No More Pain For This Villain.

362  Tucked in

Mary stepped through the portal, her silver hair clinging to her damp skin, her eyes scanning the room with a detached calm. She didn't speak, didn't ask any immediate questions—just observed. Her confusion about life had dulled her reactions, making everything seem distant.

Adam, always gentle and careful, walked toward her with that warm smile that seemed to draw people in. "Mary," he started softly, "we need your help."

She looked at him, her gaze steady but emotionless. "What is this about?"

She wasn't there,  like she was but she wasn't at all.

Adam hesitated, carefully choosing his words. "We're being called to fight... demons. The creatures we fought during the Mage's Gambit, remember? The same ones."

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she asked, "What does that have to do with me?" Something she would've never asked but lately she doesn't want to come out of her training room.

Adam sighed. He knew Mary had been in a difficult place these past months. Ever since her loss against Vexa, she had withdrawn, spending all her time training, isolating herself. She had been pushing herself hard, maybe too hard. There was something more, though, something deeper that he couldn't quite figure out.

He wished he could reach her, like before. There had been a time when Mary admired him, perhaps even liked him. But now, her heart seemed to have shifted, focused on things far beyond him, and he wasn't sure how to navigate that.

But he will always try, for her... she's his friend right, he has to reach for her even her toughest times.

"I... I don't know," Adam admitted, his voice soft. He wanted to give her the answers she needed, to be the person she relied on, like before. But he couldn't find the right words.

Seeing his hesitation, Mary's expression hardened. "Then I refuse." She looked around.

Before Adam could react, Falco stepped forward, his presence commanding the room. "Wait," he said, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "You may want to reconsider."

Mary turned her attention to Falco, her expression unchanging.

He took a step closer, his eyes sharp. "This quest may give you the strength to wield Tizona."

A single glance was enough for the protector of mythical weapons and creatures to recognise a weapon of that calibre.

Mary's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise and shock breaking through her usually calm demeanor. "How do you know about Tizona?" she asked, her voice quiet but urgent. Tizona was her father's sword, a weapon she had long aspired to wield.

Falco smirked knowingly. "I know more than you think. This mission will push you beyond your limits, giving you the power to fight in the coming war against the demon lord. And perhaps, in doing so, you'll find yourself worthy of Tizona."

For a moment, Mary was silent, processing everything. The weight of Falco's words lingered, and slowly, she nodded. "Alright," she said, her voice more resolved than before. "I'm in."

It was fast.

Adam watched, feeling a pang of sadness. Once, he could have convinced her with just a word or a smile. But now, it seemed like someone else had reached her in a way he couldn't anymore.

Falco, satisfied, clasped his hands together, a smile of victory crossing his face. "Good," he said. "Now, I have someone else in mind who will make a valuable addition to our team."

Before anyone could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Isolde's voice called from the other side. "Mr Falco, let me in."

For a moment, everyone exchanged confused glances. Falco, usually quick to dismiss interruptions, hesitated. Then, with an almost thoughtful look, he flicked his fingers, and the door opened. Isolde stepped in, followed closely by Elsa, her expression unreadable but her presence filling the room with a quiet tension.

Amelia closed into Elsa immediately.

"Isolde," Adam greeted her, unsure of what to expect.

Falco's eyes narrowed slightly, but instead of dismissing her again, he allowed them to stay. He turned his attention back to the shimmering portal he had just opened, gesturing toward it. "Now, where were we?"

Falco flicked his fingers, and the portal opened with a soft shimmer, illuminating the dim room beyond. A single oil lamp cast a warm, flickering light on a figure standing in the center. The soft glow revealed broad shoulders, a taut, sweaty chest, and tousled dark hair.

Mary, who had remained silent for much of the conversation, suddenly gasped, loud enough for Adam and Amelia to hear. "Ruu!?"

Her voice was filled with disbelief, her cheeks flushed as her heart seemed to stop for a moment. Her usual calm composure shattered as her wide eyes locked on the figure in the portal.

Adam raised his eyebrows and almost immediately his hand went towards his swords handle but he retrieved it.

There, on the other side, stood Ren Hilton, mid-motion, tugging on a pair of pants. His body glistened from sweat, as if he had just come from a rigorous workout. His sculpted muscles caught the dim light, the beads of sweat rolling down his defined abs, creating an almost ethereal shimmer in the shadows.

Ren turned slowly, his movements deliberate as he noticed the portal. His sharp features showed no signs of surprise. He had his pants mostly pulled up, and with a calm expression, he adjusted them slightly before tying his hair back into a bun. He inhaled deeply, his eyes scanning the group beyond the portal with a sense of cool detachment.

Falco, standing beside the others, gave a polite nod. "Ren Hilton—oh, I'm sorry for the intrusion!"

"Wha-!?" Isolde sqealed.

Ren merely arched an eyebrow, his lips curling slightly into an amused smirk as he took in the scene. His gaze landed on Mary, who was still frozen in surprise, her face as red as a beet.

With a voice as smooth as silk, Ren asked, "What do you all want?" His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tension in the air.