"I know I am," Ruby murmured, voice faint as iron filled her mouth, "but what are you?"
"Why do you still try?"
The voice came again — calm, cold, as if amused by her struggle.
Ruby groaned softly. "I have homework," she said dryly, fighting against the invisible binds that held her.
A dark chuckle echoed from the shadows. And then — agony.
It was as if something inside her was being peeled away, piece by piece. She clenched her eyes shut, breath hitching through the pain.
"Is it worth it?" the voice asked after a moment, tone curious. "To die for someone who doesn't even remember you?"
Ruby's lips curved faintly.
"If he remembers me or not… that's his problem, not mine."
A sigh — unexpected, almost human — slipped from the unseen figure. Ruby froze.
Someone intent on killing her wouldn't sigh.
"…A pest?" she muttered, feeling the pressure on her chest lighten slightly.
"It seems he was right after all," the voice said softly. "You never change."
"Of course I don't." Ruby smirked weakly. "I'll give you a four for the trap. Now untie me."
The masked boy blinked — stunned. "What?"
"It's too tight," Ruby complained lightly, wriggling against the binds.
He hesitated. This was her?
The same fierce dragon who once breathed fire at her enemies and commanded fear from her allies?
Now, all he saw was a fragile girl — aura completely gone, like a candle snuffed out.
"C-Can you really not get out?" he stammered, praying this was some cruel joke.
"Yeah," Ruby said simply. Then her expression faltered. "Hurry. I'm… uncomfortable."
He rushed forward, untying her in a panic. But when his hand brushed her skin, he froze — her spirit felt almost gone.
As the ropes fell away, Ruby coughed violently, blood spilling past her lips. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, pain etched deep into her features.
Yet even through it, she smiled.
"You're sly," she said hoarsely, reaching up to ruffle his hair. "You've really improved."
The boy stiffened, completely thrown off. All that cold, unshakable dominance he once feared from her — gone. In its place, warmth.
Harmless, fragile Ruby.
"Who brought me here?" she asked quietly.
He bit his lip. "…It's a secret."
Ruby chuckled, and the sound scared him more than any glare ever had.
He had never heard her laugh — not once.
"So… he sent you to remind me, huh?" she murmured. "He really is heartless."
"This has nothing to do with the Boss," the boy blurted quickly. "He doesn't even know we're here."
Ruby tilted her head. "So you defied him?"
"We live for you," he said, voice breaking. "Even if he kills us for it, we'd still do it — if it's for you."
Her heart stilled for a beat. That wasn't loyalty — that was devotion. Foolish, beautiful devotion.
"You little pests…" she sighed softly. "You've really surprised me this time."
"Master," he whispered, voice trembling, "why can't I feel your power?"
Ruby looked down at her own trembling hands. "Because it's all gone."
"What do you mean?" His voice cracked, almost desperate.
"The literal meaning." Her tone was calm, too calm. "Do you feel anything from me?"
He shook his head violently, eyes wet.
No. Nothing. Not a single spark of the power that once made nations tremble.
This couldn't be real.
His master — the one who raised him from a child — couldn't possibly have fallen this low. One could hide their aura, but never erase it entirely.
Yet this Ruby before him… was human. Harmless.
And it terrified him.
"Master…" His voice broke. "Is there something that must happen — something so important you'd let yourself become this weak?"
Ruby's heart tugged painfully at his words. Of course he'd ask that. The little devil always asked the one question she didn't want to answer.
"No," she said softly.
The single word shattered him. And it hurt her more than she'd ever admit. But she couldn't risk telling him the truth. Not him. Not Draven. No one.
"Truth is," she continued, "I'm useless right now. Something's wrong with my power, and I can't stop it. You could beat me right now and I'd have no way to fight back."
She smiled faintly — tired but honest. "I wanted to send word to Draven myself, but since you're here… tell him not to contact me. He doesn't understand my power. Even if he wanted to help, he can't."
Her eyes hardened. "From now on, I take no orders. This is my choice."
"But why stay?" he asked weakly. "We could still find a way—"
"…to help me?" she cut in, smiling sadly. "I know you would. You'd all give everything for me. But if I stay with you, I'll die before you ever find a solution. And if any day could be my last…"
She looked away, eyes softening.
