Vale looked at Yuki and tilted his head, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
"You want to spar against me?" he asked.
Yuki met his gaze and grinned. "Of course I do. Who wouldn't want to spar with the Rose family's newest little prodigy?" Her voice carried a note of playful sarcasm.
Vale's eyes widened a fraction. "Is that what they call me here? A prodigy? A wonder boy?"
Yuki stood and let out a short laugh. "No, no. Most people don't even know you're here." She walked past him, then stopped abruptly, turning to look him dead in the eye. "But if even half of what's being said about you is true… they will."
Her gaze dropped past him to the twin blades resting neatly on the floor.
"Grab your weapons," she said flatly. "We're going."
Vale hesitated for a moment, her words lingering in his mind.
'If what's said about me is true…'
He knelt and wrapped his fingers around the cold steel, the familiar weight grounding him. Standing again, he followed Yuki toward the door, letting out a soft whistle. Ember perked up instantly, lifting from where it had been resting and gliding through the air to land securely on Vale's shoulder.
Before leaving, Vale glanced back at the desk, at the computer now sitting quietly, innocuous once more.
'Stay safe, Chrome,' he thought.
The heavy metal door slid shut behind them.
Yuki looked up at the tall boy beside her, her expression indifferent but with a faint spark of anticipation beneath it. She tapped him once on the shoulder and started down the long, colorless corridor.
"Come on, kid," she said. "Let's see if you live up to what I've heard."
Vale followed, his expression conflicted.
'Why is everyone suddenly expecting so much from me?' he wondered. 'Didn't she already prove she could kill me without even trying?'
They walked in silence for some time. Yuki hummed a quiet melody under her breath as soldiers and researchers passed them, offering quick glances before moving on. From time to time, Vale looked through the reinforced glass lining the corridor, into what he assumed was the prison itself.
The enclosure was massive.
So massive, in fact, that no matter how carefully he searched, he couldn't see anyone inside.
Eventually, he turned to Yuki. "The prisoner… where is she? And how big does a place like this need to be to hold a single person?"
Yuki glanced at him, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "The prisoner isn't treated like a person," she said calmly. "She's closer to a wild animal."
She gestured subtly toward the glass.
"The prison spans roughly one hundred square kilometers. It's built with the most advanced technology we have. Even then…" She paused, her expression hardening. "There's only one individual who could stop her if she truly went on a rampage."
Vale followed her gaze into the enclosure, unease settling in his chest.
"How long has she been here?" he asked.
Yuki slowed her steps, allowing the weight of the answer to sink in before speaking.
"Two hundred and thirty-seven years," she said. "Ever since the first time she lost control."
Vale stared at her, stunned. That lifespan alone would have been unbelievable, if not for the fact that Miss Rose herself was over five centuries old.
Still, another question surfaced.
"Then… how did you capture her in the first place?"
He hadn't expected an answer.
To his surprise, Yuki gave one.
"We didn't," she said simply. "She came willingly. Asked to be imprisoned, before she became what she called a monster."
Vale raised an eyebrow. "You talk as if you were there."
Yuki laughed, loud and genuine. "It's a well-known story," she replied. "If knowing it meant being present, then I suppose everyone alive was there."
The tension between them eased. A small smile appeared on Vale's face.
"Would you mind telling me the story?" he asked.
Yuki sighed deeply, her gaze lifting toward the distant ceiling as she continued walking.
"Long ago," she began, "after the dreadful age of Dagon, a new hero emerged. Not as powerful, but honorable and noble. Her name has long since been erased from history."
"She ended wars. Made even the mightiest dynasties tremble."
Yuki's voice grew quieter.
"But her power was also her greatest flaw. It kept growing, beyond her control. Until one day… she couldn't restrain it anymore."
She hesitated.
"Before she was imprisoned here, she massacred an entire city."
Vale swallowed.
"Even now," Yuki continued, "we can't kill her. Even if Lord Hydra himself fought her and won, the cost would be too great. Their battle would likely tear the planet apart."
She looked toward the enclosure again, her expression somber.
