Alex slowly opened his eyes to the sterile white of a hospital room. His body ached, and his head felt foggy as the events of the previous day started to rush back to him—the Apostle, the battle, the chaos, and then darkness. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The soft, rhythmic beeping of machines filled the room, and as his vision cleared, he noticed Alexius curled up next to him, peacefully sleeping like nothing had happened.
Alex sighed. "Of course, you'd manage to sneak into a hospital."
Alexius's ear twitched slightly at his voice, but the cat didn't stir, content in his warm spot beside Alex's arm.
Just then, the door to the room opened, and a doctor entered, followed by a nurse carrying a clipboard. The nurse spotted Alexius immediately and frowned, clearly frustrated. "How did that cat even get in here?" she muttered, shaking her head. "Animals aren't permitted in hospitals."
She turned to Alex with a stern expression. "You know that, right? We've had complaints from the staff about him sneaking in through the window, hiding in people's belongings, and—" she hesitated, lowering her voice, "even crawling through the vents."
Alexius yawned dramatically, still feigning sleep, his tail swishing lazily.
"I couldn't stop him," Alex said, a slight smirk forming on his lips. "He's... resourceful."
The nurse sighed in exasperation. "Well, considering the lengths he's gone to, I suppose we'll just have to let it slide. But only for now," she added quickly. "Keep him out of trouble."
The doctor approached the bed, his eyes scanning Alex's chart. "You're lucky, kid," he said, his tone somewhere between professional and concerned. "I don't know what you were thinking, but whatever it was, it was reckless."
He set the chart down and looked at Alex with a serious expression. "You're only ten years old, Alex. Just a kid. You shouldn't be throwing yourself into these kinds of situations, especially not ones that leave you unconscious and bleeding out in the middle of a battlefield."
Alex's gaze lowered, his fingers lightly brushing the blanket as he listened. He couldn't deny that what the doctor said was true. But despite everything, he had no choice—he couldn't just sit back and let things happen. Not with the world the way it was, and not with his past lingering like a shadow over his every decision.
"I know," Alex murmured, not looking up.
The doctor studied him for a moment longer before letting out a small sigh. "You remind me of someone," he said, his voice softening. "Someone who always thought they had to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. It's not a burden you should be taking on alone."
Alex glanced up at the doctor, unsure of how to respond. He could feel Alexius shift beside him, the cat's quiet presence offering a strange kind of comfort.
The doctor straightened up, clearing his throat. "In any case, you're going to need a few days of rest. No strenuous activity, no fighting, and no more gate diving." He glanced at Alexius. "And try to keep this one from causing more trouble."
Alex gave a small nod as the nurse left the room, still shaking her head at Alexius. The doctor lingered a moment longer before turning to leave as well. But before he stepped out, he paused and looked back at Alex. "You're part of the Association, aren't you?"
Alex nodded slightly, not elaborating.
The doctor seemed to consider this for a moment, then sighed again. "I thought so. Just... take care of yourself, Alex. The world needs people like you, but it also needs you alive."
With that, the doctor exited the room, leaving Alex in the silence of the hospital room, Alexius still curled up beside him.
Alex leaned back into the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. The weight of everything felt heavier now, the words of the doctor echoing in his mind. He was just a ten-year-old kid, but the world didn't seem to care.
*****
Alex groaned as his eyes fluttered open again, the familiar feeling of hospital sheets against his skin. But this time, something was different. The calm, quiet atmosphere had been replaced by something much more intense—a barrage of voices that cut through the stillness like a knife.
"Mr. Harrison, you are the most reckless, idiotic, and stubborn person I have ever met!" Natalia's sharp voice pierced the air, her golden eyes blazing with fury as she stood at the foot of his bed, her hands on her hips.
Next to her, Seraphina was just as livid, though her tone was more controlled, even if no less scolding. "You scared the hell out of us, Alex! What were you even thinking?"
Alex blinked in confusion, his mind still catching up as the two girls continued their relentless barrage of complaints. He glanced over at Michael, who stood awkwardly by the door, clearly trying to stay out of the line of fire. But even Michael couldn't keep his usual calm demeanor—his face was twisted with worry, and he looked like he was barely restraining himself from joining in on the scolding.
"I..." Alex began, his voice hoarse from disuse, but Natalia cut him off.
"You what? You decided to just run straight into danger without telling anyone?" Natalia's voice was incredulous, her anger barely masking the deeper concern underneath. "Do you have any idea what could've happened to you? You could've been killed, Alex!"
Seraphina nodded in agreement. "We didn't even know where you were until we heard about the explosion. And then—" she paused, her voice softening as she glanced at the bandages around Alex's abdomen, "—we were told you were here. Do you have any idea how terrifying that was?"
Alex shifted uncomfortably under their gazes, feeling an odd mix of guilt and embarrassment. He hadn't expected this kind of reaction from them, especially not from Natalia, who was usually so composed.
"I'm sorry," Alex said quietly, trying to diffuse the situation. "I didn't mean to worry you all."
"You didn't mean to worry us?" Natalia repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. "Alex, this isn't some game! You're—" She stopped herself, shaking her head in frustration. "You're supposed to be smarter than this."