"…then I wont use it on an hopeless love, I'm too smart for that, I'll spend time with people that cherish me. "
That line hit him like a blade. Any day might be her last? What did she mean?
Ruby swayed, catching herself on the bedpost. "What pill was I fed earlier?"
"Pill?" he blinked. "I—I didn't give you anything. I just got word you were here, in the crystal castle. That's all."
Ruby smiled faintly, brokenly. "So it wasn't you…"
Then she turned toward the doorway. "Oh, and one last thing…" she said, waving lazily.
"Love is a crazy thing, boy. Stay away from it."
She never looked back.
The masked boy dropped to his knees as she disappeared into the corridor.
A single tear slid down his cheek before he bowed deeply, forehead touching the floor — again and again.
"Master…" he whispered hoarsely. "Please… don't die."
The corridor swallowed her figure, her steps faint against the marble floor.
And for a heartbeat, the castle itself seemed to mourn — the walls trembling as if they could feel her fading strength.
Outside, the moonlight dimmed.
Somewhere deep within the boy's chest, hope cracked like glass.
The dragon hadn't died… but her fire was slipping away.
Ruby stepped out of the hidden space after confirming no one was nearby.
From within, she could see the outside world clearly — but from the outside, her sanctuary didn't exist at all. Just empty air and silence.
She moved as swiftly as her battered body allowed, but her strength betrayed her halfway. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed beside the grave she had dug earlier.
This time, she didn't cry.
She simply smiled — a soft, defeated curve of her lips — and reached for the half-filled wine bottle near the headstone. Tilting it toward the mound of dirt, she whispered playfully,
"Want a drink?"
Then she took a long sip herself.
The wine burned down her throat, dulling her pain — until the pain came roaring back.
Her body arched as black veins spidered up her arms, pulsing darkly beneath her pale skin. More spread across her back, twisting like visible poison.
Ruby stared at them, grimly amused.
"So that's what you did, huh?" she murmured, realization dawning.
The pill.
Not medicine — poison.
Someone had slipped it to her earlier, disguised in golden light, thinking she wouldn't notice. Whoever it was wanted to force her to release her power — to undo the seal she'd chosen to keep. Probably an ally… someone desperate to save her in their own twisted way.
She bit her lip until she tasted blood.
"These dear children of mine…" she muttered. "What on earth have Draven and Rose been teaching you?"
Her tone softened, sorrow threading through her smile. They had grown colder than she ever wanted them to — merciless, ruthless. Shadows of what she once was.
Exhaustion finally overtook her. She slumped beside the grave, the bottle slipping from her hand.
"You'd laugh if you saw me now," she whispered as her eyes fluttered shut.
And just like that, drunk and broken, Ruby drifted into uneasy sleep.
---
Hours later, darkness blanketed the mountains.
Sage and the others had been searching since sunset, their footsteps echoing through the silence. Then Luna's voice pierced the night — she'd found something.
Everyone but Sage rushed toward her signal.
But how did Luna know exactly where to look?
Even for someone like her, the mountain was endless — its cliffs treacherous, its paths winding. Finding anyone within hours was impossible… unless she'd followed Ruby before, or had another way of sensing her.
Ruby, still half-conscious, felt their presence closing in.
A raven landed on her shoulder for only a moment before flying off again, leaving a folded note in her palm. She opened it slowly — and whatever she read turned her usual faint smile into pure horror.
Her hand trembled as she dug her nails into her palm, tears spilling freely.
When the others arrived, Ruby was kneeling near the grave, head bowed, her cheeks streaked with tears.
"Why… why, why, why…" she mumbled, voice slurred.
"You kept interfering. Is that kindness… or foolishness? Show up one more time, and I'll really end things…"
Everyone froze as she took another swig from the bottle.
"Although, I guess my intention wasn't enough," she whispered, almost to herself. "Yeah… I gotta stop thinking too much. I have nothing holding me back now."
Her words were broken — soaked with grief and bitter laughter.
"When I close my eyes," she said softly, "I keep seeing you… and my family. I swore to protect them, and now I can't even lift a finger. I actually envy people with families — ones who can share their burdens without fear, without secrets…"
She let out a weak laugh, dragging her fingers through her tangled hair.
