The Eminence in Shadow: The Dark Swordsman

Chapter 52: Heavy Hearts And Heavy Swords

Beatrix stood frozen, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as they rested on Alpha. A trembling smile crept across her lips, fragile and filled with hope.

"Is that you... Sophie?" Her voice was barely a whisper, thick with emotion, as if daring the name to be real.

Alpha remained still, his expression calm, yet unreadable.

Kirito, watching from a few steps away, softened at the sight. He could feel the weight of the moment, the delicate threads of the past hanging between them. With a quiet smile, he turned, ready to give them the space they needed.

But as his back shifted toward the darkness of the hallway, he heard Alpha’s voice, firm and respectful.

"Who are you?"

The words pierced the air like a sharp blade.

Kirito stopped mid-step, his breath catching in his throat. His eyes widened in shock. Without hesitation, he spun back to face Alpha, his heart racing, disbelieving. That voice—it wasn’t one of recognition, but of pure, chilling distance.

Flashback:

Kirito walked alongside Alpha, the crisp sound of an apple crunching in his hand as he took another bite. They strolled in silence, their steps slow, the afternoon sun casting long shadows behind them.

Kirito hesitated, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. There was something about Alpha—an aura of strength, yet beneath it, an air of sadness he couldn't quite place. He swallowed hard, trying to gather his courage.

"I apologize if I’m pressing into personal matters, Alpha," he began, his voice tentative as the weight of his curiosity weighed heavily on him. "But... I have a question."

Alpha's eyes flickered with surprise, and she turned to look at him. Her smile remained, gentle yet curious. “Go on. I don’t mind.”

The unexpected kindness in her response gave Kirito a flicker of confidence. He took a breath, pushing forward. “What has happened to your family? I mean, I know misfortune has followed you, but don’t you feel you should… search for them?”

For a moment, silence hung in the air, and Kirito's heart pounded as he awaited her response. He had always been careful with his words around Alpha, knowing that her past was something not easily discussed.

But then Alpha’s smile grew, though it carried a hint of something bittersweet. Her eyes met his, calm and unwavering, as if the answer was something she had long accepted.

"Kirito," she said, her voice soft but resolute, "my only family is Shadow Garden now."

Kirito’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the sheer finality of her words. The depth of their meaning sank in—Alpha had made her choice. Whatever ties she once had to the past were severed, and in their place stood the bonds of the present. Shadow Garden was her home, her purpose.

The crisp crunch of his apple suddenly felt hollow in his mouth, the weight of her statement lingering between them.

End of Flashback.

Kirito stood frozen, his eyes locked on Alpha, trying to make sense of what he had just heard. His breath came in short bursts, his mind racing.

His gaze flickered toward Beatrix, whose trembling smile had faltered. Slowly, her eyes dropped to the floor, the light within them dimming as the weight of Alpha's words settled in.

"I understand," Beatrix whispered, her voice heavy with resignation. "Many years have passed... and only fragments of the past have remained in your memory."