Ever since John’s statent, a heavy silence had been lingering over the Smith family.
He hadn’t stayed for long after breaking the news. Just a few quiet words, a short bow to Rowan and Daliah, then with a grief-stricken heart, he departed—leaving behind a storm.
Alice remained unconscious, lying on her bed like soone between life and death. Her pale face twitched occasionally, as if trapped in a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.
Inside the estate, sorrow lingered like a thick mist. No one dared speak too loud. Servants walked slowly. Even the birds outside seed quieter.
Rudeous stood in the hallway with his younger brother, Rion. The two of them had just finished speaking with Prince Rowan and Princess Daliah.
A few monts back...
"The royal palace is too far," Rion said. "And the princess... she doesn’t look ready for another long journey."
Rowan thought for a while before nodding in agreent. He understood what it ant to hold back tears in public.
Then Rion told a servant to prepare two separate guest rooms for Rowan and Daliah. And personally guided them there. Even though his family was going through a hard ti, he couldn’t lack in courtesy before royalty.
Daliah didn’t speak. She just followed Rowan inside and went to her guest room without a word.
The servants prepared the rooms in silence.
At present...
After showing the rooms, Rion returned and reported to Rudeous.
Rudeous nodded. "Let them rest here for a day. We can’t let them travel in this state."
Even though Rudeous appeared strong on the outside, inside he was collapsing under the weight of pain. Although John had confird that Logan was truly dead, Rudeous still held onto a faint sliver of hope. Like a thin thread of light. He was expecting a miracle to happen. He had seen what Logan was capable of. And he had high hopes for him. Both as a father and also as a patriarch.
Within hours, news began to spread across all of Aerundale and even beyond.
"Logan Smith—presud dead."
So scoffed in disbelief.
So went quiet, unsure how to react.
But others?
They were shaken to their core.
At the Starwind residence, Lilith dropped her teacup the mont she heard.
"What did you say?" she was totally stunned. Though she never got the chance to fight Logan, his match, his talent, and those curiosity-filled eyes—all of it had stirred sothing within Lilith. And she was desperately waiting to fight with him soday. Get to know him even more.
The maid repeated the news softly.
Noah Starwind leaned back in his chair, stunned. For soone who always kept a composed front, even he looked shaken.
Emily’s condition wasn’t any different. After knowing Logan had five affinities, she was genuinely impressed. She was waiting for the future to see how brightly Logan would shine.
But now—dead?
Emily turned to Noah, her voice low. "Do you think it’s true?"
Noah shook his head slowly. "I don’t know. But it’s Mr. John William the news originated from. You know about him, don’t you?"
Emily didn’t say anything else.
At the Albrecht mansion, Zephyr stood before a mirror.
He had been training. But the mont his father entered and shared the news, he stopped.
"Dead?" Zephyr asked blankly.
Alek Albrecht gave a slow nod. "That’s what everyone is saying."
Zephyr turned away from the mirror, clenching his fists.
He didn’t say much. Just walked past his father in silence.
But deep inside, he didn’t believe it.
"He can’t die that easily," he murmured under his breath.
Morgan Benedict heard the news late in the evening.
He was at the training grounds, sharpening his sword when a ssenger arrived.
After listening, Morgan said nothing. He simply stared at the blade in his hand.
Then, he lowered it and sat down, his back leaning against a post.
"We were supposed to fight," he whispered. "I was waiting."
The moonlight reflected in his eyes, but it couldn’t hide the disappointnt written across his face.
anwhile, in the depths of the Third Eye Sect...
The leader of the three who ambushed Logan was kneeling before Elder Edward, sweat beading on his brow.
"We failed... We don’t know how, but even after his mana core being ineffective for the mont, he killed one of us. We tried to stop him from escaping but then suddenly he fell down and..."
He didn’t finish his sentence but the aning was clear.
Edward leaned back, deep in thought.
"So he really has so unique training thod. Or had, now. But... is he really dead?" he thought to himself. "Damn it! How should I report it back to the sect master?!"
As evening turned into night, the Smith family villa grew dim.
Lanterns glowed softly in the corridors.
The sky turned deep blue, and the moon rose over the horizon.
Alice’s eyes suddenly fluttered open.
She was awake.
But it felt wrong—like waking up into a world she didn’t belong to anymore.
She didn’t cry.
She didn’t speak.
She just lay there, eyes staring at nothing.
The healer who was stationed beside her noticed it and tried to speak with her.
So did the maids.
But she didn’t respond.
She sat up slowly. Then walked toward the balcony without a word.
Rudeous, who had been sitting outside her room, rose to follow—but stopped.
"There was no point.She needs ti."
He told the healer and the maids, "Everyone leave for now. She needs so space of her own." He knew what Alice was going through now. He too left the room with the others, giving Alice the space she needed.
On the balcony, Alice sat on a chair, her hands resting on her lap.
She stared up at the moon.
It was full tonight.
She used to love full moons.
Now it just felt like a cruel joke.
Her son was gone.
Her world was shattered.
And the stars didn’t even care.
She wiped her eyes once. But more tears followed.
She wasn’t even trying to stop them anymore.
"What’s the point..." she whispered. "Without him... what’s the point of anything?"
Ti continued to pass. Seconds, then minutes.
She thought about jumping and ending her life as well.
Just once.
Just to make the pain stop.
But suddenly she heard sothing...
A footstep.
Her breath caught in her throat.
She didn’t turn imdiately. She didn’t know why, but the sound stirred sothing inside her. A familiar sensation.
The footstep ca again.
She turned her head slowly this ti, clenching her trembling fists.
And what she saw—it totally shook her to the core.
Her eyes widened.
Her lips trembled.
A muffled sound escaped her mouth.
"Logan?!"
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