The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

Dragon's Lament

The scene opened up with a cave deep in the forest, where an unconscious Xavier lay beside Alcmena and a still-unconscious Anastasia. Excalibur rested gently nearby, its blade catching the dim firelight.

It had been nearly an hour since their brutal encounter with the King of Darkness, Julius. They had barely survived—only thanks to Alcmena, who had shielded them with everything he had.

The night wind whispered through the cave, brushing past the flickering campfire lit by Alcmena's dragon breath. Slowly, Xavier stirred. His eyelids fluttered open, his vision hazy.

"Where... am I?" he muttered, gripping his aching head. "What happened...?"

Alcmena, who had wrapped Xavier in the curve of his massive form, stirred. His voice was calm but weary. "Ah, you're finally awake. I was beginning to think you wouldn't come to."

Xavier blinked, eyes darting around. "Where are we, Master?"

"In a cave," Alcmena replied simply.

"A cave...?"

"Yes. We managed to survive Emperor Julius' attack—barely. I used everything I had to keep us alive. We crash-landed miles from the battlefield. And I was lucky enough to find the same cave where I had safely left Lady Anastasia nearby. I mustered every ounce of strength I had left to carry you here."

"Anastasia... she's here too?" Xavier asked, his voice lifting in surprise.

Alcmena nodded and shifted slightly to reveal Anastasia's small form resting peacefully near the fire. She was curled beneath her cloak, her head against Alcmena's warm body.

"She's right here. I did what I could to heal her. The blade pierced deep—through muscle and into her spine. If it had gone any further, she might've lost the use of her legs."

The memory hit Xavier like a dagger. He could still see it—Haruki's men driving the sword through her back. He reached out instinctively, his hand brushing her cheek and tangled hair. But pain exploded through his own body, twisting him with a sharp cry.

"Don't move too much!" Alcmena scolded, worry creasing his brow. "Your wounds aren't fully healed. I used up nearly all of my strength just protecting us. There wasn't enough left to numb your pain completely."

Xavier gasped, then looked at Alcmena's battered body. Fresh worry flooded his eyes. "But you're still injured too! Why didn't you heal yourself first?!"

Alcmena sighed. "You and Lady Anastasia were my priority. My wounds are secondary. I've closed them enough to stop the bleeding. That's all that matters."

"But..." Xavier faltered, his voice laced with guilt.

"My body can't handle more ethereal energy, Xavier," Alcmena said softly. "Dragons heal faster than any other race, but even we have limits. Julius' attack overwhelmed my regeneration. To truly recover, I'd need to use ethereal energy to accelerate the process—but if I try, I risk core corruption."

Alcmena's gaze turned distant. "The early signs are already creeping in. And you shouldn't push yourself either. That fight with Haruki left you more exhausted than you realize. You were already running on fumes."

He leaned back against the cave wall. "Let's rest until sunrise. If Lady Anastasia awakens by then, we'll decide what to do next."

Xavier lowered his head—not just from seeing Alcmena like this, but from the mention of Haruki. The moment of Haruki's death surged in his memory—the way Haruki threw him away from Julius' onslaught, taking the blow meant for him.

His fists clenched into the sand beneath him.

"Are you mourning Haruki?" Alcmena asked gently, watching Xavier's expression darken.