The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

When Dread Met Divinity

The scene continued. Violet descended to the earth, a gust of wind rushing past as she landed. Anastasia's eyes widened, locking onto her. "Lady Violet... what are you doing here?" she asked, utterly dumbfounded to see Violet appear out of nowhere.

How did she even know where we were? Anastasia's thoughts raced.

"Miss Anastasia..." Violet's voice trembled, breathless and heavy with concern. "W-where's Xavier?"

"H-he's right here with me," Anastasia answered, shifting slightly so Violet could see.

The moment Violet's gaze fell upon Xavier's unconscious form—his head resting gently against Anastasia's thighs—she rushed forward without hesitation. Panic seized her features.

"XAVIER!" she cried, gripping his hand tightly. "Are you okay? Please, wake up!"

But the boy remained motionless, his stillness cutting deeper than any wound. Violet's desperation only swelled.

"Why won't you respond?! Wake up, Xavier... please!" Her voice cracked, raw and breaking.

Seeking to calm her, Anastasia laid a hand on Violet's shoulder, her tone low and heavy with sorrow. "My Lady... please. Xavier cannot hear our pleas. Don't burden yourself too much."

Violet's breath steadied, if only slightly. She turned to Anastasia, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "What happened to him? Why is he like this?"

"I... I'm not sure," Anastasia admitted, still lost in confusion herself. "When Teslaine and I arrived, we found a monstrous beast impaled by a sword through its chest."

Her voice dropped. "I immediately knew it was the Young Master... his ethereal energy led us here. And that dragon-like creature radiated his presence."

"Dragon-like beast?" Violet echoed, bewildered.

Anastasia froze. She remembered that Violet, and the rest of the Ivanovich family, knew nothing about Xavier's Contractor—or that it was a dragon of all things. The truth bore down on her shoulders like an unbearable weight.

Explaining RealmHeart, or that Xavier's sudden transformation was the result of being the vessel of Dragon King Alcmena, was impossible. There was only one response she could give.

"My deepest apologies, Lady Violet," Anastasia said, bowing her head. "But this is not my secret to reveal. As his maid, I cannot betray my Master's trust. Not even to you, nor to Lord Graviil."

The words were heavy, drenched in sincerity.

Violet looked down, disheartened, but she understood—even now. "...Alright. I won't press you further. I don't want to hurt Xavier... not anymore." Her voice softened as her hand brushed against Xavier's cheek. "Just seeing him again... that's all the comfort I need."

A tear slid down her face, landing on his skin like the first drop of rain before a storm.

Her eyes drifted, catching sight of the sword at his side—Excalibur. She had seen it many times before, but never like this. Up close, she could feel the divine aura radiating from it. This was no ordinary weapon. Not even a high-grade blade. It was something far beyond mortal craft.

But her focus quickly returned to Xavier's body. Her heart clenched at the sight of his wounds. Some had already begun healing, remnants from his dragon form. Yet others remained open, bleeding stubbornly.

Violet closed her eyes, summoning a golden light that enveloped her hands. The divine power of her Divine LionHeart and her Contractor, Queen Tessia Valandor, flowed through her palms. She pressed her hands over Xavier's wounds, and slowly, they began to close.