Evelyn's POV
After seeing everyone's reaction to my spar with Marcus, I finally realized something I had ignored for far too long.
I had underestimated what it meant to be me — to be a hero.
In my past life, I believed my power came solely from cultivation — from refinement and control. I thought strength was something that could be measured, polished, and perfected through discipline alone.
But today, as I stood against Marcus, something inside me stirred. It wasn't my mana that trembled — it was me.
For the first time in years, I felt.
The memory of my final battle resurfaced — that night when I stood before the Vampire King. I remembered the blinding radiance, the cold determination, and the silence in my heart. Back then, there had been no fear, no anger, no sorrow. Just purpose.
But today… facing Marcus, I felt the emotions I should have known back then. The tension in my chest, the weight of restraint, the ache of wanting to protect without hurting — I had forgotten how human it was to care.
It took time to calm the storm within me, but my goal was met. Everyone saw the truth: what it truly means to fight enemies like the Vampire King, the Undead King, or the Werewolf King. A hero's strength is not a luxury — it's a burden we carry for others.
Compared to them, a necromancer is but a shadow.
Lucas will one day reach the power I showed today — I believe that. He just needs to wait for his tenth year… and learn patience before strength.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
Lina stood there, smiling awkwardly. "That was… intense," she said softly. "Do you need to talk?"
I smiled, a little weary. "Perhaps I do. I almost forgot how my mana feels to those untrained. Back then, my soldiers had to learn to fight while I unleashed my full power. If you thought today was intense, you haven't seen me in full armor, burning at my limit."
She sat beside me, her hand brushing mine gently. "I can't imagine anyone standing in front of that and not collapsing."
A small laugh escaped me. "You'd be surprised. The Vampire King didn't collapse — his strength rivaled that of a stage six cultivator. I had to give everything I had. It was either him… or me."
Lina's brow furrowed. "What kind of skill could kill even a hero?"
I hesitated, then met her gaze. "It was called Radiant Light. When I used it, my body became the sun itself — pure light that burned away every shadow. It could destroy any vampire… even the King. But it consumed my life force as it shone. That battle would have taken my life, no matter who fell first."
Her eyes widened. "That's terrifying… you really fought knowing that?"
I nodded, smiling faintly. "The light of a hero isn't meant to last forever. It only burns long enough to protect those who can't shine yet."
She was quiet for a moment before asking, "When you said you made the Vampire King your equal… did you mean as a stage four cultivator or a hero with stage four cultivation?"
I couldn't help but smile at her curiosity. "As a hero with stage four cultivation," I said.
She yawned softly. "It's late… can I sleep here tonight?"
"Of course," I said, weaving a pillow and blanket from mana with a gentle wave of my hand.
She giggled as she lay beside me. "Creation magic really does make life easier."
I laughed quietly. "It does."
As her breathing steadied and sleep claimed her, I sat there for a moment longer. Watching her reminded me of something I'd lost long ago — the simple peace of being near someone without the weight of duty pressing down on me.
Maybe that's what being human really means — not the battles, not the strength, but the quiet moments in between.
I took a deep breath, letting the tension fade from my body, and closed my eyes.
For the first time in a long while… I dreamed without pain.