Thousands of kilometers away from the fallen capital destroyed by Evelyn and Heiko's assault,
Alexa sat on a medical bed, trying to rest.
It had been six full days since the attack.
The exhaustion was still visible on her face,
but she looked a little better—
her stay had been calm, without any more unwanted incidents.
She, Iris, and Ethios had taken refuge in the Aetherion Clan, one of the Union's allied clans.
The Siren and Aetherion had always shared a strong diplomatic bond—
and even more, an emotional one.
Then again, the same could be said for all clans of the Union.
Alexa leaned back on the bed, her chest rising and falling as she tried to take a deep breath and collect her thoughts.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
She thought it was Iris at first—
but then she realized it couldn't be him.
Why would her husband ever knock?
She brushed the thought aside.
"Come in…"
The doorknob turned slowly,
and the door opened with quiet grace.
A faint tension crept into Alexa's chest as she wondered who it could be.
Moments later, the door opened fully to reveal a short woman with long black hair and sharply defined features.
Her skin was pale,
and her honey-colored eyes shimmered like pieces of glass in the light.
Those traits were unmistakable—
a pureblood of the Aetherion Clan.
The woman at the door was Athena of the Seraph Family,
commander of the Aetherion army,
and wife to their clan lord, Kain.
But her political standing wasn't what mattered most to Alexa.
Athena was her childhood friend.
Their bond had endured since the days they played in the palace gardens—
through joy, hardship, and endless battles.
Alexa rose quickly from the bed.
She was recovering, but still injured,
and the sudden motion threw her balance off.
Athena stepped forward,
closed the door behind her,
and pulled Alexa into a tight embrace.
The size difference between them was almost comical—
Alexa was taller, stronger, broader—
yet Athena held her with all the gentleness she could muster,
as if trying to bring peace to her wounded friend.
After a few moments, they pulled apart.
Alexa sat back on the bed while Athena dragged a chair close and sat in front of her.
It was the first time they'd met since Alexa's arrival at the royal palace of Aetherion.
Athena had been away on an urgent mission until now.
Her voice came soft, careful.
"Alexa… are you alright?"
Alexa nodded slowly—
a transparent lie if there ever was one.
She was anything but alright.
Athena reached forward,
grasping Alexa's trembling hands.
"I… I'm so sorry about Elara.
I know nothing I say can make this better…
but if her death had meaning, then she died the best way anyone could.
If not for her sacrifice, the entire Siren Clan might've fallen.
She saved what could still be saved."
Alexa lowered her head, teeth clenched.
When she spoke, her tone was calm—too calm.
"I know…"
Silence filled the room,
thick and heavy.
Athena was the first to break it.
"Maybe now isn't the right time to talk about this…
but Iris told me the attack was triggered by yellow magical gates."
Her golden eyes locked onto Alexa's.
The intensity of Athena's stare made Alexa feel small—like a child again.
"So… the Alliance has taken the first step."
Alexa turned her gaze aside.
"Yes. But they didn't act without reason."
Athena frowned, confused.
"What are you trying to say?"
Alexa's eyelids quivered.
She hesitated—
unsure whether to confess or not.
"I… have a son."
Athena blinked,
her serious expression breaking for a moment in disbelief—
she thought Alexa was joking.
No one knew about Ethios.
His existence was a secret,
hidden even from the Union's council.
But when Athena saw the sorrow in Alexa's eyes,
she realized—this was no joke.
"By the gods… why didn't you tell anyone? How old is he?"
Athena assumed Alexa had hidden her child to protect him from the cruel life of the purebloods.
And she was right—
but not in the way she imagined.
Alexa wanted to protect him, yes.
But not just for his own sake…
for the world's.
She met Athena's gaze again,
the truth trembling on her lips.
"Because… he's a highblood."
Athena burst out laughing.
"That's not funny, Alexa.
Come on, really—why did you hide him?"
But Alexa didn't smile.
She shook her head slowly.
The silence that followed said everything.
Athena's laughter faded.
Her anger took its place.
"You realize they'll execute you for treason if anyone finds out, right?"
Alexa nodded.
"I know.
But hiding it isn't possible anymore.
The Alliance already knows.
Their attack on the capital was to confirm it—and they did."
She looked down for a moment,
then back up at her friend.
"The Union's council will lose faith in me.
After the annihilation order I gave during the attack…
and now this revelation about my son…
I'll be lucky if they merely exile me to the underworld."
Athena couldn't speak.
The weight of the truth crushed the words in her throat.
Alexa leaned forward suddenly,
grabbing Athena's hands tightly.
"Athena… I know I don't have the right to ask this.
But please… take care of him.
His name is Ethios.
He's just a child—innocent, pure.
He knows nothing of the cruelty of this world,
nothing of who he truly is.
He's bright… curious…
he loves exploring and— and…"
Her voice broke.
She couldn't find the words anymore.
Athena stopped her gently,
her tone steady and grounded.
"Alexa… if the Union decides to kill him,
there's nothing I can do.
I'm sorry.
But you know—I have a daughter too.
And I think of her the way you think of Ethios."
Silence returned to the room.
Alexa understood.
No one else would be willing to die a traitor's death for Ethios—
no one but her.
But Athena's next words cut through her despair like light.
"…However, if there's any loophole—
any way to protect him—
I'll take it.
No… we'll take it.
It doesn't matter what mistakes you've made.
You're still Alexa—
Queen of the Siren Clan.
No one will dare execute you that easily.
Don't worry.
We'll protect him… together."
Those words filled Alexa's heart with warmth.
For the first time since the fall of her capital,
she felt something like hope.
But that fragile peace shattered when Athena spoke again.
"…Still, if the Alliance truly knows about him,
then we're standing at the edge of the Third Great War."
And that—
was another truth they would have to face.