"So, why don't you stay with us?" Eero asked Livio in front of the bakery.
"I spent my entire day in the dungeon. I don't even know what's going on with the others. I think I'll pass." Livio stretched his arms and legs.
"I guess this is goodbye, then." Eero held Livio's gaze as he started to sob.
"You and your overacting—I really don't like it." Livio pushed Eero.
Eero stumbled and steadied himself by grabbing the glass wall of the bakery.
"I don't act that bad! Alright then, let's meet again someday. Bring everyone together again." Eero smiled at Livio.
"I will." Livio vanished into thin air.
The impact of Livio disappearing pushed Eero back, making him land on the road, unbalanced.
"Damn, I didn't think Livio would turn out like this. Something terrible must have happened to him. I hope everyone's doing well..... Hah, that's hilarious, considering we met randomly inside the game, and now look at us. Guess the saying is true—true relationships last only in times of despair."
Eero smiled to himself before Elena called him inside.
"Oh, I'm coming." He entered the bakery, while Elena's face was partly hidden by her hair.
Meanwhile, Livio was speeding toward the castle.
"Finally, I've reached my place." He landed, bending over and panting.
The castle shone beautifully under the moonlight.
"I've arrived. Took me a while."
He entered the castle and climbed the stairs to his room. While passing by, he noticed his entire friend circle gathered in the common room, discussing something serious.
"Livio, where have you been?" Matteo asked, leaning against the wall.
"Oh, I went for training. Sorry for not informing you." Livio entered the room.
Matteo was holding a card that depicted a mother protecting her child from a lion.
"We've all been doing that. No need to apologize," Victor said, sitting on the window ledge as the wind ruffled his hair.
"We need to tell you something important," Nicolas spoke while drying his hair with a towel. "Except for Ethan and Oliver, we've all been chosen to retrieve something important from the Elven Kingdom."
"Did you just take a bath?" Luka asked, eyeing Nicolas.
"Yes. Unlike you, I bathe daily." Nicolas smirked, sitting on the couch.
"You bastard, making it sound like I don't bathe!" Luka squinted his eyes while forcing a smile.
"Then show your back. We'll see how clean it is." Viktor jumped down from the window.
Outside the room, Tomasz was up to something. Viktor smirked at the sight of him.
"Then why don't you show your back first? We'll see how 'clean' you are," Luka shot back.
"Sure thing. Here you go." Luka pulled up his shirt, exposing his back.
"What is that?" Livio's eyes widened at the sight of handprints all over Luka's back.
Nicolas and Matteo immediately pinned Luka to the ground.
"Quick, Viktor!" they shouted.
"You fucking assholes, what the fuck are you planning?!" Luka turned his head toward them, struggling to break free.
Tomasz passed a bucket of ice water to Viktor. Viktor dashed toward Luka, who was still pinned down.
"Don't you dare! Motherfucker, I'm already cold!" Luka struggled harder.
"Hmmm, should I help him?" Livio mused, sitting back on the couch. "Nah, let's enjoy this. It'll clean him up too—two birds, one stone."
"No—NOOOOO!"
Viktor poured the ice-cold water onto Luka's bare back. The freezing temperature made Luka's skin crawl as all the heat from his body leaked into the air. His skin broke out in tiny blisters, his hairs stood on end, and—within moments—his body temperature spiked, making the water steam against his burning skin.
"You—ASSHOLES!" Luka jumped to his feet, only to see Nicolas and Matteo leap out of the window in front of him.
"See you after you cool down a little!" Matteo laughed before vanishing into the night.
The door creaked open slightly. Luka's rage immediately shifted toward Viktor.
"Come here, you son of a bitch!"
Outside the door, Tomasz and Viktor stood silently, smiling as they waited.
"Hey, Livio! Where the fuck is that bastard Viktor?" Luka shouted, his body still shivering.
Livio glanced at the slightly open door.
"Go wear something warm, or you'll catch a cold."
"Shut up, you bastard! So he ran outside, huh?" Luka stormed toward the door in blind fury.
"Viktor...!" Luka swung the door open.
At that exact moment, Tomasz yelled, "You should be more alert!"
A second bucket of ice water...strategically placed above the door.....tipped over, drenching Luka from head to toe.
"Looking good. You're even more handsome when you're wet." Tomasz smirked before fleeing with his PBV.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARDS! I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!" Luka punched the empty bucket, shattering it into pieces.
Meanwhile, Livio wandered toward Sebastian's room. He found him fast asleep, but his blanket had slipped onto the floor, leaving him shivering.
Livio reached out to wake him but hesitated halfway.
"This idiot.... He'll catch a cold."
Instead, he quietly picked up the blanket, placed it over Sebastian, and pulled the door shut before leaving.
Next, he went to Nitin's room. It was in a similar state...cold and messy.
"Sigh...… Maybe tomorrow."
Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye—a portrait.
It depicted a woman floating on a white ocean. Her red eyes gleamed, and her long, red hair flowed behind her. Her exposed skin shimmered under the water, while the shadow of a snake lurked beneath her.
"This is beautiful."
Livio picked it up, staring at it for a solid two minutes.
Suddenly, Nitin's voice cut through the silence.
"You can keep it if you want."
Livio nearly dropped the portrait as Nitin—wrapped in his blanket—rose from his bed like a corpse coming to life.
"What the hell?!" Livio fell backward, startled.
"You idiot, don't scare me like that!" He got up, dusting himself off.
"If you like it, take it," Nitin said casually, stretching.
"No, no. I was just curious. You can keep it." Livio placed the portrait back on the desk.
"It's fine. I won't tell anyone you liked the girl in the portrait." Nitin smirked as he poured water into his bronze glass.
"I don't like her! Okay…..... Thanks." Livio hesitated before picking up the portrait again.
"I hope you find a girl like that in real life, too." Nitin took a sip of water.
"What? I don't want a relationship..." Livio faltered slightly.
"Alright, but listen," Nitin's tone suddenly shifted.
The air in the room thickened. His lips, once wide in amusement, tightened into a thin line. He pressed a hand to his forehead, lowering his head slightly.