Nox remained motionless. His Marauder Mask once again covered his face. Black chains slowly moved around him.

Across from him, Leo held his ash sword and dark shield, ready to continue the fight.

The old man’s corpse lay on the stone street.

And then...

"Brother, stop."

The female voice echoed throughout the entire plaza.

Leo froze the moment he recognized that voice.

Nox turned his head as well.

A figure was descending from the stairs of a nearby street.

Two enormous wings of fire spread behind her back as she floated a few feet above the ground.

Tessa, the former Phoenix Inquisitor.

Leo’s eyes widened.

"Little sister..."

The woman landed between both groups.

Flames scattered around her boots.

The Fire Lion Knight seemed incapable of processing what he was seeing.

"You..."

He pointed his sword at her.

"You’re alive."

Even Nox was surprised to discover they were siblings.

Leo took a step forward.

"Yesterday they officially announced your death."

His voice was filled with confusion.

"The Church said you died during your mission."

The flames of Tessa’s wings shifted slowly behind her.

Leo continued speaking.

"And on top of that..."

His expression became even stranger.

"Your title has already been given to another heroine."

Nox let out a small laugh.

"Wow."

He looked at Tessa.

"Your family is pretty weird."

The woman didn’t even turn around.

"We can talk about that later."

Her eyes remained fixed on Leo.

"Right now, we need to leave."

Nox frowned.

"Leave?"

He pointed at the old man’s body.

"I need to avenge him."

Tessa’s voice became firm.

"No."

Nox turned toward her.

"No."

The woman repeated herself.

"Leo is one of the strongest heroes in the Church."

Her black spear appeared in a burst of flames.

"We can’t defeat him right now."

Leo continued staring at her, growing more confused with every second.

"Answer me one thing."

Tessa ignored him, but Leo persisted.

"How do you still have powers?"

The hero slowly lowered his sword.

"That title doesn’t belong to you anymore."

The woman finally looked at him.

And smiled.

A bitter smile.

"If my survival had depended on the Church..."

Her eyes hardened.

"...I’d be dead."

Leo remained frozen.

"I don’t understand."

"The inquisitors abandoned me."

The hero’s eyes widened.

"The Church declared me dead."

Tessa pointed at Nox.

"And if I’m still here, it’s thanks to them."

Leo slowly began putting the pieces together.

His gaze shifted toward Nox and his group of villainesses.

"No."

He slowly shook his head.

"That’s impossible."

His voice trembled.

"If they sent you to kill a demon..."

He looked at Nox again.

"...and now you’re protecting him..."

Understanding finally began to dawn on him.

"He brainwashed you."

Audrey burst out laughing.

"Brainwashed?"

Misty laughed too.

"Do you even know Nox?"

Leo didn’t seem to hear them.

He was still staring at his sister.

"But even then..."

He frowned.

"You shouldn’t have any powers."

Tessa raised her spear.

"Because I don’t have that title anymore."

Flames ran along the weapon.

"I have a different one now."

Leo blinked.

"What?"

The woman smiled.

"I’m not a heroine anymore."

Her smile widened.

"Or perhaps I should say..."

She looked directly into her brother’s eyes.

"...a false heroine."

Leo looked completely lost.

"I don’t understand any of this."

And at that exact moment...

Audrey took advantage of the distraction.

A Dark Arrow appeared on her bow.

Dark energy flowed through the arrow.

And she fired.

The projectile shot directly toward Leo.

But before it could reach him...

Tessa moved with incredible speed thanks to her fire wings.

Her spear intercepted the arrow.

Dark energy exploded in midair.

Audrey’s eyes widened.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Tessa landed in front of Leo.

"Don’t fight."

Nox watched the scene unfold.

His anger was still there.

Burning.

Every time he looked at the old man’s corpse, he felt the urge to rip the Fire Lion Knight’s head off.

But he also saw something else.

Tessa’s expression.

Her concern.

Leo’s confusion.

And the fact that he didn’t want anyone else to die today.

He let out a long sigh.

The chains vanished, the daggers disintegrated, and the Marauder Mask turned to ashes.

"I don’t want to see anyone else die today."

Audrey immediately turned toward him.

"Nox."

The huntress looked irritated.

But after a few seconds, she put away her knives.

"Fine."

She sighed.

"I’ll respect your decision."

Misty was next.

The dancer looked at Leo.

"It’s four against one."

She commented.

"We probably won’t get another chance this good to kill a hero."

Nox shook his head.

"He’s a teammate’s brother."

Misty remained silent.

"And even if we could defeat him..."

He looked at the three women beside him.

"...he’d probably kill some of us before going down."

His voice became firm.

"I’m not willing to lose anyone."

Tessa’s eyes widened slightly.

The woman looked at Nox and gave him a sincere smile.

"Thank you."

Nox shrugged.

"Don’t thank me."

Tessa turned back toward Leo.

"So."

She rested her spear on her shoulder.

"What are you going to do?"

Leo placed a hand on his head.

The entire situation had clearly overwhelmed him.

His sister was alive, she had lost her title, she was protecting a demon, and apparently belonged to some kind of strange group.

Finally, he let out a laugh.

"This is a disaster."

Nox couldn’t help laughing as well.

"On that, we agree."

Leo dismissed his sword and shield. The ashes scattered into the wind.

"We need to talk."

He looked at Tessa.

"Because I have way too many questions."

The woman nodded.

"So do I."

Leo looked at the rest of the group.

"I’m happy you’re alive."

He told his sister.

"But I still don’t understand what you’re doing with a demon."

Misty smiled.

Audrey let out a small laugh.

Tessa shook her head.

"Things aren’t as simple as they seem."

Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really?"

"No."

The woman looked at the old man’s corpse.

Then at the ruined plaza.

Then at Nox.

"There are no good guys or bad guys here."

Her voice became calm.

"Everyone has reasons. Everyone has goals. Everyone believes they’re doing the right thing."

The Fire Lion Knight remained silent.

He seemed to be reflecting on those words.

Meanwhile...

Nox and Tessa walked toward Misty and Audrey.

The injuries from the battle were still visible.

Tessa raised a hand.

Nox did the same.

Flames appeared around both of them.

Phoenix Regeneration.

The fire covered Audrey’s arms.

Then Misty’s legs.

The pain gradually faded away.

Their wounds slowly began to close.

Leo watched the scene without saying a word.

Finally, he let out a long sigh and started walking away.

"Leave."

Nox looked up.

Leo smiled.

"Quickly."

He looked at Tessa again.

"Before I change my mind."