Timeless Legacy

Encounter

"Wish me luck," Ben said, standing at the entrance of the hideout, glancing back at the three VKs who had accompanied him this far.

"All the way up. Good luck," Evie replied, her voice soft but filled with concern as she watched him ascend the stairs. There was a lingering worry in her eyes, knowing the difficult task that lay ahead of him.

Ben climbed the stairs, his heart pounding with anticipation. Inside the hideout, Mal was alone, focused on her painting, each brushstroke a release of her pent-up emotions. As Ben entered, he paused, taking in the sight of her absorbed in her art.

"At least I don't see a picture of me with horns and a pitchfork," he joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Mal turned, recognizing his voice, and sighed deeply. "Ben... What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone weary but not entirely surprised.

"I'm looking for Elina. You both need to come back," Ben said earnestly, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hope.

Mal regarded him for a moment, her expression unreadable before she gestured to another staircase. "Go upstairs," she instructed quietly.

He nodded, giving her a grateful smile, and began to move away. But before he could take more than a few steps, Mal's voice stopped him.

"Ben... I'm not coming back. And I don't think Elina will either."

Her words were firm, tinged with sadness, but Ben pressed on, not letting her doubts deter him. He continued his way up the stairs, determination etched on his face.

Reaching the rooftop, Ben found Elina sitting alone, gazing out at the sprawling skyline. The city lights reflected in her eyes, but her expression was distant, lost in her thoughts. He quietly sat down beside her, the night air cool against his skin.

"Elina..." he began, his voice trembling slightly as she turned to face him, startled by his presence. "Ben...?" she whispered, her surprise evident.

"I'm so sorry about our fight. It was all my fault... Please come home," he said, his words tumbling out in a rush, as he reached for her hand, holding it tightly as if afraid she might slip away.

Elina looked at him, her heart aching with a longing she had tried to suppress, but she gently pulled her hand away. "Ben, I am home," she replied softly, her voice carrying the weight of her decision.

Ben shook his head, unwilling to accept her words. "I brought the limo. It's a sweet ride," he offered, a weak attempt at humor that fell flat.

Elina sighed, turning her gaze back to the skyline. "I don't fit in, Ben. I really gave it my best shot. But if you think I can change, I think you're wrong," she said, her voice steady but filled with a quiet resignation.

Ben's eyes filled with tears as he desperately tried to convince her otherwise. "Then I'll change. I'll skip school, have more fun," he rambled, his emotions close to the surface. "You know, I'll blow off some of my responsibilities."

"No, no!" Elina interjected, shaking her head. "See? I'm such a terrible influence. It's only a matter of time before I do something so messed up that not only does the kingdom turn on me, but they turn on you." Her tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of fear in her words.

"Don't quit us, Elina. The people love you," Ben said, his voice breaking as he took a step closer. "I love you." He looked into her eyes, pleading with her to reconsider. "Don't you love me?"

"I do..." Elina admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. The words hung heavily in the air between them. She stood up abruptly, her emotions swirling as she began to pace. "But there's also Maddox..." she mumbled, the name slipping out before she could stop herself.