Faelyn smiled.
"What can I say?"
She looked at Alex.
"You're a strong one."
Her golden eyes narrowed.
"But don't count me out just yet."
Alex stared at her.
Then—
the lightning surrounding Faelyn began to intensify.
**CRACKLE!**
More and more lightning gathered around her body.
Faelyn's smile widened.
"Now get excited."
Her eyes sharpened, and her voice carried through the room.
"Because I'm not done yet."
**FLASH!**
A blinding light suddenly erupted from Faelyn's body.
Alex narrowed her eyes against the brightness.
"What—?!"
For a moment—
there was no shadow.
The entire room was swallowed by the intense light.
Alex's shadow disappeared.
The shadows beneath the chains dispersed.
The black chains binding Faelyn's shadow vanished.
And in that instant—
Faelyn moved.
**BOOM!**
She shot straight toward Alex.
Lightning exploded behind her as she charged forward.
Her claws became coated in lightning.
Faelyn swung upward.
**CRACK!**
The attack tore through the air.
Alex managed to dodge at the last second.
But—
her cloak wasn't so lucky.
**SLASH!**
Faelyn's lightning-coated claws tore through the fabric.
Alex's hood was ripped away.
Dust and debris filled the air.
Faelyn landed several feet away.
Alex landed opposite her, her cloak hanging in tatters around her body.
Her black hair fell freely around her face.
Her pointed ears were now clearly visible.
Alex's face had been revealed.
Faelyn paused.
Her golden eyes studied her.
Then—
she smiled.
"A Dark Elf."
Alex's eyes narrowed.
"Just as I thought."
Faelyn slowly straightened.
"I suspected as much from the moment you stepped into this room."
Alex stared at her, then glanced at her torn cloak.
Her eyes narrowed further.
*What exactly is she getting at?*
Alex finally spoke.
"And what do you mean by that?"
"Your magic, of course."
Faelyn raised one hand.
Lightning crackled between her fingers.
"At first, I couldn't say for sure."
She looked at the shadows surrounding Alex.
"But as the fight continued..."
Her smile widened.
"...it became clear."
"You really are the real deal."
Faelyn tilted her head.
"You're wielding natural Shadow Magic."
Alex's expression remained calm.
Faelyn continued.
"But that alone isn't enough."
Her gaze shifted toward Alex's exposed face.
She smiled.
"That's why I wanted to see your face."
Alex stared at her for a moment.
Then—
her eyes narrowed.
"Now you know my race."
She slowly raised her dagger.
"How will that help you?"
Faelyn smiled.
"When the news first came out that the Empire had killed the Demon King and placed a bounty on his son, who had escaped..."
Her golden eyes remained fixed on Alex.
"They also said something else."
"The Demon King had been with a Dark Elf."
Faelyn's smile faded slightly.
"And that Dark Elf was the mother of his son."
Alex stared at her.
Faelyn continued.
"So naturally, the Empire began looking to the Night Elves for answers."
"They wanted to know if the Night Elves were working with demons."
"But the Empire quickly rejected that accusation."
Alex's expression darkened.
Faelyn continued.
"Some said the accusations were baseless."
"Just because a single Night Elf was with a demon didn't mean every Night Elf was the same."
She paused.
"Others said the Empire was simply enraged."
After a moment, she continued.
"After all..."
Faelyn's eyes narrowed.
"Their Queen was killed by a demon."
"Right inside the palace."
"The heart of the Empire."
Alex remained silent.
Faelyn continued.
"And because of that, the Empire accused the Night Elves, descendants of one of the heroes, of siding with demons."
Alex's eyes narrowed.
"What are you trying to say?"
Her voice grew colder.
"That it's true?"
"That the Night Elves really are working with demons?"
Faelyn smiled.
"No."
She shook her head.
"Not quite."
Alex's mana suddenly began leaking from her body.
**CRACKLE...**
The air around her grew heavy.
"I've heard enough."
Her grip tightened around her dagger.
"I'll be killing you."
Faelyn's smile widened.
"I guess I hit a nerve."
She tilted her head.
"But before you do..."
Her expression became curious.
"Let me ask you something."
"Why are you looking for my Master?"
Alex's eyes narrowed.
Faelyn continued.
"You're not looking to collect the bounty on his head."
"I can tell."
Alex stared at her.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then—
she remembered.
*My Master.*
Faelyn had said it before.
And now—
she had said it again.
Alex's gaze hardened.
*She did it again.*
She slowly raised her dagger.
"And what exactly do you mean by your 'Master'?"
Faelyn smiled.
"It's simple, really."
"I've chosen him to be my Master."
She raised her chin slightly.
"The one I wish to serve."
Alex stared at her.
"Who you serve?"
"Yes."
Faelyn nodded.
"That's exactly what I said."
Alex's expression turned strange.
*What the hell is she talking about?*
*She serves Draven?*
She studied Faelyn's face, trying to determine whether the woman was joking.
But Faelyn appeared completely serious.
"I don't understand."
"Hmm?"
Faelyn tilted her head.
"What's there to misunderstand?"
She smiled.
"He's the one I wish to serve, and I'm going to do exactly that."
Her golden eyes gleamed.
"I made that decision during our first clash."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
*Their first clash?*
Faelyn glanced down at her hands.
"You see, I've lived for quite a long while."
She paused.
"Well, compared to other races, at least."
"Humans, for example."
She chuckled softly.
"I stopped counting my age after around seventy or eighty years."
Alex remained silent.
"But for someone like me, one hundred years isn't even half my expected lifespan."
Faelyn raised her eyes again.
"And as an elf with an even longer lifespan, you should understand what I'm trying to say."
Her smile softened.
"To us, time passes differently."
"Years turn into decades. Decades turn into centuries."
She shrugged.
"After living for so long, you get used to things."
"People come and go. Kingdoms rise and fall. The same ambitions, the same conflicts, the same desires..."
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Eventually, you begin to feel as though you've seen everything worth seeing."
Alex watched her without responding.
"But then..."
Faelyn's lips slowly curled upward.
"Someone appears who makes you feel something you've never experienced before."
She looked directly at Alex.
"That's what happened to me."
For the first time since the fight began, her expression carried something beyond amusement.
Excitement.
"I can't even explain it properly."
She pressed a hand against her chest.
"But the moment I encountered him..."
Her smile widened.
"...I knew."
Alex's grip tightened around her dagger.
*What is this woman talking about?*
Faelyn continued, seemingly lost in the memory.
"That feeling was exhilarating."
She let out a quiet laugh.
"Even now, just thinking about it..."
Her golden eyes gleamed.
"...I can't help myself."
Faelyn smiled widely.
"I want to experience it again."
She lowered her hand and looked at Alex.
"And the only person who can make me feel that way is my Master."