Friends again?

I was dragged into a dark, damp, and unpleasant-smelling room. The room resembled a torture chamber that you often see in movies, but the difference was that there were no iron bars or such tools. It was just an empty and spacious room with only me inside.

They hung both of my hands on a thick half-circle bar and left me alone. Until, that annoying-faced man entered the room with his hands folded behind his back.

Chin lifted, shoulders broadened, and a haughty gaze.

He stopped a few steps in front of me, looking at me with a victorious smirk, saying, "Now, you can't be arrogant anymore, can you?"

A slight chuckle escaped his mouth.

Albert walked to the side, circling me while saying, "How does it feel to be an ordinary person? Is it painful? I guess someone like you has never experienced it because of the extraordinary power you possess. Pitiful, isn't it?"

He stopped back in his original position.

"This is what we feel. A regular human without powers. Someone who can only rely on machines. Thanks to you, our perspective has opened up. We understand that there is still much for us to learn, much that we need to take over," he emphasized, deliberately stressing the last sentence.

"Take over? Do you think you can conquer the world just with Glory?" I snorted dismissively as a response. There was no need to explain further to someone like him.

And that face was really asking for a punch.

Albert laughed, nodding in understanding. "I know, maybe we can't dominate every part of this world. But not everyone can withstand us, right? I'm even sure that only a few can stand before the three... what were they called? Glory?" He laughed again. "As the name suggests, those three cubes will lead us to victory, giving us the true meaning of freedom!"

"Should I applaud?"

His smile disappeared.

He stepped closer, roughly pulling up my chin. "Listen, young man, I'm being lenient because of Sheila's request. If it weren't for her, I might have already brought you to your knees. You are nothing without your powers."

He pushed my face to the side, turned around, and walked towards the exit.

"Oh? How sure are you? You, who couldn't even win Sheila's heart, want to bring me to my knees? Someone who has managed to kiss her?"

Albert returned, delivering a powerful blow to my stomach, causing me to cough and sputter.

"Is that all? Is that the best you can do?"

Another punch was thrown, then another and another.

He kept doing it until he felt satisfied, leaving me bruised and battered. I was sure these injuries wouldn't be enough to hide my handsome face. Besides, I've endured much more painful blows, so his punches were like a child's play. The child just happened to be holding an iron hammer.

"Sheila is mine, do you understand?" he sneered.

"Oh wow, I'm so scared. Do I need to sign a contract?" I retorted sarcastically.

Albert kicked my face upwards, causing blood to splatter. A smug grin appeared on his face, a look more fitting for a villain than a Ranger. No wonder Sheila didn't like him. Just looking at his face made me sick.

I spat out the blood that had gathered in my mouth and stared back at him. "Now I know why Sheila doesn't like you. You're too rough, my friend. You should be more gentle. Well, it's no wonder you keep failing."

Before he could kick me again, Sheila entered the room, shocked to see me in such a battered state, looking too terrible to be seen.

She ran towards me, ignoring Albert's words, and began touching my cheeks.

"What are you doing!?" she snapped, facing the man next to her. "I told you not to hurt him! Can't you follow instructions for once!?"

"Ah, forgive him, Sheila. I provoked him to attack me. I wanted to see if he could protect you or not, and now I'm concerned about your well-being," I quickly replied while glancing at Albert, who was staring at me with a fierce, murderous intent.

Sheila sighed and asked Albert to leave the room, giving us space to talk. As soon as the door was closed, Sheila approached me again.

I could feel her fingers touching my cheek. So warm, so painful.

I still remembered how she left me alone, treating me as if I didn't exist, walking away without looking back, as if I meant nothing.

I know we're not friends, but my heart still feels hurt.

"Why are you here? And stop touching me. Do you think you have the right after betraying me like that?"

A smile formed, a cold and harsh smile.

"I thought you could be trusted. I misjudged you."

Hearing it, Sheila's heart felt stabbed, although she had prepared herself to hear harsh words from Zent. She tried hard to hold back her tears from falling.

"I know you might not accept my apology. But, I'm doing it for a reason that I'll explain to you now."

"Why do you decide that I won't forgive you? You don't know me that well."

Damn it, why did those words come out of my mouth? I didn't want to prolong this issue. It's enough to leave it at the betrayal; there's no need to retaliate.

"I-I... I'm sorry."

I fell silent as I listened to her.

I didn't know how to respond.

On one hand, I really wanted to forgive Sheila and restore our relationship to what it used to be, where we could talk casually and laugh together. But, on the other hand...

I was afraid.

I was afraid the same thing would happen again.

I didn't want to experience it a second time.

Once was enough.

But, in the end, I lost to the feelings in my heart, which sometimes made me hate myself.

"Alright, I forgive you. But promise me you won't do it again."

Sheila was taken aback, not expecting Zent to forgive her so easily.

Unable to contain herself, tears started to flow, wetting her face. She sobbed, releasing all the guilt that she had been holding back since the beginning, trying to stay strong even though it felt so painful.

Suddenly, Sheila stepped forward and hugged me tightly.

If only I could move my hand, I would have already caressed her head to comfort her. But all I could do now was rest my chin on top of her head, allowing her to cry it out because I knew how suffocating it was to hold back every feeling in my heart and bury it deep inside.

I didn't know how much time had passed until she finally pulled away, wiping her eyes without raising her head, which made me chuckle softly.

I never thought I would see Sheila feeling embarrassed.

"You don't need to hide that face of yours. You know you're beautiful, right?"

"Shut up. I'm not looking for compliments."

"Your voice says otherwise. I think you want more compliments even though you're already in your thirties."

"What!?"

Sheila immediately lifted her face, gazing at me with her sharp, slightly puffy eyes that somehow made her look incredibly adorable.

"What did you say? Thirty?" She repeated with a high-pitched tone.

"Aren't you already thirty?"

"I'm still twenty-eight!"

"Then, Albert, who's in his forties, likes you? That's kind of creepy."

Sheila, who was previously angry, now stood there puzzled with many question marks hovering over her head. "Zent, you're not blind, right? He does look old, but he's actually thirty-four... OHHH! I just remembered!"

She quickly reached into her pants pocket, taking out something and sprinkling blue powder from a small bottle, then blew it into my eyes. I blinked rapidly as my vision started to blur. I thought she was betraying me again, and this time making me blind. But when my vision cleared, I was mesmerized by the figure in front of me.

Sheila appeared several years younger, her face leaving me speechless. Now I understood why she dressed like that despite being in her thirties.

It was no issue; in fact, she looked even more mature and attractive in my eyes. However, her current appearance had the power to momentarily stop my heart from beating.

"Why? Are you so fascinated by my real look?" Sheila approached, whispering, "Are you falling in love and going to leave your woman?" she teased.

I struggled to control my voice, which managed to make all the hairs on my body stand on end. "I apologize, but until there's certainty in our relationship, I won't leave her."

Sheila stepped back, looking at my face closely with a sweet smile. "So, once there's certainty and you two break up, can I be the next one?"

"Unfortunately, you have a rival."

"Huh? Who?" She paused, remembering the woman who came with Zent before. "HER!"

Right at that moment, Sarah emerged from above, landing not far ahead with a pair of sharp, menacing eyes that now made me genuinely worried for Sheila's safety.