Michael finally spoke up, his voice calm but tinged with concern. "You know we're here for you, right? You don't have to handle everything on your own."
Seraphina nodded again, her expression softening as she stepped closer to the bed. "We care about you, Alex. We're your friends. You don't have to face all of this by yourself."
Alex could see the sincerity in their eyes, the genuine worry that had driven their anger. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know," he said softly, feeling a pang of guilt for making them worry. "I just... I didn't want anyone else getting hurt."
Natalia's expression softened for a brief moment before she huffed, crossing her arms. "That doesn't mean you should be reckless."
Seraphina placed a hand on his shoulder. "We're glad you're okay, but please... promise us you'll be more careful."
Alex nodded. "I will. I promise."
For a moment, the tension in the room eased as his friends finally seemed to calm down. But then Natalia glanced at Seraphina, and the two exchanged a look before turning back to Alex.
"We're not done with you yet," Natalia said with a smirk. "You still owe us an explanation. But for now, just rest."
Alex chuckled weakly. "Yeah, yeah... I'll rest."
As his friends settled down around him, Michael took a seat near the door, and Seraphina and Natalia sat beside the bed. Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, even amid the scolding and nagging. Despite everything, they were here for him, and that meant more than he could put into words.
Alexius, who had been watching quietly from his usual spot, gave a small yawn, clearly unamused by the whole ordeal. "Humans," he muttered under his breath, curling up to sleep again as if nothing had happened.
Alex glanced at him and shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Even in the chaos, at least some things never changed.
Kael arrived at the hospital with a grim expression, his usual lighthearted demeanor absent. The tension in the room was obvious as he approached Alex's bed. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Seraphina placed a hand on Natalia's shoulder and nodded toward the door.
"Let's give them some space," Seraphina suggested gently.
Natalia hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking back to Alex before she reluctantly agreed. She sighed and followed Seraphina out of the room, glancing back one last time as the door closed behind them. Michael stayed behind, his face composed, though there was an underlying concern in his gaze as he took his seat next to Alex's bed.
Kael didn't waste any time with pleasantries. He pulled up a chair, sitting directly in front of Alex, his expression stern. "We need to talk, Alex."
The tone of Kael's voice sent a shiver down Alex's spine. He straightened up in bed, instinctively preparing himself for whatever was coming. He'd seen Kael serious before, but this was different—this was official.
"What's going on?" Alex asked, his voice steady, though his heart was racing.
Kael leaned forward, folding his hands together. "The Association is grateful for what you did," he began, his voice measured and calm. "You saved lives last night, and you stepped up when no one else could. For that, we owe you our thanks."
"But?" Alex pressed, knowing there had to be more to it.
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But things are escalating faster than we anticipated. The same night you dealt with the gate, a few others opened in civilian districts. The Lunatic's followers were involved, and things... are starting to get out of control. It's not safe anymore, especially for someone like you."
Michael shifted uncomfortably in his seat but remained silent, watching the conversation unfold.
Alex narrowed his eyes. "Someone like me?"
Kael nodded. "You're a high-profile target now, Alex. The Lunatic is taking an interest in you, and the Association can't afford to lose someone with your potential. But we also can't afford to put you at risk."
Alex felt the weight of Kael's words pressing down on him. He already knew this wasn't going to be an ordinary conversation, but hearing it laid out so plainly still hit harder than expected.
"So what do you want me to do?" Alex asked, his voice sharper than he intended.
Kael didn't flinch. "You need to move to the North Continent. Lay low. Train in safety until you're ready—until you're sixteen."
Alex blinked, the shock evident on his face. "You want me to leave? For six years?"
Kael's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "This isn't a punishment, Alex. It's for your own protection. The North Continent is secure, and we have top-tier training facilities there. You'll be able to grow stronger without the constant threat hanging over your head."
Alex shook his head, anger bubbling up inside him. "I can't just leave. I can't just run away from this."
Kael leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh. "You're not running away, Alex. You're biding your time. You're still a kid, and the world is becoming too dangerous for you to be out in the open. The Lunatic's followers are unpredictable. We have no idea what they're planning, but we know you're in their sights."
"I don't care about that," Alex snapped. "I've been handling myself just fine. I'm not going to hide."
Kael's eyes hardened. "This isn't up for negotiation, Alex. You're under the Association's protection, and we have a responsibility to keep you safe. We're giving you an ultimatum. You either agree to relocate and train under our supervision, or we'll have to take more... drastic measures to ensure your safety."
Alex clenched his fists under the blanket. He could feel his frustration boiling over, but he forced himself to stay calm. His mind raced, trying to find a way out of this, some loophole he could exploit—but he found nothing.
Michael finally spoke up, his voice calm but filled with concern. "Alex, they're just trying to protect you. The world is changing fast, and we need you to be ready. You won't be alone in the North Continent. You'll have the best teachers, the best equipment. You'll be able to grow stronger without constantly looking over your shoulder."
Alex's jaw tightened as he turned his gaze toward the window. The idea of leaving everything behind—Kael, Michael, Natalia, his whole life here—it felt like a betrayal. He had already sacrificed so much. How could they ask him to give up more?