness.
Suddenly, a voice came from inside the room—
soft, tired, but strangely calm:
"Vantias... is that you?"
He was surprised she could sense his presence.
He paused, then replied:
"Yeah... I'm here, Sylphie."
Sylphie gave a faint smile:
"I knew you'd show yourself eventually…"
Vantias sat down behind the door.
"You know why I've come... don't you?"
Her voice was filled with sorrow and exhaustion:
"I know… but I don't want to, Vantias."
He took a deep breath:
"I've always respected people's choices, but..."
He closed his eyes.
"But when I see someone destroying themselves with their own decisions...
I choose to open another path for them."
Suddenly, Sylphie cried out, clutching her head:
"It's dangerous out there… I don't want to get hurt…"
Vantias replied—gently, but firmly:
"And I told you—I'm opening a new path."
The room was a mess.
He didn't need to step inside to know what Sylphie was going through.
He knew the taste of isolation and fear—
The kind that slowly pushes a person away from life itself.
Sylphie asked, with surprise in her voice:
"What do you mean... a new path?"
A faint smile formed on Vantias's lips:
"A fresh start, Sylphie.
William wants to return to his homeland—to a village where he can live in peace.
I want you to go with him…"
Then, in a soft and hopeful voice, he added:
"Start a new life… away from all this adventure and danger.
I can't promise it'll be easy...
But it'll be worth it."
Sylphie lowered her head. Her voice was filled with sadness:
"Vantias... I've thought about what happened in the dungeon...
About what happened to you and Gazel…
You risked your life so no one else would get hurt…
And I… I just tried to save myself.
I… I was selfish."
Her tears flowed freely.
Her voice trembled, breaking between sobs:
"I'm just a monster…
I valued my own life more than my friends'…"
Vantias gently opened the door.
His face was somber, but calm.
He approached Sylphie and gently embraced her.
She kept crying.
He whispered in her ear:
"You're not a monster...
I know what monsters look like.
You're just... a victim."
Between tears, Sylphie whispered:
"I… I was just so scared… I didn't know what to do…"
Vantias softly stroked her hair and let her cry it all out.
He whispered, like a lullaby:
"It's over now…
You can rest…"