"So we keep her here," she finished. "As a prisoner… and as a shell of who she once was."
Vale remained silent for a long moment.
"I see," he said quietly.
Vale studied the white-haired woman's face as they walked. He couldn't help but grimace. Despite the tragedy she had just recounted, the story of a hero reduced to a prisoner, Yuki's expression remained cold, indifferent, almost untouched by the sorrow of it.
He found that unsettling.
Not because he thought she was cruel, but because he suspected he simply couldn't understand her, even if he tried.
As they moved through the steel corridors, Vale occasionally glanced at her with his pale eyes, quietly observing. The halls were wide and sterile, lit by cold artificial light that reflected off metal walls and polished floors. Soldiers and researchers passed them frequently, and Vale noticed something peculiar, many of them lingered a moment longer than necessary when their eyes landed on Yuki.
'Is she famous too?' Vale wondered.
Eventually, their pace slowed. Ahead of them stood a massive metal door, far larger than the others they had passed.
Yuki spoke without turning back. "We're almost there."
Vale let out a slow breath and continued forward. Then Yuki stopped. With a firm motion, she placed her hand on the door and pushed it open.
She stepped inside first.
Vale followed, and froze.
The room beyond was spacious, clearly designed for combat or training. Standing within it were two figures.
The first was a tall, broad-shouldered man with blond hair, clad in radiant white armor that looked as though it had been forged from something divine. Gold traced its edges, catching the light with every movement. Beside him stood a smaller woman dressed entirely in black, her short dark hair framing sharp eyes that immediately settled on Vale.
Evelyn.
Relief washed over him, and a small smile formed before he could stop it.
Yuki, meanwhile, took one look at them and broke into a grin that bordered on feral excitement.
"Well, well," she said. "Didn't expect the two of you to be here."
The blond man stepped forward immediately, his presence energetic and almost overwhelming. Vale recognized him from before, but he barely had time to gather his thoughts before the man closed the distance and thrust out a hand.
"Hey there, kid!" he said brightly. "Name's Callum. You're Vale, right?"
Vale accepted the handshake, offering an awkward smile. "Yeah. That's me."
Callum's eyes lit up with curiosity as he took a step back and looked Vale over, openly assessing him from head to toe.
"Hey, Vale," he said. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your arm?"
His gaze lingered on Vale's right prosthetic.
Before Vale could answer, Evelyn moved in sharply.
"Callum," she said, her tone firm but not unkind, "could you maybe start with easier questions? I already told you he lost his memories."
She stopped beside Vale, her mood visibly improved compared to earlier. A broad, genuine smile spread across her face.
"I suppose I should introduce you properly," Evelyn continued. "Vale, this is Callum, my fiancé. And the reason I was in such a terrible mood earlier today."
Callum scratched the back of his head, looking awkward under her words.
Vale chuckled softly, then glanced between them. "So," he asked carefully, "does Callum also want to spar with me?"
Callum burst into laughter. "You're funny, kid. I do, but not right now." He grinned. "I'd probably kill you."
The casual way he said it made Vale's smile falter.
"…Why?" Vale asked.
Callum's grin sharpened. "I'm still getting used to my new abilities. Just finished my fourth trial and all."
Vale's eyes widened.
From what he had learned, there were only five trials in total, and the fourth was infamous. Nearly everyone who attempted it died. Only the strongest ever survived.
And this man stood before him, smiling.
Vale bowed slightly, stiff and awkward. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize."
Callum waved a hand dismissively. "No problem, kid. Just call me Callum." He paused, then added, "Actually, we came here to invite you."
Vale straightened, surprise plain on his face. "Invite me?"
Callum nodded. "Yeah. I'll be testing the limits of my new power in about thirty minutes. Evelyn thought it'd be good for you to watch."
Vale opened his mouth to respond.
"Enough talking, Mister Knight."
Yuki's voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding. She stepped forward, a fierce grin stretching across her face as she looked between Callum and Vale.
"This kid's fighting me first," she said. "You can chat all you want after."