After entering the woods, Alex and the others kept running until they ran into Lyanna, Eve, Mary, and Amelie, who were waiting in a secluded location for the group.
"ALEX!" Amelie yelled with excitement as she ran up to hug him. "I'm glad you're safe!"
"Of course I am; I told you I would be." Alex said.
"And Raven!" Amelie said now hugging her other cousin. "It's so good to see you again."
"You too, Amelie." Raven replied.
"It's good to see that everyone is well." Lyanna said walking up to the group.
"There were no injuries, and we escaped without capture. All in all, a completely well executed mission." Kaede said.
"You got that right." Anna said, sighing. "Though Alex...."
"Yeah, Mom?" Alex replied.
"Are you okay? You killed Duncan and Oliver...very brutally." Anna asked her son.
"I...I'm fine. It was necessary to keep Raven safe; that's all that matters." Alex replied.
Anna was still worried about her son, but he obviously didn't want to talk about it, which Anna just had to accept.
"So, what's next?" Eve asked. "Do we have somewhere to go?"
"Well..." Alex said, sighing. "You do."
"W-What was that?" Raven asked Alex.
Alex sighed "After tonight...I'll be leaving."
"The hell you are!" Raven yelled. "We just reunited, and you want to leave? No! Screw that!"
"Raven..." Alex said as he put a hand on her shoulder. "I just killed two of the biggest nobles on this side of the Empire...I'm going to be wanted and hunted now...it would be unsafe for all of you to come with me. Which is why I'm going to head out on my own while all of you go with Lyanna to her house in the capital."
"I'll come with you!" Raven yelled.
"No." Alex said. "Raven...I would love it if you could, but you can't....this is something I'll do alone."
"Alex...are you sure?" Anna asked.
"I am Mom. This allows you all to live peacefully in the capital." Alex said.
"I...can't believe this..." Raven said before storming off.
"R-Raven...." Alex was saddened. The last thing he wanted to do was see his sister cry, but he did just that...
"Hey Eve, Mary...could you two please check on Raven?" Alex asked the two maids while holding back his sadness.
"Of course, young master." Mary replied.
"Alex...what will you do?" Anna asked.
"I'll figure it out; I'll probably go into hiding for awhile." Alex said.
"Will you ever come back?" Anna asked, holding back her sadness as much as she could.
"I plan too. Just not for a bit...if everything goes to plan, I'll be gone for about a year or so." Alex said.
"An entire year..." Anna said. "I...I don't know if I can do this..."
"Mom..." Alex said in a saddened voice. He walked over to his mother and hugged her tightly. "I'll be fine, Mom... I'll figure it out as I go. I promise I'll be back."
"You know you have to talk to Raven about this." Anna said, hugging her son.
"I know...I'm hoping she'll talk to me before I leave..." Alex said.
"She will...she just needs time." Anna said as she let go of Alex. "Please, Alex...make sure you return to us."
"I will... by any means necessary."
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