The night air was still as Elliot and Lyssara left Kael's cemetery, the weight of their encounter with the Coffin Master pressing heavily on their minds. The faint glow of the moonlit path guided them, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth.
Elliot glanced at Lyssara as she walked beside him, her green eyes distant and unreadable. She had said little since they escaped, her silence unsettling. She clutched the dagger tightly in her hand, its blade catching the faint light. Something about her presence radiated strength, yet beneath it, Elliot sensed a deep sadness.
Inside his mind, Etreuf stirred. "She's hiding something," the demon said, his voice a low growl. "You feel it, don't you?"
Elliot ignored him, his focus on Lyssara. He had questions, but her guarded expression warned him to tread carefully.
The silence stretched between them until Elliot couldn't bear it any longer. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with concern.
Lyssara stopped, turning to face him. Her green eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, Elliot thought she might open up. But instead, she simply nodded. "I'm fine," she said, her voice even.
Elliot frowned. "You don't seem fine. You haven't said a word since we left."
Lyssara hesitated, her gaze shifting to the ground. "It's nothing. Just… memories."
Elliot wanted to press her, but Etreuf's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Leave it, boy. If she wanted you to know, she'd tell you."
Elliot clenched his fists. "I'm not like you, Etreuf. I care about people."
"Care won't keep you alive," Etreuf retorted. "Focus on the mission."
Later that night, they stopped to rest in a small clearing. Elliot started a fire, the flickering flames casting long shadows across the trees. Lyssara sat across from him, her dagger resting in her lap.
Elliot watched her carefully. "You're not just some random girl, are you?"
Lyssara looked up, her expression guarded. "What makes you say that?"
"Everything," Elliot said. "The way you carry yourself, the way you fought Kael's men, the way you… look at me. You've been through more than you're letting on."
For a long moment, Lyssara said nothing. Then she sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "You're right. I'm not just a random girl."
Elliot leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Then who are you?"
Lyssara's eyes flickered with something—pain, hesitation, resolve. "I… I was once the daughter of a king," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "A man known as the Strongest King."
Elliot's eyes widened. "The Strongest King? The one who—?"
"Yes," Lyssara interrupted, her tone sharp. "He's a legend to some, a tyrant to others. To me, he was just… my father."
She paused, her fingers tracing the edge of her dagger. "I was raised in his shadow. Trained to fight, to survive, to be like him. But I never wanted to be a weapon. I wanted to be free."
Elliot listened intently, his heart aching for her. "What happened?"
Lyssara's expression darkened. "He wanted to use me. To make me into something I wasn't. When I refused, I ran. I've been running ever since."
Elliot nodded, his voice quiet. "That's why you're so guarded. You've been alone for so long."
Lyssara looked at him, her green eyes softening. "And what about you? You're not just some ordinary guy, either. I can see it in your eyes—the weight you're carrying."
Elliot hesitated, unsure how much to share. But something about Lyssara made him want to trust her. "It's… complicated," he said finally. "There's someone inside me. Someone dangerous."
Lyssara tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Dangerous how?"
Elliot took a deep breath. "His name is Etreuf. He's a demon. And he's trying to take over."
Lyssara's eyes widened, but she didn't recoil. Instead, she leaned closer, her voice calm. "Is he… dangerous to you?"
Elliot met her gaze, his voice steady. "I'm more worried about what he'll do to everyone else."
Lyssara studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You're stronger than you look, Elliot. Most people wouldn't be able to fight something like that."
Elliot managed a small smile. "Most people haven't met someone like you."
Lyssara smirked, the first hint of humor breaking through her serious demeanor. "Flattery won't get you anywhere."
The two shared a brief moment of levity, the tension between them easing slightly. But even as they sat by the fire, their minds remained heavy with unspoken fears and unanswered questions.
As the fire burned low, Lyssara stared into the flames, her thoughts drifting to her father and the life she had left behind. She knew she couldn't run forever. Sooner or later, her past would catch up with her.
Elliot watched her silently, his resolve hardening. Whatever dangers lay ahead, he knew one thing: he wouldn't let Etreuf—or anyone else—hurt her.
The journey ahead would be long and perilous, but together, they would face whatever SAMBALETA threw at them.