"What am I even saying? I'm just a tool. A tool to get stronger… to keep fighting even when my limbs are severed and my heart's already gone."
Another gulp.
"You know what hurts more than being beaten?" she whispered faintly. "Believing you'll never be enough — no matter how hard you try. People only see your strength… never the scars it took to get there."
Her voice cracked, fading as she collapsed once more. The bottle rolled from her fingers, its contents seeping into the dirt.
The girls rushed to her — all except Sage and Luna.
Sage caught the flicker in Luna's eyes — something deep, something she couldn't name — before it vanished. Then Luna staggered, and Sage instinctively caught her.
"Thanks, sis," Luna murmured.
Sage hesitated. "What's on your mind?"
Luna's lips quivered with something unreadable.
"Doesn't she remind you of us?" she whispered. "We lost everything… and now we fight so others don't have to."
Sage said nothing. Her chest tightened — not just from understanding, but from unease.
Something in Luna's words didn't sit right. But she didn't press further.
Not yet.
---
The wind shifted — cold and sharp — rustling the leaves around Ruby's still form.
Beside her, the grave lay undisturbed… yet the soil pulsed faintly, as if something buried refused to rest.
Luna's gaze lingered for a heartbeat too long before she finally turned away.
None of them saw it — the faint, black shimmer crawling up Ruby's arm before vanishing into her skin.
And though Ruby slept, the darkness within her veins didn't.
It crept quietly, waiting for dawn…
waiting to awaken.
Ruby suddenly slapped both cheeks with her palms — hard.
The sharp echo cut through the quiet forest, leaving her face stinging and red. The sound alone carried her resolve.
She shook her head once, then lifted her hand toward the moon.
"No more holding back now, I guess…" she muttered, eyes fixed on the silver glow above.
Then she turned — slowly, unsteadily. Even though her vision blurred, she could sense them nearby.
Her gaze swept over each of them, checking — counting — making sure they were safe.
Finally, her eyes landed on Harley, who was swaying on her feet, her energy almost spent. The points Ruby had sealed earlier still hadn't fully released, and Harley was clearly fighting to stay conscious.
"You're fine…" Ruby whispered with a faint smile.
Then her knees gave out. She collapsed — her body hitting the ground before anyone could react.
"Ruby!" Harley screamed, panic cracking her voice as she rushed forward.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she caught Ruby, pulling her into her arms.
Miccah froze, guilt flooding her chest. She'd misjudged Ruby from the start — thought her cold, untouchable — never realizing how much she carried, how much she bled for them in silence.
Sage let out a low sigh and approached quietly. Harley was cradling Ruby like a child, trembling.
"Ruby…" Harley's voice quivered. "Please… wake up…"
Her fingers brushed Ruby's pale cheek, but her warmth was fading fast.
She'd always known Ruby wasn't ordinary — the power beneath her calm, the aura that made enemies falter and allies breathe easier. But that power was gone now… vanished, leaving behind only fragile silence.
"No, no, no… please, no…" Harley muttered desperately, pressing Ruby closer. Her breaths were shallow, faint — almost gone.
"Harl," Sage said gently, crouching beside her. "I understand. But you need to hand her over. I'll take her to the infirmary — she needs treatment, now."
Harley didn't respond. Her tears fell onto Ruby's face, glistening like raindrops on marble.
Sage hesitated only a moment before prying Ruby gently from her arms. She rose and turned toward Luna, who stood a few paces away, watching in silence.
"I won't ask anything for now," Sage said quietly. "But I'm trusting you with her. Keep her safe."
Luna blinked, startled. "Sage is trusting me? That's a surprise. She's just a freshman — why go to such lengths?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Sage replied evenly.
Luna's lips curved faintly. "Guess I was a bit curious earlier today."
"You don't get curious," Sage said flatly. "That's Harley's thing."
"Maybe living out with the clown for two years rubbed off on me," Luna said lightly. "Same applies to you."
Sage stared at her for a moment. "...Go."
Luna nodded, expression unreadable, and walked away — Ruby limp in her arms, the moonlight catching on her pale face.
The forest fell silent once more.